WEC Technical Training 2013

Oilfield Bacteria – Lab Exercise

Name:

Date:

Once again there are two parts to today’s lab training. The first section has 3
questions which require short answers covering the presentation portion of the
training as a review of the training material. The hand on in lab training will cover
serial dilution - bug bottle testing procedure and steps to perform a proper
interpretation of the results, and product selection. Field evaluation of emulsions
using the standard testing equipment along with a problem to solve by
developing a testing matrix for the challenges a customer needs resolved.

Short Answer: (Please print all answers on sheet) Please answer the following
questions and prepare for a discussion at the end of the lab session.

1) What are the two main classes of bacteria causing problems in oil and gas
production systems? Describe the classes and the types of bacteria within
the classes.

2) What are the three essential steps of a Micro-Organism Control Program?

 3) What are the crucial factors of biocide selection?

Testing to be done today

The customer has received a consulting report that one of the mechanisms for the
corrosion failure was partly due to bacteria in the flowline. The customer has asked that
a biocide program be investigated to pick the best candidate. The background
information for the system:

 Artificial lift is a mixture of pumpjacks and ESP’s

 Water cuts range from 40 to 85%
 Flowline temperatures 15 to 85oC
 Brine ??? ppm Cl
 Oil API- 35

Lab Exercise
 Bacterial Enumeration (Read bottles from field survey supplied to
customer from incumbent-competitor)
 Set up Kill Study.

o The field sample to be tested will be supplied,

o Biocide products to be tested.
o Follow supplied procedures

Please determine bacteria activity levels filling in the results in the table below:

1 2 3 4 5
APB
SRB

Number of
Colonies/mL
APB
SRB
Bacteria Media Interpretation
a. From the above analysis indicate the reported bacteria per mL for each
media type. Use the table 1 to help interpret and report the viable
bacteria levels

Table 1

Determination of Chloride Level for Broth Concentration Selection

1. Using the Hach Chloride Reagent Kit determine Cl ppm and cap colour

Cl- ppm Cap Colour

2. Set up kill study using biocides supplied 500 & 1500 ppm

3. List steps after the bottles are treated to incubate bottles?