Syntrophic Hydrocarbon Degradation in a Decommissioned Off-Shore Subsea Oil Storage Structure
Over the last decade, metagenomic studies have revealed the impact of oil production on the microbial ecology of petroleum reservoirs. However, despite their fundamental roles in bioremediation of hydrocarbons, biocorrosion, biofouling and hydrogen sulfide production, oil field and oil production in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/2/356 |
| _version_ | 1797411241901162496 |
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| author | Adrien Vigneron Perrine Cruaud Frederic Ducellier Ian M. Head Nicolas Tsesmetzis |
| author_facet | Adrien Vigneron Perrine Cruaud Frederic Ducellier Ian M. Head Nicolas Tsesmetzis |
| author_sort | Adrien Vigneron |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Over the last decade, metagenomic studies have revealed the impact of oil production on the microbial ecology of petroleum reservoirs. However, despite their fundamental roles in bioremediation of hydrocarbons, biocorrosion, biofouling and hydrogen sulfide production, oil field and oil production infrastructure microbiomes are poorly explored. Understanding of microbial activities within oil production facilities is therefore crucial for environmental risk mitigation, most notably during decommissioning. The analysis of the planktonic microbial community from the aqueous phase of a subsea oil-storage structure was conducted. This concrete structure was part of the production platform of the Brent oil field (North Sea), which is currently undergoing decommissioning. Quantification and sequencing of microbial 16S rRNA genes, metagenomic analysis and reconstruction of metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) revealed a unique microbiome, strongly dominated by organisms related to <i>Dethiosulfatibacter</i> and <i>Cloacimonadetes</i>. Consistent with the hydrocarbon content in the aqueous phase of the structure, a strong potential for degradation of low molecular weight aromatic hydrocarbons was apparent in the microbial community. These degradation pathways were associated with taxonomically diverse microorganisms, including the predominant <i>Dethiosulfatibacter</i> and <i>Cloacimonadetes</i> lineages, expanding the list of potential hydrocarbon degraders. Genes associated with direct and indirect interspecies exchanges (multiheme type-C cytochromes, hydrogenases and formate/acetate metabolism) were widespread in the community, suggesting potential syntrophic hydrocarbon degradation processes in the system. Our results illustrate the importance of genomic data for informing decommissioning strategies in marine environments and reveal that hydrocarbon-degrading community composition and metabolisms in man-made marine structures might differ markedly from natural hydrocarbon-rich marine environments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:43:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b1230c13677f4eb2bf52bb1e3e1b2ef4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:43:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-b1230c13677f4eb2bf52bb1e3e1b2ef42023-12-03T13:19:07ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-02-019235610.3390/microorganisms9020356Syntrophic Hydrocarbon Degradation in a Decommissioned Off-Shore Subsea Oil Storage StructureAdrien Vigneron0Perrine Cruaud1Frederic Ducellier2Ian M. Head3Nicolas Tsesmetzis4Shell International Exploration and Production Inc., Houston, TX 77082, USAInstitut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1S 0A6, CanadaSociété des Pétroles Shell, 92708 Colombes, FranceSchool of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UKShell International Exploration and Production Inc., Houston, TX 77082, USAOver the last decade, metagenomic studies have revealed the impact of oil production on the microbial ecology of petroleum reservoirs. However, despite their fundamental roles in bioremediation of hydrocarbons, biocorrosion, biofouling and hydrogen sulfide production, oil field and oil production infrastructure microbiomes are poorly explored. Understanding of microbial activities within oil production facilities is therefore crucial for environmental risk mitigation, most notably during decommissioning. The analysis of the planktonic microbial community from the aqueous phase of a subsea oil-storage structure was conducted. This concrete structure was part of the production platform of the Brent oil field (North Sea), which is currently undergoing decommissioning. Quantification and sequencing of microbial 16S rRNA genes, metagenomic analysis and reconstruction of metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) revealed a unique microbiome, strongly dominated by organisms related to <i>Dethiosulfatibacter</i> and <i>Cloacimonadetes</i>. Consistent with the hydrocarbon content in the aqueous phase of the structure, a strong potential for degradation of low molecular weight aromatic hydrocarbons was apparent in the microbial community. These degradation pathways were associated with taxonomically diverse microorganisms, including the predominant <i>Dethiosulfatibacter</i> and <i>Cloacimonadetes</i> lineages, expanding the list of potential hydrocarbon degraders. Genes associated with direct and indirect interspecies exchanges (multiheme type-C cytochromes, hydrogenases and formate/acetate metabolism) were widespread in the community, suggesting potential syntrophic hydrocarbon degradation processes in the system. Our results illustrate the importance of genomic data for informing decommissioning strategies in marine environments and reveal that hydrocarbon-degrading community composition and metabolisms in man-made marine structures might differ markedly from natural hydrocarbon-rich marine environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/2/356MAGsmetagenomicsoil systemsbioremediationmarine environmentsalkanes |
| spellingShingle | Adrien Vigneron Perrine Cruaud Frederic Ducellier Ian M. Head Nicolas Tsesmetzis Syntrophic Hydrocarbon Degradation in a Decommissioned Off-Shore Subsea Oil Storage Structure Microorganisms MAGs metagenomics oil systems bioremediation marine environments alkanes |
| title | Syntrophic Hydrocarbon Degradation in a Decommissioned Off-Shore Subsea Oil Storage Structure |
| title_full | Syntrophic Hydrocarbon Degradation in a Decommissioned Off-Shore Subsea Oil Storage Structure |
| title_fullStr | Syntrophic Hydrocarbon Degradation in a Decommissioned Off-Shore Subsea Oil Storage Structure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Syntrophic Hydrocarbon Degradation in a Decommissioned Off-Shore Subsea Oil Storage Structure |
| title_short | Syntrophic Hydrocarbon Degradation in a Decommissioned Off-Shore Subsea Oil Storage Structure |
| title_sort | syntrophic hydrocarbon degradation in a decommissioned off shore subsea oil storage structure |
| topic | MAGs metagenomics oil systems bioremediation marine environments alkanes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/2/356 |
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