What operators, water treaters and corrosion techs call the microbes in a system: sulfate reducers, acid producers and iron bacteria. Talk of bugs covers both the corrosion they cause and the hydrogen sulfide they generate in water floods, tanks and produced-water lines. Black slime, a rotten-egg smell and black iron sulfide on a coupon or in pig returns are the usual giveaways, and biocide batches knock them back.
Pig run brought back black sludge that stinks of rotten eggs, we've got bugs, bump up the biocide batch.
Also heard as
- bacteria
- microbes
Related terms
MIC
Microbiologically influenced corrosion: corrosion started or sped up by bacteria and other microbes.
SRB
Sulfate-reducing bacteria: oxygen-free microbes that make hydrogen sulfide and drive much MIC.
Bug bottle
Field nickname for the serial dilution culture vials used to count bacteria in water samples.
Black powder
Fine black dust of iron sulfides and oxides that forms inside gas pipelines and fouls filters, meters and valves.