Chevron 2003 Annual Report Download - page 19

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Our technology group is working with Global Gas to commercialize our
very large natural gas resources. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving
terminals, such as the one we are planning to construct offshore Louisiana
in the United States, will use advanced LNG unloading and transfer sys-
tems. Our activities in gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology include research
and development for next-generation conversion technology and step-out
technologies in GTL plants under construction.
Downstream, our El Segundo, California, refinery in the United States
is piloting proprietary reactor technology that improves catalyst life and
enhances reliability. The technology is expected to lower El Segundo’s
operating costs. The company expects to deploy this technology to other
reactors in its worldwide refinery system.
A PARTNER OF CHOICE Partnerships are an important part of Chevron-
Texaco’s approach to technology. Internally, our researchers work with
business units to improve current and future performance. Externally, our
partnerships are with academic, business and public-sector organizations.
These partnerships enable us to share technical risk, cost and talent with
others that have complementary capabilities.
Our partnerships with universities and other academic institutions have
long been an important and successful part of our research effort. Over
the last three years, we have established research centers at three U.S.
universities: University of Tulsa, Colorado School of Mines and University
of Southern California. These centers conduct research aimed at solving
actual problems that exist in our business today and provide the opportu-
nity for our employees to earn advanced degrees.
POSITIONING FOR THE FUTURE Our investments in energy tech-
nologies such as hydrogen and renewables position us to provide clean,
economically viable energy from hydrocarbons and alternate sources as
future markets develop and technical challenges are overcome.
We also are active in technologies such as advanced materials that will
improve our operational performance or become potential new sources
of revenue. Two key areas of research are hydrogen fuel and the rapidly
emerging field of nanotechnology. In 2003, the U.S. Department of Energy
awarded ChevronTexaco a grant to explore new fuel processing technology
based on hydrogen. The project will build a prototype fuel processor to
supply hydrogen from natural gas to fuel cells that produce electrical power
for businesses, homes and vehicles. In nanotechnology, we are producing a
series of new molecular building blocks, called diamondoids, from certain
petroleum resources. They could potentially be used for electronic materials,
specialty coatings, polymers and other advanced materials.
CONNECTED
BY TECHNOLOGY
A business focus guides our approach in the
fast-evolving information technology (IT)
area. Our IT global digital infrastructure was
completed in 2003, connecting 50,000 desk-
tops and 1,800 company locations. Going
forward, the project is expected to save
approximately $50 million per year by elimi-
nating duplicate processes and systems.
A global network enables online “real time”
collaboration across the world’s time zones.
When engineers face technical challenges,
they can tap into an online network to fi nd
solutions from colleagues anywhere in the
world who may have solved similar prob-
lems. This reduces downtime, duplicated
effort and associated costs.
Our advanced proprietary imaging
technology enables us to visualize
the full extent of the Tahiti Field,
one of the largest crude oil and
natural gas reservoirs discovered
to date in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
Such technologies are contributing
to our success in adding reserves
and resources through both explora-
tion and reservoir management.