Effect of nitrate addition on prokaryotic diversity and the activity of sulfate-reducing prokaryotes in high-temperature oil production systems

Adding nitrate to injection water is a possible strategy to control the activity of sulfate-reducing prokaryotes (SRP) in oil production system. To assess the effects of nitrate addition, prokaryotic diversity (Bacteria, Archaea, SRP) and SRP activity were studied in the production waters of a nitrate-treated and a non-treated system. Comparative analyses of clone libraries indicated that troublesome prokaryotes were enriched at the non-treated site represented by both sulfate- and sulfur-reducing prokaryotes within the Bacteria (Deltaproteobacteria, Desulfotomaculum spp.) and Archaea (Archaeoglobus spp., Thermococcus spp.). In contrast, they were less frequently detected at the nitrate-treated site, whereas the abundance of potential nitrate reducers (Deferribacterales, Sulfurospirillum spp., Clostridia) and methanogens appeared to be stimulated. The presence of active SRP at the non-treated site was additionally supported by demonstrating their potential activity at 58°C, indicating that the troublesome SRP were pipeline-derived. Consistent with the low frequency of SRP in the clone libraries, no activity could be shown for samples from the nitrate-treated system suggesting that SRP were inhibited by nitrate addition. Visualization and quantification of the identified troublesome prokaryotes and potential competitors using the CARD-FISH technique will be performed on production water from both sites.