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Conversion
IFP is perfecting hydroconversion technologies (processes and catalysts) for heavy crudes, residues and distillates.
These technologies can be applied to:
- the refining of conventional crudes,
- the pre-refining of conventional crudes to prepare semi-synthetic crudes for specific markets,
- the on-site refining of heavy and asphaltic crudes on the oil field so they can be transported and refined.
The aim is to reduce the cost and environmental impact of these technologies. At the same time, distillates that meet the quantitative and qualitative requirements of the industry can be generated.
Maximising the production of medium distillates
The Hygo hydrocracking project was launched in 2005. It is designed to perfect catalysts and processes to optimize the production of medium distillates.
The project also aims to define operating conditions and develop catalysts that could be used to perfect moderate hydrocracking technology. Pre-processing catalytic cracking feeds would increase the production of diesel oil with a sulphur content below 10 ppm and significantly reduce sulphur emissions from refineries.
In 2006, an important step was taken in the field of high-pressure hydrocracking when the first industrial reference was obtained on a new zeolithic catalyst developed by the Hygo project. This catalyst converts large volumes of vacuum distillates into very high-quality diesel oil with a sulphur content of less than 10 ppm.
Optimizing catalysts for the hydrotreatment of atmospheric residues
A new, more active and more stable catalyst for the hydrotreatment of atmospheric residues was perfected in 2005. It can be used to produce fuel oils with a very low sulphur content (less than 0.3%) or to prepare feeds for catalytic cracking. In 2006, the efficiency of this catalyst for industrial applications was confirmed in a fixed-bed hydrotreatment process developed by IFP and applied in South Korea. It produces fuel oils aimed at the Japanese market, which is the most stringent in terms of sulphur content.
+ Industrial development > IFP's offer in conversion