Joint Industry Project

Biomarkers for Next-Generation, Water-Based Detection and Monitoring of
Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC)

JOIN THIS NEW INDUSTRY PROJECT WITH EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANY, DNV GL AND MICROBIAL INSIGHTS, INC.

This Joint Industry Project (JIP) aims to develop methods, tools and workflows (‘biomarker technology’) to reliably detect the occurrence of MIC in oil field operations. This project will assemble MIC experts from across the industry (JIP participants) and unravel the most relevant microbial degradation mechanisms in carbon steel infrastructure, such as full well stream pipelines, crude transmission lines, produced water piping and sea water injection systems.

This JIP will be managed by DNV GL in close collaboration with its partners at Microbial Insights Inc. and ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company. The DNV GL lab in Columbus, Ohio, has extensive experience in simulating acid gas corrosion and MIC in laboratory settings, and further supports oil and gas operations globally through technical consulting and specialized on-site corrosion testing services. DNV GL further has a proven track record of successfully completed materials integrity-related JIPs with international oil and gas companies.

Microbial Insights Inc. is a leading environmental biotechnology company based in Knoxville, Tennessee with partner laboratories in six countries. Microbial Insights Inc. has 30 years of experience in performing advanced molecular biological analyses on complex environmental samples, providing research and testing services to a variety of customers in the areas of bioremediation, environmental forensics and MIC.

Microbiologists at ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company in Houston, Texas, have been focused on the development of the next generation of MIC detection and monitoring technologies for several years now, and have recently published selected observations in that context. The ExxonMobil team has further developed a patent-pending test skid that simulates oil field corrosion and MIC and enables the discovery of water-based MIC biomarkers.

The JIP will assemble industry experts on MIC, microbial ecology, oil field corrosion and oil field chemicals from within its participant companies to achieve the project objectives.

Please contact DNV with questions regarding the joint industry project.

The technical teams at ExxonMobil URC and Microbial Insights will also be available for technical questions.