Nieves Álvarez
Senior Advisor in Oil Refining/Petrochemical Technology.
Nieves Álvarez, graduated as a Chemical Engineer from the Central University of Venezuela, has 39 years of dedication in Oil & Gas downstream / petrochemical, experience ranging from analytical laboratory and catalysts, design and start up pilot plants for R & D, to design in projects, refinery modification, technology analysis and refinery process manager.
She has worked at PDVSA, VEPICA (Project for PEMEX), FLUOR and REPSOL, having the opportunity to interact with different cultures and providers of process and catalyst technology and learn from each of them.
She also has extensive experience in:
Specialized technical assistance and Troubleshooting Processes and Catalysts focused on medium and deep conversion processes, FCC, alkylation, coke, HDT, refining-petrochemical integration, production of olefins, polyolefins and ammonia. Impact on refining schemes for heavy, extra-heavy and synthetic crudes, upgraders from extra-heavy crudes to synthetic crudes. Analysis of refining schemes.
PMC and process leader in engineering and commissioning: energy integration and efficiency projects, Hazop of pilot and industrial units.
Revamps of process units, performance improvement and environmental adaptation.
Use and analysis of rigorous, statistical and hybrid models: extensive experience in the use of rigorous FCC simulation models (Petrosim FCCSIM, HISYS), Traslator for online digitization of process units and statistical models
Catalysts: development of techniques and methodologies for the evaluation of FCC catalysts and additives in the laboratory and pilot plants, scaling via kinetic models to real operation, more than 70 successful evaluations. R+D+I in new catalysts and additives for FCC.
Crudes and Currents: Analysis of the composition of crudes and currents and their impact on the refining scheme, fouling and corrosion yields. Evaluation of the coke type of the Venezuelan Orinoco Belt crudes.
Ionic liquids and enzyme catalysis for the improvement of crude oil, refinery streams and products.
Technologies transformation of CO2 to fuels and ECO products: transformation of CO2 to Methanol, DME and hydrocarbons. Reduction and transformation of fossil CO2 emissions in FCC units.
Analysis of technologies and processes (Technical/Economic Evaluation): production of grey, turquoise and green hydrogen and its environmental impact. Solid alkylation technologies and ionic liquids. FCC technologies and their integration with the chemical industry. PDH olefin production processes, comparison and polyolefin production processes. Analysis of technologies for the production of E-Fuels, use of BIO compounds in the FCC units.
Technological prospecting and technical/economic feasibility study for refining and petrochemicals, including a world of low emissions. Geostrategy of natural resources.
Instructor/Professor Dowstream, FCC, Alkylation, Coker, Heavy and Extra Crudes.
Heavy, Crude Synthetics, Courses for Engineers / Operators.
CSFR Master (2008-2020) Madrid, School of Geology and Mines (Madrid), PDVSA Training Center (CIED) Refining Master 1996 – 2002 Venezuela, Refineries.
