Carbon dioxide concentration dictates alternative methanogenic pathways in oil reservoirs

Daisuke Mayumi, Jan Dolfing, Susumu Sakata (), Haruo Maeda, Yoshihiro Miyagawa, Masayuki Ikarashi, Hideyuki Tamaki, Mio Takeuchi, Cindy H. Nakatsu and Yoichi Kamagata ()
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Daisuke Mayumi: Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Jan Dolfing: School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University
Susumu Sakata: Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Haruo Maeda: INPEX Corporation
Yoshihiro Miyagawa: INPEX Corporation
Masayuki Ikarashi: INPEX Corporation
Hideyuki Tamaki: Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Mio Takeuchi: Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Cindy H. Nakatsu: Purdue University
Yoichi Kamagata: Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract Deep subsurface formations (for example, high-temperature oil reservoirs) are candidate sites for carbon capture and storage technology. However, very little is known about how the subsurface microbial community would respond to an increase in CO2 pressure resulting from carbon capture and storage. Here we construct microcosms mimicking reservoir conditions (55 °C, 5 MPa) using high-temperature oil reservoir samples. Methanogenesis occurs under both high and low CO2 conditions in the microcosms. However, the increase in CO2 pressure accelerates the rate of methanogenesis to more than twice than that under low CO2 conditions. Isotope tracer and molecular analyses show that high CO2 conditions invoke acetoclastic methanogenesis in place of syntrophic acetate oxidation coupled with hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis that typically occurs in this environment (low CO2 conditions). Our results present a possibility of carbon capture and storage for enhanced microbial energy production in deep subsurface environments that can mitigate global warming and energy depletion.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2998

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