Catalytic cracking technology to boost refinery production of propylene and light products developed

07-Apr-11

Developers of a new catalytic cracking technology that will boost refinery production of propylene and other light products have selected Axens and Shaw Group to license and market the process. Called high-severity fluidized catalytic cracking, the technology evolved over 15 years. The HS-FCC design uses the firms’ regeneration and catalyst transfer technology. JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp. of Japan and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia began development of the technology in a research venture. Saudi Aramco later joined the venture, which then designed, built, and operated a 30 bpd demonstration unit at Aramco’s 550,000 bpd Ras Tanura refinery. JX is building a 3,000 bpd precommercial demonstration unit at its 380,000 bpd refinery in Mizushima, Japan. Shaw and Axens provided engineering services for the unit.