US-based KBR, a global provider of professional services and technologies, said it has entered into a contract with Wynnewood Refining Company for engineering and design services relating to KBR's Solid Acid Alkylation Technology (K-SAAT).

The technology will be used for Wynnewood's refinery located in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, US, said a statement from the company.

Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide basic engineering and design (BED) services for its K-SAAT technology and the opportunity to utilise the technology to revamp the existing hydrofluoric acid (HF) alkylation unit at the Wynnewood Refinery, it said.

K-SAAT is a revolutionary technology to produce alkylate, which is an ultra-clean gasoline blendstock. Unlike traditional refinery alkylation technologies that utilize strong acids, K-SAAT produces alkylates by combining light olefins and isobutane using a solid catalyst that provides yield and operating cost benefits by avoiding complex acid handling and cooling cost, it added.

John Derbyshire, president, KBR Technology, said: “I am delighted to announce that Wynnewood is considering our innovative and groundbreaking K-SAAT technology to revamp the HF Alky unit at Wynnewood.”

“K-SAAT produces an ideal blendstock for increased gasoline octane which is in high demand and does not use corrosive liquid acids. Alkylate octane obtained through the K-SAAT process is higher compared to other liquid and solid acid alkylation processes under a wide range of process conditions,” he said.

“We are honoured to support Wynnewood and to showcase the tremendous potential of K-SAAT for grassroots and revamp projects,” he added.

Since the first K-SAAT unit was commissioned, early this year in China, the technology has received significant interest from refiners globally.

The technology reflects KBR's commitment to provide innovative technologies that give our customers a competitive edge in attractive markets.

Global demand for motor fuels continues to rise while stricter environmental standards and oxygenate blend requirements for gasoline place a premium on clean burning fuels and blendstocks such as alkylate.

KBR's K-SAAT process is a highly adaptable technology that produces a more cost effective, higher quality alkylate than conventional liquid acid catalysts or other solid acid catalysts.

The key to the K-SAAT technology is ExSact, a revolutionary solid acid catalyst engineered to overcome rapid deactivation limitations of solid-acid catalysts and provide superior alkylation performance. K-SAAT offers the capabilities to upgrade olefins ranging from ethylene to amylenes into higher value alkylate.

KBR's licensed process technology is found in more than half of the world's FCC units, a majority of residue upgrading units and more than 100 hydroprocessing units.

Our emphasis on heavy oil upgrading, improving bottom-of-the-barrel yields, producing clean fuels, increasing chemical yields and providing a wider range of operating flexibility to refiners makes KBR a preferred partner to address any refining challenge, it added. – TradeArabia News Service