Shell Taps Worley for Support on Net-Zero Projects

Worley, a global professional services company of energy, chemicals and resources experts, will support Shell at its Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland, Wesseling, Germany, on decarbonization projects involving transition to base oils and renewable hydrogen.

The first project will convert a hydrocracker into a production unit for base oils at the Wesseling site. The site plans to stop processing crude oils in 2025. The new plant will have a production capacity of around 300,000 tons per year. This is equivalent to around 9% of EU and 40% of Germany’s demand for base oils, which are used in making high-quality lubricants such as engine and transmission oils, said Worley in a press statement.

By repurposing the hydrocracker and introducing a high degree of electrification, the project is expected to reduce Shell’s scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by around 620,000 tons a year.

The 100-MW REFHYNE II electrolyzer will produce up to 44,000 kilograms of renewable hydrogen each day.

In addition to the hydrocracker transformation, Worley is also working with Shell on the installation of a 100-MW REFHYNE II electrolyzer, expected to produce up to 44,000 kilograms of renewable hydrogen each day, which Shell will use to decarbonize its operations.

Work is being carried out to provide early front-end engineering and design (pre-FEED), FEED, detailed design and integration services for the project.

Marijn Bezuijen, project director Rheinland, said, “The Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland is on a transformation journey to help Shell become a net-zero emissions company by 2050. In the coming years, we will be working on key projects to achieve this.”

The base oil production plant and renewable hydrogen facility are expected to start operations in the second half of the decade.