Residue Upgrading Catalysts
With crude oil feedstocks becoming heavier, lighter crudes becoming more expensive, and environmental pressures increasing, it’s critical for refiners to get the most out of the bottom of their barrel with residue upgrading catalysts.
Creating Value from Bottom of the Barrel Resources
Effectively dealing with the bottom of the barrel is high on the refining industry’s agenda for several reasons. Crude oil feedstocks are becoming heavier, which is making lighter crudes more expensive. Environmental pressures are undermining the market for heavy fuel oil. In addition, the demand for clean transportation fuels is growing.
There are several processes available to refiners seeking an upgrading solution.?One of them is ebullated bed residue hydrocracking. It has many advantages over thermal technologies such as delayed coking, but getting the most out of the process is not easy. Effective use of catalysts is the key to success.
Choosing the best catalysts to function under the specific conditions prevailing in ebullated bed or fixed bed residue upgrading units requires considerable understanding.?Shell Catalysts & Technologies prioritises partnering with refineries and operators include deep diagnosis and holistic auditing of processes, results, and goals. This helps refiners make the most informed and effective residue upgrading catalyst and solution mix.
Using Owner-Operator Expertise to Meet Clean Fuel Demand
The demand for clean fuels continues to grow. Bottom-of-the-barrel upgrading is a critical process to fulfil that growing demand, but refiners must consider solutions that can provide more energy, cleaner energy, while remaining profitable.
Shell Catalysts & Technologies prioritises partnering with refineries to provide a deep diagnosis and holistic auditing of processes and results. Ebullated-bed hydrocrackers are highly customised according to a refiner’s specific objectives and there has been a great deal of innovation in the latest grassroots designs.
The design of newer-generation units features an integrated hydrocracker–high-pressure hydrotreater in the same high-pressure loop, without a need for further upgrading to meet the required specifications as in previous iterations. This enables direct production of high-value transportation fuels, such as ultra-low-sulphur diesel from VR.
This customisation and guidance – backed by decades of owner-operator expertise – helps refiners make the most informed and effective residue upgrading catalyst and solution mix.
Distillate Hydrotreating
Distillate hydrotreating can help refiners achieve complex demands set out by clean fuels legislation through effective hydrodesulphurisation (HDS).
FCC Pretreat Catalysts
FCC Pretreat catalysts and unit designs help refiners develop solutions that will maximise their facility’s profitability within their specific constraints.
Contact Shell Catalysts & Technologies
Contact Shell Catalysts & Technologies to meet the challenges petrochemical plants face with confidence.