Petrobras to use gas from the pre-salt fields in new Comperj petrochemical complex

14-Apr-11

Petrobras will use natural gas from the pre-salt fields as fuel and feedstock in the new petrochemical complex in Rio de Janeiro (Comperj), which is being built in Itaboraí. The first refinery is expected to go into operation in late 2013. The petrochemical plant should start operating between late 2016 and early 2017 in collaboration with Braskem. According to Petrobras' Downstream Director, Paulo Roberto Costa, the gas will be taken, probably by sub-sea pipelines (about 250 to 300 km long) to Comperj. Another possibility to bring the gas to Comperj is the use of gas vessels to liquefy natural gas in the sea and transport it to a regasification terminal on land. About 15 mln cubic meters of natural gas daily from pre-salt as a feedstock in Comperj petrochemical plant, where will be transformed into products such as propylene, butadiene,benzene, polyethylene and polypropylene. The remaining gas will be used as fuel in the Petrochemical Complex, which will also include two refineries.