Tackling Microbially Influenced Corrosion (MIC) in Oil & Gas and Mining: Leveraging Molecular Biological Tools for Effective Management
Corrosion is one of the most persistent and costly challenges facing the oil, gas, and mining industries. But not all corrosion is created equal. When microorganisms accelerate or initiate metal degradation, the result is Microbially Influenced Corrosion (MIC), a process responsible for an estimated 40% of internal corrosion across industrial sectors. Unlike purely chemical corrosion, MIC is driven by living systems, which means it behaves unpredictably, adapts to environmental changes, and often goes undetected until significant damage has already occurred.
A recent webinar titled “Tackling Microbially Influenced Corrosion (MIC) in Oil & Gas and Mining: Leveraging Molecular Biological Tools for Effective Management,” presented by Dora Taggart, President and CEO of Microbial Insights, Inc. — a proud sponsor of the Groundwater Project — offers a comprehensive look at how modern molecular tools are transforming the way industries detect, monitor, and manage this complex phenomenon.
Understanding MIC: The Invisible Threat
MIC describes any corrosion process where microorganisms, including sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogens, accelerate or initiate metal degradation. These microbes thrive in a wide range of environmental conditions, from pipeline interiors to mining infrastructure, marine environments, and processing facilities. The challenge with MIC is that traditional detection methods often fail to capture the full picture of the microbial communities at work, leaving operators without the actionable data they need to make informed decisions about asset integrity and mitigation strategies.
The webinar situates MIC as not merely a technical nuisance but a significant financial and environmental risk. In oil and gas, aging infrastructure compounds the problem. In mining, the same microbial processes that drive MIC are also linked to acid mine drainage and tailings management challenges. Understanding the biological dimension of corrosion is therefore essential for any organization seeking to protect its assets, reduce downtime, and meet environmental and safety obligations.
Molecular Biological Tools: A New Era of Corrosion Management
At the heart of the webinar is the concept of Molecular Biological Tools (MBTs). These are advanced analytical methods that provide comprehensive identification and accurate quantification of MIC-associated microorganisms. Unlike culture-based approaches, which capture only a fraction of the microbes present, MBTs such as quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), QuantArray®-MIC, and next generation sequencing (NGS) deliver a far more complete and precise characterization of microbial communities.
Dora Taggart, who has been with Microbial Insights since 2001 and has advanced the field of MBTs through pioneering work in qPCR analysis and stable isotope probing, walks viewers through how these tools work in practice. Her presentation covers the science behind the methods, their application across oil, gas, and mining contexts, and the kind of data they generate: data that is unbiased, reproducible, and directly actionable for site management decisions.
A key message of the webinar is that effective MIC management requires moving beyond guesswork. MBTs provide the evidence base to identify which microorganisms are present, in what quantities, and how they relate to observed corrosion. This allows operators to target mitigation strategies with precision rather than relying on broad-spectrum treatments that may be unnecessary or ineffective.
Why This Matters for the Groundwater Project Community
For the Groundwater Project community, the relevance of this webinar extends beyond the oil and gas or mining sectors. Groundwater systems are intimately connected to the subsurface environments where microbial processes play critical roles, from contaminant biodegradation to mineral interactions. The same MBTs discussed in the context of corrosion are increasingly applied in groundwater remediation, helping researchers and practitioners understand the microbial dynamics that influence water quality and ecosystem health.
The webinar also highlights the importance of cross-disciplinary knowledge sharing. As industries face growing pressure to manage resources responsibly and protect water quality, the tools and frameworks developed for MIC management offer transferable insights for the broader groundwater and environmental science communities. The partnership between Microbial Insights and the Groundwater Project reflects a shared commitment to making specialized scientific knowledge accessible to the people who need it, wherever they work.
About the Presenter
Dora Taggart is the President and CEO of Microbial Insights, Inc., a leading biotechnology laboratory with over three decades of experience in microbial diagnostic solutions and a dedicated sponsor of the Groundwater Project. Since joining the company in 2001, she has advanced the field of Molecular Biological Tools through pioneering work in qPCR analysis and stable isotope probing. As a global ambassador for MBTs, she regularly presents as an invited speaker at environmental and corrosion conferences, has led hundreds of technical workshops worldwide, and has co-authored guidance documents with the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC). She holds a degree in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.
Watch the Webinar
The webinar is available on the Microbial Insights website and will also be shared across Groundwater Project social media channels. Whether you work in corrosion management, environmental remediation, mining, or groundwater science, this presentation offers valuable insights into how molecular tools are reshaping our understanding of microbial processes and their industrial impacts.