Oil & Gas

PIDC’s material technologies are playing an increasingly important role in reducing emissions from power plants and refineries.  

Fluid Cracking Catalysts produce higher gasoline yields for refineries, reduce emission of sulfurs in refining of crude oil, and improve the polymerization process. As new environmental regulations are adopted, the need grows for solutions in the area of hydro-treating processes and catalysts for all types of refineries.

PIDC sees China as a booming market for fluid cracking and refinery catalyst materials.  China is the world’s most populous country and the second largest energy consumer (after the United States).  Production and consumption of coal, its dominant fuel, is the highest in the world.  China’s rising oil demand and imports have made it a significant factor in world oil markets. China has surpassed Japan as the world’s significant factor in world oil markets, and it became the world’s second-largest petroleum consumer in 2003.

Fluid cracking catalysts using PIDC’s materials produce higher gasoline yields for refineries using heavy or residual crude oils. PIDC develops key materials for refining catalysts that reduce the emission of sulfurs in refining of crude oil.  Plastics and rubber producers are beginning to use similar catalysts to improve the polymerization process.

An exciting opportunity for future growth is in the new, high technology gas to liquids (“GTL”) market.  GTL is a rapidly expanding sector manufacturing ultra clean fuel from natural gas. PIDC is working to become a supplier of engineered materials to the rapidly developing GTL market.