CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
Schlumberger | October 18, 2022
Schlumberger announced today that it has entered into an agreement with RTI International, a nonprofit research institute, to accelerate the industrialization and scale-up of its proprietary non-aqueous solvent (NAS) technology, which enhances the efficiency of absorption-based carbon capture. The NAS technology will be applicable to capture CO2 across a broad variety of industrial emissions.
“With the world’s carbon budget running out, reducing emissions is a societal imperative. Carbon capture technologies are a key enabler in realizing a low carbon future—and we are excited about this exclusive agreement to work with RTI on industrializing and scaling this innovative carbon absorption technology, and bringing it to market.”
Gavin Rennick, president of Schlumberger’s New Energy business
The NAS technology offers a compelling alternative to conventional aqueous solvent technologies for carbon capture, as it consumes less energy while retaining high CO2 capacity, resulting in a material reduction in operating costs. The NAS technology is also less corrosive—eliminating the need for high-grade corrosion-resistant alloys and the associated increase in capital costs. This enhances the overall economics of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects.
“RTI has developed the innovative NAS technology over the past 12 years, progressing from lab scale to large engineering scale,” said Dr. Marty Lail, senior director of RTI’s Decarbonization Sciences program. “NAS technology uses as much as 40% less energy during the CO2 capture process. High capture efficiency at lower energy cost is critical for widespread commercial use of carbon capture solvents.”
As part of an engineering-scale carbon capture demonstration funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, NAS technology was able to remove >99% of the CO2 from natural gas combustion exhaust streamsthe highest capture efficiency reported for any carbon capture solvent technology for this application.
RTI and Schlumberger will collaborate to develop models that enable fast design and process customization to achieve a step-change in CO2 capture operations while leveraging Schlumberger’s global footprint to expand market opportunities for the technology.
About Schlumberger
Schlumberger is a technology company that partners with customers to access energy. Our people, representing over 160 nationalities, are providing leading digital solutions and deploying innovative technologies to enable performance and sustainability for the global energy industry. With expertise in more than 120 countries, Schlumberger collaborates to create technology that unlocks access to energy for the benefit of all. In the world of new energy, Schlumberger leverages its intellectual and business capital to focus on low-carbon and carbon-neutral technologies, including ventures in the domains of hydrogen, lithium, energy storage, carbon capture, utilization and sequestration, geothermal power and geoenergy.
About RTI International
RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach — one that integrates expertise across the social and laboratory sciences, engineering and international development. We believe in the promise of science, and we are inspired every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities and businesses around the world.
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CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
Dow and Mura Technology | September 15, 2022
Dow the world's leading materials science company, and Mura Technology, the global pioneer of an advanced plastic recycling solution, announce the next step in their ongoing collaboration to help solve the global plastics waste issue and advance circularity. Mura plans to construct a new facility at Dow's Böhlen site in Germany – the latest in a series of planned facilities across the U.S. and Europe to rapidly scale advanced recycling of plastics – and the first expected to be based at a Dow site. This project is targeted for a final investment decision by the end of 2023.
Mura's new Böhlen facility in Germany, which is expected to be operational by 2025, would deliver approximately 120 kilotons per annum (KTA) of advanced recycling capacity at full run-rate. This and the other planned units expected to be constructed across Europe and the U.S. would collectively add as much as 600KTA of advanced recycling capacity by 2030 – and position Dow to become the largest consumer of circular feedstock for polyethylene production globally.
"The continuation and growth of Dow and Mura's collaboration is another example of how Dow is working strategically to expand and build momentum around securing circular feedstocks and supporting breakthrough advanced recycling technologies,"
Isam Shomaly, Dow business vice president for Feedstocks and Commodities
"We continue to increase Dow's capacity to use recycled content as feedstock, and continue to invest in the most effective technology available to enable our circular business model for plastics," said Diego Donoso, president of Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics. "The diversification of our feedstock slate and decarbonization of our assets will enable the achievement of Dow's goal of a sustainable, low-carbon future, and meet strong and growing customer demand for circular polymers. This will be a significant step forward to decrease our dependency on virgin fossil-based feedstocks."
The planned facility builds on Dow's ongoing collaboration with Mura, first announced in 2021, with an initial project to construct the world's first plant using Mura's HydroPRS™ process, located in Teesside, UK, which is expected be operational in 2023 with an initial 20KTA production line. The Böhlen, Germany, site, expected to be co-located with Dow's manufacturing facilities, would enable a significantly larger capacity for plastic waste and considerably increase the supply of fully circular feedstock to the industry. This circular feed, derived from plastic waste currently destined for incineration or landfill, would reduce reliance on virgin fossil-based feedstocks and would enable Dow to produce a recycled plastic which is in high demand from global brands, particularly for high-end sensitive markets like food and medical applications.
Dow aims to take advantage of co-location benefits, which could significantly reduce the cost of scaling advance recycling facilities. In addition, co-location of Mura's facilities at Dow locations would be expected to reduce carbon emissions by minimizing transportation of the offtake and as gas output from the advanced recycling process can be converted back to plastics, thereby ensuring no by-products go to waste.
Steve Mahon, chief executive officer at Mura Technology, said, "Combating the global plastics crisis requires innovative solutions which can drive a circular economy. Mura's collaboration with Dow has led to the largest commitment across the industry to date, showcasing the urgency from industry leaders to adopt scalable solutions such as HydroPRS that will transform the plastics industry worldwide. Dow's continued support for Mura Technology has led to a highly financeable commercial arrangement and the deepening collaboration will allow both companies to achieve their stated ambitions in the advanced recycling space.
"Dow's commitments to accelerating a global circular plastics economy is exemplified through deploying HydroPRSTM at the newest advanced recycling facility in Germany, which will enable us to dramatically increase recycling capacity. Through our collaboration and Dow's extensive global reach, we can accelerate the pace and scale at which a circular plastics economy becomes a reality worldwide."
Mura's HydroPRS™ advanced recycling process is unique, as it uses supercritical steam to convert most forms of plastics – including flexible and multi-layer plastics, which have previously been deemed 'unrecyclable' – back into the original oils and chemicals from which they were made. These can then be used to create new, virgin-equivalent plastic products which are even suitable for food contact packaging.
With Mura's process, the same material can be recycled repeatedly, meaning it has the potential to eliminate single use plastic and prevent it from going to landfill or being incinerated. This has additional carbon benefits, with advanced recycling processes expected to save approximately 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide per ton of plastic recycled, compared to incineration and reducing reliance on fossil-based feedstocks.
About Dow
Dow combines global breadth; asset integration and scale; focused innovation and materials science expertise; leading business positions; and environmental, social and governance leadership to achieve profitable growth and deliver a sustainable future. The Company's ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world. Dow's portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated, science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Dow operates 104 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 35,700 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $55 billion in 2021. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries.
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PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES, RAW MATERIALS
OnPoint Industrial Services and Capstreet | November 29, 2022
Capstreet, a Houston-based lower middle market private equity firm, announced that it has sold OnPoint Industrial Services a specialized provider of safety, logistics and planning services designed to support complex maintenance projects in the refining and petrochemical industries, to MML Capital. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Through acquisitions and organic growth, OnPoint has assembled a comprehensive suite of support services that allow its customers to manage complex maintenance projects more efficiently and safely. Based in Deer Park, Texas, OnPoint's services include project planning and coordination, transportation and logistics, materials management, and safety services.
Capstreet's relationship with OnPoint began in 2015 when it acquired Creative Resource Group (CRG). Subsequently CRG acquired Inotek Safety Consultants and WTMC, eventually rebranding them together as OnPoint. Under Capstreet's ownership, the Company would go on to make three additional tuck-in acquisitions and merge with Certified Safety, expanding its services and footprint under the leadership of a newly created management team.
"When Capstreet made its initial investment, we identified a need for a large-scale, single-source service provider of support services for industrial maintenance projects. We recruited an incredible leadership team to the business and together we successfully sourced and integrated several acquisitions and drove organic growth to create one of the recognized leaders in our industry. This has been a tremendous journey, and we believe OnPoint is positioned for ongoing success with its new owner."
Paul De Lisi, Partner at Capstreet
"OnPoint has transformed over the last few years, adding the services and skills demanded by an evolving industry," said Liz Clark, CEO of OnPoint. "It has been a pleasure working with the Capstreet team to drive this change and expand the Company, and we are excited about what lies ahead."
"Thanks to OnPoint's management team and the hard work of its employees, we were able to create value and grow OnPoint from a small industrial services business to what the Company is today," said Walker Kahle, Senior Vice President of Portfolio Operations at Capstreet. "Congratulations to all involved."
Willkie Farr & Gallagher served as legal counsel and BlackArch Partners was the financial advisor for Capstreet.
About OnPoint Industrial Services
OnPoint Industrial Services' offerings are designed to facilitate the safe and efficient flow of people, materials, and equipment during turnarounds and capital projects. By applying people, process, and technology, OnPoint satisfies the logistics requirement of these complex events.
About Capstreet
Founded in 1990, Capstreet invests in lower middle market software, tech-enabled services, and industrial business services companies. With over 45 platform investments and over 200 add-on acquisitions since inception, Capstreet's investment strategy is focused on utilizing its Capvalue Framework™ to help accelerate growth and profitability, and help create long term sustainable businesses. The majority of Capstreet's investments have been with founder- or entrepreneur-owned businesses.
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