(327b) Advances in Catalytic Hydroprocessing for the Production of High Quality Lube Base Stocks

The lube manufacturing industry has benefited from remarkable advances in catalytic hydroprocessing technology. ExxonMobil and its affiliates worldwide have considerable technical know-how and experience in lubes manufacturing, and more than 75 years of rich history in applied catalysis. At the heart of the MSDW^TM/MAXSAT^TM process for catalytic hydroisomerization and hydrofinishing, and the MWI^TM process for wax conversion, are systems of proprietary, shape-selective catalysts containing zeolites and noble metals. These catalysts display superior activity and selectivity, and unsurpassed tolerance to various contaminants.

ExxonMobil has been a leader in applying state of the art technology in recent and current projects to meet the growing need for high quality basestocks. Recent ExxonMobil EHC^TM Group II base stock investments include start-up of the Rotterdam hydrocracker unit early this year, and an upgrade to Group II quality to be completed in Singapore in the second quarter of this year. Together, these projects utilize the latest proprietary ExxonMobil catalyst and process technologies. Earlier this year, ExxonMobil also indicated that it had made a final investment decision on a multi-billion dollar expansion of its integrated manufacturing complex in Singapore that will produce higher-value products and expand lubricant base stocks production to meet growing market demand. That project will utilize a unique combination of proprietary ExxonMobil catalyst and process configuration technologies to upgrade and convert fuel oil into higher-value products. As part of the expansion, ExxonMobil will introduce a new, unique high viscosity Group II base stock into the marketplace.

This presentation will overview the latest ExxonMobil catalyst and process technologies being deployed in these projects, including state of the art, high activity Celestia hydrotreating catalyst. It will also highlight how these technologies are combined to capture very significant value from their superior productivity, selectivity, run length, and ability to handle more challenged feedstocks.