Petroleum hydrocarbons are both a product of, and rich substrate for, microorganisms from across all Domains of life. Rooted deeply in the history of microbiology, hydrocarbons have been studied as sources of carbon and energy for microorganisms for over a century. As global demand for petroleum and its refined products continues to rise, so do challenges associated with environmental pollution, oil well souring, infrastructure corrosion, oil recovery, transport, refining, and upgrading of heavy crude oils and bitumens. Advances in genomics, synthetic biology and metabolic engineering has invigorated interest in petroleum microbial biotechnology as interest grows in technologies for in situ methane production, biodesulfurization and biodenitrogenation, bio-upgrading of heavy crudes, microbial enhanced oil recovery, corrosion control, and biocatalysts for generating value-added products. Given the complexity of the global petroleum industry and the harsh conditions in which it operates, a deeper understanding of the ecophysiology of aerobic and anaerobic microbial communities that have associations with petroleum hydrocarbons is needed if robust technologies are to be deployed successfully. This research topic highlights recent advances in microbial enhanced oil recovery, methanogenic hydrocarbon metabolism and carbon dioxide sequestration, bioremediation, microbiologically influenced corrosion, biodesulfurization, and the application of metagenomics to better understand microbial communities associated with petroleum hydrocarbons.

This volume offers environmentally friendly technical solutions that can be implemented to solve problems throughout the value chain of the fossil fuel industry. This new book presents an up-to date view of hydrocarbon microbiology and biotechnology, presented by experts around the world with interest in how our expanding understanding of hydrocarbonoclast ecology and physiology can translate to better tools for bioremediation, oil recovery, bio-upgrading of unconventional crudes, the development of biorefining technologies, and the production of hydrogen and electricity from hydrocarbon wastes. The common theme across the chapters in this book is an interest in how developing hydrocarbon biotechnologies may reduce our impact on the global environment. Written by eminent scientists from both academia and industry, the book starts with a historical perspective on hydrocarbon chemistry and formation, petroleum microbiology, and biotechnology. This is followed by a review of recent research developments in bioremediation and other biotechnologies for hydrocarbons, the principal constituents of petroleum and natural gas.

This book is one of a kind in the field of petroleum biorefining and biological upgrade of petroleum; it presents a critical review as well as an integrated overview of the potential biochemical processes, bridging the gap between academia and industry. It addresses today's demanding production challenges, taking into account energy efficient and environmentally friendly processes, and also looks at the future possibility of implementing new refinery systems. Suitable for those practitioners the petroleum industry, students and researchers interested in petroleum biotechnology.* Covers a new application field for biotechnology* Looks at innovative processes for the petroleum industry* Presents examples of modern environmental processes

This book focuses on two key issues confronting humanity, viz., energy and environment. There is a need to devise strategies for protecting the environment, at the same time adequately meeting the ever-growing energy needs of the world. Harnessing the power of microbes is one step towards finding cheap, green and sustainable solutions to the problems of energy and environment. The book is divided into eight major topics. These topics include emerging trends in microbial biotechnology, harnessing sustainable energy sources from microorganisms, mechanistics of bioenergy production, bioenergy from wastes and pollutant removal, microalgae for biofuels, bioremediation technologies for petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and xenobiotics, bioremediation of nuclear wastes, and the role of extremophilic microorganisms in environmental cleanup.

Introduction to Petroleum Biotechnology introduces the petroleum engineer to biotechnology, bringing together the various biotechnology methods that are applied to recovery, refining and remediation in the uses of petroleum and petroleum products. A significant amount of petroleum is undiscoverable in reservoirs today using conventional and secondary methods. This reference explains how microbial enhanced oil recovery is aiding to produce more economical and environmentally-friendly metabolic events that lead to improved oil recovery. Meanwhile, in the downstream side of the industry, petroleum refining operators are facing the highest levels of environmental regulations while struggling to process more of the heavier crude oils since conventional physical and chemical refining techniques may not be applicable to heavier crudes. This reference proposes to the engineer and refining manager the concepts of bio-refining applications to not only render heavier crudes as lighter crudes through microbial degradation, but also through biodenitrogenation, biodemetallization and biodesulfurization, making more petroleum derivatives purified and upgraded without the release of more pollutants. Equipped for both upstream and downstream to learn the basics, this book is a necessary primer for today's petroleum engineer. - Presents the fundamentals behind petroleum biotechnology for both upstream and downstream oil and gas operations - Provides the latest technology in reservoir recovery using microbial enhanced oil recovery methods - Helps readers gain insight into the current and future application of using biotechnology as a refining and fuel blending method for heavy oil and tar sands

Biotechnology of Emerging Microbes: Prospects for Agriculture and Environment provides the latest developments of leading biotechnologists and bioengineers. The book covers various aspects of microbes mediated rhizosphere, biosphere, environmental, and ecosystem biotechnology, and focuses on the restoration and management of the rhizosphere, the biosphere, and the ecosystem with microbes for a sustainable future. It is designed to address various technical and application details of microorganisms and their products in biotechnology and bioengineering approaches. Users will find up-to-date knowledge that is beneficial to beginners, researchers, students, scientists, engineers, and industry stakeholders who can support the management of ecosystems through the use of microbes. Planet Earth is undergoing an accelerated process of change associated with a wide range of anthropogenic phenomena. The future of these changes is uncertain, but there is general agreement that this negative development might be detrimental to our own survival. Although different environmental engineering strategies have been developed, none of them seem to address carbon dioxide accumulation, biosphere, and ecosystem safety. The rapidly increasing potential for the development of living systems through the biotechnology and bioengineering of microbes is a sustainable alternative to address safety issues. - Addresses various technical and application details of microorganisms and their products for biotechnology and bioengineering approaches - Brings together the ideas and latest developments of leading biotechnologists and bioengineers - Covers various aspects of microbes mediated rhizosphere, biosphere, environmental, and ecosystem biotechnology

The microbial world has given us many surprises including microbes that grow under extremely harsh conditions (122C at 40 MPa), novel metabolisms such as the uranium and perchlorate reduction, and novel chemicals that can be used to control diseases. We continually face new and difficult problems such as the need to transition to more carbon-neutral energy sources and to find eco-friendly chemicals and to find new drugs to treat disease. Will it be possible to tap into the seemingly limitless potential of microbial activity to solve our current and future problems?The answer to this question is probably yes. We are already looking to the microbial world to provide new energy sources, green chemicals to replace those made from petroleum, and new drugs to fight disease. To help us along these paths, we are deciphering how microorganisms interact with each other. We know that microbial populations interact and communicate with each other. The language that microbes use is chemical where small molecules are exchanged among different microbial cells. Sometimes, these chemicals suppress activities of competitors and could be used as antibiotics or may have other therapeutic uses. Other times, the chemicals stimulate complex responses in microbial populations such as fruiting body or biofilm formation. By understanding the conversation that microbes are having among themselves, e. g.

This book brings together contributions from leading scientists, academics, and experts from the oil and gas industry to discuss microbial-related problems faced by the industry and how bioinformatics and an interdisciplinary scientific approach can address these challenges. Microbial Bioinformatics in the Oil and Gas Industry: Applications to Reservoirs and Processes presents the major industrial problems caused by microbes (e.g., souring, biocorrosion) as well as the beneficial activities (e.g., biofuels, bioremediation). FEATURES Offers a detailed description of how bioinformatics has advanced our understanding of numerous issues in the oil and gas industry Covers cases from geographically diverse oil fields, laboratories, and research groups Contains fundamentals and applied information of relevance to the oil and gas sector Presents contributions from a team of international experts across industry and academia With its cross-disciplinary approach, this comprehensive book provides microbial ecologists, molecular biologists, operators, engineers, chemists, and academics involved in the sector with an improved understanding of the significance of microbial bioinformatics applications in the oil and gas industry.

"In the oil and gas industry, technologies have been developed to address microbial-related issues such as oil field souring, microbiologically influenced corrosion, biofouling, and targeted measures for risk assessment and mitigation. Microorganisms have also benefited the oil sector through microbial enhanced oil recovery and bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated environments. However, during the current transitional phase in the oil and gas industry, the role of the microbiome within the current infrastructure and its potential impact on future systems remains an open question. Petroleum Microbiology: The Role of Microorganisms in the Transition to Net Zero Energy explores technological advances in applied microbiology in the oil and gas sector that can be utilized in its transition to renewable energy systems. Features: Provides insights on the potential of applying microbiological techniques in oil systems to pave the way to achieving net-zero energy. Presents the major industrial problems caused by microbes and their beneficial activities from both fundamental and applied perspectives. Covers such technologies as next-generation sequencing, sampling, and diagnostics. Offers a solid foundation on the importance of microbes to key aspects of the energy industry. Seeks to answer the question: what role will microorganisms play in the evolution of energy systems? Featuring chapters from interdisciplinary experts spanning academia and industry, this is an excellent reference for microbial ecologists, molecular biologists, operators, engineers, chemists, and academics involved in the oil and gas sector, working toward energy transition"--

In situ bioremediationâ€"the use of microorganisms for on-site removal of contaminantsâ€"is potentially cheaper, faster, and safer than conventional cleanup methods. But in situ bioremediation is also clouded in uncertainty, controversy, and mistrust. This volume from the National Research Council provides direction for decisionmakers and offers detailed and readable explanations of: the processes involved in in situ bioremediation, circumstances in which it is best used, and methods of measurement, field testing, and modeling to evaluate the results of bioremediation projects. Bioremediation experts representing academic research, field practice, regulation, and industry provide accessible information and case examples; they explore how in situ bioremediation works, how it has developed since its first commercial use in 1972, and what research and education efforts are recommended for the future. The volume includes a series of perspective papers. The book will be immediately useful to policymakers, regulators, bioremediation practitioners and purchasers, environmental groups, concerned citizens, faculty, and students.