Microbiology of Oil Degradation in Reservoirs

摘要

The microbial alteration of crude oils in reservoirs is awidespread phenomenon. Its knowledge is of primeimportance from an economical point of view, specially inoffshore prospecting. The understanding of conditions thatfavored hydrocarbon biodegradation constitutes keyinformation to conduct exploration. This understandingrequires a better knowledge of the microbial communitiespresent in these specific ecosystems. Our views of themicrobial life and of its involvment in biodegradation ofhydrocarbons in such deep anoxic environments have entirelybeen transformed these last two decades. First, the use of therecent molecular techniques have permitted to discover thelarge diversity of this microbial world. Second, undeniableproofs of attack of alkanes in strict anaerobic conditions byvarious groups such as sulfate-reducers, denitrifying bacteriaand consortia including acetogenic bacteria and Archaea havebeen presented. Further progress will involve the study of keylimiting factors of in-reservoir overall microbial activities,through better elucidation of available sources of nutrient andelectron acceptors.