Carbon isotopic compositions of mono-, di-, tri-aromatics provide insights into the source of sulfur-rich crude oils in the Huanghekou Depression, Bohai Bay Basin

The stable carbon isotope compositions (δ13C) of individual aromatic hydrocarbons have been analyzed in sulfur-rich and sulfur-lean crude oils from the Huanghekou Depression, Bohai Bay Basin. The δ13C values of individual aromatic hydrocarbons, including alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalenes, alkylphenanthrenes, alkylfluorenes and alkyldibenzothiophenes, are reported. The main aims are to find out the origin of these oils and their relationship to paleoclimate. The distribution of aromatic hydrocarbons and maturity parameters show the oils all stay in the low-mature to mature stage. Meanwhile, aromatic hydrocarbons are mainly derived from the diagenetic/catagenetic origin. The δ13C values for 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (−30.7‰ to −28.8‰) and 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene (−32.4‰ to −26.3‰) indicate the algae-derived organic matter for alkylbenzenes. Some isomers, such as 1,7-+1,3-+1,6-dimethylnaphthalene, 1,2,5-trimethylnaphthalene, 1,2,5,6-+1,2,3,5-tetramethylnaphthalene, 1,10-+1,3-+3,10-+3,9-dimethylphenanthrenes, 1,6-+2,9-+2,5-dimethylphenanthrenes and 4,9-+4,10-+1,9- dimethylphenanthrenes show isotopic depletion (−34.9‰ to −25.2‰), indicating the major contribution of algae for these compounds. Meanwhile, isotopically depleted (−33.6‰ to −26.7‰) alkyldibenzothiophenes represent the algae input. δ13C values for mainly algae-derived naphthalene to trimethylnaphthalenes of sulfur-rich oils are more enriched than those of sulfur-lean oil, with the most significant difference of 4.4‰, indicating that the aridity of the environment and stratified water column result in the enrichment in 13C.

Isolation and characterization of a crude oil degrading bacteria from formation water:comparative genomic analysis of environmental Ochrobactrum intermedium isolate versus clinical strains

In this study, we isolated an environmental clone of Ochrobactrum intermedium, strain 2745-2, from the formation water of Changqing oilfield in Shanxi, China, which can degrade crude oil. Strain 2745-2 is aerobic and rod-shaped with optimum growth at 42 ℃ and pH 5.5. We sequenced the genome and found a single chromosome of 4800175 bp, with a G＋C content of 57.63%. Sixty RNAs and 4737 protein-coding genes were identified： many of the genes are responsible for the degradation, emulsification, and metabolizing of crude oil. A comparative genomic analysis with related clinical strains （M86, 229E, and LMG3301T） showed that genes involved in virulence, disease, defense, phages, prophages, transposable elements, plasmids, and antibiotic resistance are also present in strain 2745-2.