Hydrocarbon Processing - March 2022 - 7

Editorial
Comment
LEE NICHOLS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Lee.Nichols@HydrocarbonProcessing.com
As petrochemicals demand/capacity increases,
sustainable targets grow in importance
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
24 Petrochemicals.
Although most forecasts show global
oil demand leveling off within the next
decade, nearly all forecasts show a surge
in petrochemicals consumption to 2050.
In fact, a significant portion of global oil
demand increases over the near term is
in response to needed feedstock to produce
petrochemicals. For example, the
International Energy Agency forecasts
naphtha and LPG/ethane demand for
petrochemicals production to increase by
1.2 MMbpd and 900,000 bpd, respectively,
by 2027. The much-needed supplies
of LPG/ethane and naphtha will provide
feedstock to produce petrochemicals in
great demand now and in the future.
Capacity buildout. The expected increase
in petrochemicals demand has led
to significant investments in new petrochemical
capacity builds in Asia and other
regions around the world.
According to Gulf Energy Information's
Global Energy Infrastructure (GEI)
database, petrochemical projects represent
more than 35% of total active projects
globally. By 2030, there could be
more than 3 Btpy of petrochemicals production
capacity globally (FIG. 1).
Integration, addition and greening.
The need for more petrochemicals has
3,000
3,500
35
3
22,000
2,500
250
11,000
1,500
15
500
2018
2019
2020
2030
FIG. 1. Petrochemicals production capacity worldwide (MMtpy), 2018-2030. Source: Statista.
increased the development of mega refining
and petrochemicals integrated
complexes. This has been a major development
trend primarily in Asia, especially
in China, where the GEI database
is tracking more than $60 B in integrated
complexes construction.
Many other companies are investing
in incorporating new petrochemicals production
capacity into existing refining operations.
For example, India is developing
both integrated refining and petrochemical
complexes but is also investing billions
in adding new polymer production capacity
into domestic refining operations. The
Middle East continues to do the same.
The additional petrochemicals capacity
will also increase carbon dioxide
(CO2
) emissions. Much like other hydrocarbon
processing sectors, the global
petrochemicals industry is also investing
in new technologies and processes to mitigate
carbon emissions, as well as incorporate
new biofeedstocks and materials
to produce " green " petrochemicals.
The focus on sustainable operations
and production is a major aspect of this
issue's Special Focus section on Petrochemicals
Technology. These articles
provide novel approaches to enhance operations,
while helping to adhere to sustainability
goals.
As global petrochemicals
demand is forecast to significantly
increase to 2050, this month's
Special Focus examines several
technologies that are being applied
to existing and future processing
units to optimize production.
41 Process Optimization.
For refiners that prioritize
minimizing downtime, optimizing
performance, protecting the longevity
of catalyst reactor and minimizing the
overall lifecycle costs of their filtration
systems, upgrading the quality and
construction of the filter system
can achieve these goals. This article
examines a proprietary trapezoidal
filter to optimize operations.
48 History of the HPI. In this
third installment, Hydrocarbon
Processing details major refining and
chemical discoveries and initiatives
during the 1940s. This includes the
origins of fluid catalytic cracking
Platforming, as well as how World
War 2 rapidly propelled research and
production of products to aid in the war
effort. This includes 100-octane aviation
gasoline, toluene production, synthetic
rubber, cyanoacrylates and silicones.
69 Environment.
77 CO2
This article examines the
use of a proprietary reverse jet
scrubber technology to treat mudincineration
offgases.
Mitigation.
Many companies and nations
are striving to reach net-zero targets
by 2050. This article focuses on the
need for energy companies to prioritize
their emissions-related initiatives, digital
capabilities and solutions needed to
uncover profitable paths to net-zero,
and a recommended framework to
build this capability.
Hydrocarbon Processing | MARCH 2022 7
MMtpy

Hydrocarbon Processing - March 2022

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