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H alomonas sulfidaeris ‐dominated microbial community inhabits a 1.8 km‐deep subsurface C ambrian S andstone reservoir
Author(s) -
Dong Yiran,
Kumar Charu Gupta,
Chia Nicholas,
Kim PanJun,
Miller Philip A.,
Price Nathan D.,
Cann Isaac K. O.,
Flynn Theodore M.,
Sanford Robert A.,
Krapac Ivan G.,
Locke Randall A.,
Hong PeiYing,
Tamaki Hideyuki,
Liu WenTso,
Mackie Roderick I.,
Hernandez Alvaro G.,
Wright Chris L.,
Mikel Mark A.,
Walker Jared L.,
Sivaguru Mayandi,
Fried Glenn,
Yannarell Anthony C.,
Fouke Bruce W.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.12325
Subject(s) - microbial population biology , metagenomics , authigenic , environmental chemistry , pyrosequencing , microbial ecology , arenite , halomonas , biology , geochemistry , geology , diagenesis , chemistry , bacteria , sedimentary rock , clastic rock , paleontology , biochemistry , gene , halophile
Summary A low‐diversity microbial community, dominated by the γ ‐proteobacterium H alomonas sulfidaeris , was detected in samples of warm saline formation porewater collected from the C ambrian Mt. S imon S andstone in the I llinois B asin of the N orth A merican M idcontinent (1.8 km/5872 ft burial depth, 50° C , pH 8, 181 bars pressure). These highly porous and permeable quartz arenite sandstones are directly analogous to reservoirs around the world targeted for large‐scale hydrocarbon extraction, as well as subsurface gas and carbon storage. A new downhole low‐contamination subsurface sampling probe was used to collect in situ formation water samples for microbial environmental metagenomic analyses. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that this H . sulfidaeris ‐dominated subsurface microbial community is indigenous and not derived from drilling mud microbial contamination. Data to support this includes V 1‐ V 3 pyrosequencing of formation water and drilling mud, as well as comparison with previously published microbial analyses of drilling muds in other sites. Metabolic pathway reconstruction, constrained by the geology, geochemistry and present‐day environmental conditions of the Mt . S imon S andstone, implies that H . sulfidaeris ‐dominated subsurface microbial community may utilize iron and nitrogen metabolisms and extensively recycle indigenous nutrients and substrates. The presence of aromatic compound metabolic pathways suggests this microbial community can readily adapt to and survive subsurface hydrocarbon migration.