Commercialization of the DSU™ Process - One Miracle at a Time!

In the De-Sulphurization & Upgrading (DSU™) process, molten sodium is mixed with high sulphur refinery bottoms to reduce sulphur levels down to less than 0.5% -- the new specification for marine fuels post-2020.  Sodium sulphide is formed in the DSU™ reactor and is separated from the product oil by centrifuge. Sodium is regenerated from the sodium sulphide using electrolysis.  Field Upgrading have moved from lab-scale (batch) to pilot-scale (continuous) and are now launching into FEED for the Clean Seas™ Demonstration Plant. The scale-up to from lab to pilot plant was successful – but not easy.

In this presentation, the technical and financial challenges encountered going from lab-scale to pilot-scale will be addressed, as well as how those challenges were overcome. Some of the lessons learned from those challenges will be shared, as well as how the lessons were used to facilitate the transition from pilot-scale to demonstration-scale. Finally, key risks that have been identified in the demonstration plant and the plan on how to mitigate these risks will be presented.