Crude Crusaders

Organisms that stimulate methane gas production from older oil reservoirs may also help fight the biodeterioration and biocorrosion of oil pipelines, tankers and storage tanks.

With over 500,000 miles of pipeline crisscrossing the United States, interruptions in the energy supply can be significant and cause price spikes with global implications.

These microorganisms grow inside pipelines because water often accompanies hydrocarbons pumped from the ground. When more water is pumped as the reservoirs age, an even greater problem develops.

By isolating organisms that metabolize hydrocarbons in the absence of oxygen, researchers think they have a better idea how microorganisms eat through these pipes.

"We think cells grow in communities that adhere to the inner surface of pipelines and form three-dimensional biofilms that can sometimes cause pitting," said Suflita. "Once we understand what these microorganisms are doing, we can interrupt their processes or diagnose them more effectively."

This information could help prevent leaks that contaminate the environment.

-- LiveScience Staff

• Top 10 Emerging Environmental Technologies

• Oil Drilling: Risks and Rewards

• Why Oil Prices Skyrocketed

Image Credit: iStockphoto, Gordan Poropat