Chevron claims that this proprietary technology, called Vacuum Resid Slurry Hydrocracking (VRSH), has the potential to significantly increase yields of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from heavy and ultra-heavy crude oils and could be used to increase and upgrade production of heavy oil resources.
The company said that the Pascagoula pre-commercial plant will have a capacity of 3,500 barrels per day. All necessary permits have been secured, and construction is expected to begin later in 2008.
Chevron has noted that it has been actively developing VRSH technology since 2003. The process has reportedly undergone successful preliminary testing on a wide range of feedstocks in multiple pilot plants at Chevron’s research center in Richmond, California.
Mike Wirth, executive vice president of global downstream for Chevron, said: This project will advance Chevron’s heavy-oil upgrading capability and is an important R&D initiative for the company. Given the increasing role of heavy oil in meeting the world’s growing energy demand and our significant heavy oil resources, this technology could provide a unique pathway to increase supplies of clean-burning fuels for the marketplace.
