The 1000´s microbial genus found in Argentina´s O&G fields. Their impact on microbially induced corrosion and integrity of facilities.

VARGAS W.A.; PAGLIARICCI M.C.; MORRIS W.

Houston

Congreso; Corrosion 2020; 2020

NACE International

MIC assessment and management in O&G facilities depends on the accurate and early evaluation of microbial communities involved in material degradation. Traditional monitoring methods allow detecting only 0,1% of the microorganisms in the sample, underestimating the real bacterial concentration in the samples, and in some cases, their potentiality for corrosion. However, novel molecular-biology based strategies may overcome these issues offering more reliable and sensitive tools for the study of microbial communities. The novel methodologies have been useful for the study and understanding of microbial populations in diverse environments, including general environmental samples, water reservoirs, ocean samples and the human microbiome as well. In this context, we aimed to gain a general understanding of microbiomes and their correlation with microbially induced corrosion processes in O&G production systems from Argentina.To achieve our goal, we studied more the 500 samples collected from production and injection wells, water- and crude-treatment facilities. The sampling strategy included crude oil, water and solid resides collected from filters and scrappers. The samples collected are representative of conventional and non-conventional production processes and were distributed along the Argentinean productive basins.Metagenomic studies allowed the identification of the 1000 most relevant microbial species native to the production facilities and their correlation to MIC. Overall, our results allowed the identification and classification of microbial species native to O&G facilities. This microbial map allowed a better understanding of the microbial distribution and the individual contribution of each microbiome to distinct mitigation strategies. From this integral study we also highlight the impact of individual species to the corrosion process, and collectively demonstrate that sulfate reducing bacteria became the tip of the iceberg in an integral process that includes many others biological process beyond just sulfate reduction. Statement of impact:The results of this experience generated a valuable resource for corrosion engineers in the development of effective MIC mitigation strategies and integrity-management programs. This microbial catalogue includes more than 500 samples from Argentinean fields with 1000 of microorganism identified. We generated a database that changed our view on microbially induced corrosion and the strategies needed for a proper microbial assessment and monitoring.