Microbiology of subsurface environments: Deep Probe sampling design and planning workshop

This report describes the results of an invited workshop in support of DOE's microbiology research program (Deep Probe). This report summarizes the major recommendations of the workshop, and contains DOE's perspectives on tasks related to the following areas: drilling and coring procedures; tracer technologies and issues of contamination; supplementary geohydrological, sedimentological and geological analysis relevant to analysis of deep microbial habitats; statistical analysis of existing samples; experimental design for future coring; improvements in microbiological sampling, core handling, and acquisition of pore water chemical samples; interlaboratory standardization of microbiological protocols; DOE's strategy for extension of the research to other hydrogeological regimes; and, accelerated information exchange with the scientific community.