ZoBell’s contribution to petroleum microbiology

Claude ZoBell’s recognition of the influence of microorganisms in the ecology of petroleum bearing environments was all encompassing. This translated into a unique contribution over the entire span of the oil industry. Many of his publications in the 1940s and 1950s discussed the key role of microorganisms in the diagenesis of hydrocarbon products. At a time when the industry was treating the supply of crude oil as an almost inexhaustible reserve, ZoBell’s thoughts were turning to improved oil recovery using bacterial products such as acids and gases to aid mobilisation and he also recognised the inevitable problems of oil spill pollution and the potential for use of bacteria as control agents. In all areas of the oil industry today there is an increasingly clear recognition of the influence of associated microflora. Perhaps if there had been wider recognition of Claude ZoBell’s work throughout the middle decades of this century more microbially mediated improved oil recovery and bioremediation treatments would be in place today.