Auterra’s technology exploits the natural tendency of oil’s impurities to oxidize
Tradtional Hydroprocessing | Auterra’s Flex Desulfurization |
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HDP reduces sulfur by heating oil to very high temperatures and adding high-pressure hydrogen to force a chemical reaction to separate impurities from the oil. Heavier oil feeds require higher temperatures, resulting in more utility usage and GHG emissions. | Auterra’s process adds oxygen to remove sulfur and other impurities in oil by catalyzing an oxidizing reaction at room temperature. This process significantly reduces capital & operating costs and GHG emissions. |
Auterra’s technology exploits the natural tendencies of oil’s impurities to oxidize
Traditional Hydroprocessing
HDP reduces sulfur by heating oil to very high temperatures and adding hydrogen to force a chemical reaction to separate impurities from the oil. Heavier oil feeds require higher temperatures, resulting in more utility usage and GHG emissions.
Auterra’s Flex Desulfurization
Auterra’s process adds oxygen to remove sulfur and other impurities in oil by catalyzing an oxidizing reaction at room temperature. This process significantly reduces capital & operating costs & GHG emissions.
Auterra Successfully Reduces Sulfur
Auterra avoids a major drawback of HDP: high levels of impurities found in heaviest oil quickly deactivate HDP catalysts
Hydroprocessing’s drawbacks threaten oil producers:
Environmental Harm
HDP requires high process intensity. Units emit significant greenhouse gases and are utility-intensive.
Capital Intensive
Replacing aging HDP units will require significant capital expense with no decarbonization benefits.
Large Footprint
Hydrogen gas is only cost-effective at large scales, requiring large units that can’t treat distributed inventories
Prone to Poison
HDP is ineffective treating heavy crudes, as impurities in those fuels quickly deactivate HDP catalysts.