Abstract
Acrolein (2-propenal) is a microbiocide that has been used to mitigate bacterial problems in oilfield systems. The applications are widespread and include production and injection wells, surface equipment, and water injection systems. The applications include both onshore and offshore facilities throughout the world. The purported biocidal mechanism is the attack of sulfhydryl and amine groups on bacterial proteins by the a,ß-conjugated double bond resulting in disruption of enzyme systems and destruction of integrity of structural proteins. The reactivity with sulfides also renders acrolein effective as an H2S scavenger and iron sulfide dissolver, two byproducts of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) metabolism. This paper reviews a number of case histories highlighting acrolein’s biocide performance to mitigate microbiologically influenced corrosion and other oilfield bacterial problems. Also included is a compilation of laboratory studies comparing the efficacy of acrolein with other microbiocide chemistries against diverse populations of bacteria from the oilfield environment. In 89% of the laboratory studies conducted, acrolein shows superior biocide performance against general aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria (GAB) and SRB in a cost competitive manner. Its properties of oil solubility and biofilm penetrability render it a versatile and effective biocide for targeting persistent sessile populations of bacteria that are often inaccessible to conventional biocides. Due to its low minimum inhibitory concentration, acrolein finds success not only in batch applications but also in continuous treatment programs.
