Used in oil and gas drilling as a high-density brine in completion and workover fluids, especially in deep wells where high pressure requires dense fluids to control formation pressures. Its clear solution allows for better visibility downhole and causes less damage to production zones compared to solids-laden fluids. Also used in the manufacture of other bromine compounds and in some industrial water treatment processes to control microbial growth. In smaller-scale applications, it serves as a source of bromide ions in chemical synthesis and as a desiccant in drying gases due to its hygroscopic nature.