Carbon Dioxide Corrosion and Acetate: A Hypothesis on the Influence of Microorganisms

// is our hypothesis that fermentative, acetogenic, and sulfaiereductng bacteria residing in pipeline faculties can influence corrosion through the production of carbon dioxide and acetate under the prevailing anaerobic conditions. The exacerbation of carbon dioxide corrosion of carbon sleel in the presence of acetic acid is a well-known phenomenon in the oil Industry. Doth chemical compounds can be produced and consumed by microorganisms during the anaerobic biodeuradation of organic mutter—including l\ydrocarbojis. We contend that the principles governing anaerobic biodegradation activity can be extrapolaled to aboveground oil production facilities and lhal the mlcrobial diversity inherent in petroleum reservoirs largely reflects that in pipeWies.