Analyzing ecological principles of microbial life and degradation in oil reservoirs

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The current concept for microbial degradation in oil reservoirs states that the degradation takes place at the oil-water-transition-zone (OWTZ). However, we recently found complex microbial communities in tiny water droplets enclosed in oil of three natural oil seeps. Since we could show that the water originated from the oil reservoir, this indicated microbial degradation in the oil leg and not only at the OWTZ. Here, we want to verify if microbial degradation takes place in water pockets in the oil leg and what the ecological principles of microbial distribution are. To this end, we will sample freshly drilled oil production wells from a Chinese oil field over time. Following the microbial community composition and the degradation activity in the formation water, which only stems from the oil leg, over time, will allow analysing degradation in the oil leg and the spatial distribution of oil-degrading microorganisms. Furthermore, we will study wells that have coning of the below OWTZ and wells that are subject to secondary production by flooding which will provide indication on the differences of microbial degradation in the different compartments of the oil reservoir. The project is a collaboration in the frame of the call for Sino-German research proposals.