Shell Lubricants announced the launch of a next generation motor oil in India, Shell Helix Ultra with Shell PurePlus Technology. This is the company's most advanced motor oil ever, featuring a base oil designed from natural gas.
This is a one-of-a-kind technology which has been developed and honed behind closed doors by engineers at Shell. Shell Helix Ultra PurePlus Technology is manufactured through a revolutionary Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) process that converts natural gas into a crystal-clear base oil with virtually none of the impurities which are found in crude oil.
The result is Shell's most advanced synthetic motor oil to date. Nitin Prasad, Managing Director, Shell Lubricants India, emphasized the fact that this has taken decades of R&D and the technology harnesses the power of gas to produce the next generation motor oils.
Shell has already made an investment of US $1 billion in India and with manufacturing a manufacturing facility in Taloja and R&D in Bangalore, Shell has been able to redefine the synthetic motor oil segment. When asked about consumer awareness of Shell Lubricants in India, Nitin said, "I am being optimistic about the market because people are curious to know what works and what doesn't and the consumer want quality products and don't mind spending on it. This is where Shell products will help lure these consumers because we promise more and deliver.
According to Leo Kin Mun, Lubricants Technology Manager, Shell Global Solutions the Shell Pure Plus technology provides superior wear and corrosion protection which can help to extend engine life and reduce maintenance costs. He also went on to say that it has been proved that using the Shell Helix with Pure Plus technology enhances the fuel efficiency by almost 3%.
So how does it work? Well, it begins with the extraction of natural gas from Qatar's North Field - the world's largest natural gas field. In a gasifier, methane reacts with pure oxygen to produce synthesis gas. The synthesis gas then enters one of 24 reactors at the plant, where chains of hydrocarbons are rearranged and transformed into a liquid base oil virtually free of all the impurities found in crude oil.
Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology represents a major shift for the Shell Helix brand, placing a new strategic focus on gas-to-liquids technology for its top-tier motor oils, as opposed to traditional crude oil refining.
