Air Products starts up Port Arthur hydrogen plant

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Jan. 2 -- Air Products & Chemicals Inc. has brought on stream a second hydrogen production facility at Port Arthur, Tex.

The facility supplies high-purity hydrogen to Valero Energy Corp.'s 250,000 b/cd Port Arthur refinery and other Gulf Coast refiners. It is part of Air Products' Gulf Coast hydrogen pipeline network, which has a capacity of more than 900 MMscfd, following the recent completion of several projects. Jeffry L. Byrne, Air Products' vice-president and general manager for tonnage gases, said the company plans to add additional capacity to the network as needed.

Air Products also plans in 2008 to bring on stream a second hydrogen facility at Edmonton, Alta. This facility will be the first commercial plant in Canada to provide hydrogen for upgrading Canadian oil sands.

Hydrogen facilities assist in the production of cleaner transportation fuels. In 2006 Air Products increased hydrogen production capacity by more than 450 MMscfd.