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Data Insights Innovation in oil & gas: ammonia synthesis

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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.

Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.

65+ innovations will shape the oil & gas industry

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the oil & gas industry using innovation intensity models built on over 201,000 patents, there are 65+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Within the emerging innovation stage, gas pipeline network monitoring, high-pressure gas vessels, and boil-off gas treatment are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Hydrocarbon lubricants, CO2 electroreduction and oil well surveillance are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are syngas production and gas scrubbing which are now well established in the industry.

Innovation S-curve for the oil & gas industry

Ammonia synthesis is a key innovation area in oil & gas

Ammonia synthesis refers to the process of producing ammonia through the reaction of nitrogen and hydrogen gases in the presence of a catalyst. The process typically involves the production of syngas through partial oxidation or steam reforming of hydrocarbons, followed by the water gas shift reaction and synthesis of ammonia.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 120+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established oil & gas companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of ammonia synthesis.

Key players in ammonia synthesis – a disruptive innovation in the oil & gas industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.  

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’. 

Patent volumes related to ammonia synthesis

Casale is one of the leading patent filers in ammonia synthesis. The company offers technologies to produce both green ammonia and blue ammonia. The technology for the production of green ammonia from renewable energy has been optimized for zero emissions, while the production of blue ammonia is optimized for carbon storage. Some other key patent filers in ammonia synthesis are Haldor Topsoe and Johnson Matthey.

In terms of application diversity, Exxon Mobil leads the pack, while Burelle and Linde stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Grannus held the top position, followed by Exxon Mobil and Johnson Matthey.

Ammonia is one of the potential alternatives to fossil fuels for a clean and sustainable future. Therefore, innovation in ammonia synthesis is gaining momentum, especially in the production of green ammonia.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the oil & gas industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Oil & Gas.

GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.