Petroleum Africa
Find us on: 
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Honeywell UOP technologies will be used by Algerian state-run firm Sonatrach, to produce 200,000 metric tons per year of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a high-octane gasoline additive that reduces emissions in automobile exhaust.
Honeywell will provide technology licensing, design services, key equipment and state-of-the-art catalysts and adsorbents for the project at Sonatrach’s refinery in Arzew. Included in the technology package is UOP’s Butamer™ technology, which isomerizes normal butane into isobutane.
The package also includes a UOP C4 Oleflex™ unit to dehydrogenate isobutane into isobutylene. C4 Oleflex features low energy consumption, low emissions and a fully recyclable, platinum-alumina-based catalyst system which minimizes environmental impact. This results in a lower cash cost of production, and higher return on investment than competing technologies. Honeywell UOP has been awarded 55 dehydrogenation projects since 2011.
The contract further includes a UOP Ethermax™ unit that converts isobutylene and methanol into a high-octane MTBE blending agent that contains no benzene or aromatics. The Ethermax technology delivers a high MTBE yield and is currently used in 44 units worldwide.
“With these technologies, Sonatrach can supply MTBE to the region’s refineries to produce fuels that meet increasingly strict specifications, including Euro V,” said Bryan Glover, vice president and general manager of Honeywell UOP’s Process Technology & Equipment business. “As a single licensor of all technologies in the process, Honeywell UOP can provide Sonatrach the greatest value in the shortest timeframe to commissioning.”
" alt="Globeleq Acquires the 25 MWp Winnergy Solar PV Plant in Egypt">
" alt="Sintana Completes Well Testing at Mopane 1-X in Namibia">
" alt="Infill Drilling to Resume at the Ceiba Field in Equatorial Guinea">
" alt="Uganda National Oil Company Appoints New Executive">
" alt="World’s First Ammonia Dual-Fuel Aframaxes to be Developed by MISC">
" alt="Galp Completes Mopane-1X Well Testing">
" alt="ReconAfrica Updates Activity on Upcoming Namibia Drilling Program">
" alt="SDX Disposes of West Gharib Asset in Egypt">
