OilFlux, specialized in the development of technology that increases the efficiency of processes within the crude oil industry, has opened a R&D&i centre at the Barcelona Science Park. The objective of the company –which develops, manufactures and distributes its products to countries across all five continents– is to increase the quality of the ongoing research and development (R&D) of its formulations to resolve the problems associated with the crude oil and natural gas extraction processes and to reduce the environmental impact as well.

For over a decade, the Catalan company OilFlux has focused its activity on the research, development, manufacture and marketing of chemical additives for each stage of the oil industry value chain: Drilling, Upstream, Midstream and Downstream.

Each product is formulated in the company’s R&D&i (Research, Development and Innovation) Department, comprising a highly-qualified multidisciplinary team with over 30 years of experience in the field of petrochemical engineering. Its mission is to provide individual solutions to the various problems associated with the processes of extraction, production, processing and transportation of oil and natural gas, increase the safety and durability of the equipment and facilities and preserve the different ecosystems that may be affected.

“Crude oil is a mixture of comparatively volatile liquid hydrocarbons (compounds composed mainly of hydrogen and carbon), though it also contains some nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen. Those elements form a large variety of complex molecular structures, some of which cannot be readily identified. Each type of oil has its own DNA, which means that each individual situation has its own specific requirements. That`s why, OilFlux’s mission goes beyond the mere development of broad-spectrum chemical solutions”, explains Dr Rodolfo Hernández, director of OilFlux’s Technical Department.

“While these standard formulations might yield positive results in various oil fields and under different conditions, the unique selling point of our products lies in the fact that they are developed to meet the specific needs of each individual client, adapted to the specific environmental conditions and the surface equipment used in the day-to-day operation. We perform in-situ studies by visiting the different oil fields to ensure the optimum formulation of our additives, in terms of efficiency and also sustainable design criteria, guaranteeing the preservation of biodiversity, ecosystems and health”, adds Dr Hernández.

OilFlux develops, manufactures and distributes its products across 42 countries in Europe, Africa, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, with strategic partnerships to accelerate distribution and the company’s international expansion.

“The opening of our new R&D&i centre at the Barcelona Science Park is testament to our firm commitment to achieving excellence in the ongoing research and development of all of our products, requiring fully fitted-out facilities that adhere to the highest standards of quality and safety. We also feel that the Barcelona Science Park represents a strategic location that will help us to give a huge boost to our business plan, owing to its highly-qualified staff and services”, says chemist Eng. José González Fonseca, deputy director of OilFlux’s Technical Department.

Environmental responsibility 

Besides helping energy producers to improve their efficiency and significantly reduce costs, OilFlux additives also help to reduce the environmental impact, as they have a minimal impact on ecosystems and are not harmful to the health of professionals handling the additives.

Staying loyal to its commitment to preserve the environment, the company has developed BTI-BIO: an innovative range for the regeneration of contaminated and passive environmental resources, including the cleaning of hydrocarbons spilled on land and sea, the cleaning of tanks and the removal of any crude oil that may be required.

Its innovation lies in the fact that each of its products are 100% water-based, meaning they are 100% environmentally-friendly. They have also proved to be more efficient than the application of several other additives that comprise organic solvents, aliphatic compounds and toxic chemical families.

OilFlux also provides technical advice on environmental protection and sustainability to companies in the oil and derived products industry.