TPC Group to restart Texas dehydrogenation unit
TPC Group says it has received the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) air permit necessary for the planned refurbishment, upgrade to air emission controls, and restart of one of its idle dehydrogenation units in Houston.
Construction of the required new components for the system, along with refurbishment of the existing unit, began promptly following receipt of the permit, the company said.
TPC has also completed the primary phase of engineering on the project that commenced in January of this year, and its board of directors has approved moving forward with the next phase of engineering, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2011, officials said.
The isobutylene produced from this dehydrogenation unit will provide an additional strategic source of feedstock for rapidly growing fuel products and performance products businesses, which include polyisobutylene, high purity isobutylene, and diisobutylene, the company said.
TPC Group estimates the project will produce approximately 650 million pounds/year of isobutylene per year from isobutane, a natural gas liquids feedstock whose production volumes continue to increase as a result of US shale gas development, allowing TPC to evaluate a variety of sourcing options.
Current plans forecast the dehydrogenation unit to be operational in the first quarter of 2014.
"With our air permit now in hand and construction underway, we are very encouraged and excited to move forward on the next phase of our engineering," said vice president of strategic initiatives Michael Bloesch.
"TPC Group continues to focus on the growth opportunities that result from having unique, strategically located petrochemical production assets and favorable long term market fundamentals," said CEO Mike McDonnell.
TPC Group owns two independent, world-scale dehydrogenation units with technology that allows the production of a single, targeted olefin from a natural gas liquids feedstock, compared to steam cracking technology which generates a wide range of various olefins.
The isobutylene project addressed in the announcement utilizes one of these units, while the company is currently exploring opportunities surrounding the second dehydrogenation unit, it said.
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