The nature, activity and metabolism of microbes that inhabit the deep subsurface environment are a matter of ongoing debate. The analysis of oil samples from three different basins in South America, central Europe and the Middle East indicates the presence of intact phospholipids and suggests that indigenous bacteria inhabit petroleum reservoirs in sediment depths of up to 2,000 m.
- Christian Hallmann
- Lorenz Schwark
- Kliti Grice
