BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (OBV) – When it comes to setting the standard for innovations in the field of energy, Phillips 66 has been doing it for close to a century and they show no signs of letting up now.
On a windy, cold day in January, legislators from all over the state were invited to Bartlesville to take a look into the future of energy.
“Growing up in this neighborhood, I got to drive by this building all the time,” said Rep. Judd Strom. “I knew my entire life that these were science labs but to have the opportunity to go through the facility and see what they were doing was really incredible.”
Lawmakers from both chambers and from both parties met at the Phillips 66 Research Center to learn about the amazing breakthroughs that have been happening at the facility since the 1940s.
“We tried to bring people into a facility that we are really proud of, that we think is unique in the industry and unique in Oklahoma,” said Scott Bilger, Phillips 66 State Government Affairs Manager. “We have 80 years-worth of science, studies and information here.”
The center is 440 acres of labs and scale production facilities. Scientist, engineers and technicians from all over the U.S and from 30 countries work at the center. In fact, some 23 languages are spoken at the facility.
“The one thing that really amazed me and I appreciated was, the diversity of employees at Phillips 66. It’s very clear that they work to bring people from all over to come here to Oklahoma to live here, to invest here, and so that’s very exciting,” said Rep. Cyndi Munson, House Minority Leader.
Over the years, the facility has filed for around 26,000 patents, 500 of which are still active. Right now, scientists are making strides using “coke” from gasoline production to improve battery performance. Engineers are running tests to better convert animal fats and cooking oils into renewable energy diesels.
“To find out and to see how Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Phillips 66, of course, are on the cutting edge of energy, it’s just really a neat deal to have that on our doorstep,” said Strom.
“I don’t think we talk about it enough, so, I am thankful that there was a diverse group of legislators that were invited to come out to see exactly what is going on. We can now advocate for things like technology and having that industry here in Oklahoma,” said Munson.
