4/25 - Dow/Union Carbide Reaction Engineering and Catalysis Seminar Series honoring Jean Cropley

Biofuels, Conservation, and Renewables - The Energy Equation at Chevron

Paul F. Bryan,
Vice President
Biofuels Technology
Chevron Technology Ventures LLC
100 Chevron Way
Richmond, CA 94802

ABSTRACT

In well over 100 years of existence, the oil industry has developed the capacity to find, extract, transport, and refine crude oil, and to distribute and market petroleum-based fuels. During that period, a highly efficient, multi-trillion-dollar global infrastructure has been developed to deliver transportation fuels efficiently around the world. However, events in recent years have pointed out several emerging limitations of this system. First and foremost, robust global economic growth has pushed the industry's ability to meet customer demands to the limit. Even today, more than 5% of global demand is met with "unconventional" resources, such as extra-heavy oil, gas-to-liquids, and biofuels, and demand continues to grow. There has also been recent growth in concern about climate change driven by increases in atmospheric CO2 levels, and attendant regulation and public pressure to reduce CO2 emissions. Finally, there is anxiety in much of the industrialized world at its reliance on a small number of crude-oil exporting countries, many in unstable parts of the world, and therefore a call to increase domestic production, or at least to diversify the sources of liquid fuels.

In 2006, Chevron formed a Biofuels Business Unit with the intention of developing a large-scale, profitable, sustainable biofuels business as part of Chevron's commitment to meet consumer demand with superior motor fuels. In this presentation, Chevron's plans and activities in biofuels will be described, including a focus on "GEN 2" biofuels, sources and hurdles related to feedstock supply, research on novel conversion technologies, and development of both traditional and novel fuel products derived from renewable resources. A unique approach to developing this new business will be described, including an especially broad range of business and R&D alliances with universities, national laboratories, and other companies.

Friday, April 25, 2008 9:00am - 10:45am
NRCCE Assembly Room A
A small reception will be held in the NRCCE Atrium following seminar

Questions or Directions call: 304-293-2111, ext. 2418.

04/25/2008