Rawwater Engineering Company Ltd / Rawwater Achieves 700 Years of Pressurised Bioreactor Data

Rawwater is proud to announce that we have reached a new milestone in the field of subsurface microbiology, with the accumulation of over 700 years’ worth of high-pressure bioreactor data.

Achieved in July 2025 at our UK-based research laboratories, this achievement further reinforces Rawwater’s position as the world leader in oilfield biofilm simulation, souring forecasting and microbiological risk management.

This extensive dataset has been generated through nearly two decades of continuous high-pressure bioreactor studies, simulating subsurface reservoir conditions that reach up to 12,000 psig and temperatures approaching 100°C.

Our work replicates the extreme near-wellbore and deep-reservoir conditions to better understand the growth and behaviour of sulfidogenic biofilms - sulfide-generating microbial communities that pose a significant challenge to Oil & Gas operations worldwide.

The implications of sulfidogenic activity - caused primarily by sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRM) introduced during seawater injection - include hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) generation, equipment corrosion, increased chemical dosing, health risks to personnel and reduced asset profitability. Predicting if, when and how a reservoir will sour remains critical to safe and sustainable field development across the world.

“Our bioreactor facility offers an unparalleled testbed for understanding the influence of pressure, temperature and field-specific chemistry on microbial activity,” explains Matt Streets, Principal Scientist and Director at Rawwater. “By using oil and water samples from assets around the world, our bioreactors generate practical data that supports cost-effective mitigation strategies, informing both operators and service companies.”

Beyond traditional Oil & Gas applications, Rawwater’s growing dataset also underpins pioneering research into the impact of other extreme environments, ensuring long-term integrity of assets and storage sites through advanced simulation and microbial risk assessment.

As the dataset continues to grow, so does Rawwater’s legacy: a foundation of microbiological excellence that drives innovation and delivers critical insights to global industry.

To learn more about how Rawwater can support your understanding of microbial life under extreme conditions, visit www.rawwater.com or contact info@rawwater.com.