The award recognizes professionals in academia or industry who have conducted innovative research in engineering, geology or geophysics, and that research has been successfully applied to improve our economic and social well-being.

Dr. C. Michael Oballa, P.Eng., William L. Wong, P.Eng., Chi M. Wong, P.Eng., and Les W. Benum
NOVA Research & Technology Centre

C.M. Wong, P.Eng.

L.W. Benum

Dr. C.M. Oballa, P.Eng.

W.L. Wong, P.Eng.

NOVA Chemicals operates three ethylene plants in Joffre, Alberta that crack ethane and a flexi cracker located at Corunna, Ontario that is able to crack a wide range of feedstocks. All steam cracking processes face the typical issue of coke formation and deposition on the furnace coil. NOVA Chemicals wanted to develop a technology that would reduce coke formation and deposition and extend the furnace run length.

In response to this technical challenge, NOVA Research & Technology Centre (NRTC) in Calgary embarked on a research program leading to the development of cracking coils that would have inert surfaces, thus limiting the formation and deposition of catalytic coke. The research program was initiated and led by Dr. Michael Oballa, P.Eng., in close collaboration with Mr. William Wong, P.Eng., Mr. Chi Wong, P.Eng., and Mr. Les Benum.

The project team took an innovative approach to the problem. Instead of following industry trends and trying to introduce another material into the cracking coils, the team focused their attention on the surface properties of the base metal and took advantage of them during the surface modification process.

The lab-scale study was conducted using equipment specially designed by Dr. Oballa and built in-house at NRTC. The technology has resulted in a new method of modifying the surface of a stainless steel matrix to obtain a surface that is inert to coke formation or deposition in steam crackers.

Over the years, this technology has gone from the idea stage to full commercialization and has improved the typical run length from 30 days to over 400 days. Since the beginning of 2003, the technology has been offered commercially and is being marketed world-wide. It represents the most advanced surface science chemistry and is the best product on the market to reduce coke formation and deposition during the steam cracking process.