What Is the Petroleum Research Center? (HINT: It’s in Kuwait)

OK, technically, there are Petroleum Research Centers in various places in the world. The one we are exploring, however, is located in Kuwait.

A recent interesting PRC article is described below.

TIP: For background on the PRC, Google® Petroleum Research Center Kuwait

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Catalysis Today
Available online 6 November 2018
In Press, Accepted Manuscript
Hydroprocessing of Heavy Residual Oil: Opportunities and Challenges
A. Marafi, H. Albazzaz, Mohan S. Rana
Petroleum Research Center (PRC), Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR), Kuwait
Highlights
•Heavy oil contains a number of contaminants and a significant fraction of residue.
•Molecular analysis of heavy oil remains the most significant challenge.
•Complex feedstock force refiners to use more advanced process technologies.
•A proper catalyst selection and operating condition are vital to upgrade heavy oil.
ABSTRACT
Recently, significant changes in petroleum sources have been observed where light crude sources are becoming heavy or extra heavy, containing a large number of contaminants (S, N, metals, asphaltene, etc.), and producing a significant fraction of the bottom of the barrel (residue) after distillation. Thus, the future crude slate is a vital issue facing refiners to invest strategically in processing larger quantities of sourer crude. Due to the feedstock, refinery process operations must advance and include next-generation processes and catalysts to fulfill the demand and supply. The qualities of these products primarily meet or satisfy stringent environmental regulations. On the other hand, traditional light crude oil refineries have seen drastic changes into heavy crude oil, which present enormous challenges to the refining industry to process heavier crude oils. The global trend indicated that the world oil refining industry has to face several challenges in demand as well as supply. At the same time, refineries are expected to be under a great deal of pressure to accomplish the market demand for high-quality fuels (i.e., gasoline and diesel). The global demand for diesel fuels is increasing, while fuel oil demand is decreasing. The fuel composition and their efficiency (energy content) remain a decisive factor for the price and the communally acceptable parameter. This review will focus primarily on the relationship between the various parameters of composition, physicochemical properties of crude oil, and their impact on hydroprocessing.
Keywords
Heavy crude; residue; hydroprocessing; refining; feedstock; API gravity; sweet crude; TAN; sour crudes
source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0920586118312069
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Tamilnadu Engineers Forum in Kuwait

“Honest poverty is a gem that even a king might be proud to call his own - but I wish to sell out” -- Mark Twain (American Humorist, Writer and Lecturer. 1835-1910)

This small gem of a Web site (http://www.tefkuwait.com/) offers unique insight into the petroleum industry in Kuwait.  It is worth taking a few minutes to browse.  According to information on the Tamilnadu Web …

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The Tamilnadu Engineers Forum in Kuwait is an association formed from the alumni of engineering colleges in the State of Tamilnadu, India. The forum has a membership of about 500 Engineers from various disciplines & industries spread around Kuwait.

The Forum functions as an umbrella organization encapsulating smaller chapters of Alumni Associations of all the Engineering Colleges, located in Tamil Nadu that are existing as of 1.4.2000 and that are likely to come in future. The forum entertains alumni from engineering colleges that are approved by Government of Tamil Nadu and All India Council for Technical Education. The Forum also recognizes personnel who have successfully completion the following:
##Part A and Part B Examinations conducted by The Institution of Engineers India
##The higher education offered by Madras Institute of Technology under the title "DMIT" or "B.Tech"
##B.Arch and Bachelor of Interior Design

In case of a member who does not belong to any one of the Institutions mentioned above, the executive committee shall decide to offer membership, after careful evaluation of the background of the College, location, affiliation of statutory bodies. Forum accepts candidates for membership from candidates who are ethnic Tamilian, educated elsewhere outside Tamil Nadu, whose permanent address is in Tamil Nadu. Special memberships shall be offered to candidates who have a high level of contribution for Tamil and Engineering Community by way of his research, political position and or personal popularity.

Following Universities in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere are recognized by the forum
##Madras University
##Anna University
##Periyar University
##Bharathiyar University
##Bharathidasan University
##Annamalai University
##Alagappa University
##Madurai Kamaraj University
##Madurai University
##Sundraranar University
##Mother Therasa University
##World Tamil University - Washington DC USA
##Other Universities which are in existence at present in Tamil Nadu.

Aims and Objectives
##To promote personal and professional interaction between the members
##Shall assist individual registration of members in Kuwait Society of Engineers.
##Create a fraternity including members families and when possible create avenues for family to exhibit their talents
##Represent members in matters of common that does not jeopardizes the interests of the forum.
##Act as the conduit for channeling any and all contributions of the Forum members' intellectual, technical, financial or otherwise, to the State of Tamil Nadu and State of Kuwait.
##Strive to enhance technical education in the State of Tamil Nadu by all possible means.
##Work towards providing employment opportunities of jobless members and new comers from Tamil Nadu from any of the listed Institutions.
##Provide guidance to educate children of members for higher education
##Shall canalize advise on matters such as financial investment, real estate and banking to Forum members
##Shall maintain a website for its exclusive purpose and all information needed shall be channelized through the website.
##Shall plan and conduct seminars on topics which are of interest to the fraternity
##Forum shall conduct social get together with entertainment such as music, drama and arts by bringing in eminent personalities from India or elsewhere.
##Shall bring out Souvenirs and publications which are technical and social in nature. The revenue collected from the entertainment shows, souvenirs, publications etc., shall be utilized only for the purpose of Forum members' purposes. Such revenues cannot be utilized for any other business activities, purchases and or investments on behalf of Forum
##Shall donate for needy after careful consideration of financial position
##Shall institute a scholarship scheme for the poor and needy college students studying in Engineering College in Tamil Nadu where possible
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Conference Alert: Downstream Technology Conference

“Quotation, n: The act of repeating erroneously the words of another.” -- Ambrose Bierce (American Writer, Journalist and Editor, 1842-1914)

Although I’ve said so before, it bears repeating that this blog is not just about desulfurization ... it is about effective online research on ANY technology of interest.  So, for example, if you want to identify upcoming conferences that pertain in some way to desulfurization, you can Google® the following ...

Conference desulfurization 2012

Browsing the results, you may find …

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Downstream Technology Conference

19-22 February 2012 Hilton Kuwait Resort, Fahaheel, Kuwait

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One item featured in the conference is …

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Pre-conference workshop A: Sunday 19 February 2012

10:00 - 16:00 Workshop A: Heavy oil upgrading and desulfurization

Environmental considerations, including the reduction of sulfur emissions, are growing factors that affect refining efficiencies. When processing heavy oil, refineries and petrochemical plants are implementing new technologies, such as residue desulfurization, to produce cleaner, environmentally friendly fuels and to partly convert the residues to produce low-sulfur fuel oil and hydrotreated feedstocks.

By attending this workshop you will :

Learn necessary methods for reducing sulfur to ppm levels during the production of lighter fuel to save costs and minimise environmental harm

Gain knowledge about the latest technologies in heavy oil upgrading

Reduce the challenges of minimising sulfur gas emissions in refineries

Evaluate all major environmental factors to mitigate energy wastage and increase ROI

Workshop leader:

Dr. Haitem Hassan-Beck

Senior Process Engineer

Takreer

source: http://www.iqpc.com/Event.aspx?id=646506

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As interesting as the above may be, today’s tip is that you can use the same strategy to search for upcoming conferences on ANY technology.  Take “geothermal,” for example.  Substituting “geothermal” for “desulfurization,” one of the items in the results is …

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GEA Geothermal Events

January 18, 2012, GEA Geothermal Energy Finance and Development Forum - San Francisco, CA

February 14-16, 2012, Renewable Energy World Conference and Expo - Long Beach, CA

May 23, 2012, GEA International Geothermal Energy Showcase - Washington, DC

August 7-8, 2012, GEA National Geothermal Summit 2012 - Sacramento, CA

Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2012, GEA Geothermal Energy Expo® and GRC Annual Meeting - Reno, NV

Source: http://www.geo-energy.org/

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So, at the risk of repeating myself, remember that every search tip and technique that appears in the Desulfurization Blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/) is applicable to whatever technology you and your colleagues are pursuing.

Speaking of which, please consider becoming my colleague … visit my LinkedIn profile (www.linkedin.com/in/jeansteinhardtresearch) and send me an invitation to join your network.

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