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David Jones

Bio: David Jones is an academic researcher from Newcastle University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biodegradation & Petroleum. The author has an hindex of 25, co-authored 45 publications receiving 4782 citations. Previous affiliations of David Jones include University of Bristol & University of Newcastle.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: That the globe is not swamped with oil is testament to the efficiency and versatility of the networks of microorganisms that degrade hydrocarbons, some of which have recently begun to reveal the secrets of when and how they exploit Hydrocarbons as a source of carbon and energy.
Abstract: Hundreds of millions of litres of petroleum enter the environment from both natural and anthropogenic sources every year. The input from natural marine oil seeps alone would be enough to cover all of the world's oceans in a layer of oil 20 molecules thick. That the globe is not swamped with oil is testament to the efficiency and versatility of the networks of microorganisms that degrade hydrocarbons, some of which have recently begun to reveal the secrets of when and how they exploit hydrocarbons as a source of carbon and energy.

993 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
10 Jan 2008-Nature
TL;DR: The data imply a common methanogenic biodegradation mechanism in subsurface degraded oil reservoirs, resulting in consistent patterns of hydrocarbon alteration, and the common association of dry gas with severely degraded oils observed worldwide.
Abstract: Biodegradation of crude oil in subsurface petroleum reservoirs has adversely affected the majority of the world's oil, making recovery and refining of that oil more costly. The prevalent occurrence of biodegradation in shallow subsurface petroleum reservoirs has been attributed to aerobic bacterial hydrocarbon degradation stimulated by surface recharge of oxygen-bearing meteoric waters. This hypothesis is empirically supported by the likelihood of encountering biodegraded oils at higher levels of degradation in reservoirs near the surface. More recent findings, however, suggest that anaerobic degradation processes dominate subsurface sedimentary environments, despite slow reaction kinetics and uncertainty as to the actual degradation pathways occurring in oil reservoirs. Here we use laboratory experiments in microcosms monitoring the hydrocarbon composition of degraded oils and generated gases, together with the carbon isotopic compositions of gas and oil samples taken at wellheads and a Rayleigh isotope fractionation box model, to elucidate the probable mechanisms of hydrocarbon degradation in reservoirs. We find that crude-oil hydrocarbon degradation under methanogenic conditions in the laboratory mimics the characteristic sequential removal of compound classes seen in reservoir-degraded petroleum. The initial preferential removal of n-alkanes generates close to stoichiometric amounts of methane, principally by hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Our data imply a common methanogenic biodegradation mechanism in subsurface degraded oil reservoirs, resulting in consistent patterns of hydrocarbon alteration, and the common association of dry gas with severely degraded oils observed worldwide. Energy recovery from oilfields in the form of methane, based on accelerating natural methanogenic biodegradation, may offer a route to economic production of difficult-to-recover energy from oilfields.

645 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the free lipid distributions from Ellesmere Lake sediments taken from two depths, and comparison with leaf-wax lipid distribution from six deciduous tree species around the lake were made in order to assess lipid sources.

447 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
16 Sep 2004-Nature
TL;DR: The isolation of metabolites indicative of anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation from a large fraction of 77 degraded oil samples from both marine and lacustrine sources from around the world, including the volumetrically important Canadian tar sands are reported, suggesting that anaer aerobic degradation is a common process in biodegraded subsurface oil reservoirs.
Abstract: Biodegradation of crude oil in subsurface petroleum reservoirs is an important alteration process with major economic consequences. Aerobic degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons at the surface is well documented and it has long been thought that the flow of oxygen- and nutrient-bearing meteoric waters into reservoirs was necessary for in-reservoir petroleum biodegradation. The occurrence of biodegraded oils in reservoirs where aerobic conditions are unlikely, together with the identification of several anaerobic microorganisms in oil fields and the discovery of anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation mechanisms, suggests that anaerobic degradation processes could also be responsible. The extent of anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation processes in the world's deep petroleum reservoirs, however, remains strongly contested. Moreover, no organism has yet been isolated that has been shown to degrade hydrocarbons under the conditions found in deep petroleum reservoirs. Here we report the isolation of metabolites indicative of anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation from a large fraction of 77 degraded oil samples from both marine and lacustrine sources from around the world, including the volumetrically important Canadian tar sands. Our results therefore suggest that anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation is a common process in biodegraded subsurface oil reservoirs.

376 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Aug 1991-Nature
TL;DR: In this article, the carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) of individual n-alkanes from the leaves of lakeside trees with those from the lake sediments were compared.
Abstract: COMPOUND-specific isotope analysis by gas chromatography combined with isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS)1,2 provides a new tool with which to study the carbon cycle at the molecular scale3. Previous studies2,4 using this technique have been concerned with oceanic systems. Here we demonstrate that the potential for elucidating terrestrial sedimentary processes is equally important. By comparing the carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) of individual n-alkanes from the leaves of lakeside trees with those from the lake sediments, we are able to discriminate between the diverse sources of the sedimentary carbon. The leaf-wax n-alkanes show a large inter-species δ13C variation of -30.1 to -38.7‰, which may be the result of genetic differences in plant adaptation and physiology. Values of-30.1 to -35.9‰> were obtained for the corresponding n-alkanes extracted from the lake sediments, indicating that they derive from a mixed input of deciduous leaf waxes. Shorter-chain lipids in the sediments had δ13C values of -20 to -22‰o, implying that these originate from a different (probably algal) source. Information of this sort goes beyond that which can be deduced from bulk isotope or biomarker analyses alone.

322 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There is little doubt that measurements of bioaccumulation and biomarker responses in fish from contaminated sites offer great promises for providing information that can contribute to environmental monitoring programs designed for various aspects of ERA.

4,397 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Rates of biodegradation depend greatly on the composition, state, and concentration of the oil or hydrocarbons, with dispersion and emulsification enhancing rates in aquatic systems and absorption by soil particulates being the key feature of terrestrial ecosystems.

2,450 citations

MonographDOI
16 Dec 2004
TL;DR: The second edition of The Biomarker Guide as mentioned in this paper provides a comprehensive account of the role that biomarker technology plays both in petroleum exploration and in understanding Earth history and processes.
Abstract: The second edition of The Biomarker Guide is a fully updated and expanded version of this essential reference. Now in two volumes, it provides a comprehensive account of the role that biomarker technology plays both in petroleum exploration and in understanding Earth history and processes. Biomarkers and Isotopes in the Environment and Human History details the origins of biomarkers and introduces basic chemical principles relevant to their study. It discusses analytical techniques, and applications of biomarkers to environmental and archaeological problems. The Biomarker Guide is an invaluable resource for geologists, petroleum geochemists, biogeochemists, environmental scientists and archaeologists.

2,163 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the organic matter content of sediments is inferred from bulk properties such as elemental compositions, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios, Rock-Eval pyrolysis data, and organic petrography.

1,947 citations

BookDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an overview of the use of stable isotopes in watershed hydrology and their application in agricultural and urban watersheds, as well as in marine ecosystems.
Abstract: Contributors. Abbreviations. Introduction. 1. Stable isotope chemistry and measurement: a primer. Elizabeth W. Sulzman. Introduction. What isotopes are, what makes them distinct. Properties of ecologically useful stable isotopes. Technological advances and current trends in the ecological use of isotopes. Acknowledgments. References. 2. Sources of variation in the stable isotopic composition of plants. John D. Marshall, J. Renee Brooks, and Kate Lajtha. Introduction. Carbon isotopes. Nitrogen isotopes. Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes. Conclusions. References. 3. Natural 15N- and 13C-abundance as indicators of forest nitrogen status and soil carbon dynamics. Charles T. Garten, Jr, Paul J. Hanson, Donald E. Todd, Jr, Bonnie B. Lau, and Deanne J. Brice. Introduction. Significance of 15N-abundance to soil carbon sequestration. Vertical changes in soil 13C-abundance and soil carbon dynamics. Conclusions. Acknowledgments. References. 4. Soil nitrogen isotope composition. R. Dave Evans. Introduction. Sources of variation in soil 15N. Patterns of soil nitrogen isotope composition. Conclusions. References. 5. Isotopic study of the biology of modern and fossil vertebrates. Paul L. Koch. Introduction. Vertebrate tissues in the fossil record. Controls on the isotopic composition of vertebrate tissues. Preservation of biogenic isotope compositions by vertebrate fossils. Paleobiological applications. Conclusions. A post-script on workshops and literature resources. References. 6. Isotopic tracking of migrant wildlife. Keith A. Hobson. Introduction. Basic principles. Marine systems. Terrestrial systems (excluding deuterium). Using deuterium patterns in precipitation. Conclusions. References. 7. Natural abundance of 15N in marine planktonic ecosystems. Joseph P. Montoya. Introduction. Background. Isotopic variation in marine nitrogen. Source delineation and isotope budgets. Animal fractionation and food web processes. Isotopic transients in marine systems. Compound-specific nitrogen isotope analyses. Conclusions. Acknowledgment. References. 8. Stable isotope studies in marine chemoautotrophically based ecosystems: An update. Cindy Lee Van Dover. Introduction. Isotopic tracing of carbon at methane seeps. Whale falls. Hydrothermal vents. Conclusions. References. 9. Stable isotope ratios as tracers in marine food webs: An update. Robert H. Michener and Les Kaufman. Introduction. Methods of assessing food webs. Phytoplankton and particulate organic carbon. Phytoplankton and particulate organic nitrogen. Marine food webs. Stable isotopes in marine conservation biology. Conclusions. Acknowledgments. References. 10. Stable isotope tracing of temporal and spatial variability in organic matter sources to freshwater ecosystems. Jacques C. Finlay and Carol Kendall. Introduction. Overview of river food webs and stable isotope approaches. Stable isotope ratios of organic matter sources in stream ecosystems. C, N, and S isotopic variability and its applications in river ecology. Conclusions. Acknowledgments. References. 11. Stable isotope tracers in watershed hydrology. Kevin J. McGuire and Jeff McDonnell. Introduction. Basic concepts in watershed hydrology. Why are stable isotopes needed?. General concepts in isotope hydrology. Applications of isotope hydrology in watershed and ecosystem studies. Conclusions. Acknowledgments. References. 12. Tracing anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen to ecosystems. Carol Kendall, Emily M. Elliott, and Scott D. Wankel. Introduction. Isotopic compositions of major N sources to ecosystems. Processes affecting the isotopic composition of DIN. Separating mixing of sources from the effects of cycling. Applications to different environmental settings. What sources of agricultural and urban sources of nitrate can be distinguished using isotopes?. Other tools for tracing anthropogenic contaminants. Conclusions. References. 13. Modeling the dynamics of stable-isotope ratios for ecosystem biogeochemistry. William S. Currie. Introduction. Designing consistent model-data linkages and comparisons. Principles and techniques of stable isotope modeling. Conclusions. Acknowledgments. References. 14. Compound-specific stable isotope analysis in ecology and paleoecology. Richard P. Evershed, Ian D. Bull, Lorna T. Corr, Zoe M. Crossman, Bart E. van Dongen, Claire Evans, Susan Jim, Hazel Mottram, Anna J. Mukherjee, and Richard D. Pancost. Introduction. Why use compound-specific stable isotopes?. Analytical considerations in compound-specific stable isotope analysis. Applications of compound-specific stable isotope approaches in ecology and paleoecology. Conclusions. References. Index

1,794 citations