麻豆传媒

Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Company (Petro Rabigh) has achieved an impressive 92% catalyst selectivity at the start of the most recent cycle at its 600,000-t/y monoethylene glycol (MEG) production facility in Saudi Arabia. The plant uses the advanced Shell OMEGA process, which is based on the catalytic conversion of both ethylene to ethylene oxide and ethylene oxide to ethylene glycol.

Ethylene oxide catalyst selectivity is a key factor in the efficiency of MEG production: a higher selectivity means that smaller volumes of raw material are required to manufacture the product. The cycle that started in May 2020 marked a change in catalyst from Shell Catalysts & Technologies鈥� S-888 (which had achieved an initial selectivity of 90.9%) to S-889 catalyst.

The resulting improvement of just over 1% will deliver significant savings and lead to higher profitability or enhanced competitiveness in what is, at present, a very challenging market. This catalyst upgrade is expected to reduce raw materials requirements by 4,000 t/y for ethylene and 14,000 t/y for oxygen. Over a full cycle, these reductions could translate into a multimillion-dollar saving.

This outstanding performance is the result of both the improved catalyst and the way the unit is operated. The Petro Rabigh plant carried out a well-structured catalyst selection process with an emphasis on maximising performance and extending the run length. In addition, the plant has been able to sustain very stable operations thanks to the tireless efforts of the highly skilled engineers and the relentless focus on keeping the catalyst fully optimised by careful chloride level adjustments.

The plant has been using Shell Catalysts & Technologies catalysts since 2009. 鈥淲e have achieved strong results across three- and four-year cycles with earlier-generation catalysts,鈥� explains Saeed Al Ghamdi, Head of Process Engineering at Petro Rabigh. 鈥淭he stability of the new catalyst, coupled with its increased selectivity, has encouraged us to look at pushing the cycle length to five years.鈥�

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Ammar Bakheet, Process Engineer, Petro Rabigh, said, 鈥淭he results show that, with careful planning and well-managed start-ups and processes, engineers can achieve substantial improvements in performance by moving to the latest generation of catalyst products.鈥�

鈥淭he continuous engagement and collaboration with Petro Rabigh were key enablers for selecting the optimum catalyst for Petro Rabigh,鈥� observed Jaafar El-Masri, Technical Service Manager, Shell Catalysts & Technologies. 鈥淭his will add substantial value in the form of raw materials savings, and I am excited at the prospect of seeing the current catalyst batch run for the full five years.鈥�

About Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Company (Petro Rabigh)

Petro Rabigh was founded in 2005 as a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo Chemical. The plant produces petroleum-based products and ethylene- and propylene-based derivatives.

Petro Rabigh products have a vast range of applications that offer innovative downstream investors the chance to establish new industries in the region, thereby bringing with them new skills and job opportunities. Petro Rabigh also offers many exciting investment opportunities through the Petro Rabigh industrial complex, Rabigh PlusTech Park, which is the first private industrial park for conversion industries in Saudi Arabia and is designed to accommodate third-party polymer compounding projects.

Consequently, Petro Rabigh is at the hub of an upsurge in economic and technological development in line with Saudi Arabia鈥檚 Vision 2030 to create a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation.

Shell Catalysts & Technologies, part of Shell, is a leading technology licensor and brings owner鈥搊perator鈥搃nnovator鈥搇icensor capabilities to the market. It has more than 1,200 references for gas processing technologies at gas plants and refineries worldwide.

It supports Shell and non-Shell businesses by working with them to co-create integrated, customised solutions comprising licensed technologies, refining and petrochemical catalysts and technical services.

It was formed by combining Shell Global Solutions, a technology licensor with a track record of delivering pioneering process schemes and innovative configurations; Criterion Catalysts & Technologies, the world鈥檚 largest hydroprocessing catalyst supplier and CRI Catalyst Company, a pioneer in the petrochemical catalyst sector.

It operates across the energy value chain: from upstream, gas processing and liquefied natural gas through to downstream refining and petrochemicals.