Objective　Sulfate-reducing　bacteria　(SRB)　pose　a　threat　to　the　safe　operation　of　shale-gas-gathering　pipelines.　Therefore,　it　is　essential　to　explore　the　role　played　by　SRB　in　dedicated　pipelines.　Methods　In　this　work,　the　corrosion　behavior　of　SRB　was　investigated　by　organic　carbon　starvation　immersion　experiments　combined　with　cell　number　monitoring,　corrosion　weight　loss　recordings,　morphology　and　profile　observations　and　electrochemical　measurements.　Results　In　experiments　with　sodium　lactate　content　ranging　from　0-3500　ppm,　the　corrosion　rate　and　pitting　depth　were　the　highest　at　350　ppm.　Conclusions　The　results　indicated　that　the　reduction　in　carbon　sources　leads　to　bacterial　starvation,　which　directly　obtains　electrons　from　metals　and　exacerbates　corrosion.　It　is　not　appropriate　to　use　the　content　of　bacteria　to　determine　the　strength　of　bacterial　corrosion.