15/11/2023 - 16/11/2023
Hybrid - 61 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 7AR / Online
Non-Member: £499.00 (excl. VAT)
Member: £299.00 (excl. VAT)
New programme now announced.
The RMF is an excellent multi-disciplinary platform that brings together oil producers, scientists, technologists, engineers, academics, and researchers from around the world to present, share, and discuss the widespread and versatile effects of microbes in oil reservoirs. This respected forum provides a highly technical programme featuring the latest research and guidance on reservoir microbiology in oil fields, including biodegradation, bioremediation, and applications for oil recovery and enhancement.
Contact us to become a sponsor
RMF Conference Programme
Day 1 – Wednesday 15 November 2023
08:00 Registration and networking
09:00 Welcome to the conference
09:10 Keynote: The case for reference organisms in the study of MIC
Moderator: Lisa Gieg PhD, Associate Professor & Associate Head (Undergraduates), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary
Dennis Enning, Professor of Industrial Microbiology, Berlin University of Applied Sciences and Technology
Session 1: Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (fundamentals, mitigation strategies, modelling, and prediction)
09:45 Session Welcome Remarks
Lisa Gieg PhD, Associate Professor & Associate Head (Undergraduates), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary
09:50 Microbially-influenced corrosion in hypersaline oil field operations
Sven Lahme, Senior Research Engineer, ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
10:15 Insights into the mechanisms by which Shewanella spp. induce steel corrosion
Sarah Alaqeel, Senior Scientist, Saudi Aramco
10:40 Refreshment Break
11:05 Development of a model system to investigate the effects of surface roughness and media on marine biofilm formation and microbiologically influenced corrosion
Liam Jones, Postgraduate Researcher, University of Southampton
11:05 Develop a computational model to predict biocorrosion progression in oil and gas industry
Dr Jo Philips, Assistant Professor, Aarhus University
11:55 Panel session
12:15 Lunch
Session 2: Microbiological aspects of Hydrogen and CO2 Transport and Storage
13:15 Session Welcome Remarks
Bart Lomans, Principal Production Chemist - Upstream Microbiologist, Bio-for-Upstream Program Lead, SME – Microbial Influenced Corrosion (MIC) & Biomonitoring, SME – Microbiology & Reservoir Souring, Global Water Flood Team – Development & Subsurface Excellence – UPV/S/PF, Shell
13:20 Best practices for high-pressure and high-temperature experimentation to determine the microbial risks for underground hydrogen storage
Dr James Dykstra, Upstream Microbiologist, Shell Global Solutions International BV
13:45 Assessment of high-pressure microbial activity in a potential H2 storage site: A case study of Dutch salt caverns
Adrian Hidalgo-Ulloa, Postdoctoral Researcher, Wageningen University
14:10 Hydrogenase diversity in oil reservoirs and other subsurface habitats being considered for underground hydrogen storage.
Dr Daniel Gittins, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, Berkeley
14:35 Break
14:55 Modelling of Interplay between Microbial Activity and Geochemistry during Underground Hydrogen Storage
Ahmadreza Shojaee, PhD Student, Heriot-Watt University
15:20 Identifying the subsurface microbial response to CO2 storage conditions within depleted oilfield systems
Leanne Walker, Research Associate in Subsurface Microbiology (CCS), The University of Manchester
15:45 BioHyPro: Bioproduction of CO2 -free hydrogen & protein from crude oil
Dr Moein Jahanbani Veshareh, Researcher, DTU Offshore
16:10 Break
16:30 Panel session
16:50 Poster Session
- Moderator: Professor Ian Head, Dean of Research & Innovation, Newcastle University
- Microbiological Evaluation of Pinhole Leak Incident in Sour Feed Pipeline
- Razan Alharthi, Lab Scientist, Saudi Aramco
- Assessing the various methods used for re-suspension of sessile samples (biostud coupons) to optimise recovery of microbiological populations for further analysis
Lloyd Potts, Senior Microbiologist, Intertek - Evaluation of EOR properties from sophorolipids biosurfactant obtained from Meyerozyma spp. MF138126
Dr Lateef Akanji, Senior Lecturer in Petroleum Engineering, University of Aberdeen - Study of Microbial Assessment (MIC) and Monitoring of Shallow Aquifers
Fawziah Alajmi, Lab Scientist, Saudi Aramco - Microbial influence corrosion (MIC) assessment, and Metallurgic Techniques to Study a Failure Analysis of RO membrane at Saudi Aramco Gas Plant
Dr Husam Khanfar, Lab Operation Group Leader, Saudi Aramco - Experimental and numerical investigation of microbial treatment of leakage in carbonate media
Hossein Younesian Farid, PhD student, DTU offshore - Unleashing the Power of Pseudomonas chlororaphis ST9: Transforming Agriculture Sustainably with Bio-Stimulation and Biological Control
Ignacio Villalba Recuerda, R&D Microbiologist, Mafa Bioscience - Automatic, Online, Water Bacteria Measurement Device That Will Change Oil and Gas Biocide Application
Aurelija Steffensen, Product Manager, Bactiquant - Microbial activities and their implications for hydrogen storage at the Ketzin pilot site in Germany: review and pore-network modelling
Dr Mrityunjay Singh, Postdoctoral Researcher, GFZ Potsdam - Bridging the gap in the oil and gas industry through AI and ML capabilities
Dr Ameerah Bokhari, Petroleum Scientist, Saudi Aramco - Chemically and Mechanically Induced Production Well Impairment Considerations for a more Targeted Solution
Collins Elechi, Global Production Chemistry Advisor, Baker Hughes
17:35 Closing Remarks
17:45 Drink Reception
19:00 Dinner Social
Piccolino
Day 2 - Thursday 16 November 2023
08:00 Registration and Networking
08:30 Welcome to Day 2
08:35 Keynote: Geological processes mediate a microbial dispersal loop in the deep biosphere
Moderator: Renato M. De Paula PhD, Business Development Manager, Technical Lead Advisor – Biocides, Solvay Oil & Gas Solutions
Prof Casey Hubert, Professor of Geomicrobiology, University of Calgary
Session 3: Microbial and Chemical Monitoring
09:10 Session Welcome Remarks
Moderator TBC
09:15 Investigation of hydrogen sulphide generation in an underground salt cavern used for butane storage
Dr Gareth Williams, Consultancy Services Manager, ECHA Microbiology
09:40 Automatic, Online, Water Bacteria Measurement Device
James Fajt, Principle Microbiologist, SBL
10:05 Impact of Decommissioning on Benthic Microbial Communities in the North Sea
Haleigh E Jorgeson, PhD Researcher, University of Essex
10:30 Panel session
10:50 Refreshment Break
Session 4: Reservoir Souring (fundamentals, mitigation strategies, modelling, and prediction)
11:10 Session Welcome Remarks
Anthony (Tony) Mitchell, Specialist Production Technology, Well Chemistry & Water Management, CCI RPT PRO, Equinor
11:15 Biocide-driven souring control and metagenomic analysis of a halophilic sulfate-reducing enrichment derived from a crude oil reservoir
Rita Eresia-Eke, Graduate Student, University of Calgary
11:40 New Insights on reservoir souring of an oilfield facility using souring simulating bioreactors and Next Generation Sequencing
Aristides Mendes, Microbiology & Bioreactors Expert Technician, Global Biosciences Center, SGS
12:05 Lunch
13:05 Microbial Growth Rates for Field-Scale Modelling
Ali Mahmoodi, Research Assistant, Technical University of Denmark - DTU Offshore
13:30 Evaluating Oil-Degrading, Sulfide-Producing Communities in Long-Term Extreme Environment Studies, and Determining their Efficiency in VFA Oxidation and Nitrate Reduction
Matt Streets, Head of Division & Senior Research Scientist, Rawwater
Session 5: Microbiology of Hydraulic Fracturing
13:55 Session Welcome Remarks
Kenneth (Ken) Wunch, Energy Technology Fellow, Lanxess Materials Protection Products
14:00 Challenges in microbial control upon reuse and recycling of produced water for completion of new unconventional wells
Dr Luiza Andrade, Senior Scientist II, Solvay
14:25 The provenance of microorganisms adapted to extreme salinity, extreme temperature, and toxic metals within the Montney shale formation
Gabrielle Scheffer, PhD candidate, University of Calgary
14:50 Break
15:10 From in-situ to in-vitro to in-situ: Difficulties and other difficulties when dealing with biofilms in the upstream of Oil & Gas. A case of study
Dr. Francisco L. Massello, Postdoctoral Researcher, YPF TECNOLOGÍA (Y-TEC)
15:35 Novel Application of Nitrate as H2S Control Strategy in Produced Water Storage Ponds in the Permian Basin
Dr Wei Shi, Flow Assurance Engineer, Chevron Technical Center
16:00 Panel session
16:20 Closing remarks
16:25 End of conference
Topics explored:
- General Subsurface Microbiology
- Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (fundamentals, mitigation strategies, modelling, and prediction)
- Reservoir Souring (fundamentals, mitigation strategies, modelling, and prediction)
- Microbial Control (fundamentals, mitigation strategies, modelling, and prediction)
- Microbial and Chemical Monitoring
- Produced Water Management
- Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery and Microbial Upgrading
- Reservoir, Fluid and Biofilm Modelling
- Microbiology of Hydraulic Fracturing
- Microbiological aspects of Hydrogen and CO2 Transport and Storage
- Emerging Technologies
- Role of microbiology in low carbon solutions
- Other
Why should you attend RMF?
- Increase the visibility of your work
- Gain recognition for your technical knowledge and experience
- Raise your company’s prole
- Support the industry by sharing experiences that will benefit future microbial work
Areas of work or research will include:
- Microbiology and molecular biology
- Production chemistry and engineering
- Geochemistry and geophysics
- Reservoir engineering
- Material sciences
- Computer modelling
The informal nature of this event makes it an excellent networking opportunity with delegates from all over the world representing companies, chemical suppliers, research institutes, universities, consultancies and service companies. Students are also encouraged to participate. The hybrid format will provide plenty of opportunities to interact with speakers and delegates, provide question and answer sessions, and access to written materials.
Join the RMF LinkedIn Group — stay in touch with other delegates and professionals in the industry.
Who attends?
As the effects of microbes in oil recovery are very widespread and versatile, this event will be of interest to all professionals and students working on issues resulting from the detrimental or beneficial impacts of microbes in oil recovery.
Registration fees:
- EI Members - £299 + VAT
- EI Company Members - £399 + VAT
- Non-members - £499 + VAT
- Speakers (oral and poster) - £199 + VAT
- Academic staff - £199 + VAT
- Students - £120 + VAT
About RMF:
This event is run by the Energy Institute (EI) with the support of a small working group within the EI's Microbiology Committee. The current RMF working group members are:
- Dr Anthony Mitchell, Equinor
- Dr Bart Lomans, Shell Global Solutions International
- Dr Carol Devine MEI, NCIMB
- Dr Kenneth Wunch, Lanxess
- Professor Ian M. Head, Newcastle University
- Dr Lisa Gieg, University of Calgary
- Dr Paul Evans, Chevron
- Dr Renato De Paula, Solvay Oil & Gas
- Dr. Laura Machuca Suarez, Curtin Corrosion Centre
Are you interested in microbiology training?
Join our Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) — Corrosion Management & Failure Analysis course
13-14 November, In-person — London
- Apply Corrosion Management principles to assessing, mitigating and monitoring the corrosion threat of MIC
- Apply and interpret state-of-the-art MIC diagnostic methods
- Understand sampling procedures for various sample types obtained in the oil and gas industry
- Plan and execute a failure analysis investigation where MIC is the root cause
As MIC is taking place the week of RMF, you can receive a 10% discount if you've already booked onto RMF. Email us at webtraining@energyinst.org for the discount code.
Contact details
Francesca Ferrari: fferrari@energyinst.org, +44 (0)20 7467 7192