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Ionikylation Unit at PetroChina's Dagang Refinery Marks 1,000 Days of Continuous Operation
Well Resources and PetroChina Dagang refinery personnel tour the facility’s Ionikylation unit, which reached 1,000 continuous days of operation
Calgary, AB, May 12, 2025 – PetroChina Dagang Petrochemical Company has reached a significant milestone, achieving 1,000 consecutive days of continuous operation for its 150,000-tonne-per-year (tpy) Ionikylation unit.
The ¥330 million RMB composite ionic liquid (CIL) alkylation unit was successfully commissioned on August 14, 2022. Since startup, the unit has consistently produced high-quality 98 RON alkylate, supporting the refinery’s premium gasoline blending requirements. The Dagang Ionikylation unit occupies a 159 m × 71 m plot space.
The Dagang refinery has an annual crude processing capacity of 5 million tonnes, producing approximately 1.5 million tonnes of gasoline per year. Ionikylation technology was selected for its proven ability to enhance alkylate quality and operational efficiency, enabling compliance with China’s National VI gasoline standards while significantly improving environmental performance and process safety.
Representatives from Well Resources recently visited the Dagang refinery to commemorate the 1,000-day operational achievement and to review ongoing process optimization initiatives. In late 2023, the refinery began field testing a next-generation CIL catalyst formulation, resulting in a 35% reduction in catalyst consumption compared with the original design basis.
Ionikylation is the leading ionic liquid-based alkylation technology for producing high-octane alkylate that is free of sulfur, benzene, olefins, and aromatics. The inherently safe and sustainable process enables refiners to eliminate hazardous and corrosive acid catalysts, while allowing all major equipment to be constructed from carbon steel, removing the need for costly specialized containment systems.
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Well Resources is an Alberta-based technology company with offices in Calgary and Edmonton. With a focus on the energy and life sciences sectors, the company develops and licenses green technologies that enhance resource efficiency and sustainability.