硫酸盐还原菌（SRMs）引发渤海湾高温油田的酸化具诸多危害，是石油工业面临的一项亟待解决的重大生产与环境安全问题。已有研究显示，基于硝酸盐添加的生物控制策略可通过调控油藏中硝酸盐还原菌（NRB）代谢活性从而抑制SRMs。但是，受SRMs多样性与油藏环境异质性的影响，硝酸盐抑制不同油藏酸化的效力与作用机制仍复杂不清。“哪些SRMs引发了渤海湾高温油藏的酸化，如何控制？”等核心科学问题仍悬而未决。本项目以渤海湾绥中36-1油田和埕北油田为研究对象，首先采用高通量筛选技术结合高通量测序技术解析油藏中SRMs种群多样性与代谢特征，揭示该区域油藏酸化的生物学原因；再依次通过批次瓶培养实验和油藏原位酸化模拟控制实验对硝酸盐抑制油藏酸化的效力进行验证、评价与优化，并采用高通量测序和功能基因芯片等技术阐明硝酸盐添加条件下SRMs与NRB交互作用机理。研究结果将为我国高温油藏酸化控制提供科学依据与技术支撑。

Oilfield souring caused by sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRMs) results in various detrimental consequences to oil industry and remains as an unsettled problem related to oil production and environment safety. Previous research indicates that biological control strategy based on nitrate addition can inhibit SRMs by stimulating the activities of heterotrophic nitrate-reducing bacteria (hNRB) and nitrate-reducing, sulfide-oxidizing bacteria (NR-SOB) that are present in oil reservoir. The efficacy and the working mechanisms of nitrate introduction, however, have not been fully addressed due to the heterogeneities among different oil reservoirs and the high diversity of SRMs therein. The fundamental scientific question like what SRMs induce the souring in oil reservoirs at Bohai Bay, and how to control it still remain unclear and to be answered. In this project, we propose to unveil the diversity and metabolic features of SRMs habitats in Suizhong 36-1 Oilfield and Chengbei Oilfield by high-throughput screening of SRMs combined with pyrosequencing technology, aiming to identify the biological causes for souring in oil reservoirs at Bohai Bay. Further, we will verify, evaluate, and optimize the efficacy of nitrate in controlling souring through batch tests coupled with microcosm experiments mimicking the in-situ habitats of the two oilfields. Pyrosequencing as well as functional gene chip analyses will be employed to decipher the interactions of SRMs with hNRB and NR-SOB in the presence of nitrate. The results are expected to throw light on the understanding of microbial souring and its control in offshore high-temperature oil reservoirs in China.