Petrochemical Construction Drives $5 Billion Project Spending for Harris County, Texas

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Driven by strong petrochemical plant construction activity along the Houston Ship Channel, industrial firms are planning more than $5 billion in project spending in Harris County, Texas. Currently, 144 projects are planned to begin construction over the next 2-3 years in the county. Holding true to its oil and gas roots, about 60% of the future project spending in Harris County will be for downstream oil and gas industry projects, including refining and petrochemical expansions.

Click on the image at right to view a chart showing the breakdown of future project spending in Harris County.

The Petroleum Refining Industry accounts for about 31% of the planned project spending mainly for refinery expansions and coker additions. Right now, there is a nationwide trend for increased development of coker unit additions as more refiners add sour crude oil processing capability. For details on the coker trend, see related November 1, 2007, article - Capital Spending on Refinery Coker Projects Jumps Nearly Six-Fold in 2007. For example, Pasadena Refining System Incorporated is planning a $350 million delayed coker unit addition at its refinery in Pasadena, Texas, as part of a $1 billion expansion.

After Petroleum Refining, the Chemical Processing Industry garners the most activity with 57 planned projects totaling more than $1.2 billion. Industrial Manufacturing is third with 14 projects totaling more than $1 billion. This includes some large-scale infrastructure projects, including light rails that are planned for the long-term.

In addition to the planned work, there is approximately $870 million worth of industrial projects under construction in Harris County, including a $100 million chlorine unit expansion for Bayer Corporation in Baytown, Texas.

View Project Report - 01011067 01010863

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