The ChainBreaker microbes work like your traditional chemicals. When they reproduce they excrete biochemicals that mimic chemicals like -pour point depressants This reduction in viscosity is probably due to the production of small solvent molecules by the microbial population.

These solvent molecules include alcohols, ketones and aldehydes and are functionally similar to oil field chemicals used as wax dispersants and pour point depressants and crystal modifiers. How they work is when they reproduce in their metabolic process and give off biosurfactants. What this process does is break the carbon chains make them shorter and keep them in suspension so they won't fall out later down the line.

Paraffin deposition results in a variety of problems for oilfield operators, ranging from plugging of tubulars to occult formation deposition that reduces formation permeability. Conventional technologies to control paraffin deposition are thermal and chemical treatments.

Both of these technologies have limitations that restrict their long-term effectiveness. In particular, hot oil or water treatments may lead to increased formation damage by forcing deposited high molecular weight paraffins into the formation where they can contribute to pore throat plugging and lead to production loss.