Biofouling control

The other major application for biocides in the oilfield is in biofouling control. This can be defined as the use of a biocide to kill microorganisms that are present in the water that is either injected into an oilfield, or the water that is produced from the oilfield. The reason that biocides are used is to kill the microorganisms before they have the opportunity to attach to the metal surfaces and form biofilms. Considerations on the use of biocides in the injection and production systems are discussed below. 

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Swain, G. Biofouling control a critical component of drag reduction. 

Biofouling control Chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, ozone... 

Waite, T. Fagan, J. Biofouling Control with Ferrate, Environ. Sci. Technol. 1983, 17, 123-125. 

Grant, D.M. Bott, T.R. Biocide dosing strategies for biofouling control. Heat Trans. Engineering 2005,24 (1), 44-50. 

The defense of the new potential solutions in biofouling control can involve physical, mechanical as well as chemical processes. 

Bour, D.P., Battaglia, P.J. and Burd, K.M., 1981, Biofouling control practice and assessment, EPRI Report CS., 1796, Palo Alto. 

Characklis, W.G., Bryers, J.D., Trulear, M.G. and Zelver, N., 1979, Biofouling, film development and its effect on energy losses A laboratory report. Condenser biofouling control symposium, EPRI, Atlanta. 

Rippon, J.E., 1979, UK Biofouling Control Practices. CERL, Leatherhead. 

Excessive use of chlorine for biofouling control can lead to corrosion of metal surfaces because of the acid conditions that are produced by the reactions of chlorine with water. If sodium hypochlorite is used as a source of chlorine this is not the situation. 

Experimental work on a laboratory recirculating apparatus conducted by Kaur et a/ [1991], demonstrated the effectiveness of ozone as a biocide for biofouling control. Using ozonated water with a residual ozone concentration of 0.1 mg/l as... 

Sugam, R., Guerra, C.R., Del Monaco, J.L., Singletary, J.H. and Sandvik, W.A., 1980, Biofouling Control with Ozone at the Bergen Generating Station. Report CS1629, EPRJ, Palo Alto. 

EPRI, 1985, Proceedings Condenser Biofouling Control - State-of-the-Art Symposium, EPRI, Palo Alto. 

LeChevallier, M. W., 1991. Biocides and the current status of biofouling control in water systems. In H.-C. Flemming and G. G. Geesey, (eds.). Biofouling and Biocorrosion in Industrial Water Systems, Heidelberg, Springer, pp. 113-132. 

Biocides are used in oilfields for primarily two reasons to preserve water-based fluids that are used in various oilfield operations, and to control biofouling. The fluids that are used in oilfield operations are varied in composition and properties, but require the use of a biocide to prevent the degradation of important components of the fluids. Biofouling control, in this case, refers to controlling the growth or proliferation of microbes that can potentially be harmful to the operation of the oilfield, or to the value of the hydrocarbon product that is produced. Both applications for biocides have in common the goal to limit or control the introduction of bacteria into the oil-bearing formation. 

Bakke, R., Rivedal, B. and Mehan, S. 1992. Oil reservoir biofouling control. Biofouling 6, 53-60. 

The following sections discuss the primary biocide used today, chlorine, and alternative physical and chemical techniques to address membrane biofouling control. The most common alternative techniques examined here include chloramine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, UV, and non-oxidizing biocides such as DBNPA and isothiazolone. Table 8.12 summarizes advantages and limitations of these techniques (adapted from Kim, 2009). It is important to note that some of these biocides/disinfectants can contact the membranes, and others must be removed or destroyed before the water is introduced to the membrane system itself. 

Ralston, E. and Swain, G. (2009) Bioinspiration- the solution for biofouling control Bioinspiration and Biomimetics, 4, 1-9. 

Uses of diluted hypochlorite solutions are in the pulp and paper and the textile industry for bleaching, water disinfection, biofouling control in desalinating projects and power generation sites, disinfection of seawater for secondary oil recovery, food production. 

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