Application of Lemongrass essential oil as a bactericide for produced water treatment in an Oil Collecting Station of North-East, India

Abstract

Essential oils of medicinal and aromatic plants have been known to possess inherent anti-microbial properties. In the present study field application of lemongrass essential oil (hydrosol form) was undertaken as substitute to conventionally used synthetic bactericides in an Oil Collecting Station located in Assam, India. Results obtained during the course of the three-month long field assessment has successfully demonstrated that Lemongrass essential oil (hydrosol form) can be used as a bactericide to arrest growth of harmful corrosion causing sulphate reducing bacteria in produced water co-produced with oil and gas during the primary processing of crude at the Oil Collecting Station.