Downstream Chemical Technologies for U.S. Refinery Operations

Baker Hughes has been selected as preferred provider of hydrocarbon treatment products and services for Marathon Petroleum’s U.S. refining network, supporting operational reliability, environmental compliance, and reduced nonproductive time.

Preferred provider agreement scope
The multiyear agreement designates Baker Hughes as Marathon Petroleum’s preferred supplier for downstream chemical technologies at 12 oil refineries and two renewable fuel facilities across the United States. The agreement was signed during Baker Hughes’ 26th Annual Meeting in Florence, Italy, and formalizes a long-standing technical collaboration between the two companies.

Preferred provider arrangements in refining typically aim to standardize chemical programs, streamline technical support, and improve consistency of performance across multiple sites with differing feedstocks and operating conditions.

Chemical technologies and functional roles
Under the agreement, Baker Hughes will deploy a portfolio of downstream chemical solutions designed to address key refinery process challenges. These include XERIC™ heavy oil demulsifiers for improved separation efficiency, TOPGUARD™ corrosion inhibitors to protect process equipment and extend asset life, and BIOQUEST™ renewable additives supporting processing of renewable and lower-carbon feedstocks.

In addition to chemical treatments, digital monitoring tools will be applied to support real-time performance tracking and early identification of process deviations. This combination of chemistry and digital oversight is intended to reduce unplanned downtime and improve process stability.

Operational reliability and compliance
Refineries operate under increasingly tight margins and regulatory constraints, with equipment reliability and environmental compliance directly affecting throughput and operating cost. Corrosion control, effective phase separation, and treatment of complex feedstocks are critical to maintaining unit availability and avoiding process upsets.

By standardizing treatment programs across its facilities, Marathon Petroleum can apply consistent operating practices while adapting dosing and monitoring to site-specific conditions. Digital tools further support this approach by enabling data-driven adjustments and faster response to emerging issues.

Supporting renewable fuel processing
The inclusion of renewable fuel facilities within the agreement reflects the growing integration of bio-based and lower-carbon feedstocks into traditional refining operations. Chemical additives and treatment strategies must be adapted to different chemical compositions and operating profiles compared with conventional hydrocarbons.

The BIOQUEST™ additive portfolio is positioned to support these applications by improving process efficiency and compatibility while helping facilities meet environmental performance targets.

Long-term collaboration context
Baker Hughes and Marathon Petroleum have collaborated for more than three decades, during which time downstream chemical technologies have evolved alongside changes in crude slates, process configurations, and regulatory requirements. The preferred provider agreement builds on this history by aligning technical development, field support, and digital capabilities under a unified framework.

For Baker Hughes, the agreement reinforces its role in downstream chemical applications, while for Marathon Petroleum it provides a structured approach to deploying treatment technologies across a geographically distributed refinery network.