Chemical Processing is No.1 in Jefferson County, Texas

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Jefferson County, Texas, can boast of more than $5.1 billion in projects that are either finishing up or starting construction in second-half 2017, with the Chemical Processing Industry taking the lion's share of those investments. As such, Jefferson County falls only behind Harris County in the value of project kickoffs and completions in the Lone Star State during this period.

Industrial Info is tracking 22 projects in Jefferson County that will either kick off construction or see completion during this period. About $4.4 billion in project activity is tied to chemical industry investments.

Second-Half Project Completions
Starting with the most expensive endeavor, OCI Beaumont LLC (Nederland, Texas) is constructing a $2.2 billion methanol unit addition at its methanol and ammonia plant in Nederland, located on the Neches River south of Beaumont. Construction began in October 2014. Phase I of the multi-phase expansion involves installation of a 1.75 million-metric-ton-per-year (5,500 ton-per-day) methanol unit, utilizing Lurgi MegaMethanol process technology. Natgasoline (Nederland, Texas), a joint venture of OCI NV and G2X Energy Incorporated (Houston, Texas), with Orascom E&C (Beaumont, Texas), is the project manager. The project is expected to be completed at the end of June. OCI Beaumont LLC is owned by OCI Partners LP (NYSE:OCIP), which is sponsored by OCI N.V. (Amsterdam, The Netherlands). For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

BASF Total Petrochemical LLC (Port Arthur, Texas), with WorleyParsons Group Incorporated, is performing civil construction on the $130 million indirect alkylation unit revamp and optimization in Port Arthur at its petrochemicals plant. The project involves revamping and optimizing the process to produce approximately 662 million pounds per year of chlorinated diisobutene (also called chlorinated diisobutylene). The alkylate produced is a fuel additive, marketed as Sabinate, used for blending high-octane gasoline. Construction kicked off in October 2015, and completion is expected by the end of June. For more information, see project report.

Second-Half 2017 Construction Starts
Total Petrochemical & Refining USA Incorporated, a subsidiary of Total SA (NYSE:TOT) (Courbevoie, France), tops the list with its $1.6 billion grassroot ethane cracker (ISBL) in Port Arthur. The facility would produce about 1 million metric tons per year of ethylene. The project includes installation of six short residence time (SRT-III) pyrolysis furnaces, a conversion furnace and recovery system technology. As the majority owner, Total will evaluate preliminary joint venture partner agreements with NOVA Chemicals (Calgary, Canada) and Borealis (Vienna, Austria). Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. (NYSE:CBI) (The Hague, Netherlands) would provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services. The project is expected to kick off in June and to be completed in October 2020. For more information, see project report.

In addition, Total SA is engaged in a $130 million Port Arthur grassroot ethane cracker outside battery limits (OSBL) utilities project in Port Arthur. Total SA will construct and tie in outside battery limits (OSBL) options supporting the aforementioned ethane cracker project, including the supply of one or more plant utilities, including steam, electricity, air and/or wastewater treatment services, with options involving host sites receiving the output/waste streams. The project is expected to kick off in June, with completion in June 2020. For more information, see project report.

The Alternative Fuel Industry comes in a distant second to the Chemical Processing Industry in Jefferson County. Alternative fuel projects include Emerald Biofuels LLC's (Chicago, Illinois) $315 million grassroot renewable diesel plant refinery in Port Arthur. Located on a 15-acre site with pre-existing infrastructure, the project will consist of a production building, with a processing reactor and supporting equipment, to produce 82 million gallons per year of green diesel transportation fuel and 13 million gallons per year of refined co-products from 100 million tons per year of natural oils, waste grease and animal fats. The project is expected to kick off in September, with completion by the end of March 2018. For more info, see project report.

OCI Beaumont, with Orascom E&C, is performing project justification for $375 million methanol plant OSBL expansions, including a wastewater treatment plant and oil tanks, as well as a new ammonia loop in the existing plant. The project is expected to be completed in the end of November 2018. For more info, see project report.

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. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.