Given the results of Shells fuel economy tests of heavy-duty engine oils formulated with gas-to-liquids base stocks, its fair to expect a warmly competitive lube market to get even hotter in 2012.
Last year Shell and Qatar Petroleum inaugurated the massive Pearl gas-to-liquids project in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar. Currently it has one production train with capacity to produce 650,000 metric tons per year of API Group III and II base stocks. Shell has confirmed that it intends to use all of the Group III output internally until a second train of equal size starts later this year.
Shell Global Solutions Rafael Herrera, based at the companys Westhollow Technology Center, Texas, U.S., offered a glimpse of the companys laboratory and field tests, measuring reduced energy loss and fuel economy improvements of GTL-based products vs. conventional oils, at the NPRA International Lubricants and Waxes meeting in November. High quality, low viscosity products containing GTL will impact fuel economy, he said. Low-friction lubes make a difference.
Herrera cited consistent improvements of 1.1 percent to 1.8 percent over conventional oils, results that will certainly catch the eyes of automakers and engine builders hungry for even the smallest crumbs of fuel economy improvement. And Shells savvy marketing teams will surely assure that the marketplace hears early and often about every GTL advantage.
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Tim Sullivan, Gloria Steinberg Briskin, Dick Beercheck, Cardo Lianez, Sheryl Unangst and all our EMEA colleagues join me in wishing you a healthy and happy 2012!