Business Details
29 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Process Engineering Solutions
As a leading engineering firm, we specialize in maximizing productivity for petroleum refineries, chemical processing, and renewable energy facilities through innovative process design and optimization. With over 24 years of experience, our team of expert chemical engineers delivers tailored solutions that uncover opportunities worth millions. Our core values of focus, access, experience, teamwork, and continuous improvement drive our approach to every project. We prioritize client success by identifying missed opportunities in existing assets and implementing cost-effective strategies. Our holistic methodology integrates multi-discipline expertise to minimize project costs while ensuring operational efficiency.Headquartered in Houston, Texas, we serve clients nationwide with a proven track record in refinery retrofits and renewable energy transitions. Our commitment to doing what is best for the client has earned us long-term partnerships and industry recognition. We focus on front-end process development, enabling seamless execution by larger contractors without costly engineering rework. Our engineers combine decades of experience with cutting-edge innovations to deliver solutions that enhance output and profitability without capital investments. This client-centric philosophy has made us a trusted partner for complex process engineering challenges across the hydrocarbon and renewable processing industries.
Services
Process Design Packages
Refinery Optimization
Hydroprocessing
Renewable Energy Solutions
FCCU Optimization
Vacuum Tower Modifications
Hydrocracker Revamps
Tier 3 Compliance
Distillate Production
Plant Debottlenecking
Details
- Year established: 1997
Highlights and features
- We offer 24+ years of specialized experience in hydrocarbon and renewable processing engineering
- Our team combines multi-discipline expertise to minimize project costs and maximize efficiency
- We implement integrated problem-solving approaches that control costs and ensure quality
- Proven success in government regulation modifications and refinery efficiency improvements
- Our right-sized teams deliver expert process engineering without corporate overhead
What people say
Timely and technically excellent
Innovative solutions
Key in the growth
Responsive and collaborative
Proven track record
Services
Process Design Packages
We develop comprehensive process design packages for refinery modifications and renewable energy projects. Our detailed engineering solutions optimize existing assets while ensuring seamless implementation. With expertise in hydrocarbon processing and alternative energy systems, we deliver designs that maximize productivity and profitability without requiring major capital investments.
Refinery Optimization
Our refinery optimization services identify untapped potential in existing facilities through holistic system analysis. We specialize in increasing distillate production, reducing operating costs, and improving compliance with environmental regulations. Our engineers implement innovative solutions that enhance throughput and product quality while minimizing capital expenditures.
Hydroprocessing Solutions
We provide expert hydroprocessing solutions for sulfur removal, product quality improvement, and feedstock flexibility. Our services cover hydrotreating, hydrocracking, and hydroisomerization applications. We specialize in optimizing reactor performance and catalyst utilization to meet stringent product specifications while maintaining operational efficiency.
Renewable Energy Integration
Our renewable energy integration services help clients transition to sustainable fuel production. We offer process design and optimization for renewable diesel production, biomass conversion, and green hydrogen systems. Our expertise includes retrofitting existing refineries for biofeedstock processing and maximizing yields of renewable transportation fuels.
FCCU Optimization
We specialize in FCCU optimization to improve gasoline quality and meet environmental regulations. Our services include feed hydrotreater modifications, product recovery enhancements, and sulfur reduction strategies. We deliver solutions that increase unit efficiency while maintaining compliance with Tier 3 gasoline standards and other regulatory requirements.
People
Joe Musumeci
President
Founder of Ascent Engineering in 1997 with over 25 years of experience in process design for refining and chemical industries. Recognized for developing innovative solutions that maximize client value through front-end engineering expertise.
Gregory Cantley
Refining Process Engineering Manager
Marathon Petroleum Company representative who has collaborated with Ascent on multiple process design packages. Recognizes their creative and cost-effective engineering solutions that deliver measurable operational improvements in refinery processes.
Scott M Sayles
Consultant
Anya Process Consulting Group representative who has worked with Ascent Engineering for technical evaluations and design implementations. Acknowledges their ability to deliver timely, technically excellent engineering solutions that achieve project objectives.
Craig Busbea
Engineer
Ergon representative with 20+ years of experience collaborating with Ascent Engineering. Recognized for their responsive approach and innovative solutions that consider complete process lifecycle requirements from construction to maintenance.
Questions
What industries does Ascent Engineering specialize in?
We specialize in petroleum refining, chemical processing, and renewable energy sectors with expertise in process design and optimization.
How does Ascent approach refinery optimization projects?
We use a holistic approach analyzing entire systems to identify efficiency improvements while focusing on maximizing existing asset value.
Can Ascent help with Tier 3 gasoline compliance?
Yes, we've successfully implemented solutions for FCCU optimization and sulfur reduction to meet 10 ppm gasoline standards.
What makes Ascent different from other engineering firms?
Our focus on front-end process development with small, highly skilled teams delivers cost-effective solutions without corporate overhead.
