Well Resources Highlights Ionikylation as Safe Alkylation Technology at 2026 AFPM Summit

Calgary, AB, September 1-3, 2026 – Well Resources Inc. participated in the 2026 American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) Summit in Grapevine, Texas, where Warren Chung, President, joined industry experts to discuss emerging developments in alkylation technologies.

 

Speaking in the “Emerging Pathways in Alkylation Technology” stream on the second day of the Summit, Chung’s presentation focused on Well Resources’ Ionikylation technology, its commercial development, and its role in providing refiners with a commercially proven alternative to conventional acid-based alkylation processes.

 

The session provided attendees with the opportunity to contrast Ionikylation against other alkylation technology pathways, including conventional ionic liquid and solid acid-based processes.

 

Advancing Safer Alternatives to Conventional Alkylation

 

Alkylation is an essential process in modern petroleum refining, producing high-octane alkylate, a valuable gasoline blending component that helps refiners meet increasingly stringent fuel quality requirements.

 

However, conventional alkylation technologies rely primarily on hydrofluoric acid (HF) or sulfuric acid catalysts. Both chemicals present operational, environmental, and process safety challenges.

 

Hydrofluoric acid is particularly concerning because an accidental release can generate toxic airborne vapours, potentially exposing refinery personnel and surrounding communities to health risks. Sulfuric acid alkylation also presents challenges associated with corrosive materials, spent acid handling, catalyst replacement, and waste treatment.

 

As refiners increasingly evaluate process safety, regulatory exposure, and long-term operating costs, interest in alternative alkylation technologies continues to grow. The industry discussion is increasingly shifting beyond how to better manage hazardous acid catalysts and toward technologies that could outright eliminate reliance on these materials.

 

Ionikylation: A Commercially Proven Alternative to HF and Sulfuric Acid Alkylation

 

Well Resources' Ionikylation technology is the market-leading alternative alkylation technology. Ionikylation uses a proprietary composite ionic liquid (CIL) catalyst that is non-corrosive toward carbon steel process equipment and significantly less hazardous than incumbent acid-based catalysts. The process operates under moderate temperatures and pressures, facilitating the production of high-quality alkylate and enabling stable operations.

 

In contrast to other emerging alkylation pathways, Ionikylation can be viewed with lower commercial risk as it has been implemented in 7 commercial refining operations in Asia – the most claimed by any alternative alkylation technology. Well Resources’ commitment to technology transparency is demonstrated through its joint publishing of operational performance metrics and lessons learned with commercial users.

 

Ionikylation was first proven in a standalone greenfield commercial operation in 2013, and from 2018-2022, Chinese state-owned PetroChina and Sinopec commissioned 6 additional units across their refining portfolios.

 

A significant industry milestone was achieved in January 2020, when Sinopec successfully commissioned a 300,000-tonne-per-year (approximately 7,400 barrels-per-day) Ionikylation unit at its Wuhan refinery. The project represented the world's first commercial-scale conversion of an existing hydrofluoric acid alkylation unit to an ionic liquid-based alkylation process.

 

More recently, PetroChina's Dagang refinery achieved 1,000 consecutive days of operation at its 150,000-tonne-per-year Ionikylation unit in May 2025, demonstrating the technology's continued commercial application.

 

Continuing the Conversation on Refinery Safety and Alkylation Innovation

 

Well Resources' participation at the 2026 AFPM Summit reflects our continued commitment to advancing safe and sustainable refining technologies and bringing those solutions to the market. As refiners evaluate the future of HF and sulfuric acid alkylation units, Ionikylation represents an established alternative that addresses important process safety considerations while maintaining the production of high-quality gasoline blending components.​​