Periodic Reporting for period 1 - OILCS (A MOBILE SUPER HIGH FREQUENCY EQUIPMENT TO PRODUCE HIGHLY DISPERSED NANOSORBENT IN REAL TIME BASED ON THERMALLY EXPANDED GRAPHITE FOR LIQUIDATION OF NATURAL AND MAN-MADE ACCIDENTS)
Período documentado: 2018-07-01 hasta 2018-12-31
One of the most acute problems of modern ecology in its aspects related to the state of the environment is pollution of water ecosystems by oil and products of its processing (gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, etc.) that can occur at all stages of oil use, starting from exploration and production of oil and ending with the utilization of its waste. In Ukraine, this problem is also very acute because, according to statistical data, every year there are emergencies associated with significant oil spills in the water environment.
To date, there are various methods for the elimination of oil spills in the aquatic environment. As practice shows, methods based on the use of different sorbents are most effective. Among the well-known sorbents, their advantages are highly dispersed nanosorbents on the basis of thermo-expanded graphite (TEG).
The analysis of the known methods and technical means of manufacturing such nanosorbents allowed to reveal a number of their significant disadvantages: the high cost of the final product, the fire hazard due to the use of natural gas in the manufacturing process, low mobility due to the large size and mass, low ecologicality due to the presence of pollutant emissions, high energy consumption. A sorbents on the basis of TEG have the highest sorption rates if they are obtained immediately before use. Therefore, their use is very effective in the case of manufacturing near the accident site. These circumstances considerably reduce the possibility of using known technical means of manufacturing sorbents on the basis of TEG in the territory of localization of oil products in the aquatic environment, which does not allow quickly and qualitatively eliminate the corresponding effects.
In connection with the foregoing, for today there is a great need to develop a new technology and appropriate equipment for the production of highly dispersed nanoparticles based on TEG, which will eliminate these shortcomings. This is the main direction of OILCS project.
Thus, the project objective is to increase the efficiency of the oil and petroleum product elimination system in the water environment by developing an effective method for obtaining a highly dispersed nanosorbent on the basis of TEG and creating a mobile, high-speed installation for the implementation of the proposed method.
The use of the proposed method for obtaining a highly dispersed nanosorbent on the basis of TEG and the mobeli equipment that it implements will enable the creation of industrial ecologically pure technological complexes that can be used on oil platforms, transport ships, ports and other places of oil use for the rapid and qualitative liquidation of oil spills in the water objects surface.
To date, there are various methods for the elimination of oil spills in the aquatic environment. As practice shows, methods based on the use of different sorbents are most effective. Among the well-known sorbents, their advantages are highly dispersed nanosorbents on the basis of thermo-expanded graphite (TEG).
The analysis of the known methods and technical means of manufacturing such nanosorbents allowed to reveal a number of their significant disadvantages: the high cost of the final product, the fire hazard due to the use of natural gas in the manufacturing process, low mobility due to the large size and mass, low ecologicality due to the presence of pollutant emissions, high energy consumption. A sorbents on the basis of TEG have the highest sorption rates if they are obtained immediately before use. Therefore, their use is very effective in the case of manufacturing near the accident site. These circumstances considerably reduce the possibility of using known technical means of manufacturing sorbents on the basis of TEG in the territory of localization of oil products in the aquatic environment, which does not allow quickly and qualitatively eliminate the corresponding effects.
In connection with the foregoing, for today there is a great need to develop a new technology and appropriate equipment for the production of highly dispersed nanoparticles based on TEG, which will eliminate these shortcomings. This is the main direction of OILCS project.
Thus, the project objective is to increase the efficiency of the oil and petroleum product elimination system in the water environment by developing an effective method for obtaining a highly dispersed nanosorbent on the basis of TEG and creating a mobile, high-speed installation for the implementation of the proposed method.
The use of the proposed method for obtaining a highly dispersed nanosorbent on the basis of TEG and the mobeli equipment that it implements will enable the creation of industrial ecologically pure technological complexes that can be used on oil platforms, transport ships, ports and other places of oil use for the rapid and qualitative liquidation of oil spills in the water objects surface.
The SME instrument Phase 1 grant allowed INECO to conduct an elaborated feasibility study and facilitate commercialization strategy development. During the project the following four workflows were performed: market research, detailed user needs research and partnership development, IPR strategy development, business model and in-depth business plan development.
Market research revealed that OILCS technology for all stages of oil production and transportation is a unique solution that can disrupt existing market of sorbents and technologies of utilization oil spill
The fundamental novelty aspect of OILCS technology allowing to produce high quality, ecological sorbent directly near the of oil spills. This contrasts with the traditional technologies which are characterized by the use of natural and synthetic sorbents, the sorption and performance and cost characteristics of which are much lower than the TEG which is proposed. And the main thing is that the ability to quickly get to the site of spills and produce exactly the amount of sorbent that is needed in a particular situation, the ability of the sorbent to remain on the surface of the water for a long time, And most importantly, the ability to recover up to 80% of oil from the collected sorbent. Therefore, OILCS is the first project to offer such a solution to the market and can ultimately become a leading player in the market segments of oil spill tools and technologies saving the costs of oil production&transportation.
The feasibility study of the market validated that the TEG sorbents market saw a growth during the previous few years. The analysts forecast global petroleum sorbent pads market it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.98% during the period 2018-2021.
Competitors’ analysis has shown that potential substitutes and alternatives do not fully satisfy customer needs and there is a significant technological gap between OILCS and closest competitors. Rigorous country-by- country research enabled to outline OILCS priority markets and select countries for market entrance.
During our research, we have conducted more than 100 interviews with potential clients, equipment producers, distributors and governmental authorities, which provided us with valuable feedback on the product and essential insights for our go-to-market and pricing strategy. The active participation in conferences and exhibitions has enabled INECO to create a network of commercialization and distribution partners to promote the company on the priority markets. Furthermore, INECO began the process of OILCS product adaptation according to the customers’/ potential customer’s feedback.
Within the last 6 months, INECOs team identified and classified IPR strategy performed the audit of the product and the technologies implemented.
Finally, OILCS developed detailed business plan and financial model that will be used as a roadmap for commercialization as well as for the further development of the business. This exercise allowed to adjust our business model, improve product-market fit, get a better understanding of cost-side of the business and of the most profitable revenue streams. We have decided that OILCS revenue streams come only from the sales manufacturing equipment to B2B customers (oil spill response companies, seaports and ship & tankers), while leasing of OILCS turned to be impractical due to extensive requirements in working capital l and difficulties in changing existing plans and measures for the liquidation of oil spills, which are approved and adapted for each company on the basis of state and local legislation.
All the tasks completed during the feasibility study allowed to develop a proper pricing strategy, a commercialization plan (in a form of a comprehensive roadmap consisting of interrelated plans of final product design development, market expansion and related with them certification and dealership and partnership growth in each market).
At this stage, OILCS is primarily focused on the design of the final for B2B market product for serial manufacturing as well as on the commercialization plan implementation. Upon obtainment of certification OILCS will start its global expansion in 2022. The ambition of OILCS is to allow the customers easily and safely to dispose oil spills with minimal negative environmental impact and minimal financial and resource losses.
Market research revealed that OILCS technology for all stages of oil production and transportation is a unique solution that can disrupt existing market of sorbents and technologies of utilization oil spill
The fundamental novelty aspect of OILCS technology allowing to produce high quality, ecological sorbent directly near the of oil spills. This contrasts with the traditional technologies which are characterized by the use of natural and synthetic sorbents, the sorption and performance and cost characteristics of which are much lower than the TEG which is proposed. And the main thing is that the ability to quickly get to the site of spills and produce exactly the amount of sorbent that is needed in a particular situation, the ability of the sorbent to remain on the surface of the water for a long time, And most importantly, the ability to recover up to 80% of oil from the collected sorbent. Therefore, OILCS is the first project to offer such a solution to the market and can ultimately become a leading player in the market segments of oil spill tools and technologies saving the costs of oil production&transportation.
The feasibility study of the market validated that the TEG sorbents market saw a growth during the previous few years. The analysts forecast global petroleum sorbent pads market it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.98% during the period 2018-2021.
Competitors’ analysis has shown that potential substitutes and alternatives do not fully satisfy customer needs and there is a significant technological gap between OILCS and closest competitors. Rigorous country-by- country research enabled to outline OILCS priority markets and select countries for market entrance.
During our research, we have conducted more than 100 interviews with potential clients, equipment producers, distributors and governmental authorities, which provided us with valuable feedback on the product and essential insights for our go-to-market and pricing strategy. The active participation in conferences and exhibitions has enabled INECO to create a network of commercialization and distribution partners to promote the company on the priority markets. Furthermore, INECO began the process of OILCS product adaptation according to the customers’/ potential customer’s feedback.
Within the last 6 months, INECOs team identified and classified IPR strategy performed the audit of the product and the technologies implemented.
Finally, OILCS developed detailed business plan and financial model that will be used as a roadmap for commercialization as well as for the further development of the business. This exercise allowed to adjust our business model, improve product-market fit, get a better understanding of cost-side of the business and of the most profitable revenue streams. We have decided that OILCS revenue streams come only from the sales manufacturing equipment to B2B customers (oil spill response companies, seaports and ship & tankers), while leasing of OILCS turned to be impractical due to extensive requirements in working capital l and difficulties in changing existing plans and measures for the liquidation of oil spills, which are approved and adapted for each company on the basis of state and local legislation.
All the tasks completed during the feasibility study allowed to develop a proper pricing strategy, a commercialization plan (in a form of a comprehensive roadmap consisting of interrelated plans of final product design development, market expansion and related with them certification and dealership and partnership growth in each market).
At this stage, OILCS is primarily focused on the design of the final for B2B market product for serial manufacturing as well as on the commercialization plan implementation. Upon obtainment of certification OILCS will start its global expansion in 2022. The ambition of OILCS is to allow the customers easily and safely to dispose oil spills with minimal negative environmental impact and minimal financial and resource losses.
In addition to the main tasks of the project, the INECO team plans to create Awareness Handbook for all operational oil spill staff with information about the use of OILCS. It will include the next key aspects:
- Trainings in fundamental principles of OILCS;
- Action in accordanth overall goals of the
Oil Spill Management;
• Compliance with statutory and regulatory
requirements, as well as operation-specific
instructions;
• Risk mapping – assessment of risk
• A good flow of information
The uniquekeness of marketing strategy is also to inform the vulnarable population living near the oil spills risks zones about the latest improvements of OILCS at the same time influencing athoutities to use INECO`s technology.
- Trainings in fundamental principles of OILCS;
- Action in accordanth overall goals of the
Oil Spill Management;
• Compliance with statutory and regulatory
requirements, as well as operation-specific
instructions;
• Risk mapping – assessment of risk
• A good flow of information
The uniquekeness of marketing strategy is also to inform the vulnarable population living near the oil spills risks zones about the latest improvements of OILCS at the same time influencing athoutities to use INECO`s technology.