CPC is constructively engaged in R&D in its pursuit of technological innovation and sustainable development. This is evidenced by
the establishment of the Exploration Research Institute in Miaoli, the Refining & Manufacturing Research Institute in Chiayi and the
Green Technology Research Institute and Material Testing & Certification Center in Kaohsiung. In addition, the Energy Economics
Research Center was set up on May 1, 2014 with responsibility for research into a number of areas relevant to that subject; and
our headquarters Planning Department is in charge of the development and management of company-wide R&D operations.
The Exploration Research Institute is chiefly responsible for domestic and foreign geological assessments and research in
drilling technology. The Refining & Manufacturing Research Institute develops petrochemical products and lubricants and
seeks solutions for production bottlenecks. The Green Technology Research Institute develops biofuels, green materials, and
renewable energy technologies, while the New Materials Trial Production and Certification Center supports the MOEA's policy
of adding value to petrochemical products by helping firms engaging in technology R&D to perform mass-production trials.
The Energy Economics Research Center focuses on petroleum, gas, and low-carbon economics, and seeks to strengthen in-
house economic know-how on the company's oil and gas operations.
CPC's R&D spending in 2014 totaled roughly NT$2.55 billion and yielded the following results:
Exploration
•
Research into oil and gas fields in Chad:
• Completed extraction of rock cores from three wells and performed oil/rock comparison and pyrolytic analysis.
• Completed interpretation of details of the reservoir formation in the BCO III field, modeled formation structure and
attributes and issued a report recommending the drilling of three wells in this field.
• Completed analysis of rock cores obtained from exploratory wells and performed PVT analysis. At the start of the production
stage, R&D experts worked with the Petroleum Extraction Project Office to draft a development plan for the field.
•
Completed a geothermal site assessment outside of Yangmingshan National Park in Taiwan. The site is located between the
two extinct volcanoes Mt. Kuangzui and East Mt. Kuangzui and its hot-water reservoir is largely located in the Mt. Wuzhi shear
zone, with a small proportion coming from narrow fissures near magmatic activity under Mt. Kuangzui. The hot water has a pH
of 5.4 and a geothermal gradient of 55-60°C/km and is consequently highly suitable for geothermal power generation.
•
The research project 'Feasibility of Geological Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in the Fengshan Formation' that was required
as part of the Dalin Refinery expansion EIA carried out a survey of surface geology and the background values of surface
methane venting, geological modeling and an estimation of the sequestration capacity.
•
Completed two commissioned research projects: the EPA's SGPRFMC 'Applied Environmental Forensic Technology:
Establishment of a Fingerprint Profile and Investigation Plan for Commercial Diesel (I)'; and the EPA National Institute of
Environmental Analysis' 'Development and Application of New Oil Pollution Identification Technology.'
•
Participated in geochemical and surface topographical monitoring, and implementation of CO
2
injection, as part of the project
studying CO
2
injection and storage in the Yongheshan Formation. The work also involved teams from National Cheng Kung
University and National Central University and is part of the clean coal strategy for Phase II of the National Energy Program.
This work included RST electrical measurements in well YHS-6 and the establishment of soil gas monitoring stations.
•
A project on the systematic integration of procedural systems, assessment methods, technology deployment and standard
operating procedures that have been developed for green remediation techniques applicable to the company's brownfield sites.
•
Design of a rock core flooding system and numerical analysis program for measuring the parameters needed to increase oil
and gas yield and providing the basis for on-site production.
Refining and petrochemicals
•
Work in the area of lubricant development included the development of ultra-high performance CG4R 15W/40 vehicle
motor oil and multifunctional synthetic automatic transmission fluid as part of formulation adjustments required by changes
in base oil composition. Similar modifications were made to 188 types of automotive and industrial oils, including such
engineering lubricants as the polyurea grease used in steel mills, H jack oil, R12 special cycle motor oil and No. 1 extreme
pressure grease.
•
Newly-developed biotech products included the See Clean series of household cleaning products and Zoeyen amino acid
facial cleanser.
•
CPC helped set up the UCOME waste edible oil elimination platform as part of its CSR program.
•
Continued engagement in cooperative projects to increase the value of petrochemical products, improve soil and groundwater
pollution remediation, boost refinery energy efficiency and achieve other process and technology improvements.
•
Applied for patents for dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) purification technology, completed development of dicyclopentadiene
(DCPD) derivatives and initiation of performance testing and participated in the development of advanced carbon materials
as part of the of the National Energy Program.
