Chevron Phillips adding furnace at Sweeny

June 3, 2013
Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP will add a furnace at its Sweeny petrochemical complex in Old Ocean, Tex., that will expand ethylene production by 200 million lb/year.

Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP will add a furnace at its Sweeny petrochemical complex in Old Ocean, Tex., that will expand ethylene production by 200 million lb/year.

The new furnace will not add to nameplate capacity of the facility, the company said, explaining, “the increased operating factor should result in net increase of 200 million lb of ethylene availability to provide additional operation flexibility and reliability.”

The Sweeny complex can produce about 4.1 billion lb/year of ethylene.

Construction of the furnace is to begin next quarter. Start-up is expected in 2014.

Chevron Phillips proposes to build two polyethylene plants at Old Ocean with capacities of 1.1 billion lb/year each (OGJ Online, May 2, 2012).