Significance of Microbial Anomalies in Identifying the Hydrocarbon Prospects in Parts of a Petroliferous Region [Tunisia]

Microbial prospecting for oil and gas (MPOG) method for bacterial detection is widely applied in surface geochemical exploration for oil and gas deposits. The modified MPOG method was applied in the Guebiba-Sfax basin of the Tunisian Republic which showed signs of hydrocarbon generation and proved oil production. This technique is based on seepage of light hydrocarbon gases such as C1–C5 from the oil and gas reservoir to the shallow surface, providing a good environment for the development of highly specialized microbial populations. These bacteria utilize hydrocarbon gases as the only food source and are found enriched in the near-surface soils above the hydrocarbon bearing structures. The present research work employs methodologies of high significance with the potential to reduce risk in petroleum exploration. For this purpose, we collected a total of 51 soil samples from the Eastern central region of Tunisia and we used the propane oxidizing bacteria as an indicator in the present study.