ExxonMobil embarks on expansion at Baytown refining & petrochemical complex

ExxonMobil Chemical Company has started construction of a multi-billion dollar ethane cracker at its Baytown, Texas, complex and associated premium product facilities in nearby Mont Belvieu. This project, and major investments ExxonMobil has made to develop oil and natural gas resources in the United States, including the merger with XTO Energy, demonstrates the company’s continuing commitment to American economic growth and job creation. The steam cracker will have a capacity of up to 1.5 mln tpa and provide ethylene feedstock for downstream chemical processing, including processing at two new 650,000 tpa high performance polyethylene lines at the company’s Mont Belvieu plant. “The project is made possible in large part by abundant, affordable supplies of U.S. natural gas for energy and chemical feedstock,” said Steve Pryor, president of ExxonMobil Chemical Company. The chemical industry and other industrial sectors account for nearly 30 percent of U.S. natural gas demand. “Shale development has provided U.S. chemical producers a double benefit as an energy source and as a key raw material to make plastics and other essential products, creating jobs and economic activity across the value chain.” Contracts have been awarded for construction, which will begin immediately. Contracts have been awarded to Linde Engineering North America, Inc. and Bechtel Oil, Gas, and Chemicals, Inc. to build olefins recovery units at the ExxonMobil Baytown Olefins Plant. Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co, Ltd. and Huertey Petrochem S.A. will construct the new olefins furnaces. At the Mont Belvieu Plastics Plant, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will construct two 650,000 tpa high-performance polyethylene lines. Jacobs Engineering, Ltd. will oversee enabling works and interconnections at both locations. Dashiell Corporation and Wood Group Mustang will provide specialty contracting services. The expansion, coupled with ExxonMobil’s global sales and technology support network, enables ExxonMobil Chemical to economically supply a rapidly growing demand for high-value polyethylene products. These premium products deliver sustainability benefits such as lighter packaging weight, lower energy consumption, and reduced emissions. ExxonMobil Chemical estimates exports could increase significantly as a result of the expansion. Production of these high-quality petrochemical products used in a wide range of consumer and industrial applications is expected to start in 2017. “This expansion will provide many great opportunities for workers with technical skills who are interested in energy and chemical manufacturing. These are high-paying jobs that lead to fulfilling and rewarding careers in an industry that’s vital to the American economy,” Pryor said.