石油精製技術市場

Research Overview

Escalating Energy Requirements Demand New Investments in Refining

The demand for petroleum products – particularly transportation fuels (gasoline and diesel) and petrochemical feedstocks (such as aromatics and olefins) – is increasing throughout the world. Traditional markets such as North America and Europe are experiencing moderate increase in demand, whereas emerging Asian markets such as India and China are witnessing a rapid surge. This has resulted in a ‘squeeze'  on existing refineries, prompting a fresh technological approach to optimize efficiency and throughput. Major oil companies and technology suppliers/licensors are investing heavily to revamp their refining technologies in an effort to cater to the growing needs of customers.

This Frost & Sullivan research examines the emerging petroleum refining technologies and their impact on the oil industry. The study analyzes the key regulatory factors influencing technology evolution and adoption, discussed from the standpoint of gasoline, diesel, petrochemicals, and intra-refinery issues. Various catalytic processes (such as isomerization, alkylation, desulfurization, and hydrotreating) and the role of catalytic cracking and reforming have also been discussed in detail.

New Environmental Regulations Influence Technological Developments

A steady evolution in product specifications caused by an endless wave of fresh environmental regulations plays a major role in the development of petroleum refining technologies. In the United States and Europe, gasoline and diesel specifications have changed radically in the past decades and will continue to do so in the future. Currently, reducing the sulfur levels of finished products is the dominant objective. "Sulfur is ubiquitous in petroleum and refiners are now beginning to push the limits technologically on how to handle this issue, as tighter product specifications emerge worldwide," says the analyst.

As petroleum products are shipped worldwide, they need to comply with stringent environment-related regulations prevalent in specific countries. Japan and Singapore have already implemented strict legislation/rules and many countries are likely to follow suit as they confront environmental issues such as smog. These changing rules also cause a negative impact on the market for heavy products such as fuel oil.

Refineries Go Hi-Tech

Refineries are eager to adapt to changing circumstances and are amenable to trying new technologies that are radically different in character. This is evident from the increasing use of ultrasonic technology and novel separation methods. Currently, they are also looking to exploit heavy (more viscous) crude oils, provided they have the refinery technology capable of handling them. "Heavy crudes are rich in components that are only suitable for fuel oil or even heavier product disposition," says the analyst. "Transforming the heavier components into light fractions is thus a necessity," he adds. However, this requires technological changes – including more effective use of hydrogen within the refinery – and that increases operating costs.

Heavier crudes could also be contaminated with sulfur and metal particles that must be removed to meet quality standards. "A deeper understanding of how catalysts work – both chemically and physically – is providing greater scope for technological improvements," says the analyst. "Nanotechnology and combinatorial chemistry are among the techniques that are likely to help push forward the frontiers of efficiency and selectivity," he says. Even though the nature of crude oil is changing, refineries are here to stay in the foreseeable future, since petroleum products satisfy wide-ranging energy requirements/demands that are not fully catered to by natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), or coal. At present, alternative energy schemes lack technological sophistication or economic sufficiency to be considered a substitute for petroleum products.

Table Of Contents

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Executive Summary

1.Highlights and Key Findings

2.Summary of Sections

Scope and Methodology

1.Scope

2.Methodology

3.Units and Terminology

2  INTRODUCTION TO REFINING TECHNOLOGY

What Is a Refinery?

1.Introduction

2.Defining 'Refining' vs Petrochemicals

3.Brief History of Refining Technology

Refiners and Their Operations

1.Introduction

2.From Crude to Products

3.Some Basic Petroleum Chemistry

4.Refinery Products

5.Brief Summary of Modern Refining Operations

6.What the Specific Units Do

The Refining Technology Picture

1.Introduction

2.Barriers to Entry in the field of Refining

3  COMMON MARKET AND TECHNOLOGY DRIVERS: REGULATORY ISSUES AND TECHNOLOGY/MARKET-DRIVEN FORCES

Introduction

1.Introduction

2.Product Demand

Transportation Fuels

1.Gasoline-Specific Issues

2.'Octane' Explained

3.Diesel-Specific Issues

4.European; World Rules

Other Key Issues

1.Petrochemical-Specific Issues

2.Intra-Refinery Issues

3.Cogeneration/Petrochemical Integration

4.Refinery Carbon Dioxide Issues

4  ISOMERIZATION/ALKYLATION AND KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY

New Technologies in Chemical Upgrading

1.Description and Introduction

2.Distinguishing Isomerization and Alkylation

Overview of Trends in Chemical Upgrading

1.Traditional Alkylation

2.Other Issues

3.Technical Drivers and Challenges

Alkylation

1.Background

2.UOP Alkylene Process

3.ABB/Lummus AlkyClean Process

4.UOP InAlk Process

5.Haldor Topsøe: Fixed Bed Alkylation

6.Lurgi Eurofuel Process

7.INEEL's Solid State Alkylation Regeneration

8.University of Southern California: New Superacids

Paraffin Isomerization

1.Background

2.Akzo Nobel/Axens High Activity Catalysts

3.UOP Par-Isom Process

4.CDTech/Lyondell IsomPlus

5.ABB Lummus Butane Isomerization

6.Kellogg/Fortum NexOctane

7.Kvaerner/Lyondell: Isobutylene to Isooctane/Isooctene or ETBE

8.UOP Catalyst Innovation

Xylenes Isomerization

1.Background

2.ExxonMobil: XyMax

3.GTC/IPCL

4.ExxonMobil TransPlus

5.GTC: GT-BTX

6.Krupp-Uhde Morphylex BTX

7.BP Cyclar

8.Is Benzene Purification Needed?

5  NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN REFORMING AND RELATED UNITS

Introduction

1.Introduction

2.Trends

3.Technical Drivers and Challenges

4.Business News in Reforming and Catalyst Technology

Key Developments in Cat Reforming

1.Axens

2.UOP

3.Zeoforming

6  NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN CATALYTIC CRACKING

Introduction

1.Trends

2. Technical Drivers and Challenges

Key Developments

1.Introduction

2.Stone & Webster/Sinopec: Deep Catalytic Cracking

3.UOP: Millisecond Cat Cracking

4.ABB Lummus Selective Cat Cracking

5.Luoyang/Sinopec: FDFCC Flexible Dual Riser Process

6.ExxonMobil/KBR Orthoflow Improvements

7.Catalyst Improvements

8.Akzo Nobel: JADE and TOPAZ Family Catalysts

9.Engelhard Flex-Tec for Heavy Resid Cracking

10.Haldor Topsøe Aroshift FCC Pre-Treatment

11.DOE/University of Utah: Multiple-Reactor FCC

12.UOP VGO Unionfining

Hydrocracking

1.Introduction

2.UOP Partial-Conversion Unicracking

3.Veba Hydrocracking Process

4.Chevron Lummus LC-Fining

7  CLEANING UP: HYDROTREATING; DESULFURIZATION AND DEMETALLIZATION

New Technologies

1.Description and Introduction

2.Desulfurization

3.Demetallization

Trends

1.Hydrotreating

2.Technical Drivers and Challenges

Key Developments in Hydrotreating

1.Introduction

2.ExxonMobil SCANFining

3.Nebula: Akzo Nobel

4.UOP: Sulfur-X

5.GTC GT-DeSulf Process

6.UOP/PDVSA: ISAL Gasoline Desulfurization

7.BOC-Linde IsoTherming Process

8.Badger/SK HDS Pretreater

9.ExxonMobil OCTGAIN Process

10.Phillips S-Zorb

11.Axens Prime-D Diesel Desulfurization

12.JGC Gas Oil Ultra-Deep Desulfurization

13.Criterion: Centinel Hydroprocessing Family

14.Indian Oil Technologies: INDE Sweet

15.Virginia Tech: New HT Catalyst Ideas

16.UIUC: Sonochemistry Improves HT Catalysis

New Concepts

1.University of Southern California: Nanotech Filtration Concept

2.Penn State: Selective Sulfur Removal

3.UniPure: A Fresh Distillate Desulfurization Idea

4.Biodesulfurization

8  TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS IN PROCESSING EQUIPMENT: COLUMNS; PACKINGS; TRAYS Introduction

1.New Technologies in Processing Equipment: Introduction

2.Trends

3.Technical Drivers and Challenges

Key Developments

1.Julius Montz GmbH

2.Koch-Glitsch

3.Kansai Chemical Engineering 'Lift Tray'

4.Other Suppliers

Promising Concepts

1.Parastillation and Metastillation

2.Heat Integration/Heat Pumps

9  HEAVY CRUDE/RESID UPGRADING Introduction

1.Overview

2.Technical Drivers and Challenges

The Key 'Heavy' Technologies for Refiners

1.Overview

2.Foster Wheeler/UOP Coil Visbreakers

3.Shell Resid Hydroprocessing

4.Shell Deep Thermal Conversion

5.ExxonMobil: Fluid Coking and Flexicoking

6.Aquaconversion: Pushing Visbreaking Further

7.INTEVEP HDH Process

8.Foster Wheeler Asphalt Coking Technology

9.Foster Wheeler SYDEC Process

10.FW/UOP Solvent Deasphalting

11.UOP RCD Unionfining

12.Various Crude Upgrading Processes

10  OTHER REFINING TECHNOLOGIES: LUBES/DEWAXING; DEASPHALTING Introduction

1. Introduction

2.Solvent Dewaxing

3.Hydroprocessing

Trends

1.Technical Drivers and Challenges

Technologies Considered

1.Introduction

2. SK Corp UCO Process and LubePlus Technology

3.ExxonMobil Propane Dewaxing

4.ExxonMobil: Lube Hydrocracking

5.PetroCanada HT Hydrodewaxing/Hydroisomerization

6.Chevron Lummus Global: Isocracking and Isodewaxing

7.UOP HyLube Process

8.UOP/Foster Wheeler SDA

11  HYDROGEN RECOVERY Introduction

1.Refining and Hydrogen Issues

2.Refinery Hydrogen Balances: Sources and Demand

Principal Technologies For Hydrogen Recovery

1.Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA)

2.Membrane Separation Technologies

3.Cryogenic Separation

Trends

1.Technical Drivers and Challenges

Technologies Considered

1.Membrane Technology & Research (MTR)

2.QuestAir

3.Air Products & Chemicals

4.CANMET Ceramic Membranes

12  TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: REFINERY INTEGRATION; SIMULATION AND DESIGN AND MORE Introduction

1.Complexity

2.Data Bonanza

New Modeling Technologies

1.Aspentech-UOP RefSys

2.Eudoxus Systems

3.Petrobras/University of Minas Gerais

4.MathPro ARMS

An 'Ideal' 21st Century Refinery?

1.An 'Ideal' 21st Century Refinery?

2.GEFinery

3.Idemitsu Kosan

4.JGC Corp.

5.East European Process

Other New Technology Ideas

1.Other New Technology Ideas

2.SulphCo

3.ExxonMobil

13  MARKETPLACE IMPACT ANALYSIS: GENERAL

Introduction to the Markets and Applications

1.Introduction to the Markets and Applications

2.Energy Consumption

3.Specialization

4.Refining Intensity by Region

Entry Barriers

1.Artificial Trade Barriers

2.Natural Entry Barriers

Summary of Forecasts

1.Regional Consumption Issues

2.IEA' s Refining Investment Estimates

3.Summary of Forecasts

14  SECTIONAL MARKET ANALYSIS

Alkylation/Isomerization

1.Market Drivers and Challenges

2.Market Forecast

3.Forecast

Reforming

1.Introduction

2.Market Drivers and Challenges

3.Market Forecast

Fluid Catalytic Cracking/Hydrocracking

1.Introduction

2.Market Drivers and Challenges

3.Market Forecast

Desulfurization

1.Introduction

2.Market Drivers and Challenges

3.Market Forecast

Equipment

1.Introduction

2.Market Drivers and Challenges

3.Market Estimates

Heavy Crude Upgrading

1.Introduction

2.Market Drivers and Challenges

3.Regional Considerations

Lube Oil Technology

1. Introduction

2.Market Drivers and Challenges

Hydrogen Recovery

1.Introduction

2.Market Drivers and Challenges

15  FROST & SULLIVAN 2004 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AWARDS

Excellence in Technology

1.Award Description

2.Award Recipient

Technology Leadership

1.Award Description

2.Award Recipient

16  PATENTS AND OTHER DATA

Glossary

1. Glossary

Contact Information

1.Contact Information

Bibliography/References

1.Bibliography/References

Key Patents

1.Alkylation

2.Paraffin Isomerization

3.Xylene Isomerization

4.Reforming

5.FCC and Hydrocracking

6.Hydrodesulfurization

7.Equipment

8.Heavy Crudes and Feeds

9.Lube Oil Processes

10.Hydrogen Recovery