Jul 23 2004
ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company (EMRE) announced today that Motiva Enterprises LLC ("Motiva"), which is owned by affiliates of Shell Oil Company and by Saudi Refining, Inc., has signed license and catalyst lease agreements to replace a previous catalyst with ExxonMobil's newest commercialized MSDW(1) lube isomerization dewaxing catalyst at their Port Arthur, Texas, facility.
Motiva operates the largest Group II/II+ base oil complex in North America at Port Arthur. The MSDW catalyst technology is operating in their larger hydroprocessing unit and is meeting all expectations. Base oil quality is excellent.
MSDW converts waxy oils and raffinates to conventional or ultra low pour point base oils and provides a significant increase in oil viscosity index. Base oils made from the MSDW process exhibit improved cold-cranking performance compared to solvent dewaxed oils of similar viscosity. MSDW is already operational at eight locations worldwide. These MSDW applications include grass roots designs, retrofits of existing units and catalyst replacements.
ExxonMobil continues to invest significantly in research and development directed at improved catalysts that will provide step-out performance improvements.
For more information on catalysts, click here.