Takreer’s new propane dehydrogenation unit to use UOP's C3 Oleflex technology for propylene production

05-Jul-11

UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, has been selected by the Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Co. (Takreer) to provide key technology for a new petrochemical production unit in the United Arab Emirates. . UOP will provide engineering design, technology licensing, catalysts, adsorbents and equipment for the project, which is expected to start up by the end of 2013. The new propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit will use UOP's C3 Oleflex technology to convert propane to propylene and will have an annual capacity to produce 500,000 tons of propylene "This is the world's first PDH unit to be implemented within a refinery, a significant milestone that indicates refineries are moving toward production of higher-value petrochemical products to achieve the most value from their operations," said Pete Piotrowski, senior vice president and general manager for UOP's process technology and equipment business unit. "UOP has a successful history with Takreer, and we are pleased to embark on this new venture together." The UOP Oleflex process uses catalytic dehydrogenation to convert propane to propylene. Compared to competing PDH processes, Oleflex provides the lowest cash cost of production and the highest return on investment, enabled by low operating and capital costs, high propylene yield and reliability, and maximum operating flexibility. Since the technology was commercialized in 1990, UOP has commissioned nine C3 Oleflex units for on-purpose propylene production.