Sinopec realizes industrial application of crude oil steam-cracking technology

(ECNS) -- China's oil giant Sinopec has realized industrial application of crude oil steam-cracking technology that converts crude oil directly into chemical products including ethylene and propylene ("crude-to-chemicals"), according to a Sinopec statement on Wednesday.

This is China's first industrialized application of this technology, and also a milestone in the development of the national petrochemical sector and achieving carbon emission reduction goals.

The crude oil steam-cracking technology "skips" the conventional crude oil refining process to convert crude oil directly into chemical products. In this way, the technology will dramatically shorten the production process, lower production costs, and reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Sinopec is preparing to carry out development and engineering design by steam-cracking 1 million tons of crude oil in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, pioneering the transformation of China's petrochemical industry, according to Wang Zizong, a deputy chief engineer of the company.

At present, only Exxon Mobil and Sinopec have successfully realized the industrial application of crude oil steam-cracking technology.