Abstract
Two marine bacterial isolates from drill mud cuttings obtained from Agbara oilfield,Staphylococcus sp. andBacillus sp., were cultured aerobically in the presence of varying concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 75 μg/ml) of drilling fluids to determine the effects of concentration of toxicants on their growth. With the exception of Clairsol, Enviromul, and Baroid mineral oil, which had little or no effect, the exponential growth ofBacillus sp. was depressed by all other test chemicals. Additionally, all test chemicals except Clairsol had no effect on lag phase of growth ofBacillus sp. WithStaphylococcus sp. the depressive effect on the exponential phase of growth was shown by almost all test chemicals. There was enhancement of both growth rate and generation times ofStaphylococcus sp. and decrease of those ofBacillus sp. with increasing concentrations of drilling fluids. These results show that while some drilling fluids may be stimulatory or depressive to bacterial growth, others may be without effect.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Amanchukwu, S. C., A. Obafemi and G. C. Okpokwasili. 1989. Hydrocarbon degradation and utilization by a palmwine yeast isolate.FEMS Microbiology Letters 57:151–154.
Calder, J. A., and J. H. Lader, 1976. Effect of dissolved aromatic hydrocarbons on the growth of marine bacteria in batch culture,Applied and Environmental Microbiology 32:95–101.
Carpenter, P. L. 1977. Microbiology. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia.
Cerniglia, C. E., and M. A. Heitkamp. 1988. Microbial degradation of polyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the aquatic environment. Pages 41–68in U. Varanasi (ed.), Metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the aquatic environment. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
Cruickshank, R., J. R. Duguid, B. P. Marman, and R. H. A. Swain. 1975. Medical microbiology, Volume II, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.
Gerhardt, P., R. C. E., Murray, R. N. Costilow, and G. B. Philips. 1981. Manual of methods for general bacteriology. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.
Heitkamp, M. A., and C. E. Cerniglia. 1988. Mineralization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by a bacterium isolated from sediment below an oil field.Applied and Environmental Microbiology 54:1612–1614.
Holt, J. G. 1982. The Shorter Bergey's manual of determinative bacteriology, 8th ed. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore.
Ifeadi, C. N., J. N. Nwankwo, A. B. Ekaluo, and I. I. Orubima. 1985. Treatment and disposal of drilling muds and cuttings in the Nigerian petroleum industry. Pages 55–80.in The Petroleum Industry and the Nigerian Environment, Proceedings of the 1985 International Seminar. Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Lagos.
MacFaddin, J. F. 1979. Biochemical tests for identification of medical bacteria. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore.
Mills, A. L., C. Breuil, and R. R. Colwell. 1978. Enumeration of petroleum degrading marine and estuarine microorganisms by the most probable number method.Canadian Journal of Microbiology 22:552–557.
Muhlemann, T. N. 1986. Guide to drilling completion and workover fluids.In World Oil 202. Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Texas.
Nnubia, C., and G. C. Okpokwasili. 1993. The microbiology of drill mud cuttings from a new offshore oilfield in Nigeria.Environmental Pollution 82:153–156.
Okpokwasili, G. C., and S. C. Amanchukwu. 1988. petroleum hydrocarbon degradation byCandida species.Environment International 14:243–247.
Okpokwasili, G. C., and A. I. Nwosu. 1990. Degradation of aldrin by bacterial isolates.Nigerian Journal of Technological Research 2:1–6.
Okpokwasili, G. C., and B. B. Okorie. 1988. Biodeterioration potentials of microorganism isolated from car engine lubricating oil.Tribology International 21:215–220.
Okpokwasili, G. C., and B. B. Okorie. 1991. Influence of physicochemical stress on biodegradability of car engine lubricating oil.International Biodeterioration 27:255–264.
Okpokwasili, G. C., C. C. Somerville, M. Sullivan, D. J. Grimes, and R. R. Colwell. 1986. Plasmid-mediated degradation of hydrocarbons by estuarine bacteria.Oil and Chemical Pollution 3:117–129.
Pawsey, R. K. 1974. Techniques with bacteria. Hutchinson Educational, London.
Stanier, R. Y., E. A. Adelberg, and J. L. Ingraham. 1977. General microbiology. Prentice Hall, London.
Thijsse, G. J. E., and A. C. van der Linden. 1961. Iso-alkane oxidation by aPseudomonas.Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 27:171–179.
Walker, J. D., P. A. Seesman, and R. R. Colwell. 1974. Effects of petroleum on estuarine bacteria.Marine Pollution Bulletin 5:186–188.
Westlake, D. W. S. 1982. Microorganisms and the degradation of oil under Northern marine conditions. Pages 47–53in J. B. Sprague, J. H. Vandermeulen, and P. G. Wells (eds.), Oil and dispersants in Canadian seas—research appraisal and recommendations. Environmental Impact Control Directorate, Ottawa, Canada.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Okpokwasili, G.C., Nnubia, C. Effects of drilling fluids on marine bacteria from a Nigerian offshore oilfield. Environmental Management 19, 923–929 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02471943
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02471943