Shell petrochemicals project progressing

The early works programme is in preparation for the start of main site construction in late 2017, with commercial production set to begin early next decade.

“This project is a great investment for a key part of the USA,” said Graham van’t Hoff, Executive Vice President for Royal Dutch Shell plc’s global Chemicals business. “Our site preparation and detailed design and engineering work has been progressing safely, efficiently and to the highest standards of engineering.”

The site preparation programme includes the removal of pre-existing foundations and associated environmental remediation work. It also included the installation of steel pilings for the foundations of several permanent structures. The latest site work has been the laying of concrete to complete the foundations, which started in March 2017.

Shell has finished the relocation of an existing state highway and made improvements to interchanges. The improvements will benefit motorists in the area and help accommodate trucks working on the main construction phase.

The company has also completed two large river docks to receive equipment during construction. This will allow for large items of equipment to arrive by barge, helping to reduce road traffic.

The petrochemicals complex will use ethane from shale gas producers in the Marcellus and Utica basins to produce 1.6 million tpy of polyethylene.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/petrochemicals/12042017/shell-petrochemicals-project-progressing/