Evaluation of Non-oxidizing Biocides to Control Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria on a
Produced Water Injection Plant
Matilde F. de Romero
£
, Lisseth Ocando, Antonio De Turris
Universidad del Zulia - Centro de Estudios de Corrosión, Maracaibo-Venezuela.
£
INCORS, Lima-Perú.
Laura L. Machuca
Curtin University - Curtin Corrosion Engineering Industry Centre. Australia.
ABSTRACT
This study shows the procedure used for evaluating the effectiveness of a variety of non-oxidizing
biocides for controlling microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB)
in a water injection plant of a Venezuelan oil company. A laboratory screening of 15 biocides was
completed against sessile SRB on carbon steel surfaces at the maximum concentration established by
the manufacturer and two hours as contact time. This evaluation permitted a reduction of the options to
four biocides. Results showed that a good method for growing biofilms and evaluating the efficiency of
biocides in laboratory was the use of produced water with a 10% inoculum of a fully grown SRB culture
originating from the field system.
Keywords: Non-oxidizing biocides, MIC, sessile SRB, produced water.
INTRODUCTION
Microbiologically influenced corrosion by SRB is one of the principal problems that affect the oil and gas
industry. The most affected systems are those related to secondary oil recovery and injection water,
which are generally contaminated with this bacterial group. It is well known that elimination of
microorganisms from these ecosystems is very difficult since they can be indigenous to the same
formation or can enter the system during the early stages of exploration. Therefore, the practical
alternative to handle these problems is by the application of non-oxidizing biocides, to maintain under
control the levels of sessile bacteria so that they do not represent a threat for internal corrosion.
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Nowadays, there is a great range of compounds within this group of non-oxidizing biocides that are
effective at certain specific conditions, but not in others; thus, their efficiency should be evaluated
before its actual application in the field. The effectiveness of the biocides against planktonic populations
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Paper No.
5793
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