Communicator

A detailed description of Project ONE is now provided, which includes details about location,  logistics and mobility. ethane cracker technology, and utilities.
 

#co2emissions #emissions  #carbonfootprint  #sustainability  #ethane  #gascracker  #technip  #ineos  #antwerp  #belgium  #pipeline 

ExxonMobil's ethylene plant n°3 in Baytown, Texas (Credit: ExxonMobil)

February 7, 2025 | Point Comfort, Texas, USA (ExxonMobil Corp.)

ExxonMobil is evaluating the construction of an $8.6 billion polyethylene plant in Point Comfort, Texas, as part of its global growth strategy. The proposed facility, which would include a large-scale ethane cracker, aims to produce ethylene and polyethylene—key components in plastic manufacturing.

The project is under review following Exxon's application for tax abatements under Texas' Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act (JETI). If approved, construction could begin as early as 2026, with operations expected to start in 2031.

The plant would generate approximately 600 permanent and contract jobs and employ over 3,000 workers during peak construction. Exxon projects the facility will contribute $3.6 billion annually to the state's economy once fully operational.

Exxon is also considering alternative locations for the project in the Middle East, Asia, and other parts of North America. The final decision will depend on market conditions and governmental support in competing regions.

#exxonmobil  #polyethylene  #ethylene  #steamcracker  #texas  #usgc  #gulfcoast  #ethanecracker  #gascracker 

SP Chemical completed the first gas-based cracker in Taixing, China, in 2019, producing 780,000 tpa ethylene and 150,000 tpa propylene.

February 7, 2025 | SINGAPORE (Reuters)

Despite growing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, China's ethane imports from the United States are expected to rise significantly in 2025 as petrochemical producers seek cheaper feedstock alternatives. Major Chinese companies are investing over $16 billion in infrastructure improvements to accommodate this growth.

Industry analysts forecast China's ethane imports to reach between 6.3 million and 8.2 million metric tons in 2025, representing an increase of 9% to 34%. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects its net ethane exports to rise 6% to 520,000 barrels per day, with China expected to absorb most of this increase.

However, two main factors currently constrain this trade growth: limited U.S. export capacity and a shortage of specialized tankers. To address these limitations, U.S. pipeline operators Energy Transfer and Enterprise Products Partners are expanding their terminal capacities.

China has also demonstrated its commitment to increasing ethane imports by reducing its import tariff to 1% in 2025, down from 2% in 2024. Enterprise CEO Jim Teague remains optimistic about the trade relationship, noting that Chinese dependence on imported propane and ethane should protect this segment from broader trade tensions.

#ethane  #china  #imports  #usa  #feedstock  #refining  #refinery  #steamcracking  #gascracker  #propane  #ethyleneplant 

Ethanethiol (Ethane mercaptan), commonly found in LDG and liquid fuel fractions, has been added.
 

#mercaptan #ethanethiol  #ethylmercaptan  

Liquid mercaptans added (thiols) as commonly found in liquid fuels, have been added.


#mercaptan  #liquidmercaptan  #ethanethiol  #sulfurcompounds 

On Oct 1st, 2024, Technip Energies announced that the Long Son Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. (LSP) olefins plant in Long Son Island, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province,  Vietnam, passed its final performance acceptance test.

Technip Energies provided licensing, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, start-up and initial operation for the 1,350,000 tonnes/year cracker. As Vietnam’s first olefins plant, the flexible feed cracker, can utilize both naphtha and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) feeds to produce ethylene, propylene, and butadiene.

The plant successfully started up end 2023 to reach its full capacity shortly after the start-up and pass its first performance test in February 2024. The plant, which broke ground end 2018, includes Technip Energies’ licensed ethylene technology, including Ultra Selective Conversion (USC®) furnaces preferred for high selectivity and low cost, and the Heat-Integrated Rectifier System®, preferred for energy efficient ethylene recovery.

However, Listed Siam Cement Group (SCG), Thailand's largest cement maker and industrial conglomerate, has suspended operations at its Long Son Petrochemicals (LSP) complex in order to cope with high production costs and the impact of a downturn in the global petrochemical market.

The suspension, slated to last for at least six months, began in mid-October, only roughly two weeks after LSP commenced commercial operations on Sept 30, with a production capacity of 74,000 tonnes.

A resumption of operations will mainly depend on the spread, according to SCG.

The petrochemical complex uses naphtha, which is a product of fossil fuels, as a key raw material to produce high density polyethylene (HDPE), but the prices of naphtha are expensive.

"The spread between naphtha and HDPE prices is US$300 per tonne because of a slowdown in the global petrochemical market," said Sakchai Patiparnpreechavud, chief executive and president of SCG Chemicals. "If the spread increases to $400 per tonne, we will consider resuming operations at LSP."

The suspension does not mean SCG Chemicals will stop investing in this petrochemical complex, he said.

SCG Chemicals plans to upgrade LSP, enabling it to use ethane, a colourless, odourless, gaseous hydrocarbon, as a raw material because it is cheaper than naphtha.

Mr Sakchai said the company will spend $700 million on the new investment, especially to build an ethane storage facility.

#technip  #scg  #siamcementgroup  #longson  #naphtha  #lpg  #steamcracker  #ethylene  #propylene  #butadiene  #olefins  #hdpe  #ethane  #storagefacility 

Ethane and propane imports added, more production capacities added as well.

#steamcracker  #pdh  #ethane  #propane  #pdh  #ethylene  #propylene 

Crude ethylene, a technical grade of ethylene with above 40% by weight of ethylene, has been added.

#ethylene  #impurities  #methane  #ethane  #carbonmonoxide  #propene  #propylene  #nitrogen 

The site has one ethane cracker and its mass balance has been determined.

#steamcracking  #ethane  #ethylene  #dow  #nova