Technip will provide its technology and expertise to two U.S. ethane cracker facilities under new contracts announced by the Paris-based company this week.
In West Virginia, Technip has entered into an agreement to supply its proprietary ethylene technology and process design package for an ethane cracker at the proposed ASCENT (Appalachian Shale Cracker Enterprise) petrochemical complex in Parkersburg which is currently being evaluated by Odebrecht and Braskem.
This cracker would convert ethane from shale gas into ethylene for use in polyethylene plants.
"As the largest ethylene licensor and contractor, Technip looks forward to bringing its experience to this important project in the Appalachian region," commented Stan Knez, senior vice president of Technip Stone & Webster Process Technology.
And in Louisiana, Sasol has awarded Technip a contract to provide engineering and procurement for eight proprietary Ultra Selective Conversion (USC) furnaces for an ethane cracker and derivatives complex to be located in Lake Charles.
In the last 10 years, Technip's USC coil technology has been installed in 60 furnaces, providing high-capacity, low-cost liquid and gas cracking capabilities.
The new contract comes after Sasol's selection of Technip's proprietary ethylene technology and front-end engineering design for the cracker, which will produce an estimated 1.5 million tons per annum of ethylene.
Knez also noted that Technip, along with Fluor, had been selected to provide engineering, procurement and construction management for the cracker and derivatives complex.
