Why is this detection method for hydrocarbon microseeps valid?
First, microbes in soils are generally in a starved condition due to minimal organic nutrients. Thus, since microbes can grow well on hydrocarbons in aerobic environments, they will respond very positively to hydrocarbon fluxes through the near surface environment. Our technology allows us to selectively enrich and identify those microbes present that are at elevated levels in the environment due to hydrocarbon flux from subsurface petroleum deposits.
