Message from the Director On behalf of the scientists and engineers in our Center, I am pleased to introduce our Center and our approach to meeting many of the challenges facing the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry in Saudi Arabia. Our vision is to be a leading research facility in petroleum refining and petrochemicals through innovation in basic and applied research. We strive to create research capacity and collaborate with government and industry to build a knowledge-based economy.
Our mission is to conduct innovative and client-driven research in petroleum refining and petrochemicals. These are major strategic research areas for Saudi Arabia. Our research programs are interdisciplinary and involve both basic and applied research. We strive to provide technical services to the industry and assist in solving industry problems.
The Center’s strategic goal is to be the primary source and focal point of research and development and technical support for the refining and petrochemicals industries in the Kingdom.
In refining, we are exploring several initiatives. Among these are the following: (i) developing advanced catalysts and processes for reducing sulfur levels in heavy oils and converting them to distillates; (ii) providing technical support to local refineries for the production of clean transportation fuels with emphasis on the necessary processes and catalysts; and (iii) developing capabilities and conducting research in novel technologies that have the potential to impact the refining industry. We emphasize emerging applications.
In petrochemicals, we
similarly are pursuing
many initiatives. These include the following: (i)
developing novel catalyst systems for converting toluene and heavy
aromatics to BTX, and converting lower alkanes to higher value products;
(ii) developing capabilities in the areas of polyolefin synthesis,
processing, and characterization, and studying the properties of
polymers, and effects of weathering on polymer properties; (iii)
developing potentially novel applications for polymers, especially those
of local benefit and interest from local producers, especially in terms
of collaborative research; and (iv) performing kinetics investigation,
reactor modeling and system optimization studies.
Research in our field requires a substantial commitment. For example, over the recent five-year period we completed 11 major projects totaling approximately Saudi Riyals 22 million. Three were executed with foreign partners, either Japan Cooperation Center Petroleum (JCCP) of Japan or CIBA Specialty Chemicals of Switzerland. Local supporters of our studies have included Saudi Aramco (four studies) and Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (four studies). Other private companies also support studies at the Center.
Currently the Center is executing nine projects totaling Saudi Riyals 18 million in cost.
Future studies either agreed in principle with clients or being discussed will be in the fields of fluid catalytic cracking, desulfurization, hydrogen production, molecular sieves testing and evaluation, and sulfur additives.
Dr. Sulaiman Al-Khattaf
Director
Center for Refining and Petrochemicals
P.O. Box 5040, KFUPM
Dhahran 31261
Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966-3-860-2029
Fax: +966-3-860-4509
Email:
crp@kfupm.edu.sa