Petrochemicals
OCI plans to build largest US methanol plant
With a daily capacity of 5,000 tons, the Beaumont plant will be the first methanol facility of this scale in the US and will be the country’s largest based on its nameplate capacity.
Chevron Phillips enlists Yokogawa to automate new Texas cracker, PE plants
As the main automation contractor, Yokogawa will supply the control systems, safety systems, remote instrument enclosures, and the analyzer shelters and analytical systems. The control system platform will be based on Yokogawa’s CENTUM® VP integrated production control system.
Enterprise starts up new NGL fractionator in Texas
The new unit, which has the capability to fractionate up to 85,000 bpd of NGL, increases total NGL fractionation capacity at Enterprise’s Mont Belvieu facility in Texas to approximately 655,000 bpd.
GE to provide technologies in Egypt for greenfield petrochemicals project
GE and Carbon Holdings signed a $500 million agreement to provide technology and equity support to Tahrir Petrochemicals' greenfield naphtha cracker and olefins complex project in Ain Sokhna, Egypt.
Brazil’s Odebrecht mulls new ethane cracker, PE complex in West Virginia
The complex, named the Ascent — Appalachian Shale Cracker Enterprise, would include the ethane cracker, three polyethylene plants, and infrastructure for water treatment and energy co-generation.
Sinopec to upgrade two China petrochemical plants with Honeywell automation
Honeywell's Profit Suite R400 process optimization software will be deployed at two ethylene-cracking facilities, helping to improve plant performance by increasing energy efficiency, improving flexibility of its operations, and maximizing the plants' overall yield of high-value products.
Shell nears agreement with Iraq to build $11-billion petrochemicals complex
The plan to move forward on a petrochemical plant follows a meeting in Baghdad between Shell CEO Peter Voser and Iraqi Prime Minster Nouri al-Maliki. The Iraq government said after the meeting that it will soon sign a "heads of agreement", in which both sides will commit to early planning for the project.
Honeywell taps Jacobs as project manager for new chemicals site in China
Jacobs is providing services such as basic and detailed design, permitting, project controls, quality, HSE management, procurement, and construction management services, with the option to provide commissioning as required. The plant should start up in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Johnson Matthey expands Macedonia plant for emission control catalysts
The new plant will provide Johnson Matthey with additional capacity for catalysts to meet the increase in demand from the introduction of tighter EU emissions legislation coming into effect from January 2014.
BP touts new technologies for ethanol-to-ethylene, syngas-to-acetic acid
SaaBre’s breakthrough technology is a process for the conversion of synthesis gas―carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen derived from hydrocarbons such as natural gas―directly to acetic acid in a proprietary, integrated three-step process that avoids the need to purify CO or purchase methanol.
- BASF’s Intermediates division produces entire portfolio of acid chlorides and chloroformates at its Ludwigshafen site using renewable electricity credits 3/23
- LG Chem shuts down 800,000-tpy Yeosu naphtha cracker 3/23
- French Energy Ministry considers increasing oil refining capacity 3/23
- Schneider Electric global study shows energy industry ramping up investment in autonomous operations by 2030 as AI reshapes performance 3/23
- Middle East shock gives Dangote refinery leverage as cheap imports dry up 3/23
- HWI officially opens state-of-the-art Fulton (U.S.) lightweight monolithics facility 3/23

