Reservoir Microbiology Forum (RMF)

Event

17th November 2026 - 18th November 2026

61 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 7AR, UK

Non-Member: £510.00 (excluding VAT)
Member: £305.00 (excluding VAT)

A discounted rate of £125.00 (excluding VAT) is applicable for students for this event.


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.

Day 1 , Programme 

  • 08:30 - Registration and networking

  • 09:00 - RMF 2026 opening remarks from the chair
    Dr Lisa Gieg, Associate Professor, University of Calgary

  • 09:10 - Keynote: What happens after a well leaks? Microbial methane oxidation and the environmental expression of fugitive gas
    Dr Aaron Cahill, Associate Professor of Applied Geoscience and Environmental Risk, Heriot-Watt University


  • 09:45 - Session 1 introduction: Reservoir Souring (fundamentals, mitigation strategies, modelling, and prediction)
    Chairs: Dr Paul Evans, Staff Research Scientist, Chevron
    Dr Anthony Mitchell, Specialist, Production Technology, Equinor

  • 09:50 - From drilling fluids to flowback: microbial succession and souring risk in engineered shale gas formations
    Dr Leanne Walker, Research Associate in Subsurface Microbiology, University of Manchester


  • 10:15 - Understanding and monitoring sulphate-reducing microorganisms in oil reservoirs 
    Dr Peter Li, Research Associate, University of Calgary


  • 10:40 - Break

  • Evaluating the efficiency of volatile fatty acid oxidation by oil-degrading, sulphide-producing communities extracted from long-term, extreme environment studies
    Dr Robert Eden, Managing Director, Rawwater

  • 11:35 - Temperature and geochemical structuring of North Sea reservoir microbiomes
    Dr Armando Alibrandi, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Duisburg Essen


  • 12:00 - Lunch break

  • 13:00 - The history of the Valhall G02–G19 producer-injector pair: biocide treatment campaigns, sulphate removal, and impacts on reservoir souring
    Jone Waage, Production Chemist, Aker bp


  • 13:25 - Prevent or remediate? Long-term studies on the use of THPS to control souring in reservoir simulated conditions 
    Dr Renato De Paula, Technical Product Director, SNF


  • 13:50 - Panel Session
    Dr Leanne Walker, Research associate in Subsurface Microbiology, University of Manchester
    Dr Peter Li, Research Associate, University of Calgary
    Dr Robert Eden, Managing Director, Rawwater
    Dr Armando Alibrandi, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Duisburg Essen
    Jone Waage, Production Chemist, Aker bp
    Dr Renato De Paula, Technical Product Director, SNF

  • 14:15 - Session 2 introduction: Microbiology in hydrogen, CO2 storage, and geothermal
    Chairs: Dr Bart Lomans, Independent Consultant, Microbial & Souring Control Services 
    Leanne Walker, Research Associate in Subsurface Microbiology, University of Manchester

  • 14:20 - Three years, thirteen countries, fifty-seven samples: Lessons from the HyLife project 
    Dr Annie Biwen An Stepec, Senior Researcher, NORCE Research AS

  • 14:45 - Break

  • 15:20 - Rapid biomethanation of CO2 for bioenergy recovery using natural olivine as an electron donor in petroleum reservoir production water
    Dr Muhammed Javed, Researcher, East China University of Science and Technology


  • 15:40 - Panel
    Chairs: Dr Bart Lomans, Independant Consultant, Microbial & Souring Control Services & Leanne Walker, Research Associate in Subsurface Microbiology, University of Manchester
    Dr Annie Biwen An Stepec, Senior Researcher, NORCE Research AS
    Dr Muhammed Javed, Researcher, East China University of Science and Technology

  • 16:05 - Roundtable discussion: From research to industry: What do operators need from reservoir microbiology?
    Chairs: Dr Lisa Gieg, Associate Professor, University of Calgary & Dr Leanne Walker, Research Associate in Subsurface Microbiology, University of Manchester
    Heike Hoffman, Consultant Microbiologist, Intertek Production & Integrity Assurance
    Professor Wei Shi, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute
    Brett Geissler, Principal, Microbiology Research and Technical Support, Baker Hughes
    Danika Nicoletti, Applications Lead, Energy, LuminUltra Technologies
    Dr Renato De Paula, Technical Product Director, SNF

  • 16:50 - Poster Session

  • 17:00 - 20:00 - Drinks reception

Day 2 Programme: 

  • 08:30 - Registration and networking

  • 08:40 - Day 2 opening remarks from the chair
    Chairs: Dr Heike Hoffman AMEI, Consultant Microbiologist, Intertek Production & Integrity Assurance
    Dr Renato De Paula, Business Development Manager & Technical Lead Advisor, Syensqo


  • 08:40 - Keynote: Geomicrobiological insights from contrasting shallow aquifers targeted for heat storage
    Professor Kevin Taylor, University Academic, University of Manchester


  • 09:15 - Session 3 introduction: Microbial monitoring and control

  • 09:20 - Different matrices, alternative realities: a three-year comparative study of mic monitoring in an oil pipeline
    Ketil Sorensen, Business Manager, Danish Technological Institute


  • 09:45 - Bridging monitoring gaps in offshore systems - field application of activity and qPCR monitoring technology when sidestream monitoring is failing 
    Dr Selina Bibiana Inocencia Schmidt, Senior Design/Technical Engineer, SLB

  • 10:10 - Break

  • 10:40 - Beyond residual levels: integrating analytical and biological measurements to evaluate oilfield biocide persistence and fate during seawater discharge
    Deeksha Shetty, Technical Application Scientist, SNF


  • 11:05 - DNA nanoparticle tracers: a new diagnostic platform for completion optimisation and reservoir surveillance
    Dr Sarah Comstock, Professor and Chief Scientist, Corban University and Diagnostic Stimulation Optimization


  • 11:30 - Panel Session
    Chairs: Dr Heike Hoffman AMEI, Consultant Microbiologist, Intertek Production & Integrity Assurance & Dr Renato De Paula, Business Development Manager & Technical Lead Advisor, Syensqo
    Ketil Sorensen, Business Manager, Danish Technological Institute
    Dr Selina Bibiana Inocencia Schmidt, Senior Design/Technical Engineer, SLB
    Deeksha Shetty, Technical Application Scientist, SNF
    Dr Sarah Comstock, Professor and Chief Scientist, Corban University and Diagnostic Stimulation Optimization

  • 11:55 - Lunch

  • 12:55 - Session 4 introduction: Microbiologically influenced corrosion: fundamentals, mitigation, modelling, and prediction
    Chairs: Dr Kenneth Wunch, Energy Technology Fellow, Materials Protection, Lanxess
    Dr Gabrielle Scheffer, CEO, Decodomics Inc.

  • 13:00 - From “who is there?” to “who is active?”: A metagenomic approach to monitoring microbially influenced corrosion 
    Dr Gabrielle Scheffer, CEO, Decodomics Inc.


  • 13:25 - Can 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing predict oil field corrosion potential?
    Dr Chantel Furgason, Postdoctoral Associate, Geogenomics


  • 14:50 - Establishing qPCR action thresholds for mic biomarkers
    Ciara Goldsmith, Molecular Microbiologist, Luminultra Technologies


  • 14:15 - Break

  • 14:45 - Heat-resistant and corrosion-ready: Metagenomic discovery of MIC islands in thermophilic oil field methanogens
    Dr Anirban Kundu, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Geogenomics Inc; University of Calgary


  • 15:10 - Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) - A failure analysis investigation 
    Douglas Bennett, Country Business Line Leader, Intertek CAPCIS


  • 15:35 - Panel Session
    Chairs: Dr Kenneth Wunch, Energy Technology Fellow, Materials Protection, Lanxess & Dr Gabrielle Scheffer, CEO, Decodomics Inc.
    Dr Chantel Furgason, Postdoctoral Associate, Geogenomics
    Ciara Goldsmith, Molecular Microbiologist, Luminultra Technologies
    Dr Anirban Kundu, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Geogenomics Inc.; University of Calgary 
    Douglas Bennett, Country Business Line Leader, Intertek CAPCIS

  • 16:00 - RMF 2026 closing remarks from the chair
    Dr Bart Lomans, Independant Consultant, Microbial & Souring Control Services

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 profile
  • Support the industry by sharing experiences that will benefit future microbial work
Thank you so very much for all of the incredible work that (goes into) the RMF meeting. Simply excellent in every way, and what a cutting-edge and dynamic group of participants...wow!' - Professor Bruce Fouke, Director, Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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.

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 Paul Evans, Chevron
  • Dr Lisa Gieg, University of Calgary
  • Dr Anthony Mitchell, Equinor ASA
  • Dr Heike Hoffmann AMEI, Intertek Production & Integrity Assurance
  • Dr Renato De Paula, Syensqo
  • Leanne Walker, University of Manchester
  • Gabrielle Scheffer, University of Calgary
  • Dr Kenneth Wunch, Lanxess
  • Dr Bart Lomans, Microbial & Souring Control Services

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