U.S. Energy Companies Prepare for $1.2 Billion in Fourth-Quarter 2015 Refining Project Kickoffs

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The U.S. could see construction starts for as many as 51 refining-related projects in fourth-quarter 2015, with a combined worth of $1.21 billion. Twenty of the active projects being tracked by Industrial Info involve refinery turnarounds.

With projects worth a combined $533 million, Texas, not too surprisingly, is the top state for refining-related kickoffs in terms of value, followed by California with $134 million, and Montana with $130 million.

Cheniere Energy Incorporated's (NYSE:LNG) (Houston, Texas) proposed condensate processing facility in San Patricio County, Texas, has a total investment value of $500 million. As originally conceived, the facility would have a 200,000-barrel-per-day (BBL/d) throughput capacity, including a 60,000-BBL/d stabilization capacity. Condensate, an ultra-light crude that is allowed to be exported, would be piped to a planned terminal near Corpus Christi, Texas. The project could see completion as early as first-quarter 2017. For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.

In Montana, Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) (Houston, Texas) is preparing to replace a vacuum unit at its 65,000-BBL/d refinery in Billings, at an estimated cost of $110 million. Phillips 66 plans to replace the existing 25,000-BBL/d unit with a new 35,000-BBL/d unit to recover a larger proportion of gasoline and diesel products. Engineering firm Burns & McDonnell Incorporated (Kansas City, Missouri) is serving on the project, which could see completion in second-quarter 2017. For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.

In Pennsylvania, American Refining Group Incorporated (Bradford, Pennsylvania) expects to build a lube-oil hydrotreater addition at its Bradford refinery. American Refining plans to spend $60 million on the 3,350-BBL/d unit. For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.

Other refining-related projects with fourth-quarter kickoffs include:

• $45 Million: Suncor Energy Incorporated's Commerce City Denver Selenium, Mercury & Arsenic Removal Unit Additions in Commerce City, Colorado
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $40 Million: Alon USA Incorporated's Krotz Springs FCCU Upgrade in Krotz Springs, Louisiana
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $35 Million: Valero Energy Corporation's Wilmington Refinery Cogeneration Addition in Wilmington, California
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $30 Million: Evanston Energy Group LLC's Crude Oil Refinery in Evanston, Wyoming
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $25 million: WRB Refining LP's Gasoline Hydrotreater Tier 3 Upgrade at Wood River Refinery in Roxana, Illinois
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $22 million: Antelope Refining LLC's Douglas Refinery Diesel Hydrotreater Unit Addition in Douglas, Wyoming
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.
• $15 million: Alon USA's Krotz Springs Refinery Crude Unit Upgrade in Krotz Springs, Louisiana
  For details on this construction project, see Industrial Info's project report.

Industrial Info is tracking fourth-quarter kickoffs for 40 U.S. refining projects, worth $451 million, which are in the engineering and early construction phases. Another 11 projects, worth $760 million, are in the planning phases, where a variety of factors could alter their outcome.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.