COTC-Crude Oil to Chemicals is a concept
designed to enable oil majors like Saudi Aramco, Technip, and Chevron to find
new markets for their oil as fuels markets continue to erode.
Thanks to a Google® Scholar Alert, I found the following article.
TIP:
Set up Google® Scholar (https://scholar.google.com
) Alerts using keywords that match your research interests. In my experience,
most of the results are irrelevant to my purposes. But once in a while, I
discover a real gem. The minimal effort required to scroll through and delete
the less useful alerts makes this a real time saver.
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Composition-performance Relationships in Catalysts Formulation
for the Direct Conversion of Crude Oil to Chemicals
Mohammed Alabdullah,[a]
Tuiana Shoinkhorova,[a] Alberto Rodriguez-Gomez,[a] Alla Dikhtiarenko,[a]
Jullian Vittenet,[a] Ola S. Ali,[b] Isidoro Morales-Osorio,[b] Wei Xu,[b] and Jorge
Gascon*[a]
[a] M. Alabdullah, T. Shoinkhorova, Dr. A. Rodriguez-Gomez, Dr. A.
Dikhtiarenko, Dr. J. Vittenet, Prof. J. Gascon
KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC)
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, (Saudi Arabia)
E-mail: jorge.gascon@kaust.edu.sa
[b] O. S. Ali, I. Morales-Osorio, Dr. W. Xu
Chemicals R&D Lab at KAUST Research and Development Center, Saudi Aramco
[EXCERPT]
Abstract
Maximizing the production of petrochemicals from crude oil at the expense
of fuels is among the most important targets for refiners. In this conversion,
catalyst composition and formulation play a key role. Here we present a
thorough study of the effect of formulated FCC catalyst composition on the
one-step cracking of Arabian light crude oil. Our results demonstrate that over
a 35 wt.% yield to light olefins can be achieved on spraydried catalysts
containing 1:1 mixtures of ZSM-5 and FAU zeolites (alongside binder and clay).
Coke deposition and catalyst deactivation can be correlated to the nature and content
of each zeolite component.
Introduction
Light olefins (C2 C4) play a crucial role in the petrochemical industry.
They are essential building blocks for the production of a wide variety of
commodities, from surface coatings, fibers, solvents, and adhesives to
plastics, and resins. In contrast to other oil-derived products, the demand for
these chemicals will continue to increase in the decades to come.[1] Light
olefins can be produced from a variety of feedstocks, and through different technologies,
however, steam crackers account for circa 60% of the overall production of
propylene.[2] Nevertheless, the recent investment trend towards ethane based
steam crackers, highly selective to ethylene, could result in a decrease in the
production of propylene and benzene.[3] Typical propylene yields in steam
crackers from heavy feed (crude oil, VGO) are around 14 wt.% while only 2 wt.%
are recorded for ethane units.[4] One emerging strategy to overcome the large
demand for these building blocks is the development of refinery strategies for
the direct conversion of crude oil to petrochemicals. Self-reliance from
refinery streams and reduction of capital and energy costs are some benefits of
this approach.[5] In addition, as future demand for fuels and gasoline is
expected to drop, maximizing chemical production from oil holds a great promise
for the sustainability of refineries.[6]
Several crude oil to chemicals (COTC) processes have been reported in the
literature, mainly based on modern steam crackers, fluidized catalytic crackers
(FCC), and hydroprocessing technologies, as recently reviewed by Bogle,[7] and
Corma et al.[5] Commercial units have been recently commissioned or are under
construction in China and the Middle East.[6a] Since 2014, ExxonMobil is
operating a pretreated light crude oil steam cracker in Singapore.[8] Saudi
Arabia is also developing its own COTC portfolio.[9] For instance, Saudi Aramco
is involved in several joint development processes with Axens, TechnipFMC, McDermott,
and Chevron Lummus Global to commercialize its Thermal Crude to Chemicals (TC2
C™) and Catalytic Crude to Chemicals (CC2 C™) technologies.[10]
Targeting high propylene yield, COTC catalytic routes will be preferred
compared to thermal cracking processes. Various studies already highlighted
this point by comparing the thermal cracking of several Arabian crudes to
simulated FCC conditions using fixed-bed microactivity tests (MAT).[11] In the
presence of a catalyst and at reaction temperatures of 600 °C, the propylene to
ethylene ratio is almost three times higher than under similar conditions in
the absence of a catalyst.[11b] The use of ZSM-5, recycling of liquid
fractions, as well as lowering partial pressure, are commonly used strategies
in FCC units to maximize propylene yield, also when crude oils are fed.[11–12]
However, still, a lot of work is needed to optimize catalyst composition further.[13]
Although the effect of FCC additives like ZSM-5 to improve gasoline production
is well-known,[13–14] very little is known about composition-performance
relationships for the direct cracking of crude oil, the main focus of this
article. Here we present a thorough study of the effect of formulated FCC catalyst
composition on the one-step cracking of Arabian light crude oil.
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Google® Better!
Jean Steinhardt served as Librarian,
Aramco Services, Engineering Division, for 13 years. He now heads Jean
Steinhardt Consulting LLC, producing the same high quality research that he
performed for Aramco.
Follow Jean’s blog at: http://desulf.blogspot.com/ for continuing tips on effective online
research
Email Jean at research@jeansteinhardtconsulting.com with questions on research, training, or
anything else
Visit Jean’s Web site at http://www.jeansteinhardtconsulting.com/ to see examples of the services we can
provide
Monday, March 1, 2021
Fossil Fuels Future: Crude Oil To Chemicals
Saturday, October 10, 2020
Aramco and ResearchGate
You are an engineer, a researcher, a scientist. You want to increase your
expertise by expanding your universe of contacts. Try using the following tips
to accomplish this …
TIP #1:
Google® researchgate
aramco
Here is one result …
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ANIFOWOSE, Fatai AdesinaResearch Engineer
II,
Artificial Intelligence Group,The Research Institute, Center for Petroleum and
Minerals,King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals,Dhahran 31261, Saudi
Arabia.
Email:
anifowo@kfupm.edu.sa
http://www.linkedin.com/in/fataianifowose
OBJECTIVE
Becoming a key player and a renowned practitioner in the field of Artificial
Intelligence and its application in Oil and Gas Reservoir Characterization
through Research and Development is my major area of keen interest. With my
previous vast experience in different phases of software development and
training, I am also looking forward to making a unique and substantial impact
in the improvement of software projects and training in terms of quality and
prompt delivery in a team-based environment.
Current affiliation: Saudi Aramco
Department: Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center, Advanced Research
Center
Position: Machine Learning Research Scientist
anifowo@kfupm.edu.sa
fanifowose@gmail.com
source: https://kfupm.academia.edu/FataiAnifowose/CurriculumVitae
///////
TIP #2:
After following TIP #1, find email
addresses by downloading full text offerings and opening the PDFs. Usually at
least one of the authors of any given paper will provide an email address. Note
that you may have to register with ResearchGate (www.researchgate.net/) before you can
access these files.
Here are some results …
///////
Muthukumar Nagu, Research and Development
Center, Saudi Aramco
muthukumar.nagu@aramco.com
Dr. Kai Morganti
Fuel Technology R&D Division, Saudi Aramco Research & Development
Center
kai.morganti@aramco.com
R&D Center, Saudi Aramco
gautam.kalghatgi@aramco.com
marwan.abdullah@aramco.com
hassan.babiker@aramco.com
F. M. Alotaibi
Petrochemicals Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and
Technology (KACST)
fmsalotaibi@kacst.edu.sa
Mansour Al-Shafei
Research and Development Center, Saudi Aramco Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
mansour.shafei@aramco.com
Ye Chen 1, Jing Tao 1, Alaa Ezzeddine 1, Remi Mahfouz 2, Abdullah Al-Shahrani
2, Gasan Alabedi 2 and Niveen M. Khashab 1,*
1 Smart Hybrid Materials (SHMs), Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials
Center,
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
E-Mails: tedchan123@163.com ; rechal1101@gmail.com ; alaa.ezzeddine@kaust.edu.sa
2 Oil & Gas Network Integrity Research Team, Research and Development
Center, Saudi Aramco
remi.mahfouz@aramco.com ; abdullah.shahrani.13@aramco.com
; gasan.alabedi@aramco.com
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed E-Mail:
niveen.khashab@kaust.edu.sa ;
source: www.researchgate.net/institution/Saudi_Aramco/members/4
///////
As you can see, this is tedious work. But it is a means by which you can make
contact with significant members of your interest community. Try it. See if it
works for you. Then let me know.
TIP #3:
Modify the Google® search in TIP #1
to search for experts in other organizations.
///////
Google® Better!
Jean Steinhardt served as Librarian,
Aramco Services, Engineering Division, for 13 years. He now heads Jean
Steinhardt Consulting LLC, producing the same high quality research that he
performed for Aramco.
Follow Jean’s blog at: http://desulf.blogspot.com/ for continuing tips on effective online
research
Email Jean at research@jeansteinhardtconsulting.com with questions on research, training, or
anything else
Visit Jean’s Web site at http://www.jeansteinhardtconsulting.com/ to see examples of the services we can
provide
Friday, June 26, 2020
KAUST Researchers Use Lasers to Bring the Internet Under the Sea
Researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, have developed a way to use lasers to bring the internet under the sea.
As a recent item from IEEE Spectrum (22 Jun 2020) details …
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Communicating underwater has always been a hassle. Radio transmissions, the ubiquitous wireless standard above the waves, can’t transmit very far before being entirely absorbed by the water. Acoustic transmissions (think sonar) are the preferred choice underwater, but they suffer from very low data rates. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all just have Wi-Fi underwater instead?
Underwater Wi-Fi is exactly what researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, have developed. The system, which they call Aqua-Fi, uses a combination of lasers and off-the-shelf components to create a bi-directional wireless connection for underwater devices. The system is fully compliant with IEEE 802.11 wireless standards, meaning it can easily connect to and function as part of the broader Internet.
///////
Read the full account at …
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/telecom/internet/researchers-lasers-bring-internet-underwater
TIP: Google® KAUST aqua-fi for more tidbits on this intriguing technology.
KAUST, by the way, is a fascinating enterprise located in a country that many Westerners consider to be somewhat behind the curve in scientific research. Visit https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en to explore for more.
///////
Google® Better!
Jean Steinhardt served as Librarian, Aramco Services, Engineering Division, for 13 years. He now heads Jean Steinhardt Consulting LLC, producing the same high quality research that he performed for Aramco.
Follow Jean’s blog at: http://desulf.blogspot.com/ for continuing tips on effective online research
Email Jean at research@jeansteinhardtconsulting.com with questions on research, training, or anything else
Visit Jean’s Web site at http://www.jeansteinhardtconsulting.com/ to see examples of the services we can provid