Chevron Oronite is committed to making improvements to its facilities that make a difference in how we consume energy, manage carbon emissions and handle waste product. Learn more about sustainability at Chevron.

Our goal is to continue to enable human progress with more sustainable approaches and solutions that meet the expectations of our customers and employees. We have workstreams in place covering greenhouse gas analysis, communications and metrics to advance our efforts. We are active in the additive and chemical industry forums that advance sustainability initiatives including:

• ATC – technical committee of petroleum additive manufacturers in Europe
• American Center for LifeCycle Assessment – board member and technical committee member
• American Chemistry Council (ACC)

Here are some examples of how we promote sustainability in our business.

reusable PARATONE® packaging reduces waste

As part of Chevron’s efforts to deliver solutions that contribute to advancing the global energy transition, Oronite introduced metal crate packaging to help reduce waste compared to cardboard boxes for deliveries of PARATONE 8900E and 8935E polymer in its Americas and Asia Pacific regions. These metal crates are collected and reused, eliminating waste created by single-use cardboard boxes as well as the wooden pallets that transport the boxes. The crate lid is made of materials that can be recycled by an appropriate recycler. For every crate used instead of a cardboard box, 85 pounds of cardboard is prevented from going into an intensive recycling process or the waste stream. Since March 2020, metal crates have eliminated the need for more than 755,000 pounds of cardboard, with a maximum potential to prevent the disposal of about 2.9 million pounds of cardboard per year.

Gonfreville transitions to hydroelectricity

Beginning January 2021, 100% of the Gonfreville l’Orcher (GV) plant’s forecasted electricity need comes from a French hydroelectric source*. Leading up to this achievement was the plant’s ISO 50001 certification in 2018. For 2018 and 2019, the facility saw a 2% reduction in its steam, electricity, compressed air, and gas consumption. In 2019, the plant implemented projects to conserve energy with tank and pipe insulation. Activities and knowledge are shared with Oronite’s Oak Point (Louisiana) and Singapore plants and are embedded in Chevron’s energy transition strategy.

* If annual consumption exceeds forecasted demand, additional energy needs may come from other sources

reducing energy consumption by over 30% since 2006

Replacement of LED light bulbs and updates to the chiller are actions that have helped lower energy consumption at the Omaezaki plant in Japan by more than 30% since 2006.

Our Omaezaki facility in Chevron Oronite Japan Limited (COJL) has made great progress reducing energy consumption. The plant has implemented a range of energy efficiency actions over the years. For example, between 2008 and 2009 the replacement of inverter compressors and high-efficiency boilers, as well as the introduction of a cooling water pump control, helped reduce the plant’s energy consumption. And between 2015 and 2016 there was an increase in boiler energy savings due to insulation of the piping and changes in the operational procedure.

The Omaezaki plant in Japan continues its trend of lowering energy consumption through its diligent practice of efficiency.

Going forward, COJL aims to reduce energy consumption annually by a rate of 1% on average via new energy efficient equipment and upgrades. Energy reduction plans are updated annually, and supply chain experts monitor progress at monthly committee meetings.

enabling automotive engine hardware changes that reduce GHG emissions

By applying modern engine technology such as downsizing, turbocharging, direct injection, and variable valve timing, OEMs can achieve about 15% greater efficiency compared with typical port fuel injected engines, while maintaining engine reliability and enhancing low-speed acceleration.

Auto manufacturers are continuously looking for ways to deliver more efficient vehicles in response to regulation and customer demand. Turbocharged, direct injection technologies are examples of reducing fuel consumption by creating smaller engines, while still delivering as much or more power than their larger predecessors. However, with these new technologies come new operating challenges. For instance, these engines operate at high loads at low engine speeds, resulting in high pressure and high temperature in the cylinders – challenges that can cause significant engine damage as a result of low speed pre-ignition (LSPI). LSPI is a condition where the fuel/air mixture ignites before the spark plug is fired, resulting in very high cylinder pressures and temperatures, possibly leading to severe and even catastrophic engine damage. Typical engine oils can be a significant contributor to LSPI, but with careful reformulation, engine oils can help significantly reduce or even eliminate the LSPI phenomenon. Oronite additive solutions for passenger car engines such as OLOA® 55516, OLOA® 55600 and OLOA® 54720, are examples of products that enable more efficient engine technology with less fuel consumption by helping reduce LSPI compared with GF-5/SN oils.

new technology used to reduce sulfonate waste

New technology has helped reduce solid byproducts of high overbased sulfonate by about 4,000 metric tons per year at this sulfonate detergent unit in Gonfreville, France.

The production of high overbased (HOB) sulfonate, a detergent used in additive packages, creates a sludge-type waste. With new technology using decanters in the production process, Oronite has been able to recycle more of the waste material, reducing the solid byproducts at its plant in Gonfreville, France, by about 4,000 metric tons per year. Previously, this sludge waste was sent off site to be incinerated. By managing the waste on site, Oronite reduced the raw material carbon footprint of sulfonate production by approximately 16 percent. Soon, this method will be extended to the carboxylate production units in both Gonfreville and Singapore to promote further waste reduction across Oronite operations.

Singapore manufacturing lauded for energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emission

Ongoing work to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions at our Singapore manufacturing plant was highlighted in a recent speech by the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Masagos Zulkifli, to the Singapore Parliament.

Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, cited Oronite as an example of a company that can pursue both growth and environmental sustainability, and noted that it had achieved “annualized energy savings of $1.8 million and a carbon abatement of 4,800 tonnes by installing new equipment,” according to The Straits Times article (3/20/18). “The improvements referenced included a waste heat boiler and mechanical vapor recompression system installed as part of the Carboxylate Expansion Project,” said Kathiresan Marimuthu, who was the project engineering manager. The Singapore Parliament recently passed a bill which will require all facilities producing 25,000 MT or more of greenhouse gas emissions in a year to pay a carbon tax starting in 2019.

This website contains forward-looking statements relating to Oronite’s operations that are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections about the petroleum, chemicals and other energy-related industries. These statements are not guarantees of future conduct or policy and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the company’s control, including government regulation and oil and gas prices. Chevron Oronite is a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation. See Chevron’s Forward-Looking Statements Warning on Page 65 of Chevron’s 2020 Corporate Sustainability Report available at: https://www.chevron.com/-/media/shared-media/documents/chevron-sustainability-report-2020.pdf