Polymer biodegradation by Halanaerobium promotes reservoir souring during hydraulic fracturing.
G. Scheffer, A. Chakraborty, K. Amundson, R. Khan, M. Wilkins, K. Wrighton, P. Evans, C. R. Hubert
The paper investigates how Halanaerobium metabolizes guar gum in produced water from hydraulic fracturing, showing that polymer biodegradation at 30°C generates fermentation intermediates that contribute to reservoir souring when introduced into subsurface environments at 60°C.
bioRxiv · Jun 16, 2023 · PreprintMicrobiology