Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Hyperthermophilic archaea are thriving in deep North Sea and Alaskan oil reservoirs

Nature volume 365, pages 743–745 (1993)Cite this article

Abstract

HOT springs and hydrothermal vents harbour hyperthermophilic archaea and bacteria with the highest growth temperatures known1–6. Here we report the discovery of high concentrations of hyperthermophiles in the production fluids from four oil reservoirs about 3,000 metres below the bed of the North Sea and below the permafrost surface of the North Slope of Alaska. Enrichment cultures of sulphidogens grew at 85 °C and 102 °C, which are similar to in situ reservoir temperatures7,8. Some species were identical to those from submarine hot vents and may have entered the reservoirs in injected sea water. Several enrichments grew anaerobically in sterilized artificial sea water with crude oil as the single carbon and energy source. These hyperthermophiles may be part of novel high-temperature communities and could be responsible for in situ bioconversions of crude oil fractions at temperatures previously considered too extreme for biochemical reactions4,7,9,10.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Woese, C. R., Kandler, O. & Wheelis, M. L. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 4576–4579 (1990).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Stetter, K. O., Fiala, G., Huber, G., Huber, R. & Segerer, A. FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 75, 117–124 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Stetter, K. O. Nature 300, 258–260 (1982).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Stetter, K. O., Lauerer, G., Thomm, M. & Neuner, A. Science 236, 822–824 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Huber, R., Staffers, P., Cheminee, J. L., Richnow, H. H. & Stetter, K. O. Nature 345, 179–181 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Huber, R. et al. Syst. appl. Microbiol. 15, 340–351 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Eden, R. D., Laycock, P. J. & Fielder, M. Oilfield Reservoir Souring (UK Health and Safety Executive OTH 92385, HMSO, 1993).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Wadman, D. H., Lamprecht, D. E. & Mrosovsky, I. J. Petrol. Technol. 31, 933–940 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Marsland, S. D., Dawe, R. A. & Kelsall, G. H. Trans. I. chem. Engrs 68, A357–364 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lighthelm, D. J., de Boer, R. B., Brint, J. F. & Schulte, W. M. Technical Paper SPE 23141, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Offshore Europe Conf. Sept 3–6, Aberdeen, 369–378 (1991).

  11. Huber R. et al. Arch. Mikrobiol. 144, 324–333 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Joergensen, B. B., Zawacki, L. X. & Jannasch, H. W. Deep-Sea Res. 37, 695–710 (1990).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Morita, R. Y. in Meth. Microbiol. 2, 243–257 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Stott, J. F. D. & Herbert, B. N. J. appl. Bact. 60, 57–66 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Wiegel, J. in Thermophilic Bacteria (ed. Kristjansson, J. K.) 105–184 (CRC, Boca Raton, Ann Arbor, and London, 1992).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Olson, G. J., Dockins, W. S., McFeters, G. A. & Iverson, W. P. Geomicrobiol. J. 2, 327–340 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Carothers, W. W. & Kharaka, Y. K. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. Bull. 62, 2441–2453 (1978).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Drobner, E., Huber, H., Wächtershäuser, G., Rose, D. & Stetter, K. O. Nature 346, 742–744 (1990).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Fiala, G. & Stetter, K. O. Arch. Mikrobiol. 145, 56–61 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Aeckersberg, F., Bak, F. & Widdel F. Arch. Mikrobiol. 156, 5–14 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Gold, T. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 6045–6049 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Stetter, K. O., König, H. & Stackebrandt, E. Syst. appl. Microbiol. 4, 535–551 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie and Archaeenzentrum, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany

    K. O. Stetter, R. Huber, E. Blöchl & M. Kurr

  2. CAPCIS Ltd, UMIST, Bainbridge House, Granby Row, Manchester, Ml 2PW, UK

    R. D. Eden

  3. BP Exploration Operating Company Ltd, Farburn Industrial Estate, Dyce, Aberdeen, AB2 OPB, UK

    M. Fielder

  4. BP Research, Warrensville Research and Environmental Science Center, 4400 Warrensville Center Road, Cleveland, Ohio, 44128, USA

    H. Cash & I. Vance

Authors
  1. K. O. Stetter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Huber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Blöchl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Kurr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. D. Eden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Fielder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. H. Cash
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. I. Vance
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stetter, K., Huber, R., Blöchl, E. et al. Hyperthermophilic archaea are thriving in deep North Sea and Alaskan oil reservoirs. Nature 365, 743–745 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/365743a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/365743a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing