Air Products secures hydrogen deal with ExxonMobil

Air Products has announced a long term supply contract and plans to construct a new world scale hydrogen production plant to serve ExxonMobil’s (Esso) Rotterdam refinery in the Netherlands and additional customers in the region. The facility, which will be connected to Air Products’ extensive Rotterdam hydrogen pipeline network system, is expected to be on stream in second half of 2011.

This project enhances Air Products’ existing operations and pipeline network system in the Netherlands, where the company has a number of hydrogen facilities in the Rotterdam region supplying the refining and chemical industries.

Cutting edge technology

The new hydrogen facility will use cutting edge processes and technology to maximise energy efficiency and significantly reduce overall plant emissions. An enhanced plant design will be employed, which targets minimal loss of heat to the environment and a reduced natural gas requirement.

The Rotterdam project builds on two previous announcements in the past year involving Air Products and ExxonMobil in the US.  Air Products is building a new world scale hydrogen production facility that will supply ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge, Louisiana facility, and also announced a hydrogen pipeline supply agreement from Air Products’ Gulf Coast network to ExxonMobil’s Baytown, Texas refinery. Both projects are to come onstream in 2010.

Global alliance

Air Products’ hydrogen facility in Rotterdam will be built through the global alliance between Air Products and Technip. Technip provides the design and construction expertise for steam reformers while Air Products provides the gas separation technology. Air Products, through its extensive operating network, and Technip, from its large reference base, also bring effective operational and engineering knowledge to ‘design in’ high reliability and efficiency. The plants are operated and maintained by Air Products under long term agreements with customers. 

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/13112009/air_products_secures_hydrogen_deal_with_exxonmobil/