EXAMINATION OF 13 PETROLIFEROUS FORMATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON-UTILIZING SULFATE-REDUCING MICROORGANISMS

Virgin cores and production fluids were obtained from seven wells, ran ging in depth from 805 ft to 14 492 ft, and examined for the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) using Rosenfeld's sulfate-reducing medium modified by using crude oil in place of lactate. Cores from an additional six wells, ranging in depth from 1160 it to 13 337 ft were tested for SRB using the modified Rosenfeld medium and API-sulfate-red ucing medium. Produced waters from five of the six wells were tested a lso. All of the eleven produced water samples were positive for SRB wh ile H2S production was not detected from the core samples.