CNOOC, Shell JV starts production at 2nd ethylene cracker

The new derivative units were constructed by CNOOC, the largest offshore oil and gas producer in China, and are owned and operated by the existing CNOOC and Shell Petrochemical Company (CSPC) joint venture.

With the commencement of production at the new ethylene cracker, ethylene capacity at the complex has increased by around 1.2 million tonnes per year. Thus, more than doubling the capacity of the complex. The new facility will also include a styrene monomer and propylene oxide (SMPO) plant, which will be the largest in China when it begins operations.

The new complex utilises Shell’s proprietary OMEGA, SMPO and polyols technologies to produce ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, propylene oxide and high-quality polyols, as well as advanced technologies for polyolefins, phenol and oxo-alcohols production. It is the first time that Shell’s industry-leading OMEGA and advanced polyols technologies have been applied in China.

“The start-up of the new ethylene cracker and derivatives units is a significant milestone for Shell,” Graham van’t Hoff, executive vice president for Royal Dutch Shell plc’s global Chemicals business, said. “I would like to thank our partner CNOOC for its excellent project delivery. As the largest single-site ethylene complex in China, CSPC is key to Shell Chemicals’ growth ambitions.”

He Zhongwen, chairman and president of CNOOC Oil & Petrochemicals Co. Ltd, said: “The expansion project demonstrates great synergies between CNOOC’s engineering, construction and management capabilities, and Shell’s advanced technologies in chemicals. It has been recognised by the government as a role model for major industrial projects in China. This shows what we can achieve through effective international partnerships. We can now produce more and better chemical products for the growing domestic market.” (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India