What is the role of hydrogen in petroleum refining?

Hydrogen is a vital element in the petroleum refining industry, as it is used to improve the quality and performance of various fuels and products. In this article, you will learn about the role of hydrogen in petroleum refining, how it is produced and consumed, and what are the challenges and opportunities for its future use.

1 Hydrogen sources

Hydrogen can be obtained from different sources, such as natural gas, coal, biomass, water, or even waste. The most common method of producing hydrogen in petroleum refineries is steam reforming, which involves reacting natural gas with high-temperature steam to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Another method is partial oxidation, which involves burning a hydrocarbon feedstock with a limited amount of oxygen to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Both methods require further processing to remove impurities and increase the hydrogen purity.

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Ivan Naborshchikov

CEO, Inventor, diplomat
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Hydrogen at the refinery is necessary for hydrogenation catalytic processes, which allow the production of fuel with highly environmental characteristics.

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2 Hydrogen applications

Hydrogen is mainly used in petroleum refineries for two purposes: hydrocracking and hydrotreating. Hydrocracking is a process that breaks down heavy and complex hydrocarbons into lighter and simpler ones, such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Hydrotreating is a process that removes unwanted contaminants, such as sulfur, nitrogen, and metals, from the hydrocarbon streams, making them cleaner and more efficient. Both processes require high-pressure hydrogen to achieve the desired reactions and products.

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Aman Tandon

Global Business Manager for Sustainable Fuels, Chemicals & Circularity - Strategy, Business & Operations
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As the fuel / product specs become more and more stringent, the quantity of hydrogen needed is ever increasing. With enhanced co-processing of newer oils in the refinery such as biomass pyrolysis oil / UCO (used cooking oil) / tyre pyrolysis oil etc. - all need hydrogen to upgrade them to make it acceptable for existing refining assets.

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3 Hydrogen demand

The demand for hydrogen in petroleum refineries has increased significantly over the years, due to several factors, such as the depletion of light and sweet crude oil, the stricter environmental regulations, and the growing demand for low-sulfur and high-octane fuels. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global hydrogen demand in refineries was about 70 million tonnes in 2018, accounting for about 15% of the total hydrogen demand. The IEA projects that the hydrogen demand in refineries will continue to grow, reaching about 90 million tonnes by 2030.

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Aman Tandon

Global Business Manager for Sustainable Fuels, Chemicals & Circularity - Strategy, Business & Operations
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While petroleum refining on a macro level may be going down by 2030 with the energy transition as per most projections - there are still specific geographies where refining capacities will increase while in the others, new feedstocks such as biomass pyrolysis oil / UCO (used cooking oil) / tyre pyrolysis oil etc. will need to be "refined" maximizing use of existing infrastructure

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4 Hydrogen challenges

Despite its importance, hydrogen also poses some challenges for the petroleum refining industry, such as the high cost, the low efficiency, and the environmental impact. Producing hydrogen from fossil fuels consumes a lot of energy and emits a lot of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change and air pollution. Transporting and storing hydrogen is also difficult and expensive, due to its low density and high flammability. Moreover, hydrogen can cause corrosion and embrittlement in metal pipes and equipment, requiring special materials and maintenance.

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5 Hydrogen opportunities

On the other hand, hydrogen also offers some opportunities for the petroleum refining industry, such as the potential to use renewable and low-carbon sources, the integration with other sectors, and the development of new technologies and markets. For instance, hydrogen can be produced from water using electrolysis powered by renewable electricity, such as wind or solar, reducing the carbon footprint and enhancing the energy security. Hydrogen can also be used in other sectors, such as power generation, transportation, or industry, creating synergies and value chains. Furthermore, hydrogen can enable new technologies and markets, such as fuel cells, hydrogen vehicles, or green chemicals.

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6 Hydrogen future

Hydrogen is expected to play a key role in the future of the petroleum refining industry, as well as in the transition to a low-carbon and sustainable energy system. However, to achieve this, some barriers and challenges need to be overcome, such as the cost competitiveness, the infrastructure development, the policy support, and the public acceptance. Therefore, collaboration and innovation among stakeholders, such as governments, industries, academia, and civil society, are essential to foster the development and deployment of hydrogen solutions for the benefit of society and the environment.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What is the role of hydrogen in petroleum refining?

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1 Hydrogen sources

2 Hydrogen applications

3 Hydrogen demand

4 Hydrogen challenges

5 Hydrogen opportunities

6 Hydrogen future

7 Here’s what else to consider

Energy Engineering

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