New research to advance oil refining technologies
Innovative research aimed at making heavy crude oil refining processes greener and more productive is being carried out by a new tenant at Wilton Centre on Teesside.
Novel hydroconversion technologies are being developed by major licensors around the world. GSAE is developing technology to reduce the carbon footprint, minimise environmental impact, and transform the economic performance of this new generation of heavy crude oil refining processes.
GSAE’s work involves developing processes for efficient recovery of useful hydrocarbons before treating residues to allow maximum recovery of hydrocarbons and the valuable catalytic and inherent metals.
Company MD, Matthew Grimley, said that Wilton Centre’s IA offered GSAE a valuable, bespoke research area to complement existing laboratory facilities in Nottingham and Birmingham to further the company's strategic development.
“As a cutting edge facility especially designed to help develop new products it fitted the bill perfectly for us. We were impressed with the quality, extent and availability of infrastructure and services plus scale up opportunities and the environment of innovation, commercialisation, and professionalism. In addition, potential support and synergies between us and other technology start-up companies as well as, inevitably, cost, were all factors that led us to sign up for space.”
Matthew explained that the research conducted at Wilton Centre will benefit the new generation of oil refining technologies which maximise the yield of refined products from heavy and sour crude oil being developed by refining technology licensors and state-owned oil companies.
“Typically, these processes are targeted at processing heavy sour crudes which contain high quantities of naturally occurring vanadium and nickel. They use expensive metal catalysts to improve the hydroconversion process, all these metals are currently lost to the residues,” he added.
“Our proven metals extraction technology and in-depth knowledge of refinery unit operations coupled with our front-end engineering design capability, places GSAE in a unique position worldwide to provide bespoke pitch treatment solutions to oil refiners and refinery technology providers.”
Wilton Centre Manager, Steve Duffield said that GSAE demonstrated perfectly why the Centre had invested in building the IA facilities.
“The facilities were designed to support exactly the kind of cutting-edge research project that GSAE is currently embarking on. We recognise that providing affordable space that is well designed, equipped and accessible is crucial in the drive to encourage innovation in the science and technology fields.”
“The Centre is making every effort to assist and encourage companies to undertake exciting projects like GSAE’s and we are pleased and very proud that they have chosen to have a base here.”
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