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Industry news
News and events from around the industry
Lead news
Shell technical collaboration recognised
Ferrari has awarded Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell) the prestigious 2010 President’s Prize “for ongoing successful technical collaboration.”
The highly coveted prize recognises Shell’s work with Ferrari in the Formula One and road car arenas, and is based on product technical quality, results, relationship excellence and superior co-operation. It is the second time that Shell has received a prize since 2007.
This is one of four annual accolades Ferrari presents to companies selected from over 250 partners and suppliers during an exhaustive process in which all Ferrari departments are consulted.
Protecting the Gulf of Mexico from oil spills
Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell are planning to build and deploy a rapid-response system to capture and contain oil in the event of a future underwater well blowout in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico.
The new system is intended to be flexible, adaptable and able to begin mobilisation within 24 hours. It should be usable for a wide range of well designs and equipment, oil and natural gas flow rates, and weather conditions, and in water depths to 3,000m. The system’s initial containment capacity is planned to be 100,000 barrels a day with expansion potential.
Downstream
Fuels from sunlight
As part of a broad effort to achieve breakthroughs in energy production, the USA is to award up to $122 million over five years to a multidisciplinary team of top scientists for establishing a Californian energy innovation hub aimed at developing revolutionary methods to generate chemical fuels directly from sunlight.
The Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis will bring together leading researchers in an ambitious effort aimed at simulating nature’s photosynthetic apparatus for practical energy production. The goal is to develop an integrated solar energy-to-chemical fuel conversion system and move this system from the bench-top discovery phase to a scale for commercialisation.
Cleaner fuels in Asia Pacific
Criterion Catalysts and Technologies, LP, the Shell Global Solutions catalyst company, has launched the CENTERA‡ catalyst range in Asia Pacific to help refiners improve their operational performance.
CENTERA is a portfolio of third generation catalysts for producing ultra-low-sulphur diesel and is designed to help boost product yields and reduce the proportions of contaminants, such as sulphur, nitrogen, aromatics and metals, to help meet product specifications for cleaner fuels and cut costs.
‡CENTERA is Criterion Catalysts & Technologies trademark.
US to invest in algal biofuels
The US Department of Energy is investing up to $24 million in research on the commercialisation of algae-based biofuels. The three projects, which are expected to last three years, should help to accelerate algal biofuels development and aim to significantly increase the production of affordable, high-quality algal biofuels that are environmentally and economically sustainable.
Upstream
US carbon storage flagship revived
The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) is planning to restart FutureGen: the government’s flagship demonstration coal plant for capturing carbon dioxide emissions and storing them underground.
FutureGen 2.0 differs substantially from its predecessor, which the DoE cancelled in 2008 citing a dispute over the soaring $1.8 billion price tag for a new gasifier and associated facilities.
Oil sands poised to become top oil exporter to the USA
The Canadian oil sands, an increasingly important global source of oil, seem likely to become the number one source of US crude oil imports in 2010, according to a research report, “The Role of Canadian Oil Sands in U.S. Oil Supply,” from the IHS CERA Canadian Oil Sands Dialogue. The report also says that oil sands could ultimately supply 20–36% of US oil and refined product imports by 2030.
Industrial markets
Mega-projects rise predicted
Studies by Independent Project Analysis, Inc. indicate that the demand for onshore megaproject developments will increase rapidly in the next few years as the global downturn subsides. The study also found the increase in mega-project spending is expected to be more rapid than in the boom period of 2005–2008.
The projected growth rate of over 30% a year in mega-project spending will place a strain on engineering firms, suppliers and construction resources. Global demand, especially in the emerging regions, is a primary driver for the growth, and the rebound in commodity prices will contribute to the economic feasibility of these huge investments.
Well-to-gate carbon footprints for petrochemicals
In the absence of a universal standard, Shell has developed a scientifically robust method for calculating credible well-to-gate carbon footprint data for its petrochemicals.
To produce quantifiable carbon footprints for finished products, manufacturers need input from all parts of the supply chain, including information on raw materials such as chemicals. “Our customers are increasingly looking for carbon footprint data on these raw materials to assist with their finished product calculations and any subsequent eco-labelling or marketing initiatives,” says Marieke Groenendaal, Team Lead, Energy and CO2 Efficiency, Shell Global Solutions International BV.
China closes obsolete factories
Earlier this year, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) gave 2,087 inefficient and polluting factories in 18 industries two months to close or face the consequences.
The closures are part of China’s current economic restructuring efforts. According to MIIT, getting rid of “backward” overcapacity will promote the development of China’s industry and improve the country’s international competitiveness.