Corrosion behavior of carbon steel in the presence of sulfate reducing bacteria and iron oxidizing bacteria cultured in oilfield produced water

The corrosion behavior of carbon steel was investigated in the presence of SRB and IOB separately in their respective culture media and in the mixed culture of SRB and IOB in artificially produced water with 4.2 mg/L dissolved oxygen. The results showed that IOB inhibited the growth of planktonic SRB, but promoted the growth of sessile SRB when SRB was cultured together with IOB. The mixture of SRB and IOB had a synergistic effect enhancing the pitting corrosion of the coupons. The limited amount of dissolved oxygen played a key role in the formation of corrosion products.