Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geomicrobiological oil prospection

Геомикроъиологичес кая Съемка На Неϕть I. Чувствительность Углеводородныx Ьактерий

I. Sensitivity of Hydrocarbon Bacteria

  • Published:
Folia Microbiologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The sensitivity of hydrocarbon bacteria toward concentrations of gaseous hydrocarbons in soil atmosphere above two oil deposits was studied. Bacteria capable of oxidizing methane, ethane and propane were used. The investigation produced the following results:

  1. (1)

    Methane-oxidizing bacteria were found to grow in all bores tested and the degree of their multiplication differed very little (1–3 x 107). The value of multiplication of methane-oxidizing bacteria could not be used for cartographic treatment of the results. Methane was utilized at concentrations as low as 10-5 % (v/v).

  2. (2)

    Propane-oxidizing bacteria utilized higher gaseous hydrocarbons at a concentration of 10-5% (v/v). The differences in the intensity of their multiplication make it possible to differentiate between concentrations of higher gaseous hydrocarbons in the soil atmosphere within the range of 10-5 to-4% (v/v).

  3. (3)

    The results of the investigation of ethane and propane-oxidizing bacteria made it possible to map the areas with different concentrations of higher gaseous hydrocarbons.

  4. (4)

    Sufficient sensitivity of hydrocarbon bacteria for distinguishing between concentrations of gaseous hydrocarbons above oil deposits and outside of them was established. An informative comparison of the position of bacterial anomalies and of the position of deposits revealed essential agreement in the localization of bacterial minima above the productive area of the deposit.

Abstract

лсследовалась чувствительность углеродородиыx бактерий к различным концептрациям углеволородныx гзов в ат мосϕере почвы над дяумя месторожценпвми неϕти.Культуры бактерии, окислвюшиx метаи, зтан ипроиан, подвергали действиы газообразныx углеволородов в мелкиx скважинаx в исследуемой области. Рост метановых бактерий определйли практически во всех скважинах, и степень их раэмножения в отдельных случаях колебалась мало (1-3. 107). Наоборот, раэмножение бактерий, окисляющих более высокие углеводороды, обнаруживало эаметные раэличия (табл. 1, 2). – лэ сравнения с данными химического определения углеводородных гаэов вытекает, что по раэвитию пропановых бактерий воэможно раэличить концентрацию высшпх гаэообраэных углеводородов в пределах от 10-5 до 10-4% объема (рис. 6). Для картограϕической обработки и сравнения с расположением эалежи неϕти можно было испольэовать только покаэатели раэмножения этановых и полпаговых бактерий (рис. 2, 4). При этой оценку в обоих очагах было отмечено принципальное сходство минимумов бактерий с расположением месторождений неϕти (“halo-effect”). Чувствительность бактерий, лктсдяющих высшие углеводородные гаэы, окаэывается достаточной для распоэнавания концентрации гаэообраэных рад месторождением неϕти и вне его.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beerstecher, E.:Petroleum microbiology. Elsevier, New York 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bokova, J. N., Kuznetsova, V. A., Kuznetsov, S. I.:Oxidation of gaseous hydrocarbons by bacteria as a basis of microbiological prospecting for oil. Dokl. AN SSSR 56: 755, 1947 (Bokoba. H., B. A. Ky, C.: AH CCCP 56: 755, 1947).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, J. B., Raymond, R. L., Stanley, J. P.:Areal contrasts in abundance of hydrocarbon oxidizing microbes in soils. Appl. Microbiol. 7: 156, 1959.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dostalek, M.:R†ustové charakteristiky uhlovodikovych bakterii. Čs. biologie 3: 92, 1954a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dostalek, M.:Propanové bakterie. Čs. biologie 3: 162, 1954b.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dostalek, M.:I solace a vyskyt uhlovodikovych bakterii. Práce Ústavu pro naftovy vyzkum, řada E, publ. 4–8. St. nakl. techn. lit., Praha 1955.

  • Dostálek, M., Knobl, J.:Ethanové bakterie z naftovych oblastí. Práce Ústavu pro naftový výzkum, fada E, publ. 14–16. St. nakl. techri. lit., Praha 1956.

  • Hitziran, D. O.:Prospecting for petroleum deposits. U. S. Patent 2, 880, 142, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mogilevsky, G. A.:Bacteriological method of oil prospecting. Razvedka nedr. 12: 32, 1940 (M. A.: P He. 12: 32, 1940).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mogilevsky, G. A.:Microbiological method of investigation of natural gas and oil deposits. Gosttkhizdat, Moscow 1953 (in Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Munz, E.:Zur Physiologie der Methanbakterien. Dissertation, Halle 1915.

  • Sanderson, R. T.:Oeomicrobiological prospecting. U. S. Patent, 2, 294, 425, 1942.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skacel, J.:Pokusná plynová prospekce. Závěrečná zprava. Archiv Ústavu pro naftový výzkum, Sch 87, Brno 1953.

  • Sokolov, A. V.:Direct geochemical methods of oil prospecting. Gostoptekhizdat, Moscow 1947 (in Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Strawinski, R. J.:Prospecting. U. S. Patent 2, 665, 237, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taggart, M. S.:Oil prospecting method. U. S. Patent 2, 234, 637, 1941.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Technical Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague 6

    M. Dostálek & M. Spurný

Authors
  1. M. Dostálek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Spurný
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The authors are indebted to Mr. D. Novotny of the Institute for Oil Research for providing the necessary geological data and for very kind cooperation in carrying out the investigation.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dostálek, M., Spurný, M. Geomicrobiological oil prospection. Folia Microbiol 7, 141–150 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02927238

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02927238

Keywords

Search

Navigation