GE Oil and Gas is set to supply three compression trains for a new, large-scale ethylene cracker plant in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia, which will have a capacity of 1.165 million tons per year when it enters commercial service in 2011 for Saudi Chevron Phillips Company.
The new GE-supplied compression trains will consist of cracked gas, propylene refrigerant and binary refrigerant compressors.
Saudi Chevron Phillips’ existing petrochemical complex in Al-Jubail includes an ethylbenzene unit, cyclohexane and a single-train styrene unit. Included in the current complex expansion are polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene units.
“GE is honoured to be supporting Saudi Chevron Phillips on this project as we expand our equipment installation in Saudi Arabia,” said Mohammad Ayoub, operations leader and region general manager – Middle East for GE oil and gas. “The utilisation of our steam turbine and centrifugal compressor technology will enable the new ethylene plant to handle all process requirements,” he added.
“This project is a milestone for GE on several levels: it reinforces our position in supplying large compressor trains, it signals our continued development of mechanical drive steam turbines and it underlines our increasing commitment to the downstream segment, in particular ethylene. The project also builds on our 35 years of experience in Saudi Arabia,” said Ayoub.
The compressor trains for the Saudi Chevron Phillips project, are being manufactured by GE oil and gas at its facilities in Florence and Massa, Italy. The equipment is scheduled for delivery to the plant site between April and June 2009.
