1. Global drivers and process innovation for ‘unconventional’ conversions
Mark Howard, VP Conversion Technology Centre
September 25th 2014

2. Hull Research & Technology Centre - a history of new process development
Acetic acid
/anhydride
CATIVATM
Acetic acid
SaaBreTM
acetic acid
Fixed bed VAM
enhancement
LEAPTM
fluid bed VAM
HummingbirdTM
ethylene FT
pilot work
AVADATM
ethyl acetate
Biobutanol
demonstration
(with Dupont)
Specialty
processes
1990s
2000s
2010s 2

3. Global drivers for ‘inter-value’ chain conversion opportunities
Globally high crude oil
and product prices
..strong diesel growth
..fuel oil in steep decline

4. Global drivers for ‘inter-value’ chain conversion opportunities
Low cost natural gas
Globally high crude oil
and product prices
..strong diesel growth
..fuel oil in steep decline

5. Global drivers for ‘inter-value’ chain conversion opportunities
Low cost natural gas
Indigenous coal
Globally high crude oil
and product prices
..strong diesel growth
..fuel oil in steep decline

6. Global drivers for ‘inter-value’ chain conversion opportunities
Residue upgrading incentives
Low cost natural gas
Indigenous coal
Globally high crude oil
and product prices
..strong diesel growth
..fuel oil in steep decline

7. Global drivers for ‘inter-value’ chain conversion opportunities
Low cost natural gas
Biofuels mandates
Indigenous coal
Globally high crude oil
and product prices
..strong diesel growth
..fuel oil in steep decline

8. Global drivers for ‘inter-value’ chain conversion opportunities
Low cost natural gas
Biofuels mandates
Indigenous coal
Low cost biomass
Globally high crude oil
and product prices
..strong diesel growth
..fuel oil in steep decline

9. Global drivers for ‘inter-value’ chain conversion opportunities
Low cost natural gas
Biofuels mandates
Indigenous coal
Waste incentives
Low cost biomass
Globally high crude oil
and product prices
..strong diesel growth
..fuel oil in steep decline

10. Veba Combi-Cracking (VCCTM)
Hydrogen
Additive
< 5% Residue
Hydrogen recycle
Disposal
Slurry Phase Hydrocracker
Hot Separator
Trickle Bed Hydrotreater / cracker
Distillation
Naphtha (S<1ppm)
Diesel (S<10ppm, cetane >45)
Vacuum Gas Oil (S<100ppm, <1ppm metals)
Resid/Pet Coke
Heavy Oil
High overall conversion of >95% (+525oC material). Asphaltenes conversion is typically >90%
Simple flow sheet with conventional refinery equipment.
Technology uses a low cost additive rather than a catalyst;
BP estimates that VCCTM Technology will outperform delayed cokers when benchmark crude prices exceed $50 per barrel

11. Yulin VCCTM plant Shaanxi Yanchan Petroleum Group (YCPC)

12. CHEMICALS ALTERNATIVES
Fischer Tropsch
STANDARD
FUEL
CHEMICALS ALTERNATIVES
Natural Gas
Coal
Biomass
Resid / Pet Coke
Syngas Generation
Fischer-Tropsch Syngas Conversion
UPGRADING Hydrotreater / cracker
Offsites & Utilities (including air separation unit)
Hydrogen
Tails Gas Recycle
20%
Naphtha
80%
Diesel
Provides a low risk, competitive technology
Reforming, Gasification and ASU are all widely deployed and practised
BP’s FT conversion is performed using a standard fixed bed multitubular reactor. Proven catalyst with more than 16,000 hrs operational experience
BP Product Upgrading uses commercially-available catalyst, leveraging BP’s significant operational know-how in hydrocracking

13. Nikiski FT 300bbl per day demonstration plant

14. HummingbirdTM Ethanol dehydration technology
Widely available
BP proprietary technology
Recycle
Reactor
Ethanol
Separator
Purification
Polymer grade ethylene
(bio/chemical/ hydrous/ anhydrous)
Aqueous waste
Organic waste
The HummingbirdTM process has the following advantages over existing technologies:
Lower temperature and high selectivity catalyst gives ultra-selective carbon conversion and overall yields
No catalyst regeneration
Lower CAPEX and OPEX than competing technologies

15. HummingbirdTM pilot plant

16. …so what about Europe?
Basic chemicals increasingly challenged by feedstock costs….
..but look out for ‘unconventional’ and ‘renewable’ opportunities
Providing technology solutions across the world, with ongoing support….
..but we will need to compete through innovation
Not just ‘brand new’ ideas, sometimes ‘old’ ideas in a changed environment