Compositional Analysis of Formation Water Geochemistry and Microbiology of Commercial and Carbon Dioxide-Rich Wells in the Southwestern United States
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Abstract
Studies of naturally occurring subsurface carbon dioxide (CO2) accumulations can provide useful information for potential CO2 injection projects; however, the microbial communities and formation water geochemistry of most reservoirs are understudied. Formation water and microbial biomass were sampled at four CO2-rich reservoir sites: two within Bravo Dome, a commercial CO2 field in New Mexico; one northwest of Bravo Dome in Colorado (Oakdale Field); and one southwest of Bravo Dome in New Mexico (Rafter “K” Ranch). Aside from the Rafter “K” Ranch site, minor differences were observed in the geochemistry of formation water collected from these sites compared to historical data. No organisms were significantly associated with Oakdale Field compared to the other three sites, nor were any hydrogeochemical or gas geochemical parameters (for example, CO2 concentration) found to have significant associations with the microbial ecology of these four sites. Microorganisms from these sites were metabolically diverse and had the potential to (1) generate methane, (2) produce corrosive hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and (3) rapidly biofoul and (or) clog pore spaces by shifting microbial communities with changes in salinity or nutrient supply. This study demonstrates that high concentrations of CO2 in subsurface reservoirs apparently have not imparted a distinct geochemical or microbiological signature on the associated formation waters and that the microorganisms in these reservoirs are metabolically diverse and could adapt to geochemical changes in the subsurface.
Suggested Citation
Shelton, J.L., Andrews, R.S., Akob, D.M., DeVera, C.A., Mumford, A.C., Engle, M., Plampin, M.R., and Brennan, S.T., 2020, Compositional analysis of formation water geochemistry and microbiology of commercial and carbon dioxide-rich wells in the southwestern United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2020–5037, 26 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20205037.
ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)
Study Area
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Background and Study Sites
- Methods
- Produced Fluid Geochemistry
- Microbial Community Composition and Diversity
- Growth and Activity of Microbial Functional Groups in the Rafter “K” Ranch and Oakdale Field Samples
- Conclusions
- References Cited
Publication type | Report |
---|---|
Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
Title | Compositional analysis of formation water geochemistry and microbiology of commercial and carbon dioxide-rich wells in the southwestern United States |
Series title | Scientific Investigations Report |
Series number | 2020-5037 |
DOI | 10.3133/sir20205037 |
Year Published | 2020 |
Language | English |
Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
Publisher location | Reston, VA |
Contributing office(s) | Eastern Energy Resources Science Center |
Description | viii, 26 p. |
Country | United States |
State | Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma |
Online Only (Y/N) | Y |
Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |