The Chinese oil giant has gained recognition for technical developments in shipping lubricants
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Maersk ship fitted with BOB technology Image: WartsilaPetroChina recently completed a series of improvements to its marine lubricants offerings, gaining an international OEM certification.
Based in the coastal city of Dalian, the research team has gained accreditation from Wartsila and MAN, which account for about 90% of shipping engines globally, for both inland and sea-faring shipping lubes.
The researchers, tasked with improving the competitiveness of PetroChina and its subsidiary Kunlun Lubes' shipping oils, have addressed a number of core issues facing the industry, not least creating lubes and additives that fit Wartsila's BOB (Blending on Board) specifications which presented signifcant technical challenges.
The most important steps were made in the medium-speed engine sector through PetroChina's DCB4012F four-stroke oil. Improved longevity and enhanced cleaning properties have brought the products up to an international level and are being implemented in Maersk and COSCO ships worldwide. By the researchers' estimates, net savings globally from using the oils exceeded 70.6m yuan between 2010 to 2012.
During the course of the marine lubes project, PetroChina has obtained five patents in China, two in the US and two in Europe.
According to PetroChina, global demand for marine lubes is about 2.5m tons per year, of which cylinder oil makes up just over half.