Souring and Corrosion Potentials of Onshore and Offshore Oil-producing Facilities in the Nigerian Oil-rich Niger Delta

Abstract

Souring and corrosion potentials of two oil producing facilities were determined by monitoring microbial activities in CSB-K medium and MPN counts of SRB and APB in API RP-38 and ZPRA-5 broth medium, respectively. Corrosion rate measurements were carried out by weight loss method. Our investigation revealed that microbiological activities at the onshore facility were dominated by methanogenesis with zero potential for souring and high potential for corrosion while that of offshore facility were dominated by sulfate reduction with high potential for both souring and corrosion. Biocide treatments were effective against the sulfate-reducing bacteria but not effective against the methanogens associated with corrosion.