ENRICHMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA FROM SANDSTONE ROCK CORES FROM THE UK CONTINENTAL-SHELF

A fresh sandstone core was extracted during drilling of an exploration well within a United Kingdom Continental Shelf oilfield at a depth of approximately 1000 m, Scanning electron microscopy of the rock core r evealed cell-like structures attached to the sandstone grains. Microbi ological analysis demonstrated that the inner core was not sterile but contained sulfate-reducing bacteria and other anaerobes. One enrichme nt culture of sulfate-reducing bacteria (denoted EX306), was chosen fo r further study, Enrichments of EX306 showed that it was comprised of a tightly knit group of three different bacteria which continued as a stable community despite repeated subculturing for over 2 years. EX306 was able to utilise pyruvate-producing acetate and propionate as meta bolites, growth was optimal at 55 degrees C.