By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, July 17 -- Texas Petrochemicals LP, Houston, said it has completed modifications to its butadiene extraction systems that have boosted production capacity by 33% to 1.2 billion lb/year.
It did not reveal the cost of the modifications.
TPC, which specializes in C4 hydrocarbons, claimed the increase made its Houston plant the largest extraction plant in the world. It said it could further increase capacity of the existing system, though it has 500 million lb of idle extraction capacity available.
TPC said it plans to continue its measured butadiene production growth, timed to coincide with the growth in market demand.
"The recent conversion of our existing assets is distinctly aligned with the growth of demand from our butadiene customers," said Pres. and CEO Bill Waycaster. "Most of the increase in capacity is needed to satisfy new contractual commitments to existing and new customers. We have balanced this increase in sales with increases in commitments for new feedstock supply from our crude butadiene suppliers."
