US naphtha cracking capacity to surge by 2017

22 Jun '12

2 min read

Many new naphtha cracking projects as well as expansion and plant modification plans have been announced by various companies in the US.

ExxonMobil Chemical, Dow Chemical, Shell, Chevron Phillips Chemical and Formosa Plastics are among the companies that have announced setting up of new naphtha cracking projects.

Announcements related to expansions or plant modifications in order to increase ethylene capacity have been made by INEOS, LyondellBasell, Williams, Westlake and Nova.

Briefing about these projects to fibre2fashion, Mr. Raul Arias, Senior Consultant and Manager at Nexant, a top energy solutions company, said, “ExxonMobil Chemical is setting up 1.5 MMT naphtha cracker and 1.3 MMT of PE, which the company plans to make operational by 2016. Dow Chemical expects to make its new naphtha cracker in the US functional by 2017.”

“Chevron Phillips Chemical is developing a 1,500 KTA naphtha cracker at its Cedar Bayou, TX site and two 500 KTA PE units. Formosa Plastics is developing a new 800 KTA naphtha cracker at its TX site with 300 KTA LDPE and 600 KTA PDH units. Shell is developing a world-scale greenfield naphtha cracker/derivatives complex in Pennsylvania,” he adds.

Giving information about the expansion plans of various companies, he says, “LyondellBasell is increasing ethane capability by 227 KTA and expanding TX cracker by 386 KTA. INEOS is expanding ethylene capacity at its Texas plant by 115 KTA by 2013. Westlake is debottlenecking its crackers in LA by 227 KTA by 2014.”

There are also a few companies that are considering some kind of investment in naphtha cracking projects in the US. “Braskem is considering greenfield cracker and PE in the US. Sasol is studying world-scale greenfield cracker/derivatives complex in LA. Similarly, Indorama Ventures (IVL) is also considering setting up a world-scale cracker,” Mr. Arias reveals.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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