Brassicibacter mesophilus for Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sulfate-reducing bacteria, particularly Desulfovibrio vulgaris, cause significant issues in oil and gas production by inducing corrosion and biofilm formation, leading to increased costs and product quality issues, and current biocidal treatments are toxic and unsustainable.
Innovation Solution
Introducing Brassicibacter mesophilus into aqueous systems to reduce the concentration of sulfate-reducing bacteria, including Desulfovibrio vulgaris, by contacting it with the bacteria, which effectively decreases their population through competitive growth mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional biocides are used to control sulfate-reducing bacteria, then the bacterial population is reduced, but toxicity and sustainability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the harmful sulfur-containing compounds produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria as a resource. By introducing sulfur-oxidizing bacteria that consume these sulfur compounds, the system converts the harmful sulfur waste into beneficial oxygen production, thereby controlling SRB population while eliminating toxicity associated with traditional biocides
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sulfur-oxidizing bacteria as intermediary organisms that mediate between sulfate-reducing bacteria and the environment. These intermediary bacteria consume the sulfur compounds excreted by SRB, creating a biological filter that reduces SRB population without requiring toxic biocides
2Productivity
If sulfate-reducing bacteria are present in aqueous systems, then oil production costs increase due to corrosion and biofilm formation, but eliminating them requires toxic substances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful sulfur compounds that cause corrosion and biofilm formation into beneficial oxygen production. Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria utilize the sulfur excreted by sulfate-reducing bacteria as a substrate, oxidizing it to elemental sulfur and then to sulfate while producing oxygen, thereby eliminating corrosion promoters without toxic biocides
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service mechanisms where sulfur-oxidizing bacteria automatically consume the sulfur compounds produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria. This self-regulating biological process eliminates the need for external toxic biocides while maintaining oil production efficiency by continuously removing corrosion promoters
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Brassicibacter mesophilus significantly reduces the population of Desulfovibrio vulgaris, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional biocides by controlling the growth of these bacteria, thereby mitigating corrosion and biofilm-related problems in oil-field applications.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the Brassicibacter mesophilus with sulfate reducing bacteria in the aqueous system... the number of SRB cells decreases as the number of Brassicibacter mesophilus cells increases
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of decreasing the concentration of sulfide reducing bacteria in an aqueous system, particularly in an aqueous system used in oil-field applications.