A new unit at ExxonMobil’s integrated facility at Beaumont in Texas has commenced operations, increasing ultra-low sulfur fuels production by 45,000 barrels per day.
Image: ExxonMobil opens new ultra-low sulfur fuels unit at Texas facility. Photo courtesy of James Knight/Freeimages.com
The new unit uses a catalyst system developed by ExxonMobil to remove sulfur and meet US Environmental Protection Agency specifications, while minimizing octane loss.
This is the second major investment by ExxonMobil in the Beaumont facility in less than two years and it has supported more than 800 construction jobs.
In 2016, the company increased the capacity of a crude unit by 20,000 barrels per day and added the flexibility to process light crudes.
Both projects are part of ExxonMobil’s ‘Growing the Gulf’ initiative.
ExxonMobil fuels and lubricants president Bryan Milton said: “Our latest investment in Beaumont will produce cleaner, higher-value products using unique and efficient proprietary catalysts and processes.
“The new unit at Beaumont will further enhance our competitiveness and strengthen ExxonMobil’s position as a leader among Gulf Coast refiners.”
The company has taken up expansion of its polyethylene manufacturing capacity by 650,000 tons per year by 2019. It is going ahead with front-end engineering, design and other preparatory work to increase the refinery’s crude refining capacity.
Subject to a final investment decision, construction of the new crude unit is scheduled to begin in 2019. The unit is expected commence operations by 2022.
The Beaumont facility also has advantages in terms of logistics due to its proximity to nearby terminals, railways, pipelines and waterways.
The facility is also expected to benefit from the growth in Permian production. Over 2,000 employees support its refining and chemical manufacturing operations.
Ample availability of domestically produced oil and natural gas has reduced energy costs and created new sources of feedstock for US refining and chemical manufacturing.
ExxonMobil is one of the largest refiners and marketers of petroleum products. Its chemical company is also one of the largest in the world.
Earlier this month, ExxonMobil signed an agreement with the Government of Guangdong to build a chemical complex in the Huizhou Dayawan Petrochemical Industrial Park.