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JV explores opportunities in Oman
Filtration Industry Analyst
BF GOODRICH INVESTS IN BELGIUM
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BF Goodrich Performance Materials is to invest US$5 m i l l i o n in a c a p a c i t y exp a n s i o n at its plant in Antwerp, Belgium, for the p r o d u c t i o n of C a r b o p o l ® p o l y m e r s and P e m u l e n ® polymeric emulsifiers. Carbopol ® polymers and Pemulen® polymeric emulsifiers are used as thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers in a wide range of personal care, household, textile, industrial and coatings applications and are also used as excipients in pharmaceuticals. BF Goodrich built the plant in Antwerp in 1995, to meet increasing demand for Carbopol ® polymers, particularly in Europe. The plant recently was awarded ISO 9002 certification for the production of Carbopol ® polymers. The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 1998.
BASF INCREASES AROMATIC ALDEHYDES CAPACITY By January 1999, BASF will double the total capacity for aromatic aldehydes to more than 4500 metric tons annually at its Ludwigshafen site, through a series of process engineering measures and c o n s i s t e n t use of existing plant expansion possibilities. This will make the Ludwigshafen production plant the world's largest facility for the electro-chemical production of aldehydes, such as p-tolylaldehyde or anisaldehyde. The capacity for p-tolylaldehyde alone will more than double to about 1000 metric tons annually. This will allow BASF to meet the worldwide demand for p-tolylaldehyde.
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December 1998
Aromatic aldehydes are: immediately on the CHP promanufactured by electro- ject, with commissioning due chemical oxidation, one of in 2000. Completion of the KG BASF's core technologies. expansion, the second since This synthesis route is particu- the plant came on stream in larly eco-compatible. In addi- 1993, will coincide with the tion, products synthesised by availability of new feedstocks this process have a high degree from the Central Graben Area of purity. of the North Sea from around p-Tolylaldehade is used as 2000. The ethanol plant conan intermediate in the produc- struction will begin immedition of nucleation agents for ately for completion in 2001. transparent polypropylene, The new developments at pigments, UV adsorbers and Hull include a 250 000 tonnes fragrances. Anisaldehyde is per a n n u m vinyl acetate also used in UV adsorber pro- monomer (VAM) plant and a duction, as well as in dilti- 220 000 tonnes per annum azem, a pharmaceutical active ethyl acetate plant which will substance, and in fragrance be built together to maximise and flavour compositions. synergies and reduce costs. The VAM plant, to be completed by the end of 2000, will BP UNVEILS UK be based on a new BP propriCHEMICALS etary technology, which offers BLUEPRINT the potential to more than BP has announced £500 mil- double the capacity of a single lion worth of new investment reactor, compared with conventional technology. BP's in chemicals manufacturing in the UK, as part of a pro- investment in VAM at Hull gramme to boost the compet- will coincide with the end of a toll manufacturing agreement i t i v e n e s s of its E u r o p e a n with E n i c h e m of Italy for chemicals business. New plants will be built at VAM p r o d u c t i o n at Porto BP,sites in Grangemouth, Marghera, near Venice, when the existing contract expires Scotland and Hull, North-East England. An existing ethylene in 2000. In addition, the 115 pipeline from Grangemouth to 000 tonnes per annum VAM Teesside will be extended to plant at BP's Baglan Bay site Hull and ethylene manufactur- in South Wales will close ing at Grangemouth will be when BP is in a position to stepped up to more than 1 mil- assure uninterrupted supply to lion tonnes. The investment, to customers. be completed by 2002, will enable both the Hull and Grangemouth sites to benefit from close integration with North Sea feedstocks, highly productive new technologies and low-cost on-site power generation, taking them firmly into the top rank of chemicals manufacturing locations in Europe. The new developments at Grangemouth include a combined heat and power (CHP) project, a 270 000 tonnes per annum expansion of the KG ethylene cracker and a new 110 000 tonnes per annum ethanol plant. Work will begin
JV EXPLORES OPPORTUNITIES IN OMAN S u b s i d i a r i e s of A m o c o , Occidental Petroleum, and Neste are to establish a joint venture to explore for, develop and produce natural gas r e s e r v e s in the north of Oman. The partners plan to conduct a joint programme to define known gas reserves and explore for additional gas reserves in a common area of
interest, consisting of Blocks 9, 15, 27, 31 and 44. The natural gas production is targeted for markets in northern Oman, and the northern United Arab Emirates (UAE), through the large natural gas supply hub located in Sharjah. Amoco Oman Gas BV will have a 60 per cent interest in the j o i n t venture with Occidental of Oman and Neste (E&P) BV holding 26 per cent and 14 per cent respectively. Occidental will lead initial gas reserve definition and exploration efforts and operations are expected to commence this year. Amoco will lead infrastructure development and gas marketing activities. The joint venture is subject to final approvals and the companies hope to sign final agreements by the end of 1998. Plans include development well drilling and construction of a gas collection system and processing plant in northern Oman, as well as gas transmission lines to Sohar in northern Oman and the Amoco-operated Sharjah gas hub in the northern UAE.
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EXXON AND FOSTER WHEELER IN LTA DEAL Foster Wheeler International Corporation (FWIC) has strengthened its close relationship with Exxon companies, by signing a Long-Term Agreement (LTA). Set to run for up to five years, the LTA gives Exxon's European subsidiaries access to all of Foster W h e e l e r ' s European offices for front-end loading, design, engineering, procurement and construction management services. FWIC has had a successful working relationship with Exxon for many years and has
BF GOODRICH INVESTS IN BELGIUM
O'3
k-, L)
O'3
©
<
BF Goodrich Performance Materials is to invest US$5 m i l l i o n in a c a p a c i t y exp a n s i o n at its plant in Antwerp, Belgium, for the p r o d u c t i o n of C a r b o p o l ® p o l y m e r s and P e m u l e n ® polymeric emulsifiers. Carbopol ® polymers and Pemulen® polymeric emulsifiers are used as thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers in a wide range of personal care, household, textile, industrial and coatings applications and are also used as excipients in pharmaceuticals. BF Goodrich built the plant in Antwerp in 1995, to meet increasing demand for Carbopol ® polymers, particularly in Europe. The plant recently was awarded ISO 9002 certification for the production of Carbopol ® polymers. The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 1998.
BASF INCREASES AROMATIC ALDEHYDES CAPACITY By January 1999, BASF will double the total capacity for aromatic aldehydes to more than 4500 metric tons annually at its Ludwigshafen site, through a series of process engineering measures and c o n s i s t e n t use of existing plant expansion possibilities. This will make the Ludwigshafen production plant the world's largest facility for the electro-chemical production of aldehydes, such as p-tolylaldehyde or anisaldehyde. The capacity for p-tolylaldehyde alone will more than double to about 1000 metric tons annually. This will allow BASF to meet the worldwide demand for p-tolylaldehyde.
II
December 1998
Aromatic aldehydes are: immediately on the CHP promanufactured by electro- ject, with commissioning due chemical oxidation, one of in 2000. Completion of the KG BASF's core technologies. expansion, the second since This synthesis route is particu- the plant came on stream in larly eco-compatible. In addi- 1993, will coincide with the tion, products synthesised by availability of new feedstocks this process have a high degree from the Central Graben Area of purity. of the North Sea from around p-Tolylaldehade is used as 2000. The ethanol plant conan intermediate in the produc- struction will begin immedition of nucleation agents for ately for completion in 2001. transparent polypropylene, The new developments at pigments, UV adsorbers and Hull include a 250 000 tonnes fragrances. Anisaldehyde is per a n n u m vinyl acetate also used in UV adsorber pro- monomer (VAM) plant and a duction, as well as in dilti- 220 000 tonnes per annum azem, a pharmaceutical active ethyl acetate plant which will substance, and in fragrance be built together to maximise and flavour compositions. synergies and reduce costs. The VAM plant, to be completed by the end of 2000, will BP UNVEILS UK be based on a new BP propriCHEMICALS etary technology, which offers BLUEPRINT the potential to more than BP has announced £500 mil- double the capacity of a single lion worth of new investment reactor, compared with conventional technology. BP's in chemicals manufacturing in the UK, as part of a pro- investment in VAM at Hull gramme to boost the compet- will coincide with the end of a toll manufacturing agreement i t i v e n e s s of its E u r o p e a n with E n i c h e m of Italy for chemicals business. New plants will be built at VAM p r o d u c t i o n at Porto BP,sites in Grangemouth, Marghera, near Venice, when the existing contract expires Scotland and Hull, North-East England. An existing ethylene in 2000. In addition, the 115 pipeline from Grangemouth to 000 tonnes per annum VAM Teesside will be extended to plant at BP's Baglan Bay site Hull and ethylene manufactur- in South Wales will close ing at Grangemouth will be when BP is in a position to stepped up to more than 1 mil- assure uninterrupted supply to lion tonnes. The investment, to customers. be completed by 2002, will enable both the Hull and Grangemouth sites to benefit from close integration with North Sea feedstocks, highly productive new technologies and low-cost on-site power generation, taking them firmly into the top rank of chemicals manufacturing locations in Europe. The new developments at Grangemouth include a combined heat and power (CHP) project, a 270 000 tonnes per annum expansion of the KG ethylene cracker and a new 110 000 tonnes per annum ethanol plant. Work will begin
JV EXPLORES OPPORTUNITIES IN OMAN S u b s i d i a r i e s of A m o c o , Occidental Petroleum, and Neste are to establish a joint venture to explore for, develop and produce natural gas r e s e r v e s in the north of Oman. The partners plan to conduct a joint programme to define known gas reserves and explore for additional gas reserves in a common area of
interest, consisting of Blocks 9, 15, 27, 31 and 44. The natural gas production is targeted for markets in northern Oman, and the northern United Arab Emirates (UAE), through the large natural gas supply hub located in Sharjah. Amoco Oman Gas BV will have a 60 per cent interest in the j o i n t venture with Occidental of Oman and Neste (E&P) BV holding 26 per cent and 14 per cent respectively. Occidental will lead initial gas reserve definition and exploration efforts and operations are expected to commence this year. Amoco will lead infrastructure development and gas marketing activities. The joint venture is subject to final approvals and the companies hope to sign final agreements by the end of 1998. Plans include development well drilling and construction of a gas collection system and processing plant in northern Oman, as well as gas transmission lines to Sohar in northern Oman and the Amoco-operated Sharjah gas hub in the northern UAE.
I'i'71' R( )('tlE~II('.XI~S
EXXON AND FOSTER WHEELER IN LTA DEAL Foster Wheeler International Corporation (FWIC) has strengthened its close relationship with Exxon companies, by signing a Long-Term Agreement (LTA). Set to run for up to five years, the LTA gives Exxon's European subsidiaries access to all of Foster W h e e l e r ' s European offices for front-end loading, design, engineering, procurement and construction management services. FWIC has had a successful working relationship with Exxon for many years and has