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Geismar Olefins Facility | GEISMAR, LA Olefins Facility Factsheet (May 2018)

Originally commissioned in 1967, the Geismar Olefins Facility has operated continuously for nearly six decades as a major merchant ethylene cracker. The facility underwent significant expansion and modernization efforts in the 2000s-2010s, with particular investments in capacity enhancement and emissions reduction technologies. The facility sits on a 900-acre (364-hectare) site with approximately 525 acres of undeveloped land available for future expansion, providing significant growth potential for downstream petrochemical investments.

Production Capacity

• Ethylene: 1.95 billion pounds (885,000 tonnes) per year​
• Polymer Grade Propylene: 114 million pounds (52,000 tonnes/year)
• Crude Butadiene: 13 million gallons (49,000 tonnes/year)
• Debutanized Aromatic Concentrate (DAC): 14 million gallons (53,000 tonnes/year)
• Other co-products: Hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and specialty chemicals

Feedstock Infrastructure

The Geismar facility utilizes ethane and propane feedstock sourced from U.S. Gulf Coast natural gas liquids production via an extensive pipeline network spanning approximately 200 miles:

• Ethane and propane from natural gas processing plants throughout the Gulf Coast region
• Shale gas derivatives from Marcellus, Utica, and Permian Basin developments
• Flexible feedstock capability allowing propane, butane, and mixed feedstock operation based on market economics

Product Distribution

• Pipeline delivery to major petrochemical customers throughout the U.S. Gulf Coast and beyond
• Barge transport via proximity to the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico
• Rail loading facilities for additional distribution flexibility
• NOVA Ethylene Hub (Mont Belvieu, Texas) — the primary transaction point for ethylene trading in the U.S. Gulf Coast, acquired by NOVA as part of the 2017 Williams transaction