Abstract
Methanogenesis is considered the main terminal process of subsurface anaerobic organic-matter degradation. Previous geochemical studies have reported CO2-reducing and acetoclastic methanogenesis as the predominant subsurface methanogenic pathways for primary and secondary biogenic gas generation (i.e. in oil biodegradation or coalbed methane settings). In lab-scale experiments and microbiology literature, however, methanogens have been shown to be able to utilise a wider variety of substrates, typically containing methyl groups, i.e. dimethyl sulphide (DMS), methyl amines (e.g. TMA), formate, and methanol. Additional methanogenic substrates include CO and other primary alcohols and secondary alcohols (Whitman et al., 2006; Fig. 25.1). Here, we describe a volumetrically important natural biogenic gas field in which these methylotrophic pathways have contributed significantly to biomethane formation.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Doerfert SN, Reichlen M, Iyer P, Wang M, Ferry JG (2009) Methanolobus zinderi sp. nov., a methylotrophic methanogen isolated from a deep subsurface coal seam. Int J System Evol Microbiol 59:1064–1069
König H, Stetter KO (1982) Isolation and characterization of Methanolobus tindarius, sp. nov., a coccoid methanogen growing only on methanol and methylamines. Zentralbl Bakteriol Parasitenkd Infektionskr Hyg Abt 1 Orig C3, 478–490
Mochimaru H, Uchiyama H, Yoshioka H, Imachi H, Hoaki T, Tamaki H, Nakamura K, Sekiguchi Y, Kamagata Y (2009) Methanogen diversity in deep subsurface gas-associated water at the Minami-Kanto gas field in Japan. Geomicrobiol J 24:93–100
Sowers KR, Baron SF, Ferry JG (1984) Methanosarcina acetivorans sp. nov., an acetotrophic methane-producing bacterium isolated from marine sediments. Appl Environ Microbiol 47:971–978
Whiticar MJ, Faber E, Schoell M (1986) Biogenic methane formation in marine and freshwater environments: CO2 reduction vs. acetate fermentation – isotope evidence. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 50:693–709
Whitman WB, Bowen TL, Boone DR (2006) The methanogenic bacteria. Prokaryotes 3:165–207
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Netherlands
About this paper
Cite this paper
Strąpoć, D., Ashby, M., Wood, L., Levinson, R., Huizinga, B. (2010). How Specific Microbial Communities Benefit the Oil Industry: Significant Contribution of Methyl/Methanol-Utilising Methanogenic Pathway in a Subsurface Biogas Environment. In: Whitby, C., Skovhus, T. (eds) Applied Microbiology and Molecular Biology in Oilfield Systems. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9252-6_25
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9252-6_25
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-9251-9
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-9252-6
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)