Page 161 - CW E-Magazine (28-5-2024)

News from Abroad

COLLABORATION
Dow announces oil recovery partnership in Wyoming;

inks supply deal in US for pyrolysis oil

In a unique state-university-industry beneficial use of greenhouse gases for tems for supply of an estimated 65-ktpa
collaboration in the US, Dow, the State carbon sequestration and oil recovery. of certified-circular, plastic waste-
of Wyoming and the University of derived pyrolysis oil to produce new,
Wyoming have come together to launch Mr. Pankaj Gupta, Business Vice virgin-grade equivalent plastics in Dow’s
The Wyoming Gas Injection Initiative President, Dow Industrial Solutions, US Gulf Coast operations. Together,
(WGII), a programme designed to commented, “Our team is proud to Dow and Freepoint Eco-Systems are
enhance oil well productivity and share our materials science portfolio building a recycling system that con-
recovery from existing fields and wells in and experience to help shape a future verts plastic waste into valuable mate-
Wyoming. where oil recovery is optimised, rials and fosters a circular economy for
resources are conserved, and greenhouse plastics in North America.
WGII will provide field pilot testing gas emissions are significantly reduced
of advanced oil recovery methods, such in Wyoming and across the globe.” The pyrolysis oil will be produced at
as foam-assisted gas injection using Dow will support the field implemen- a new advanced recycling facility owned
recovered hydrocarbon gases, carbon tation and the research activities to be and operated by Freepoint Eco-Sys-
dioxide or other gases for revitalisation of conducted at COIFPM by providing tems Eloy Recycling LLC, a Freepoint
oil fields, and mitigation of greenhouse tailored conformance control agents Eco-Systems affiliate. Once completed,
gas emissions in Wyoming. (foaming additives) and sharing learn- the facility, to be constructed in Arizona,
ings from previous field pilot projects. will be ISCC Plus-certified. For every
The State of Wyoming will pro- Initial research will develop novel tonne of plastic waste, approximately
vide $25-mn in matching funds formulations using Dow’s Elevate 70% is expected to be converted to
through the University of Wyoming additives, which have the potential to pyrolysis oil and sold exclusively to
to assist the oil and gas operators increase oil production significantly and Dow for phase one of the facility, be-
selected for the project – including, extend the economic life of oil assets. ginning as early as 2026. “Through this
Ballard Petroleum Holdings, Devon These formulations will then be further collaboration, Dow is redefining how we
Energy Corp. and Occidental – on optimised and piloted in several source raw materials for our products
enhanced recovery projects over a Wyoming-based reservoirs with the while tackling the challenge of plastic
five-year period. Private operators selected oilfield operators to improve pollution,” said Mr. Issam Lazraq, Dow
selected for WGII contribute $25-mn to the utilisation efficiency of gas injec- global sustainable feedstocks director,
the pilot, matched by $25-mn from the tion recovery techniques. Feedstocks and Commodities. “By con-
State. As part of these projects, Dow verting locally available plastic waste,
and the Center of Innovation for Flow Supply deal for plastic waste-derived that was destined for landfills or incine-
Through Porous Media (COIFPM) pyrolysis oil ration, into pyrolysis oil supply for our
at the University of Wyoming, along In another development for Dow’s US Gulf Coast operations, we are build-
with the oil and gas operators, will US operations, the company announced ing a reliable circular feedstock supply
implement technologies to catalyse the an agreement with Freepoint Eco-Sys- portfolio,” he added.

Exxon hit with $726-mn verdict over benzene and cancer

A jury in Philadelphia (USA) found The jury found that the oil company said it would ask the court to reverse it
Exxon Mobil Corp. liable for $725.5-mn failed to warn Mr. Gill of the risk of ben- before it becomes final. “Beyond that
in damages to a former mechanic, zene in its products, including gasoline request, we plan to exhaust all available
Mr. Paul Gill, who claimed its petroleum and solvents, while he worked as a appeals and are confident an appellate
products exposed him to benzene that Mobil service station mechanic from 1975 court will see the verdict for what it is.
caused his cancer, according to his law- to 1980, his attorneys said in a statement. We are reviewing our next steps,” the
yers. Exxon called the verdict “irrational” and company said in a statement.

Chemical Weekly May 28, 2024 161

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