Commercial Microbiology^® operate an active Research and Development (R&D) department which is engaged in both commercial and in-house projects covering a range of industrial microbiology issues.

The department is run by Dr Stephen Maxwell, with a team of graduate and postgraduate microbiologists, led by Dr Carol Devine, are assigned on an as required basis from our core staff. In addition, we have links with the local Universities and regularly sponsor PhD and MSc postgraduate researchers where their projects are related to the areas of interest for Commercial Microbiology^®. For example:

• Molecular Microbiology
  Development of molecular techniques for the indentification of bacteria in field samples (PCR, cloning, 16S rDNA sequencing).  Development of primers for the screening of populations from oil field samples for sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Development of molecular methods for the analysis of population shifts in specific environments.  Development of molecular methods for the identification of microbial populations in reservoir cores.
• Nitrates
  Investigating the mechanisms of nitrate treatment and bacterial population shift to prevent souring and remediate SRB contamination.
• Biocides
  Screening of chemicals for their applicability as oilfield biocides. Development of laboratory systems to assess biocide performance against sessile bacteria in biofilms.
• Bioremediation
  Development of biological products for odour control, oil spill clean-up, drill cutting remediation, effluent treatment, septic tank treatments, etc.
• Oil Reservoir
  Studies on the mechanisms of well damage caused by bacteria and their impact on oil production. Microbial Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery from ageing oilfields. Use of biological mechanisms to prevent (and remove) hydrogen sulphide souring of oil reservoirs under waterflood.