Geo-microbial prospecting for hydrocarbons is an exploration method based on the seepage of light gaseous hydrocarbons from oil/gas reservoirs to the surface and their utilization by hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria. Th...Geo-microbial prospecting for hydrocarbons is an exploration method based on the seepage of light gaseous hydrocarbons from oil/gas reservoirs to the surface and their utilization by hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria. These bacteria utilize hydrocarbon gases as their sole source of food and are found to be enriched in the near surface soils/sediments above the oil and gas reservoirs. The detection of anomalous populations of n-pentane and n-hexane oxidizing bacteria in the surface soils can help to evaluate the prospects for hydrocarbon exploration. A geo-microbial survey has been carried out in the Bikaner Nagaur basin to investigate the prospects for hydrocarbon exploration. In the present study, bacterial counts for n-pentane utilizing bacteria range between 2.0× 10^2 and 1.26× 10^6 cfu/gm and n-hexane utilizing bacteria range between 2.0× 10^2 and 1.21 × 10^6 cfu/gm. The bacterial concentration distribution maps show four distinct anomalies in the study area. The possibility of discovering oil or gas reservoirs using the microbiological method is emphasized by the tact that the hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria range between 103 and 106 cfu/gm in soil/sediment receiving hydrocarbon micro-seepages. In the present study area of the Bikaner Nagaur basin, n-pentane and n-hexane utilizing bacteria are found between 105 and 106 cfu/gm of soil sample, which is significant and thereby substantiates the seepage of lighter hydrocarbon accumulations from oil and gas reservoirs. Geo-microbial prospecting studies suggest that hydrocarbon micro-seepage of subsurface origin is present in the study area and indicate that the area has positive prospects for petroleum exploration.展开更多
Microbial prospecting of hydrocarbons is based on the detection of anomalous population of hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria in the surface soils, indicates the presence of subsurface oil and gas accumulation. The techni...Microbial prospecting of hydrocarbons is based on the detection of anomalous population of hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria in the surface soils, indicates the presence of subsurface oil and gas accumulation. The technique is based on the seepage of light hydrocarbon gases such as C1-C4 from the oil and gas pools to the shallow surface that provide the suitable conditions for the development of highly specialized bacterial population. These bacteria utilize hydrocarbon gases as their only food source and are found enriched in the near surface soils above the hydrocarbon bearing structures. The methodology involves the collection of soil samples from the survey area, packing, preservation and storage of samples in pre-sterilized sample bags trader aseptic and cold conditions till analysis and isolation and enumeration of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria such as methane, ethane, propane, and butane oxidizers. The contour maps for the population density of hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria are drawn and the data can be integrated with geological, geochemical, geophysical methods to evaluate the hydrocarbon prospect of an area and to prioritize the drilling locations thereby reducing the drilling risks and achieve higher success in petroleum exploration. Microbial Prospecting for Oil and Gas （MPOG） method success rate has been reported to be 90%. The paper presents details of microbial prospecting for oil and gas studies, excellent methodology, future development trends, scope, results of study area, case studies and advantages.展开更多
文摘Geo-microbial prospecting for hydrocarbons is an exploration method based on the seepage of light gaseous hydrocarbons from oil/gas reservoirs to the surface and their utilization by hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria. These bacteria utilize hydrocarbon gases as their sole source of food and are found to be enriched in the near surface soils/sediments above the oil and gas reservoirs. The detection of anomalous populations of n-pentane and n-hexane oxidizing bacteria in the surface soils can help to evaluate the prospects for hydrocarbon exploration. A geo-microbial survey has been carried out in the Bikaner Nagaur basin to investigate the prospects for hydrocarbon exploration. In the present study, bacterial counts for n-pentane utilizing bacteria range between 2.0× 10^2 and 1.26× 10^6 cfu/gm and n-hexane utilizing bacteria range between 2.0× 10^2 and 1.21 × 10^6 cfu/gm. The bacterial concentration distribution maps show four distinct anomalies in the study area. The possibility of discovering oil or gas reservoirs using the microbiological method is emphasized by the tact that the hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria range between 103 and 106 cfu/gm in soil/sediment receiving hydrocarbon micro-seepages. In the present study area of the Bikaner Nagaur basin, n-pentane and n-hexane utilizing bacteria are found between 105 and 106 cfu/gm of soil sample, which is significant and thereby substantiates the seepage of lighter hydrocarbon accumulations from oil and gas reservoirs. Geo-microbial prospecting studies suggest that hydrocarbon micro-seepage of subsurface origin is present in the study area and indicate that the area has positive prospects for petroleum exploration.
文摘Microbial prospecting of hydrocarbons is based on the detection of anomalous population of hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria in the surface soils, indicates the presence of subsurface oil and gas accumulation. The technique is based on the seepage of light hydrocarbon gases such as C1-C4 from the oil and gas pools to the shallow surface that provide the suitable conditions for the development of highly specialized bacterial population. These bacteria utilize hydrocarbon gases as their only food source and are found enriched in the near surface soils above the hydrocarbon bearing structures. The methodology involves the collection of soil samples from the survey area, packing, preservation and storage of samples in pre-sterilized sample bags trader aseptic and cold conditions till analysis and isolation and enumeration of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria such as methane, ethane, propane, and butane oxidizers. The contour maps for the population density of hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria are drawn and the data can be integrated with geological, geochemical, geophysical methods to evaluate the hydrocarbon prospect of an area and to prioritize the drilling locations thereby reducing the drilling risks and achieve higher success in petroleum exploration. Microbial Prospecting for Oil and Gas （MPOG） method success rate has been reported to be 90%. The paper presents details of microbial prospecting for oil and gas studies, excellent methodology, future development trends, scope, results of study area, case studies and advantages.
