The chemical reaction at the heart of the world’s largest gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant starting up in Qatar is borne out of Shell’s long history and expertise in catalyst technology and innovation. A unique catalyst developed for the Pearl GTL plant is key to the efficient conversion of synthesis gas into heavy hydrocarbons that provide feedstock for advanced fuels, base oils and chemicals.

An extended recovery period for crude oil prices, exceeding five years, would have dramatic implications for the global petrochemical industry and could mean a “Back to the Future” experience for some companies and regions -- creating a more competitive environment for naphtha producers, according to a new IHS report.

BASF announced that it plans to increase its global Alkyl Polyglucosides (APG) production capacity with two production expansion projects at sites in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Jinshan, China.

Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries (ORPIC) modernizes their refinery in Sohar Oman to the value of $ 1.8 billion. The Pörner Group, a leading Austrian engineering company, were commissioned for the license and engineering of a Biturox bitumen production plant.

Jacobs Engineering Group received a five-year contract renewal from Shell Canada to provide mechanical maintenance and turnaround services on the company’s Scotford site located in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada.

Advanced Process Control (APC) helps companies optimise the production process. We show, how APC offers refiners and petrochemicals companies a chance to maximise profitability. Improved automated software tools eliminate waste, reduce the overall energy cost in the manufacturing process and improve asset efficiency, product quality and yield.

The Indonesian state oil and gas company Pertamina partners with Omani OOG and the Japanese company Cosmos Energy Holdings for the construction of the Bontang refinery. The value of this development project is estimated at $ 10 billion.

Egypt’s Alexandria National Refining & Petrochemicals Company (ANRPC) will use UOP (a Honeywell company) technology and equipment as part of a $300 million, multi-year project to expand an existing, state-of-the-art gasoline production facility to meet growing domestic demand for high-octane gasoline.

Exxon Mobil and Synthetic Genomics announced a new phase in their joint algae biofuel research program that could lead to the technical ability to produce 10,000 barrels of algae biofuel per day by 2025.

Akzo Nobel Specialty Chemicals, DSM, Google and Philips have started receiving power from the Bouwdokken wind farm in the Netherlands. The companies established an energy purchasing consortium that enabled construction of two Dutch wind farm projects.