Prokaryotic Community Characterization in a Mesothermic and Water- Flooded Oil Reservoir in Colombia

The prokaryotic community at the "La Cira-Infantas" oil field, located in Colombia's Middle Magdalena Valley Basin, was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. This characterization is a first-step in assessing the dynamics of microbial degradation and defining strategies that may increase oil recovery and quality at the site. Two 16S rRNA gene libraries were generated from the total community DNA extracted from production water using both Eubacterial and Archaea universal primers. Sequence analysis of the libraries indicated that a large percentage of Eubacteria clones were affiliated with class alpha-, beta- and delta-Proteobacteria, Clostridia and Bacteroidetes. Archaea clones were dominated by Methanobacteria and Methanococci. Annotations at these generic levels indicate that the prokaryotic community has the following metabolic capacities: i) reduction of sulfur-compounds and fermentation, ii) nitrate reduction and sulfide oxidation, iii) decomposition of aromatic compounds, and iv) methane production. These results are discussed in the context of the importance of the characterized metabolic capacities for oil biodegradation in the mesothermic and water-flooded environment of this reservoir.