Abstract
The fast growth of worldwide need for increased oil and gas production and the relative abundant of unconventional reserves have propelled the quest for technological advancement to improve oil exploration and production at a reduced cost. The recent breakthrough in the economically-viable exploration of unconventional gas has revolutionized the oil and gas industry with radical impact on the energy market. Nevertheless, unconventional gas fields have been challenged with microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) attacks. This is because unconventional fields are characterized by impermeable small pore size drilling, which consequently results in an increased water injection during exploration as compared to conventional reserves. The main sources of water injection are seawater and groundwater. Besides compositional anaerobic microorganisms present in the wells which are helpful in oil formation, this water introduces other microbes which eventually promote MIC as soon as they encounter a favorable condition. This paper presents an overview of the causative microorganisms, mechanisms and treatment challenges in unconventional reservoirs. This knowledge will provide better understanding of the problem. Hence efficient and cost effective MIC control methods within industrial practice and government regulations can be developed.
