Shell has filed its first patent application for an invention at the Qatar Science & Technology Park.
The invention for which the patent application has been filed is a shutdown procedure for a fixed-bed Fischer Tropsch reactor preventing catalyst activity loss. The Fischer Tropsch chemical reaction is part of the gas to liquids (GTL) process.
Andy Brown, Managing Director of Pearl GTL and Qatar Country Chairman, said, “We are proud to file the first patent from the Qatar Shell Research & Technology Centre, which we believe is the first patent filed by any company at the science park. We hope this patent will be the first of many innovations from our work at the science park.”
Once filed, a patent application needs to be confirmed by the Patent Authorities as original. This usually takes some months. At that stage, the final patent is granted, protecting the rights related to the invention for a set period of time.
Some 20 Shell scientists and engineers from Qatar and around the world are engaged in research at the Qatar Shell Research & Technology Centre at the science park. The facility has over 35 staff in total.
Current research programmes include GTL catalyst testing and research, improving the understanding of local carbonate geology, developing sulphur-based products among many other exciting new concepts and ideas focused on GTL and upstream technologies.
Shell is committed to a substantial expenditure of up to USD100 million over a 10-year period on a world-class technology innovation and development programme in Qatar.
The Qatar Shell Research & Technology Centre at the science park was opened in April 2008. Shell had been conducting research work since 2005, initially in temporary facilities at Education City.
