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