Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Are there bio-organisms that live in crude oil and eat steel?

Don't laugh at me this is the claim of BP in regards to their corroded pipline!

I think this is absolutely absurd, am I wrong?

3 Answers

Relevance
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I'm a biologist and it sounds perfectly reasonable and logical to me. Do you have any reason whatsoever to doubt it?

    Microorganisms that digest hydrocarbons in oil have been known for decades and are routinely used in treating oil spills.

    Iron oxidising species have been known for over a century and are a serious problem in the engineering field.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I wouldn't laugh, I think it may be the oil has rotted away the protective layer on the inside of the steel pipeline, and a little bit of moisture in the oil started rusting it. Maybe it could be true, but it doesn't sound too logical.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    Nobody is laughing........remember the old saying. There are no dumb questions....just stupid answers.

    Are you asking because....this is another "reason" that gas price is about to go back up?

    Cant wait to get rid of all gas products and go battery operated.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.