GEA promotes more sustainable refinery processes with energy-efficient high-performance decanters
Trade press release - July 15, 2026
- Efficient wastewater treatment: New high-performance decanters of the GEA petroMaster series improve the treatment of oil-containing wastewater streams in all refinery segments.
- Contribution to resource conservation: Efficient solids separation enables the reuse or environmentally friendly disposal of process water.
- Technologically advanced: Combination of energy-optimized Varipond C system and ATEX-compliant nitrogen blanketing ensures high safety and process stability.
- Connectivity and digital solutions: IoT-ready control system ensures condition monitoring and remote services for efficient plant operation.
Refineries worldwide are facing the challenge of making their processes more energy-efficient, safer, and more environmentally friendly. In addition to crude oil processing itself, the focus is increasingly shifting to by-products and waste streams – in particular, oily wastewater generated in various process stages. Modern separation technologies such as decanter centrifuges of the GEA petroMaster series make a decisive contribution to conserving resources, reducing emissions and environmental pollution, and returning valuable water to the production cycle.
One of these key measures is the professional treatment of oily wastewater streams – in the downstream, midstream, and upstream segments. The treated water can then be returned to various processes, reused, or disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.
GEA supports this development with highly efficient decanter centrifuges that are specially designed for demanding refinery applications. The latest generation of the petroMaster CF series combines energy efficiency with maximum process stability and meets even the highest requirements for safety and performance. Especially, the new Varipond C version and an ATEX-compliant nitrogen blanketing system are used to ensure safe and reliable operation even under demanding conditions. Varipond C ensures consistent separation results with a reduction in energy consumption of around 30% compared to conventional centripetal pumps.
GEA has successfully configured, delivered, and installed two CF 5000 decanters for a project in the oil and gas industry in South America. Source: GEA / Industrias Proton Ltda.
Best practice in South America
A current project in South America shows how this technology is being used in practice. GEA has successfully delivered and commissioned two petroMaster CF 5000 units for a local refinery – for the first time with this combination of Varipond C system and ATEX-compliant nitrogen blanketing. The project illustrates how global development expertise and local implementation go hand in hand: the core technology of the decanter centrifuges was developed and manufactured in the GEA competence centers in Germany. Additional components relevant to local requirements – such as adaptations to national safety and explosion protection guidelines and control integration – were implemented by the regional GEA team in South America and commissioned on site. This combination of global development and local implementation ensured a tailor-made technical solution while reducing transport costs and the carbon footprint.
The combination of the energy-efficient Varipond C system and ATEX-compliant nitrogen blanketing system in the GEA petroMaster decanter centrifuges ensures highest safety and process stability. Source: GEA / Industrias Proton Ltda.
Connectivity and operational safety
The delivered systems are IoT-ready and can be securely integrated into digital infrastructures. This enables real-time condition monitoring and remote support, contributing to increased machine availability.
With projects such as this and other recently won orders, GEA is strengthening its presence in the South American oil and gas industry and expanding its portfolio of separation solutions for sustainable refinery operations worldwide.
Lilian Schmalenstroer
About GEA
GEA is one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.
The international technology group, founded in 1881, focuses on machinery and plants, as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services. For instance, every second pharma separator for essential healthcare products such as vaccines or novel biopharmaceuticals is produced by GEA. In food, every fourth package of pasta or every third chicken nugget are processed with GEA technology.
With more than 18,000 employees, the group generated sales of about EUR 5.5 billion in more than 150 countries in the 2025 fiscal year. GEA plants, processes, components and services enhance the efficiency and sustainability of customers’ production. They contribute significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions, plastic usage and food waste. In doing so, GEA makes a key contribution toward a sustainable future, in line with the company’s purpose: ”Engineering for a better world.”
GEA is listed on the German DAX, the European STOXX® Europe 600 Index and is also a constituent of the leading sustainability indices DAX 50 ESG, MSCI Global Sustainability and Dow Jones Best-in-Class World.
