Microbiological Tests Used to Diagnose Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) in Failure Investigations

Failures in oil and gas operations as a result of Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) can be challenging to assess. This is primarily due to the similar conditions and corrosion products that both MIC and other abiotic corrosion mechanisms (e.g., H2S, CO2 corrosion) require and produce. Reason why the use of correct methodologies to assess microbiologically related evidence is paramount to a conclusive diagnosis. This presentation discusses the process of adoption of molecular microbiological methods (MMM) to assess MIC, as standards move away from culturing-based methods. Microbiological data gathered in 50 MIC related failure assessments conducted in oil and gas pipelines in Alberta, Canada, will be presented. The goal is to compare the incidence of use of MMM and selective media for culturing to perform MIC related failure investigations. Additionally, it is analyzed how these methods influence in the quality of data obtained, by contrasting the different groups of microorganisms they are able to identify (e.g., sulfate reducing bacteria, acid producing bacteria) and how these microorganisms can be linked to other layers of evidence.