Oil and Gas Microbiological Surveys

Finding bacteria causing microbiologically influenced corrosion.

Intertek Commercial Microbiology® provides microbiological surveys, supporting the oil and gas industry. Microbiological surveys can help identify and determine if bacteria are responsible for accelerated microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) and to determine the risk of such activity.

Microbiological surveys are conducted at: 

• Wellsites
• Pipeline
• Processing and Storage Terminals
• Other applications

Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) are well known to cause MIC in injection systems, production systems, firewater systems at the wellsite, as well as within pipelines and processing facilities, if appropriate suitable preventative measures are not applied. These surveys initially allow operators to determine areas of their systems which may be at high risk of SRB growth and activity. Thereafter survey data allows the most appropriate strategies to prevent or mitigate MIC at that location.

In addition, bacterial activity can also deplete nitrite-based corrosion inhibitors within heating and cooling medium in heat exchangers. This time the problem is due to Nitrate Reducing Bacteria (NRB) and their activity may result in accelerated corrosion rates and excessive costs associated with repeated replenishment of nitrite chemicals. Diesel fuels can also suffer from bacterial growth which can grossly affect the fuel quality and result in damage to pumps, cam shafts and fuel injectors and in some extreme cases result in accelerated corrosion and loss of integrity within the storage tanks.

Contact us to see how Intertek can help your organization with Oil and Gas Microbiological Surveys.