System and method for prevention of corrosive biofilm formation in petroleum holding or carrying structures

Abstract

A hollow steel structure for carrying or holding liquid petroleum. The structure has an inner surface that is coated or lined with a piezo-electric material for precluding or minimizing bacterial biofilm-based corrosion. The method entails precluding or minimizing bacterial biofilm-based corrosion of a hollow steel structure that will be exposed to a flow of liquid petroleum by applying a piezo-electric material coating on it. In addition, the method may entail subjecting the hollow structure to the application of an agent for blocking and disrupting communication between the bacterial cells in the biofilm and/or an agent for blocking exocytosis among the bacteria cells of the biofilm.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.