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Microbial Methanogenesis and Strategies for Enhancements

Completed
By Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center November 13, 2018

Microbial (biogenic) natural gas is present in shale, coal and petroleum reservoirs and is estimated to account for 20% of the world’s natural gas resources. We provide hydrological, geochemical and microbial information related to the production of biogenic natural gas and new methods to monitor and enhance the production of this energy resource. Generating microbial methane at a faster rate from subsurface hydrocarbon deposits could extend the life of natural gas wells through microbially-enhanced natural gas production. This technology could increase natural gas resources and utilize existing infrastructure once in-ground resources have been depleted (e.g., depleted oil and gas reservoirs).

Below are other science projects associated with this project task.

Geochemistry Trace Science Object Representation Thumb

Trace Elements in Energy Fuels

In this task we conduct new interpretive studies of the concentration and distribution of trace metals and mercury in coal and other energy materials. Complementary studies of coal combustion products are conducted under Task 8. Together with use of existing USGS databases, we examine the potential for reducing emissions of potentially toxic substances by coal preparation, and by optimizing coal...
By
Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center
Trace Elements in Energy Fuels

Trace Elements in Energy Fuels

In this task we conduct new interpretive studies of the concentration and distribution of trace metals and mercury in coal and other energy materials. Complementary studies of coal combustion products are conducted under Task 8. Together with use of existing USGS databases, we examine the potential for reducing emissions of potentially toxic substances by coal preparation, and by optimizing coal...
Learn More
Geochemistry Physical Science Object Representation Thumb

Controls on Unconventional Oil and Gas Production

This scoping task incorporates insights from new approaches to production of unconventional resources and currently focuses on conducting a pilot assessment of biogenic natural gas resources in the Permian Basin. For the pilot assessment to occur, we are developing a database that will host geochemical parameters known to be suggestive of microbial methanogenesis mined to the reservoir level for...
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center
Controls on Unconventional Oil and Gas Production

Controls on Unconventional Oil and Gas Production

This scoping task incorporates insights from new approaches to production of unconventional resources and currently focuses on conducting a pilot assessment of biogenic natural gas resources in the Permian Basin. For the pilot assessment to occur, we are developing a database that will host geochemical parameters known to be suggestive of microbial methanogenesis mined to the reservoir level for...
Learn More

Below are publications associated with this project task.

Environmental drivers of differences in microbial community structure in crude oil reservoirs across a methanogenic gradient Environmental drivers of differences in microbial community structure in crude oil reservoirs across a methanogenic gradient

Stimulating in situ microbial communities in oil reservoirs to produce natural gas is a potentially viable strategy for recovering additional fossil fuel resources following traditional recovery operations. Little is known about what geochemical parameters drive microbial population dynamics in biodegraded, methanogenic oil reservoirs. We investigated if microbial community structure was
Authors
Jenna L. Shelton, Denise M. Akob, Jennifer C. McIntosh, Noah Fierer, John R. Spear, Peter D. Warwick, John E. McCray
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Energy Resources Program, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston Microbiology Laboratory

Cultivation of a native alga for biomass and biofuel accumulation in coal bed methane production water Cultivation of a native alga for biomass and biofuel accumulation in coal bed methane production water

Coal bed methane (CBM) production has resulted in thousands of ponds in the Powder River Basin of low-quality water in a water-challenged region. A green alga isolate, PW95, was isolated from a CBM production pond, and analysis of a partial ribosomal gene sequence indicated the isolate belongs to the Chlorococcaceae family. Different combinations of macro- and micronutrients were...
Authors
Logan H. Hodgskiss, Justin Nagy, Elliott P. Barnhart, Alfred B. Cunningham, Matthew W. Fields
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Structural degradation of Thar lignite using MW1 fungal isolate: optimization studies Structural degradation of Thar lignite using MW1 fungal isolate: optimization studies

Biological degradation of low-rank coals, particularly degradation mediated by fungi, can play an important role in helping us to utilize neglected lignite resources for both fuel and non-fuel applications. Fungal degradation of low-rank coals has already been investigated for the extraction of soil-conditioning agents and the substrates, which could be subjected to subsequent processing...
Authors
Rizwan Haider, Muhammad A. Ghauri, Elizabeth J. Jones, William H. Orem, John R. SanFilipo
By
Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Potential role of acetyl-CoA synthetase (acs) and malate dehydrogenase (mae) in the evolution of the acetate switch in Bacteria and Archaea Potential role of acetyl-CoA synthetase (acs) and malate dehydrogenase (mae) in the evolution of the acetate switch in Bacteria and Archaea

Although many Archaea have AMP-Acs (acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase) and ADP-Acs, the extant methanogenic genus Methanosarcina is the only identified Archaeal genus that can utilize acetate via acetate kinase (Ack) and phosphotransacetylase (Pta). Despite the importance of ack as the potential urkinase in the ASKHA phosphotransferase superfamily, an origin hypothesis does not exist for the...
Authors
Elliott P. Barnhart, Marcella A. McClure, Kiki Johnson, Sean Cleveland, Kristopher A. Hunt, Matthew W. Fields
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Microbial (biogenic) natural gas is present in shale, coal and petroleum reservoirs and is estimated to account for 20% of the world’s natural gas resources. We provide hydrological, geochemical and microbial information related to the production of biogenic natural gas and new methods to monitor and enhance the production of this energy resource. Generating microbial methane at a faster rate from subsurface hydrocarbon deposits could extend the life of natural gas wells through microbially-enhanced natural gas production. This technology could increase natural gas resources and utilize existing infrastructure once in-ground resources have been depleted (e.g., depleted oil and gas reservoirs).

Below are other science projects associated with this project task.

Geochemistry Trace Science Object Representation Thumb

Trace Elements in Energy Fuels

In this task we conduct new interpretive studies of the concentration and distribution of trace metals and mercury in coal and other energy materials. Complementary studies of coal combustion products are conducted under Task 8. Together with use of existing USGS databases, we examine the potential for reducing emissions of potentially toxic substances by coal preparation, and by optimizing coal...
By
Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center
Trace Elements in Energy Fuels

Trace Elements in Energy Fuels

In this task we conduct new interpretive studies of the concentration and distribution of trace metals and mercury in coal and other energy materials. Complementary studies of coal combustion products are conducted under Task 8. Together with use of existing USGS databases, we examine the potential for reducing emissions of potentially toxic substances by coal preparation, and by optimizing coal...
Learn More
Geochemistry Physical Science Object Representation Thumb

Controls on Unconventional Oil and Gas Production

This scoping task incorporates insights from new approaches to production of unconventional resources and currently focuses on conducting a pilot assessment of biogenic natural gas resources in the Permian Basin. For the pilot assessment to occur, we are developing a database that will host geochemical parameters known to be suggestive of microbial methanogenesis mined to the reservoir level for...
By
Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center
Controls on Unconventional Oil and Gas Production

Controls on Unconventional Oil and Gas Production

This scoping task incorporates insights from new approaches to production of unconventional resources and currently focuses on conducting a pilot assessment of biogenic natural gas resources in the Permian Basin. For the pilot assessment to occur, we are developing a database that will host geochemical parameters known to be suggestive of microbial methanogenesis mined to the reservoir level for...
Learn More

Below are publications associated with this project task.

Environmental drivers of differences in microbial community structure in crude oil reservoirs across a methanogenic gradient Environmental drivers of differences in microbial community structure in crude oil reservoirs across a methanogenic gradient

Stimulating in situ microbial communities in oil reservoirs to produce natural gas is a potentially viable strategy for recovering additional fossil fuel resources following traditional recovery operations. Little is known about what geochemical parameters drive microbial population dynamics in biodegraded, methanogenic oil reservoirs. We investigated if microbial community structure was
Authors
Jenna L. Shelton, Denise M. Akob, Jennifer C. McIntosh, Noah Fierer, John R. Spear, Peter D. Warwick, John E. McCray
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Energy Resources Program, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston Microbiology Laboratory

Cultivation of a native alga for biomass and biofuel accumulation in coal bed methane production water Cultivation of a native alga for biomass and biofuel accumulation in coal bed methane production water

Coal bed methane (CBM) production has resulted in thousands of ponds in the Powder River Basin of low-quality water in a water-challenged region. A green alga isolate, PW95, was isolated from a CBM production pond, and analysis of a partial ribosomal gene sequence indicated the isolate belongs to the Chlorococcaceae family. Different combinations of macro- and micronutrients were...
Authors
Logan H. Hodgskiss, Justin Nagy, Elliott P. Barnhart, Alfred B. Cunningham, Matthew W. Fields
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Structural degradation of Thar lignite using MW1 fungal isolate: optimization studies Structural degradation of Thar lignite using MW1 fungal isolate: optimization studies

Biological degradation of low-rank coals, particularly degradation mediated by fungi, can play an important role in helping us to utilize neglected lignite resources for both fuel and non-fuel applications. Fungal degradation of low-rank coals has already been investigated for the extraction of soil-conditioning agents and the substrates, which could be subjected to subsequent processing...
Authors
Rizwan Haider, Muhammad A. Ghauri, Elizabeth J. Jones, William H. Orem, John R. SanFilipo
By
Energy Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Potential role of acetyl-CoA synthetase (acs) and malate dehydrogenase (mae) in the evolution of the acetate switch in Bacteria and Archaea Potential role of acetyl-CoA synthetase (acs) and malate dehydrogenase (mae) in the evolution of the acetate switch in Bacteria and Archaea

Although many Archaea have AMP-Acs (acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase) and ADP-Acs, the extant methanogenic genus Methanosarcina is the only identified Archaeal genus that can utilize acetate via acetate kinase (Ack) and phosphotransacetylase (Pta). Despite the importance of ack as the potential urkinase in the ASKHA phosphotransferase superfamily, an origin hypothesis does not exist for the...
Authors
Elliott P. Barnhart, Marcella A. McClure, Kiki Johnson, Sean Cleveland, Kristopher A. Hunt, Matthew W. Fields
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
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