In a Lubricant Shortage, the Most Expensive Oil Change May Be the One You Did Not Need

In bench-scale treatment, soft varnish particles at room temperature were almost eliminated. More importantly, the large difference between 20°C and 60°C particle counts was reduced to approximately one ISO code after ICB media removed varnish material that was dissolved at 60°C but insoluble at 20°C.

That matters because it confirms the root cause.

The issue was not simply that the oil contained particles. The issue was that the oil contained oxidation products that could shift between dissolved and insoluble states as temperature changed.

By addressing the soluble varnish precursors, ICB helped stabilize the oil chemistry and prevent the recurring formation of soft varnish particles.

That’s why EPT Clean Oil refers to the overall strategy as Lubricant Chemistry Management.

The objective is not only to chase cleanliness codes. The objective is to understand and control the chemistry that determines whether the lubricant remains stable, clean, and fit for service.

What Maintenance Teams Should Do Before They Drain the Oil

A high particle count should always be taken seriously. But it should not automatically trigger the assumption that the oil is contaminated with hard particles or that replacement is the only answer.

Before consuming scarce replacement lubricant, maintenance teams should ask a few practical questions:

1. Was the sample tested hot or at room temperature?
2. Does the particle count change significantly when the same oil is heated?
3. Has fine mechanical filtration failed to improve cleanliness?
4. Is the system showing other signs of varnish potential, such as elevated MPC values, membrane discoloration, rising acid number, antioxidant depletion, or recurring deposits?
5. Does the oil history suggest oxidation stress, thermal degradation, or long service life?

If the particle count is high at room temperature but much lower when heated, that is strong evidence of temperature-dependent soft varnish precipitation. If fine filtration has failed to resolve the issue, that is another sign the problem may not be conventional particulate contamination.

In those cases, the next step should not be to keep tightening filtration or rush toward a full drain. The next step should be to investigate the lubricant’s chemistry.

That is especially important in turbine oils, hydraulic systems, compressors, and other critical applications where large lubricant volumes are expensive to replace and may be difficult to source quickly.

A Better Way to Think About Cleanliness

Traditional oil maintenance often separates contamination into two categories: particles and dissolved degradation products.

In many applications, that distinction is useful. Hard particles damage surfaces and can be removed by mechanical filtration. Dissolved degradation products contribute to varnish, sludge, acidity, additive depletion, and deposits.

However, the two categories can overlap.

Dissolved oxidation material can become particulate contamination as temperature changes. A dissolved-contaminant problem can therefore present itself as a particle count problem.

That means the correct solution depends on identifying the source of the particles, not simply reacting to the ISO or NAS number.

If the particles are dirt or wear debris, mechanical filtration is appropriate.

If the particles are soft varnish generated from dissolved oxidation products, then the oil chemistry must be corrected.

ICB addresses the source by removing soluble varnish precursors before they convert into insoluble particles. This helps interrupt the repeated cycle of precipitation, filtration failure, recurring high particle counts, and premature oil replacement.

The Larger Point: Extend Oil Life by Understanding the Cause of Failure

The lubricant shortage has made one thing clear: industrial operators need to get more value from the oil already in service.

That does not mean blindly extending oil life, ignoring oil analysis results or delaying necessary maintenance. It means making better decisions based on better diagnoses.

A particle count problem may be a filtration problem. It may also be a varnish chemistry problem.

Knowing the difference can help maintenance teams avoid unnecessary oil changes, preserve lubricant inventory, reduce downtime risk, and protect critical equipment.

That is the value of Lubricant Chemistry Management. It shifts the conversation from “How clean is the oil?” to “Why is the oil failing, and can we correct the cause before replacement becomes necessary?”

In a supply-constrained market, that question matters. Not every particle count problem is truly a particle problem.

And when lubricant is scarce, the most expensive oil change may be the one you did not need.

Eventually, those small changes add up, and the system pays the price. But just like a great football team adjusts its strategy during the game, lubricant failure is not inevitable. When organizations focus on the root causes of lubricant degradation, they can change the outcome. With the right monitoring, filtration, and maintenance strategies, oil aging can be slowed, controlled, and in many cases stopped in its tracks. 

This is where oil analysis and testing becomes the equivalent of film study and game planning. You can’t manage what you can’t see. Oil analysis and testing provides the visibility teams need to understand the true condition of their lubricants: identifying strengths, exposing weaknesses, and guiding the adjustments required to stay ahead of failure. 

And just like in football, the most successful teams know that every role matters. The star quarterback may get the attention, but it’s often the less glamorous roles: the specialists, the strategists, the analysts, who quietly determine the outcome of the game. 

That philosophy is central to everything we do at EPT Clean Oil™. Our goal is simple: to live our company vision of teaching the world a better way through Lubricant Chemistry Management. Because success in lubrication reliability doesn’t come from a single test or a single insight. It comes from understanding the lubricant’s chemistry and managing it strategically over time. That’s why we developed The 8 Keys to Oil Analysis Victory. 

These eight tests form the foundation of a winning lubricant management strategy. Think of them as the core plays in your reliability playbook and the insights that allow your team to:

• Understand where your lubricant is strongest 

• Identify weaknesses before they become failures 

• Make informed adjustments before equipment performance is impacted 

By highlighting these eight critical tests, our mission is not simply to analyze oil; it’s to teach the world a better way. 

 Meet the ‘The 8 Keys to Oil Analysis Victory.’ 

▶ MPC TESTING

The #1 cause of lubricant-related downtime: varnish. 
That is why MPC testing should be number 1 for every team’s playbook for success! It reveals what other tests can’t, giving you early warning of problems before they happen, like having the other team’s playbook before the game even starts. 

▶ ISO PARTICLE COUNT

Lubrication is hard work but should never be dirty work! ISO Particle Count testing comes to play, by really putting your defences to the test!  It reveals the dirt, grit, and contaminants hiding in your oil, giving you the insight to strengthen your defences before they damage the real star of the game: your equipment. 

▶ KARL FISCHER

As the saying goes, oil and water don’t mix, and that is for good reason. Water is everywhere, unavoidable, and one of the most damaging contaminants in lubricant systems. That is where Karl Fischer testing is a key play in any reliability playbook, measuring water content in your oil down to parts per million (ppm) to detect moisture early and protect your equipment. 

▶ ACID NUMBER

Lubricants don’t retire because they’re dirty… they get benched when their chemistry degrades, and acids start running the locker room 

▶ VISCOSITY

Viscosity is the MVP of lubricants…the Most Valuable Property, doing the real work on the field. When viscosity is in the right range, it builds the protective film that keeps moving parts separated and your equipment performing at its best. But when it drifts out of position, the whole team feels it. Viscosity testing is a key player in your lubrication strategy. It shows how temperature, oxidation, contamination, and shear are affecting your oil, helping you catch changes before they knock your equipment out of the game. 

▶ COLOR

Lubrication has a look to it… and sometimes the colour tells the story before the stats do. ASTM D1500 Oil Colour testing is the gold standard for oil analysis and testing. It tracks the shift from rookie-light to veteran-dark, helping you spot changes in your lubricant before they start affecting performance. Because when you keep an eye on the colour scorecard, you keep your equipment game-day ready. Keep it light. Keep it bright.  

▶ METALS

Every great team has a player who can do it all…and in oil analysis and testing, that All-Star is ICP-OES. Condition monitoring is a team sport, and ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy) is one of the most versatile players on the roster. It scans your oil for 22 different metals, revealing what’s happening inside your equipment long before problems show up on the scoreboard. 

▶ ANTIOXIDANT LEVELS

Like football, lubrication has a clock that’s always ticking. The difference? In lubrication, the clock is controlled by the antioxidants in the oil. Amine and phenol additives act as sacrificial defenders, reacting with oxygen to protect the base oil from degradation. But as these additives are gradually consumed, the lubricant moves closer to the end of its useful life. 

Meet the Fluid Technical Center Starting Lineup

At EPT Clean Oil, our Fluid Technical Center approaches every sample the way a championship team approaches the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl—with precision, urgency, and the understanding that every play matters. Because in the game of industrial reliability—just like football—victory rarely comes from one big play. It comes from discipline, preparation, and mastering the fundamentals. 

We are EPT Clean Oil. We earn every inch. 

In the spirit of the game of inches, and to really drive the message home, hang in there for our locker room speech.

Because reliability doesn’t happen by accident. 
Reliability starts with seeing what you're blind to. 
It’s built in the lab. 
It’s built through proper oil analysis and testing. 

Every sample that comes through our door tells a story. 
A story of friction, heat, and contamination trying to go unnoticed. 
Every test we run. 
Every shift in chemistry we detect. 
Every trace contaminant we catch before it turns into failure. 

That’s the difference between performance and breakdown. 
Because reliability is built in inches. 
And those inches add up. 

A smarter way to monitor lubricant health: inches. 
A more strategic way to maintain critical equipment: inches. 
A better way to build a winning maintenance strategy for long-term reliability: inches. 

Those inches become uptime. 
Those inches become asset protection. 
Those inches become confidence. 

Because when our clients run their machines, they’re running on the confidence we give them. 

At EPT Clean Oil, we don’t guess. 
We verify. 
We protect lubricants: the lifeblood of critical assets. 

Our Fluid Technical Center doesn’t just test oil. 
It defends uptime. 
It safeguards assets. 
It secures futures. 

At the EPT Clean Oil Fluid Technical Center, every sample matters. 
Every test matters. 
Every inch matters. 

Because when it comes to critical lubrication systems, success isn’t accidental. It’s designed. 

Send us your oil sample today, and let’s get your 2026 playbook under review.

A Year-End Message from the CEO

As another year comes to a close, I am reminded of something fundamental: true innovation does not follow the industry—it reshapes it.

From our earliest days, we never set out to be a filtration company. We never aspired to mimic or marginally improve the status quo. Instead, we pursued something far more ambitious and far more meaningful—to understand and manage the chemistry of lubricants.

That decision led to the development of the very first ion exchange filter for lubricant applications, which became ICB® and continues to define who we are today. And as I reflect on our journey and the momentum we have built this year, one truth stands stronger than ever:

We ARE the pioneers, originators of patented ICB ion-exchange technology and developers of lubricant chemistry management.  

We Are the Pioneers of Patented ICB Ion-Exchange Technology

Long before the industry acknowledged lubricant deposits as a root cause of failure… before “varnish” became a buzzword and entered the mainstream—our team was designing the chemistry solution that would transform lubricant reliability forever.

ICB ion-exchange technology was designed from the ground up to solve what industry-standard filtration could not:

• Inability to remove the dissolved oxidation products,
• Inability to remove catalysts that accelerate breakdown,
• Inability to reduce or manage the rate of oil breakdown and additive consumption that quietly destroys lubricants from within.

Today, this technology protects some of the most critical systems in the world—from the largest power generation stations on earth, nuclear power plants, data centers, offshore oil and gas platforms and refineries—where failure is unacceptable, and reliability is everything.

This leadership did not happen by chance. It happened because we refused to compromise on science. We refused to compromise on the status quo.

We Are the OEM of ICB® Filters—A Standard, Not a Commodity

ICB® is more than a filter. It is the original, OEM-designed, patented ion-exchange solution that transformed the landscape of lubricant reliability.  What was deemed impossible became a reality and an industry standard that critical infrastructure now relies on.

This year, more than ever, I want to reaffirm a message that safeguards our customers:

• Do not mistake similarity for equivalency.
• Demand and expect the best. 
• Don’t compromise on quality to save a few pennies; working with EPT Clean Oil will save millions.

In critical industries, the cheapest option is rarely the safest one. And no knockoff, substitute, or alternative carries the three decades of R&D, testing, refinement, and real-world validation that the ICB brand represents.

When reliability matters—the original matters.

In fact, let me take a moment to share a truth.

Up to 80% of all critical lubrication applications worldwide have gaps in their oil analysis programs.  Not only can they not document compliance with industry or OEM specifications, but they also cannot see where the problems are or fix them.  With 54% of forced outages attributed to lubricant quality issues, this is a major problem costing the industry billions of dollars per year, and one that EPT Clean Oil can solve.

Only EPT Clean Oil offers the science to demonstrate and prove what we say.

We are not a commodity. We are a technology partner that will work with you every step of the way to solve your issue with documented verification.

We Are the Innovators of Lubricant Chemistry Management

What we do extends far beyond varnish removal or filtration.

We are not in the business of reacting to failure—we are in the business of preventing it.

Lubricant Chemistry Management is the discipline we pioneered to maintain the oil in an unsaturated, chemically stable, failure-resistant state throughout its life. It manages the root cause of lubricant breakdown rather than treating its symptoms.

Our approach offers unmatched performance in the removal of acids, dissolved oxidation material and other molecules responsible for:

• slow or sticking servo valves
• bearing deposits
• bearing failures
• Failure to start
• Impaired cooling
• 54% of forced outages.

This holistic strategy of targeting the root cause of oil breakdown does not exist elsewhere in the market. It is ours—born from the proprietary science that sits at the core of our identity. This is why thousands of mission-critical installations worldwide depend on us to keep turbines spinning, compressors running, and production systems online. We manage reliability at the chemical level. That is our differentiator. That is our advantage.

We Are the Brand the Industry Trusts

Three decades of innovation have earned something that cannot be purchased or outsourced: trust.

Across every continent, in every industry we serve, customers rely on our systems to safeguard uptime, reduce maintenance costs, and protect multi-million-dollar assets. Whether it is peak-demand season in power generation or continuous production requirements in oil and gas, our customers know that the lubricant chemistry in their systems is stable, predictable, reliable and managed.

Trust is the outcome of:

• Thousands of successful deployments
• > 200 million operating hours
• And decades of repeatable results

And it is built on one unwavering foundation: We do not follow reliability. We enable it through Lubricant Chemistry Management.

We Are Not Finished—We Are Building the Next Era

As we look toward the year ahead, our focus is clear.

We will continue to advance the impact of ICB filters, expand our alumni in lubricant chemistry management, and strengthen our global partnerships.

We will continue setting the standard for holistic lubricant chemistry management—with no compromise, no dilution, and no deviation from the science.  The future of reliability will be defined by chemistry. And our brand—our original, pioneering, proven brand—will lead that future.

To our customers, our partners, and our global team: thank you. Your trust fuels our innovation. Your challenges drive our breakthroughs. Your commitment to reliability keeps us focused on what matters most.

As we enter a new year, I reaffirm this with absolute clarity:

We ARE EPT Clean Oil™.
We ARE the creators of ICB® ion-exchange filters.
We ARE the leaders of lubricant chemistry management.
And we ARE just getting started.

Peter Dufresne

CEO
EPT Clean Oil™

How patented ICB® ion-exchange technology is changing the economics—and the science—of lubrication 

Every hour a gas turbine sits idle, money burns. 

Even the most advanced industrial turbines, with reliability rates exceeding 99%, still incur tens of hours of downtime each year due to oil-related issues. Those “fractional” reliability losses? They can quietly cost millions over the turbine’s lifetime. 

And at the root of many of these costly outages sits a microscopic culprit: varnish. 

The Science Behind the Problem 

Varnish isn’t sludge or dirt—it’s chemistry. 

When turbine oils oxidize under heat and stress, they produce reactive molecules that gradually polymerize into sticky, insoluble films. These deposits cling to valves, bearings, and control surfaces, causing sluggish response, blocked flow, and eventually, forced outages. 

Most operators fight varnish reactively. They flush systems, replace oil early, or add aftermarket chemicals (AMCs) once trouble appears. But these are bandages, not cures. The real issue is chemical saturation—once the oil is full of breakdown products, varnish formation is inevitable

The ICB® Ion-Exchange Breakthrough 

Here’s where the science gets fascinating. 

ICB ion-exchange filtration flips the whole problem on its head. Instead of filtering varnish after it forms, it prevents it from forming at all. 

The secret? ICB ion-exchange technology is intentionally designed to attract and capture polar degradation molecules before they can link up and solidify. By stripping these reactive compounds from oil in their earliest dissolved state, the system keeps the lubricant chemically managed and unsaturated. 

Think of it as giving your turbine oil a molecular-level detox—keeping its chemistry balanced, stable, and healthy for the long haul. 

This isn’t just filtration. It’s lubricant chemistry management—a proactive, science-based way to protect assets from the inside out. 

Why Doing Nothing Is the Most Expensive Option 

A recent analysis from EPT Clean Oil™ compared the lifetime costs of different varnish-removal strategies on a GE Frame 7F turbine. The results were striking: 

ICB ion-exchange filtration delivers the lowest lifetime cost and the highest reliability improvement by managing the oil’s chemistry, not just its cleanliness. 

By maintaining stable oil chemistry, ICB technology not only prevents varnish but also extends oil life, resulting in significant savings in both money and downtime. 

Why It Works 

Traditional filters treat the symptom—catching particles after they form. 

ICB technology treats the cause—removing the dissolved chemical precursors before they can ever become varnish. By maintaining the delicate chemical balance of the oil, ICB effectively halts the varnish cycle. 

It’s a small tweak in chemistry that delivers a massive shift in reliability. 

The Bigger Picture: Smart Chemistry for Critical Assets 

As energy producers chase efficiency and uptime, proactive maintenance isn’t optional—it’s essential. 

ICB represents the next leap in predictive maintenance. By managing lubricant chemistry rather than reacting to its failures, turbine operators can turn maintenance into a measurable performance advantage. The benefits extend beyond cost savings, aligning with broader industrial goals of sustainability and extended asset life. 

By managing lubricant chemistry in real time, operators can: 

• Reduce waste oil volumes and replacement frequency 

• Eliminate varnish-related valve sticking and shutdowns 

• Improve system thermal efficiency 

• Strengthen compliance with ESG and reliability metrics 

The future of reliability isn’t mechanical—it’s molecular. 

Final Thought 

Every drop of turbine oil holds a choice: let chemistry happen to you—or use chemistry to your advantage. 

Patented ICB ion-exchange technology turns your oil from a consumable into a controlled chemical system—one that manages its own health, protects assets, and redefines the economics of uptime. 

Because in the end, it’s not just about clean oil. 
It’s about lubricant chemistry management—and the reliability it unlocks. 

We are the Pioneers. We are EPT Clean Oil™. We are ICB®. 

Request the full white paper below — “The Relative Lifetime Costs and Savings Associated with Varnish-Removal and Mitigation Technologies” — to explore the data, science, and lifetime economics behind ICB ion-exchange filtration and lubricant chemistry management. 

Over the past few years, our distributor partner in Iraq, Premium Proactive Engineering (PPE), has made remarkable strides in the region, with a focus on Reliability and Condition Monitoring in Iraq. They are a team of highly capable and professional engineers, adding to our movement of Lubricant Chemistry Management alumni. 

ECR® Conditioning Skid

Application: Steam Turbine  

Location: Iraq  

Problem:  Within this steam turbine, three critical issues were affecting the reliability. First, the plant was experiencing frequent unit trips due to servo valve failures, primarily caused by varnish deposits on the valves. Second, the system consistently recorded high acid numbers, with a maximum of 2.7 mg KOH/mL, which put the equipment at significant risk and increased maintenance costs. And finally, third, phosphate ester oil, known for its fire-resistant properties, is both complicated to manage and very expensive. 

Solution: When EPT Clean Oil™ and our Fluid Technical Center team were consulted, the ECR® Conditioning Skid was recommended, our first-generation skid for electro-hydraulic control (EHC) applications, which has now evolved to our ECR 10000, offering comprehensive contamination removal targeting acid, varnish, demulsibility, resistivity and sub-micron contamination.

Results: Throughout the operation of our ECR Conditioning Skid, the acid number was closely monitored to ensure the oil remained within the specifications outlined in ASTM D8323 standards. Initially, the oil was already at a severe condemn level. However, after a period of operation with our ECR , we observed a significant 92% reduction in the acid number, which continues to improve. 

The oil costs have already been reduced by an impressive $750,000, and we anticipate maintaining these savings over the next 18 months. Achieving a 1,000% ROI within just one year demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach.  

While the case study above highlighted the successes of the ECR conditioning skid, we also want to emphasize this remarkable achievement PPE has made with the SVR 1200 and the patented ICB® Ion-Exchange technology. 

SVR® 1200

Application: Siemens steam turbine (SST-5000) 

Location: Iraq  

Problem: The system was experiencing extremely high particle contamination and poor water separation efficiency, which negatively impacted its overall performance. Left untreated, it would lead to inevitable downtime.  

Solution: The SVR® varnish removal system equipped with EPT Clean Oil’s patented ICB® ion-exchange filters was recommended to address these issues effectively. SVR offers a comprehensive solution for turbine lubricant recovery, removing varnish precursors and oxidation byproducts, restoring oil solvency, and preventing varnish formation. Using patented ICB technology,the SVR extends oil life and helps prevent varnish formation, thereby restoring oil health.

Think of the SVR as the frame, and the ICB filters as the engine; without the filters, the skid is just a shell, the innovation and technology are inside.  

Results: The system achieved a significant improvement, with particle count decreasing from 1700 particles per mL to just 100 particles per mL, while demulsibility was enhanced by an impressive 83%.  

Working alongside OMR Endüstriyel Ürünler San. Tic. Ltd. Şti. (OMR) in Turkey has provided a next-level experience over the past few years. They have broken records this year with the most ECR® sales, and we look forward to sharing those success stories as they unfold! Beyond sales milestones, their commitment truly stands out. Most recently, OMR achieved remarkable results with the SVR® 1200 and our patented ICB® ion-exchange technology.  

Application: Steam turbine 

Location: Turkey  

Problem: This steam turbine was experiencing high varnish levels and an increase in acid value. If left untreated, this varnish buildup and rising acid levels would have led to unplanned downtime and costly maintenance.  

If this turbine could talk, what would it say?  

Solution: OMR deployed an SVR 1200 and our patented ICB Filters, working together to target varnish and acid, restoring lubricant oil to specifications. The SVR 1200 works in partnership with the ICB Filters, but it’s the ICB filters that deliver the punch here. The SVR is designed to harness the full potential and technology of the ICB filters.  

Results: Over the course of one year, the system successfully restored 110 tons of oil and improved turbine reliability. Based on these results, the customer has now permanently installed SVR and ICB technology on both turbines. Our team supported their experienced field crew during installation to ensure a seamless integration. This decision highlights the long-term value of viewing lubricating oil not as a consumable but as a vital asset that requires protection. 

Our partners in Argentina, Altpros S.A., have played a key role in advancing Lubricant Chemistry Management. Following the successful installation in some of the world’s largest power plants, their latest work with the SVR® varnish removal unit underscores their ongoing commitment to excellence. We’re excited to showcase their continued success as it develops. 

Application: Steam Turbine 

Location: Argentina 

Problem: Silent but deadly, when an ACE™ assessment was conducted, it became clear that varnish accumulation had built up on the turbine’s mechanical components, presenting a high risk of unplanned shutdowns, costly downtime, and production losses. 

Solution: We recommended the SVR 1200 backed by patented ICB® ion exchange technology, along with ongoing support from the Fluid Technical Center, to proactively manage the varnish issue. The partnership of the SVR 1200 with ICB Filters delivers exceptional performance and holistic Lubricant Chemistry Management.

Results: Within three months, the MPC varnish potential was reduced to very low levels, leading to stabilized oil conditions and a significant improvement in turbine reliability. 

Preventive and corrective interventions extended the useful life of their critical asset, reducing failure risks and optimizing operating costs. This demonstrates the value of combining SVR and ICB technology with continuous monitoring. 

Partnering with Long Win Thai over the years has been an incredible journey. Their dedication to supporting our mission in Asia has been unwavering, and their achievements speak volumes. Most recently, Long Win Thai achieved outstanding results with the SVR® and our patented ICB® ion-exchange filters, setting new standards in reliability and performance. We’re excited to continue showcasing their success stories. 

Application: Gas Turbine 

Location: Thailand  

Problem: The MPC varnish potential was between 10 and 15, indicating a moderate varnish potential level, while the particle count reached NAS 12, which signifies high contamination. Conventional filtration was unable to address the varnish contamination. 

Solution: With the assistance of the Fluid Technical Center at EPT Clean Oil™, an ACE™ Oil Assessment was conducted to identify the source of contamination, during which varnish was identified as the primary issue. The varnish present could not be removed using standard filters. To address this, we deployed SVR with ICB filters specifically designed to target varnish removal and restore the oil quality. When combined with the ICB technology, the SVR acts as the catalyst. The ICB filters deliver the core performance, and the SVR optimizes their capabilities for maximum efficiency. 

Results: Within one month, the particle count decreased from NAS 12 to NAS 7. After three months, it further dropped to NAS 5, with the MPC declining to 6.2. Additionally, SVR treatment was confirmed to be compatible with the oil additive package and water separation properties, validating the SVR’s ability to remove both soluble and insoluble varnish. The customer approved the purchase of two additional SVR units for ongoing operation. This ensures the long-term reliability of the critical turbine.  

Our partners at Eastern Resources have been making remarkable strides with the SVR® varnish removal system and our patented ICB® ion-exchange technology. Their deep local expertise and dedication have driven measurable improvements in oil reliability, demonstrating the real impact of SVR and ICB technology in one of the region’s most critical industrial hubs, Saudi Arabia. We look forward to sharing more of their success stories as they continue to unfold. 

Application: Gas Turbine 

Location: Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia 

Problem: EPT Clean Oils’ Fluid Technical Center identified, through oil analysis, high MPC values (13.7) in the turbine lubricant, indicating significant varnish potential and risk to turbine reliability. 

Solution: Eastern Resources deployed an SVR 600, with our patented ICB Filters to reduce varnish levels and restore oil quality. With the backing of the Fluid Technical Center, the team at Eastern Resources was able to showcase what potential results could look like. Paired with ICB Filters, the SVR 600 functions as the enabler. While the ICB Filters provide the essential impact, the SVR ensures its advanced technology operates at peak performance.

While claiming a filter is just a filter may be simpler, it doesn’t hold up against our patented ICB ion-exchange filter. With thousands of installations worldwide and proven contaminant removal results, ICB combines top-tier chemistry and materials to provide the most durable filter available since 1992. Click the link to see firsthand, “it’s what’s in the can that counts” when it comes to filtration!  

Results: Following implementation, the MPC value was reduced from 13.7 to 3.0, and the initiative was so successful that Eastern Resources secured another order for two SVR 600 units. The SVR 600 and ICB filters serve as an effective varnish mitigation solution, enabling extended oil life and improved turbine reliability. 

Burt Browning, Lead Mechanical & Civil Engineer at Duke Energy Corporation, played a pivotal role in the successful deployment of the ECR® 12000 at a critical nuclear power generation plant. Since being put into service in January 2024, the results have been nothing short of remarkable. Just eight weeks after installation, the unit’s performance exceeded expectations, demonstrating the substantial impact of this technology.

Problem: The EHC fluid within the turbine control system exhibited contamination; however, all standard oil tests indicated results categorized as “good,” which proved to be misleading. The underlying issue was the presence of varnish formation and varnish precursors in the fluid, leading to the sticking of the quadvoter. This matter is particularly serious, as a malfunction of the quadvoter may result in a turbine trip, which could subsequently lead to a trip of the nuclear reactor, thereby creating significant operational and safety concerns.

The team encountered difficulties as standard testing methods failed to identify the root cause of the issue, resulting in the plant’s inability to pass critical operational tests related to the turbine controls. Given the pressing need to find a resolution due to the elevated risks to plant reliability and safety, prompt action was essential to effectively address these challenges.

Solution: Burt discovered EPT Clean Oil by researching white papers published in collaboration with EPRI. This research led to the implementation of a solution that significantly improved the oil system’s reliability.

Results: Over the course of 8 weeks, significant results were achieved, including a 99% reduction in varnish levels, an 82% reduction in varnish precursors (phenols), and a 93% reduction in patch weight contamination. Additionally, moisture and resistivity were brought back into specification, and the turbine controls stabilized, eliminating the sticking quadvoter issue.