Offering environmentally friendly solutions in the hydrocarbon processing industry, GTC Vorro Technology aims to simplify and improve the process of sulphur removal. Phil Walsh, Vice President of the Environmental Services division, and Joseph Gentry, Vice President of the Technology Licencing division, explained how the company has established its presence in the sector. Report by Hannah Barnett and Phil Nicholls.
GTC Vorro Technology is a turn-key environmental services and technology provider to oilfield, refining, petrochemical and chemical companies around the world. The company focuses on the areas where hydrogen sulphide is not being properly removed, or where there are consequential environmental costs for doing so.
Formed a decade ago, GTC Vorro began life as an offshoot of GTC Technology, a technology licencing company. Its core business provides Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) removal associated with natural gas production typically utilising solid adsorbent scavengers, as well as options to address redundant sulphur plant capacity in refineries. It has since incorporated additional technology to cover higher sulphur loadings that apply to a broader range of the market.
Joseph Gentry, Vice President of the Licensing Division, explained how the com -
pany identified a gap in the market when it brought different parts of the industry together: “We found synergies between the different divisions and between the different segments that had not been explored. The Midstream people don't talk with the Downstream people and viceversa. And there are a lot of inno vations in one area that could be applicable to the other. One of the things that we're doing is bringing those together.”
The company is focused on expanding the business significantly, as Phil Walsh, Vice President of the Environmental Services division, acknowledged: “Our employees, combined with certain other consultants coming in and out as we need, are dedicated to the company’s development. And we are in a growth mode.”
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, GTC Vorro conducts many of its operations remotely, closer to the oil wells themselves. Mainly this means in West Texas, around the
“GTC VORRO’S METHOD OF SULPHUR REMOVAL HAS SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS. THIS IS BECAUSE IT IS AN OPTIMISED PROCESS DESIGNED FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY ”
Permian Basin which as Mr Walsh explained: “Tends to have a relatively high concentration of hydrogen sulphide that needs to be removed.” Going forward, the company is planning to enter into Canada and other international markets.
Expanding with partnerships
‘Growth mode’ seems an accurate assessment of GTC Vorro’s current status. The company is developing in exciting ways, recently announcing a partnership with Rameshni & Associates Technology and Engineering (RATE), a global speciality engineering firm providing state-of-the-art process technologies for sulphur processing and acid-gas removal. Described by Mr Gentry as ‘mutually beneficial’, the partnership will offer process technology solutions to customers along with full-service sulphur removal.
“It is a convenient way to deploy first rate technology without having to go to
multiple parties,” Mr Gentry continued.
“RATE is a single entity, covering a broad range of technical aspects focusing on sulphur. We can combine our innovations with their engineering skill set to deploy and commercialise, thus providing synergy and convenience for both parties.”
Bespoke treatment
GTC Vorro’s method of sulphur removal has significant environmental benefits. This is because it is an optimised process designed for maximum efficiency. Mr Walsh explained how the company, ‘provides a full ser vice’, which is unique in the US market, and possibly across the world.
The Environmental Services Division works to simplify the H 2S removal process and enhance real-world performance with minimal adsorbent volumes consumed. It does not sell H 2S removal chemistries but rather a turnkey, customised approach to the client’s specific needs, utilising the right
process, product, equipment and people for each application.
Mr Walsh elaborated on this: “We are taking responsibility and ultimately the financial risk for how well the overall system performs. We are not selling chemistry to a customer who then has to work out how best to apply that chemistry, manage and measure the process, and sort out waste disposal etc. GTC’s focus on the end result allows us to become the experts, and fine tune things to improve the performance of the whole system.”
As a result, the company utilises resources in a conscientious manner and the business model is inherently more economic and environmentally friendly. Additionally, the company is moving the industry towards a non-hazardous method for sulphur removal.
Mr Gentry expounded on the benefits of GTC Vorro’s approach to sulphur removal: “Petrochemical plants may use caustic trading to remove the sulphur,” he said, “but then you have waste caustic which is a waste problem; and from that you have a high cost. If we can treat by different means, then you can avoid the use of the caustic treatment or greatly diminish it. We’re solving two problems: we're using a cheaper method, plus we're avoiding a waste stream that needs disposal.”
Looking forward
It is an exciting time for GTC Vorro, as new possibilities for growth emerge. Mr Walsh explained that though the company is not immune to the international supply chain issues being felt across all industries,
it is currently sourcing, developing and evolving new options to foster security of supply both in respect of availability and commercial stability.
Opportunities to move into different markets are presenting themselves all the time, according to Mr Walsh: “One of the areas we're looking at is Liquefied Natural Gas. They are also having to deal with hydrogen sulphide in very high volumes of gas, but relatively low H2S.” The company is also investigating the use of hydrogen sulphide to make a high-end fertiliser.
Mr Gentry and Mr Walsh agreed that the strength of GTC Vorro’s customer base is one of the highlights of what they do, along with the sense of fulfilment they both seem to get from doing it. “It’s really solving problems,” Mr Gentry said, “I’m a process technologist at heart, and there are a lot of opportunities in which you can have an engaging discussion and find some solutions: and then we can bring together something that will make an improvement for their operation.”
Mr Walsh finds satisfaction in interactions with clients too, and in working at the cutting-edge of industry: “It feels almost like being a missionary into the market, trying to get that message out. And then the satisfaction of developing those relationships. Our model is not ‘an independent sale, and then then we move on to the next sale’. We are developing strong, ongoing relationships with a lot of customers. And it's very satisfying to see those grow as we become embedded as their H 2 S removal experts.” n
