A Sampler and process for collecting, growing, inoculating and evaluating microbes in-situ. The Sampler may be loaded with an active or inert media to assist with the collection of microbes. It is closed and lowered to a desired depth. Sampler is opened to initiate sampling. Materials are added to the sampler to stimulate growth or change the environment. To collect and grow in situ microbes, the sampler is left open for a period of time, a trigger closes and seals the sampler capturing contents specific to that location. The sampler is lifted preserving the in-situ conditions from the collection location. The contents of the sampler can be interrogated through sealed ports at the field site or at a remote location. The sampler can also be utilized as a biologic reactor allowing researchers to connect laboratory equipment to analyze, modify, or cultivate the collected sample.

Methods are provided for detection of souring or the likelihood of souring in an oil and gas process fluid which involves analysis of an aqueous sample obtained from an oil and gas process fluid for the presence of bacteria of at least two different bacterial genera, wherein the genera are selected from Pelobacter, Flexistipes, Marinobacterium, Geoalkalibacter, and Halanaerobium. The presence of bacteria from two or more said genera indicates the likelihood of increased sulfide production in the fluid. Other related methods and reagent compositions for performing the methods are provided.

Methods are provided for detection of souring or the likelihood of souring in an oil and gas process fluid which involves analysis of an aqueous sample obtained from an oil and gas process fluid for the presence of bacteria of at least two different bacterial genera, wherein the genera are selected from Pelobacter, Flexistipes, Marinobacterium, Geoalkalibacter, and Halanaerobium. The presence of bacteria from two or more said genera indicates the likelihood of increased sulfide production in the fluid. Other related methods and reagent compositions for performing the methods are provided.

The present invention provides methods kits and systems for performing multiple displacement amplification reactions. In one method a sample of nucleic acid is provided. The nucleic acid is contacted with a reaction mixture which includes a set of oligonucleotide primers, a one or more polymerase enzymes and a detergent. The reaction mixture is then subjected to conditions under which the nucleic acid sequence is amplified to produce an amplified product in a multiple displacement reaction. The method may also be carried out by contacting the nucleic acid with the reaction mixture in the form of an emulsion. A kit is also provided for carrying out either the methods described above. The kit includes one or more polymerases, a plurality of primers and a detergent. The kit may also include a hydrophobic polymer and may include instructions for performing a multiple displacement amplification reaction on a nucleic acid sample.

A computer supported method, computer system and computer program product for exploring and producing a subsurface heterogeneous hydrocarbon source and generating a predictive production map of an area under investigation, based on microbial prospecting. Microbial data representative of microbial activity attributable to hydrocarbon microseepage and hydrocarbon productivity data of a plurality of geographic locations are retrieved and correlated by the computer in a data correlation algorithm, providing a threshold hydrocarbon productivity quantity and a truncated set of the retrieved microbial data. The set identifies individual types of the microorganisms and corresponding individual weighting factors computed by the data correlation algorithm, for distinguishing prospective hydrocarbon productivity quantities from non-prospective hydrocarbon productivity quantities. An estimated subsurface hydrocarbon productivity quantity for a geographical location of the area under investigation is provided by count weighting retrieved microbial data of this location for microorganisms identified in the truncated set, applying the individual weighting factors.

A computer supported method, computer system and computer program product for exploring and producing a subsurface heterogeneous hydrocarbon source and generating a predictive production map of an area under investigation, based on microbial prospecting. Microbial data representative of microbial activity attributable to hydrocarbon microseepage and hydrocarbon productivity data of a plurality of geographic locations are retrieved and correlated by the computer in a data correlation algorithm, providing a threshold hydrocarbon productivity quantity and a truncated set of the retrieved microbial data. The set identifies individual types of the microorganisms and corresponding individual weighting factors computed by the data correlation algorithm, for distinguishing prospective hydrocarbon productivity quantities from non-prospective hydrocarbon productivity quantities. An estimated subsurface hydrocarbon productivity quantity for a geographical location of the area under investigation is provided by count weighting retrieved microbial data of this location for microorganisms identified in the truncated set, applying the individual weighting factors.

A method of identifying in situ conditions of a hydrocarbon reservoir is disclosed. The method comprises, obtaining a sample from an area of interest, such as a sediment sample or water column sample near a hydrocarbon seep; analyzing the sample to detect nucleic acid signatures that are indicative of microbes associated with hypersaline aquifers; and using the signature to determine the salinity of the hydrocarbon reservoir.

A method of identifying in situ conditions of a hydrocarbon reservoir is disclosed. The method comprises, obtaining a sample from an area of interest, such as a sediment sample or water column sample near a hydrocarbon seep; analyzing the sample to detect lipid, protein, and/or nucleic acid signatures that are indicative of the Thermotogales order; identifying the relative abundance of the different genera and/or species of the Thermotogales present in the sample to generate a taxonomy signature of the sample; and then using the taxonomy signature to determine conditions, such as temperature, of the hydrocarbon reservoir.

Methods and systems for automatically identifying and enumerating early granulated cells (EGC) in blood samples are disclosed. In one embodiment a method for identifying EGC in a blood sample includes analyzing white blood cells of the blood sample using a low angle light scatter (LALS) parameter, separating the EGCs from the other white blood cells using the LALS parameter, and enumerating the separated EGCs.

Described is a method for identifying hydrocarbon fields using genomic data. Soil samples are obtained from a geographic site, and genetic analysis is performed on the soil samples to obtain genome sequence data. Gene detection is performed on the genome sequence data to determine genes present in the soil samples. Protein sequences corresponding to the determined genes are determined and used to determine the presence of proteins involved in hydrocarbon metabolization in the soil samples.