Motiva lets Port Arthur refinery expansion EPC

Dec. 4, 2006
Motiva Enterprises LLC, Houston, plans to move forward with the final design and engineering phase of a proposed 325,000 b/d expansion of its 285,000 b/cd refinery in Port Arthur, Tex.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 4 -- Motiva Enterprises LLC, Houston, plans to move forward with the final design and engineering phase of a proposed 325,000 b/d expansion of its 285,000 b/cd refinery in Port Arthur, Tex.

It has selected Bechtel Jacobs Joint Venture as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor, and it recently secured the operating air permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

The company will use advanced technology in all new system installations and will replace existing systems to lower emissions from refinery operations on a per-barrel basis.

Motiva and Dresser-Rand Co. have been in negotiations on contracts for Dresser-Rand to supply compression equipment and start-up services. The planned project would make the refinery the largest in the US, with throughput capacity of 600,000 b/d (OGJ Online, June 19, 2006).

Motiva could make a final investment decision by around midyear 2007. Construction is scheduled to start next year, subject to final approvals, and new production capacity is expected to come online in 2010 (OGJ Online, May 8, 2006).