Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Petro-Canada is ready to commercialize its high-conversion hydrocracking route

Journal Article · · Chem. Eng. (N.Y.); (United States)
OSTI ID:6274210

Petro-Canada is ready to commercialize its high-conversion hydrocracking route, called Canmet, for upgrading heavy oils and refinery residua to hydrocarbons boiling below 524/sup 0/C. The technique, which has been under development by Canada's Department of Energy, Mines, and Resources (DEMR), offers better conversion and yields, at approx. 33% lower operating pressures, than conventional residuum hydrocracking, according to A. E. Silva of Petro-Canada. This is due to the use of a low-cost additive consisting of pulverized coal impregnated with iron sulfate which suppresses coking of the reactor walls. In tests run by DEMR, addition of the Canmet additive increased the conversion of a heavy crude oil to > 524/sup 0/C+ material from 50-55 to 90%. By enhancing only the selective saturation of the cracked molecules, Canmet also eases hydrogen consumption. After having completed a technical and economic evaluation of the technique, Petro-Canada is now optimizing it and running various feedstocks in two 1 bbl/day pilot units in Ottawa. The firm is negotiating with an engineering company to scale-up the process to a 2000-10,000 bbl/day demonstration unit.

Research Organization:
Petro-Canada
OSTI ID:
6274210
Journal Information:
Chem. Eng. (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 87:22; ISSN CHEEA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English