WPC Downstream Conference

Chevron has a long history of consistently investing in the development of platform technologies that reliably accomplish a larger volume of higher-valued products from lower-value feedstocks at longer on-stream time to improve refinery profitability. After commercialization of modern gas oil hydrocracking in the 1960s, hydroprocessing capabilities were expanded to include residuum feedstock and base oil products. The latest innovations comprise of an isodewaxing process with a record yield and on-stream time, two novel residuum hydrocracking processes accomplishing nearly full residuum conversion, and proven design options to convert crude oil into nearly exclusively base chemicals. Continual development of process and catalyst technology, reactor engineering and design sustains this continuous improvement in converting hydrocarbon feedstocks into future energy sources, lubricants and petrochemicals. The latest isodewaxing process leverages many decades of experience and the generation and analysis of more data per unit of time to develop and deploy new catalyst systems with a porosity distribution that is tailored more effectively toward the target feed and product components. A nearly molecular understanding of residuum components enables two novel conversion processes that nearly completely convert the least soluble, most refractory resid components. These processes are also key options to convert crude oil nearly completely into petrochemical feedstocks. Chevron enables the industry to benefit from the latest fruits of its continual innovation in hydroprocessing technologies by offering licenses and catalysts through its joined venture partners, CLG and ART.