Integrated geo-microbial and trace metal anomalies for recognition of hydrocarbon microseepage in petroliferous regions: case of El Hajeb oilfield in the South East of Tunisia

摘要

In this work we attempt to identify the geomicrobial fingerprints alongside with trace metals anomalies, and to explore whether the geomicrobial signatures are correlated with trace metals in El Hajeb oilfield in Tunisia. 51 soil samples are collected in grid pattern of 1 x 1 km interval. After incubating soil samples with propane in mineral salt medium, we count the propane oxidizing bacteria abundance ranged from nil to 2.44 x 10(5) cfu/g of soil sample. It was found that the concentrations of trace elements are enormously increased when they are compared with the natural background concentrations of metals in soils.