Assessment of microbiologically influenced corrosion in oilfield water handling systems using molecular microbiology methods

Abstract

The monitoring, prediction and control of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) are common challenges in the oil industry. This paper aims to optimize monitoring of souring and corrosion threat in oil field water handling systems using latest developments in molecular microbiological methods. Microbial quantification was performed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. Microbial population structure fingerprinting was done using next generation sequencing (NGS). The findings were compared with the corrosion rates and most probable number (MPN) values obtained from conventional serial dilution methods. The results show that molecular microbiology methods provide faster and optimum corrosion mitigation strategies.