Bacteria and Biofilm Control

From oil and natural gas wells to nuclear power plants, shipping vessels to cooling and boiling water cycles, biofouling – particularly microfouling – is a real, persistent and costly threat to industries around the world. 

Common hazards include:

• Equipment damage
• Reductions in pipe flow
• Increased pipe pressure
• Increased energy and fuel consumption
• Increased maintenance costs
• Increased equipment replacement costs
• Reduced operation efficiencies and well recovery flow rates

In addition, toxic chemical disinfectants and the disposal of hazardous waste products present ongoing expense and environmental liability. Today, ensuring profitable operations means having an effective water management strategy, and a critical component of effective water management is the control and destruction of bacteria and biofilms.

Biofouling occurs when thin layers of bacteria form to coat surfaces such as pipes, machinery, hulls, or wells – almost any surface commonly found in commercial and industrial operations can be impacted. Microbial biofilms typically form on moist or wet surfaces, and once developed demonstrate a remarkable resistance to changes in environment, antibiotics and chemical disinfectants, leveraging “persister cells” to survive even prolonged exposure to disinfectants.