About this Research Topic
In the last decade there has been increasing interest in understanding the ecology and physiology of microbial communities inhabiting subsurface energy reservoirs (e.g. coal, oil and shale beds or reservoirs). Microbes in these subsurface energy reservoirs interact with their environment altering abiotic components through their activity. In coal and shale reservoirs, microbes are responsible for the conversion of the organic matter to methane, contributing significantly to global stores of biogenic methane. Other materials stored in the subsurface, for example, hydrogen or carbon dioxide interact with microbial communities in different ways resulting in range of outcomes that are of interest for energy security and mitigating the harmful impacts of climate change.
The subsurface remains a significant and understudied frontier for microbiology. Our knowledge of this environment is hampered by access to the subsurface and the paucity of sampling methods for understanding this habitat in detail. Key questions remain about the interaction of microbial communities with source rocks (coal or shales) and stored gases in the subsurface. This is especially true for deep, hard to access reservoirs. Recent advances in subsurface sampling and DNA/RNA sequencing can provide new insight into the energy reservoir microbiomes and their roles in driving important processes in the subsurface.
This research topic provides a forum for bringing together results pertinent to the ecology and physiology of subsurface energy reservoirs, including coal, shale, and oil reservoirs. Of particular interest are multidisciplinary studies that integrate geochemistry, gas isotopes, geology with the microbiology in order to assess the entire biogeochemical processes occurring in these subsurface environments. Of equal interest are: experimental studies of the environmental conditions that enhance or contribute to methanogenesis in energy reservoirs; or experimental studies of subsurface microbial community interactions with stored carbon dioxide or hydrogen.
The subsurface remains a significant and understudied frontier for microbiology. Our knowledge of this environment is hampered by access to the subsurface and the paucity of sampling methods for understanding this habitat in detail. Key questions remain about the interaction of microbial communities with source rocks (coal or shales) and stored gases in the subsurface. This is especially true for deep, hard to access reservoirs. Recent advances in subsurface sampling and DNA/RNA sequencing can provide new insight into the energy reservoir microbiomes and their roles in driving important processes in the subsurface.
This research topic provides a forum for bringing together results pertinent to the ecology and physiology of subsurface energy reservoirs, including coal, shale, and oil reservoirs. Of particular interest are multidisciplinary studies that integrate geochemistry, gas isotopes, geology with the microbiology in order to assess the entire biogeochemical processes occurring in these subsurface environments. Of equal interest are: experimental studies of the environmental conditions that enhance or contribute to methanogenesis in energy reservoirs; or experimental studies of subsurface microbial community interactions with stored carbon dioxide or hydrogen.
Keywords: microbial ecology, microbial physiology, shale, coal, oil, microbiology, coalbed methane, coal seam methane, methanogenesis, biodegradation, hydrocarbon, genomics, metagenomics, biogasification, methane, carbon sequestration, hydrogen, carbon dioxide
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