Under the agreement, UOP will provide the technology, equipment and system design. Albemarle will provide an improved fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst to be used in the process. Petrobras, which has already run the process in its pilot plant, will offer knowledge and experience with the FCC catalyst as well as heavy crude processing.
Ashis Banerji, UOP’s director of refining process technology and equipment, said: Commercializing technology today often requires the cooperation of several companies to provide the diverse skills and assets necessary. The combined capabilities of Petrobras, Albemarle and UOP will ensure that catalytic crude upgrading (CCU) technology meets the quality and performance needs of our customers.
