Eni and Total have entered into a special license and R&D cooperation agreement for Eni Slurry Technology (EST) and to evaluate and tailor the technology to Total’s requirements.
Eni Slurry Technology (EST) is the most recent refining process for converting heavy feedstock into lighter components. It has been developed in Italy by Eni, and implemented in the Sannazzaro refinery since 2013.
Eni’s Giacomo Rispoli, said: “After two years of successful operation of the Sannazzaro refinery’s EST unit, the first of its kind in the world, a new, proven technology is now commercially available to be assessed as an option for upgrading the bottom of the barrel.
“The technology arrives more than 40 years after the existing processes were first developed and is the result of 15 years of R&D and commercial demonstrations.”
“One of the challenges for refining activities is to keep pace, within an economically viable model, with trends in oil markets, especially those resulting from changing legislation and fuel specifications,” added Total’s Nathalie Brunelle.
“This R&D cooperation project with Eni allows Total to have access to another proven technology for bottom of the barrel conversion.”