EOP Basestocks - What heppened to them?

[addyguy]

What is the current status with EOP basestocks?

When Pennzoil Platinum first came out, it was made with 'EOP' basestock, which was supposed to be similar to PAO, but cheaper. Then for cost, or other reasons, Pennzoil stopped using it, and went with group III+ basestock, like many competitors.

Are they, or someone else, still developing EOP basestocks, or was there are problem with them? Is another company using them to made a higher-end product b/c of the cost? Have they been abandoned as a basestock?

Anyone have any info?

 

[blupupher]

The only explanation I have heard is there is an even newer, cheaper technology about to come out, so EOP was dropped. Something about Gas to ??.

 

[AndyH]

Quote:

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The only explanation I have heard is there is an even newer, cheaper technology about to come out, so EOP was dropped. Something about Gas to ??.

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Probably gas-to-liguid (GTL). From Wikipedia:
Gas to liquids or GTL is a refinery process to convert natural gas or other gaseous hydrocarbons into longer-chain hydrocarbons. Methane-rich gases are converted into liquid fuels either via direct conversion or via syngas as an intermediate, for example using the Fischer Tropsch process. Using such processes, refineries can convert some of their gaseous waste products into valuable fuel oils, which can be sold as or blended only with Diesel fuel. The process may also be used for the economic extraction of gas deposits in locations where it is not economic to build a pipeline. This process will be increasingly significant as crude oil resources are depleted, while natural gas supplies are projected to last into the 22nd century.

 

[addyguy]

That makes sense, but i just thought SOPUS or someone would keep developing the EOP process/product, so there is still more variety of basestocks to choose from synthetic oil production.....