Occurrence and Distributions of Hydrocarbon Oxidizing Microbes in Suspected Petroleum Bearing Site in Ahoko, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study aimed at assessing the occurrence and distribution of hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria and fungi in a pristine and uninterrupted environment suspected to be a potent site for exploration of crude oil. Microbiological assay was used to identify the organisms present and their distributions. A total of 61 hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria (HOB), which represented 16 different genera (3M, 9E, 3P, and 1B), was isolated across the site studied. The most widely distributed and frequently occurring organism were ethane oxidizing bacteria (EOB) which included: Achromobacter sp. (8.20%), Actinobacillus sp. (4.92%), Norcadia sp. (3.28%), propane oxidizing bacteria (POB); Mycobacterium (4.92%) and Gordonia (4.92%), butane oxidizing bacteria (BOB) identified was Ochrobacteria sp. Fifty three (53) hydrocarbon oxidizing fungi (HOF) were identified and belong to 11 genera which included: (3M, 5E, 1P and 2B), with Aspergillus sp. (20.75%) being the most widely distributed species. From the study it can be deduced that the site is widely populated by ethane oxidizing bacteria and fungi which is an indication that the site is a more potent site for gas than oil reservoir.