Ivanhoe Energy Inc., Vancouver, BC, has signed a nonexclusive licensing agreement with Syntroleum Corp., Tulsa, giving Ivanhoe rights to use Syntroleum's gas-to-liquids (GTL) process. "Syntroleum's gas-to-liquids technology will enhance our access to opportunities to develop large gas deposits in several countries where we are establishing strategic relationships with petroleum-producing companies," said Ivanhoe Energy Chairman David Martin. "The process yields a sulfur-free synthetic oil that can be used to produce cleaner-burning diesel fuel and to improve the efficiency of hydrogen-powered fuel cells."
Phillips Petroleum Co. is now licensing its proprietary MaxCat coke-reduction technology to other companies. Developed at its research and development facilities in Bartlesville, Okla., the additive technology is in use at all of Phillips's US refining facilities and at one non-Phillips refinery in the US. The technology increases octane-barrel yield from existing semi-regenerative catalytic reformer units by reducing coke buildup on catalyst, says Phillips. By doing so, it reportedly increases unit run lengths or unit throughput, or both. Phillips says, at one refinery, the technology improved product octane by 1.5 RON over previous runs. Capital costs are as low as $20,000 for most refinery applications, says the firm.
