Environmental
Geogenomics offers sample testing and consultation to aid clients in better understanding the microbiology associated with their assets and operations.
Baselines
Establishment of environmental baseline conditions are an important precursor for industrial activity that is expected to effect a target ecosystem or habitat. Microbial communities in soil, water and sediment contain billions of cells and immense diversity that can be captured by DNA sequencing surveys. Assessing millions to billions of individual organisms in this way is a highly sensitive and cost-effective approach that can be referenced in subsequent biomonitoring.
Biomonitoring
The health of any system is linked to its microbiome, e.g. healthy soil, healthy groundwater, or healthy marine ecosystems. DNA sequencing targeted to microbial biodiversity is ideal for characterising the microbiome, allowing inferences to be made about local biogeochemistry and ecosystem services. The principles that apply to natural habitats can also be applied to engineered systems in relation to industrial performance.
Remediation
Microbial communities host immense diversity making them poised to respond rapidly to changing environmental conditions. In response to contamination, like an oil spill, the microbial community experiences a reorganisation with some members suffering from toxicity while others that specialise in oil biodegradation can proliferate. DNA sequencing can monitor these changes with high sensitivity.
Oil & Gas
Geogenomics Inc provides unique interpretation of geomicrobiological contexts, challenges and opportunities for companies working in the oil and gas industry and other sectors.
Production
Microorganisms can have detrimental or beneficial consequences for oil and gas production. Biofouling is the build-up of microbial biomass and metabolic by-products such as iron sulphides, plugging reservoir pore spaces and impacting production. Certain enhanced oil recovery methods rely on microorganisms for production of biogas, biosurfactants or to plug high permeability zones.
Souring & Corrosion
Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in oil fields are well known causative agents of souring, the production of toxic hydrogen sulfide. This is a common problem in response to secondary oil recovery via injection of sulfate-rich fluids such as seawater. Sulfide and SRB, as well as other oil field microbes, can cause corrosion of flowlines and other infrastructure leading to costly failures and replacements.
Exploration
Microorganisms have utility as bioindicators of hydrocarbon seepage and thereby in the exploration for working petroleum systems in the subsurface. Seepage transports hydrocarbons, as well as some bacteria, from subsurface depths up to the surface. DNA sequencing surveys targeting hydrocarbon-degrading populations or subsurface-derived bacteria can point to hotspots, helping to de-risk exploration decisions.
How Can We Help?
Our services include thorough consultations to target our clients’ specific questions and needs.