Severe Corrosion of Carbon Steel in Oil Field Produced Water Can Be Linked to Methanogenic Archaea Containing a Special Type of [NiFe] Hydrogenase

Abstract

Methanogenic archaea have long been implicated in microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) of oil and gas infrastructure, yet a first understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms has only recently emerged. We surveyed pipeline-associated microbiomes from geographically distinct oil field facilities and found methanogens to account for 0.2 – 9.3% of the 16S rRNA gene sequencing reads. Neither the type nor the abundance of the detected methanogens correlated to the perceived severity of MIC in these pipelines. Using fluids from one pipeline, MIC was reproduced in the laboratory, both under stagnant conditions and in customized corrosion reactors simulating pipeline flow. High corrosion rates (up to 2.43 mm Fe0 yr−1) with macroscopic, localized corrosion features were attributed to lithotrophic, mesophilic microbial activity. Other laboratory tests with the same waters yielded negligible corrosion rates (< 0.08 mm Fe0 yr−1). Recently a novel [NiFe] hydrogenase, from Methanococcus maripaludis strain OS7, was demonstrated to accelerate corrosion. We developed a specific qPCR assay and detected the gene encoding the large subunit of this hydrogenase (labeled micH) in corrosive (> 0.15 mm Fe0 yr−1) biofilms. The micH gene on the other hand was absent in non-corrosive biofilms despite an abundance of methanogens. Reconstruction of a nearly complete Methanococcus maripaludis genome from a highly corrosive mixed biofilm revealed micH and associated genes in near-identical genetic configuration as strain OS7, thereby supporting our hypothesis that the encoded molecular mechanism contributed to corrosion. Lastly, the proposed MIC biomarker was detected in multiple oil fields, indicating a geographically widespread involvement of this [NiFe] hydrogenase in MIC. IMPORTANCE Microorganisms can deteriorate built environments, which is particularly problematic in the case of pipelines transporting hydrocarbons to industrial end users. MIC is notoriously difficult to detect and monitor and as a consequence, is a particularly difficult corrosion mechanism to manage. Despite the advent of molecular tools and improved microbial monitoring strategies for oil and gas operations, specific underlying MIC mechanisms in pipelines remain largely enigmatic. Emerging mechanistic understanding of methanogenic MIC derived from pure culture work allowed us to develop a qPCR assay that distinguishes technically problematic from benign methanogens in a West African oil field. Detection of the same gene in geographically diverse samples from North America hints at the widespread applicability of this assay. The research presented here offers a step toward a mechanistic understanding of biocorrosion in oil fields and introduces a binary marker for (methanogenic) MIC that can find application in corrosion management programs in industrial settings.

A Win–Loss Interaction on Fe0 Between Methanogens and Acetogens From a Climate Lake

“…Methanobacterium/Methanothermobacter are often associated with biofilms formed on Fe 0 infrastructure like corroded sea-submerged railway lines ( Usher et al, 2014b ) or oil pipelines and oil facility infrastructure ( Duncan et al, 2009 ; Lenchi et al, 2013 ; Liang et al, 2014 ; Okoro et al, 2017 ; Suarez et al, 2019 ; Lahme et al, 2020 ; Su et al, 2020 ). Sometimes, Methanobacterium/Methanothermobacter are implicated in severe corrosion ( Lahme et al, 2020 ). Other times are thought to help form a protective layer against corrosion ( in’t Zandt et al, 2019 ).…”

Opportunistic interactions on Fe0 between methanogens and acetogens from a climate lake

“…However, previous studies reported that Methanosarcina species are corrosive (Daniels et al, 1987), and get enriched on Fe 0 from the marine environment (Palacios et al, 2019a) or oilfield production waters (Ma et al, 2019). Often, Methanosarcina are members of corrosive biofilms on steel pipelines from oil production facilities (Lahme et al, 2021; Vigneron et al, 2016), gas industry pipelines (Zhu et al, 2003) and sewer system pipelines (Cayford et al, 2017). Unlike Methanosarcina , Methanosaeta have never been reported as independently corrosive, although they easily colonize Fe 0 -coupons in enrichments from oil production facilities (Mand et al, 2014) and have been often found as members of biofilms on corroded pipelines from such facilities (Conlette et al, 2016; Lahme et al, 2021).…”

“…In this case, formate-utilizing microorganisms would benefit. The [NiFe] hydrogenases of methanogens, especially those located on the MIC-island, appear to be crucial in inducing severe corrosion by hydrogenotrophic methanogens like Methanobacterium and Methanococcus (Lahme et al, 2021; Tsurumaru et al, 2018). However, the MIC island has not been identified in any other genera of methanogens.Thus, we could not detect the MIC-island in any of the genomes available for Methanothermobacter, Methanobrevibacter or Methanosarcina and Methanosaeta when using in silico PCR with specific MIC-island primers (Lahme et al, 2021).…”

“…Often, Methanosarcina are members of corrosive biofilms on steel pipelines from oil production facilities (Lahme et al, 2021;Vigneron et al, 2016), gas industry pipelines (Zhu et al, 2003) and sewer system pipelines (Cayford et al, 2017). Unlike Methanosarcina, Methanosaeta have never been reported as independently corrosive, although they easily colonize Fe 0 -coupons in enrichments from oil production facilities (Mand et al, 2014) and have been often found as members of biofilms on corroded pipelines from such facilities (Conlette et al, 2016;Lahme et al, 2021). Best represented H2/CO2-utilizing methanogens in relative gene abundance were members of Methanothermobacter (10% of Archaea) and Methanobrevibacter (9 % of Archaea) (Fig.…”

“…The [NiFe] hydrogenases of methanogens, especially those located on the MIC-island, appear to be crucial in inducing severe corrosion by hydrogenotrophic methanogens like Methanobacterium and Methanococcus (Lahme et al, 2021;Tsurumaru et al, 2018). However, the MIC island has not been identified in any other genera of methanogens.Thus, we could not detect the MIC-island in any of the genomes available for Methanothermobacter, Methanobrevibacter or Methanosarcina and Methanosaeta when using in silico PCR with specific MIC-island primers (Lahme et al, 2021).. On the other hand, using the same in silico approach we could for example detect the MIC-island in a Methanobacterium species (M. congolense) or in Methanococcus species (M. maripaludis OS7 and KA1) which have been documented to induce severe corrosion (Tsurumaru et al, 2018;Uchiyama et al, 2010). Without the MIC-island these climate lake methanogens may be using an alternative approach to access Fe 0 -electrons effectively.…”