Addition of a palm oil analogue to oil-reservoir formation water stimulates the growth of Anaerobaculum sp. and a novel taxon from the Deferribacteraceae

Abstract

The manipulation of microbes within oil reservoirs has been the subject of a number of studies. The aims of these studies have included alteration of oil characteristics, improvement in recovery of oil and suppression of microbes that produce H₂S. Understanding microbial communities and their microbial responses is important in predicting the outcome of these studies. Palm oil waste is an abundant waste product, particularly in Asia, and we sought to examine its usefulness for altering microbial communities in oil reservoirs. Data from the present study demonstrated that after amendment with a palm oil analogue (POA), oil reservoir microflora produced methane and nitrogen gas along with a net consumption of CO₂. The addition stimulated a novel taxon in the family Deferribacteraceae. Amendment with POA also affected the methanogen community by stimulating the growth of Methanothermobacter, Methanoculleus and Methanocalculus spp. Overall the study indicated that POA addition allowed the development of a consortium that was able to convert CO₂ into CH₄ in a process powered by an abundant waste product.