MTBE KEY TO TOTAL'S GLOBAL OCTANE CAMPAIGN

Total has marked more progress on efforts to expand its worldwide octane producing capability. The company has found a partner, as yet undisclosed, needed for its proposed acquisition of Texas Olefins, the world's second largest producer of methyl tertiary butyl ether (OGJ, Nov. 25, Newsletter). Jean-Claude Vettier, Total's deputy director general of refining, said the deal would be completed at the beginning of 1992. He also outlined progress on Total's global MTBE campaign at the

Dec. 16, 1991

2 min read

Total has marked more progress on efforts to expand its worldwide octane producing capability.

The company has found a partner, as yet undisclosed, needed for its proposed acquisition of Texas Olefins, the world's second largest producer of methyl tertiary butyl ether (OGJ, Nov. 25, Newsletter).

Jean-Claude Vettier, Total's deputy director general of refining, said the deal would be completed at the beginning of 1992. He also outlined progress on Total's global MTBE campaign at the dedication of Total's 10,660 b/d isomerization plant at the Gonfreville refinery in Normandy, France.

Acquiring Texas Olefins is part of the group's strategy to develop octane boosters for unleaded gasoline, Vettier noted.

Besides isomerization and alkylation units, the group is pursuing a global MTBE development campaign.

The U.S. market is central to the strategy, making Texas Olefins a perfect fit with Total's own activities.

In the U.S., he added, Total also is mulling installation of deep or semideep conversion units at either one or all four of its refineries to meet the 0.05% limit specified for diesel sulfur content under the Clean Air Act.

GLOBAL MTBE PUSH

Before the end of December, Total will have decided whether to produce 40,000-50,000 tons/year of MTBE at Gonfreville.

In Algeria the decision to go ahead with the 600,000 ton/year MTBE plant at Arzew in partnership with Italy's Ecofuel and Algeria's Sonatrach, will be examined at the end of March with completion of a feasibility study.

In China, Total has a 20% stake in West Pacific Petrochemical Co., where a 40,000 ton/year MTBE unit is planned for 1994 at an existing refinery.

And in Qatar, Total has a 12% stake with larger lifting rights, to the 600,000 ton/year MTBE unit due on stream about 1994.

Since 1987, Total has held a 50% stake in a 100,000 ton/year MTBE plant at the Lindsey refinery on the east coast of England.

If all the new projects come to fruition in April or May of next year, Vettier said, Total would have completed, for the time being, its MTBE development strategy.