1890s
Shipping
Historical:
Oil tankers safe enough for the Suez Canal
Today:
Conceptual design for new LNG carriers
1900s
Wells
Historical:
Core sampling and analysis
Today:
Automated drilling
1910s
Refining
Historical:
Extraction of aromatics from kerosene
Today:
High-throughput robotic testing of new catalysts
1920s
Gas-to-liquids (GTL)
Historical:
Conversion of synthesis gas into liquids
Today:
Pearl – the largest GTL plant in the world
1930s
Fuels and lubricants
Historical:
High-octane aviation fuels
Today:
V-Power fuel & PurePlus technology in motor oils
1940s
Petrochemicals
Historical:
Catalytic hydration of ethylene to ethanol
Today:
OMEGA process for ethylene glycol manufacture
