Abstract: The significances of methane-oxidizing bacteria, anaerobic cellulose-decomposing bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria in the soil from the Xindu gas field for its petroleum exploration are discussed. The results show that the quantities of these microbes as a function of hydrocarbon biting are obviously different: the methane-oxidizing bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria were found in high quantity, and anaerobic cellulose-decomposing bacteria in low quantity. However, the methane-oxidizing bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria were found in low quantity, while in outer edge of Xindu gas field, all these bacteria above mentioned are in low quantity, which is just accordant with the oil-gas distribution in this field. The study indicates that the microbial prospecting technology could be effectively used for oil and gas prediction.

Key words: soil, microbe, Xindu gas field, oil-gas gas exploration