Evaluate problematic microbes present with 16S Sequencing
LifeCheck DNA 16S Sequencing characterizes and provides insight into the microbial community present, and in what relative proportion. Some microbial communities can exist in a well without issue, while others may directly or indirectly contribute to issues such as well souring and/or microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). Characterizing which microbes are present, and in what relative amounts is the first step to understanding the microbial community, and any negative effects they may pose. The reported results outline the most prevalent microbes detected in the sample along with relative percentages of the total microbial population provided.
Understand who and how many problematic microbes are present
Some microbial communities can exist within a well without issue, while others may directly or indirectly contribute to issues such as well souring and/or microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). Characterizing which microbes are present, and in what relative amounts is the first step to understanding the microbial community, and any negative effects they may pose. 16S metagenomics or functional gene analyses is used as a tool to enumerate and identify the diverse microbes present associated with corrosion products.
Understand what they can do
As a result of the enumeration and identification of the prevalent microbes detected through 16S DNA Sequencing, the recognized functions and known associations to souring, microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), or other oil and gas production-related concerns of all genera constituting at least 1% of the total microbial community is reported. This detailed report provides contextual understanding of the reservoir impacts as a direct result of the listed problematic microbes present.
Quantify those threatening microbes
Dive a little deeper into those problematic microbes listed in the DNA 16S Sequencing report using LifeCheck DNA qPCR. This analysis targets Total Bacteria, Total Archaea, Sulfur Reducing Bacteria, Sulfur Oxidizing Bacteria, Methanogens and Thiosulfate Reducing Bacteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Culturing provides a general distinction between microbial metabolisms, but does not provide meaningful information. This is because most microbes can carry out multiple functions depending on the environment, eg. SRB can produce acetate, which would also make them an APB. Molecular methods (refer to NACE TM0212) are far superior at determining which groups are present and their abundance, and they also bypass the troubles related to culturing.
Alternative tests include ATP, FISH (fluorescent in-situ hybridization), DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole), qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) and metagenomics/16S sequencing. With ATP, you can get a snapshot of the total microbes present in your sample, regardless of the species or type. FISH, DAPI and qPCR are useful for accurately measuring abundance, however you need to first know what you are looking for, as specific probes are required for each microbial group or species you wish to detect. 16S sequencing will tell you all species which are present in a sample, however to quantify, one of the other molecular methods is required in conjunction with the sequencing.
These additional molecular methods do require a lab and a skilled technician to carry them out, which is a drawback. For this reason, OSP launched LifeCheck Resources.
ATP monitoring offers a powerful combination of speed, versatility, portability, and accuracy for microbial testing. All living cells contain ATP regardless of whether they are bacteria, fungi, or any other type of microbe. As such, its measurement is a direct indication of the microbial content in your sample. Our LifeCheck ATP test kit is an easy, fast and accurate microbial enumeration method, valuable in routine monitoring and supporting microbial management programs.
LifeCheck DNA technology is a modern microbial identification and evaluation tool for determining problematic microbial populations in almost any sample type utilizing either 16S rDNA sequencing or qPCR. This innovative genetic testing works by measuring the amount of specific DNA present in the sample from microbes of interest. LifeCheck DNA can provide a full microbial community profile, or quantify targeted microbes.
LifeCheck DNA 16S Sequencing characterizes and provides insight into the microbial community present, and in what relative proportion.
LifeCheck DNA qPCR is innovative genetic testing that detects and accurately quantifies specific microbes without the need for growth media.