Yokogawa wins order for one of the world’s largest methanol plants

Yokogawa Electric Corporation has announced its subsidiary, Yokogawa Corporation of America, has received an order from Orascom E&C USA to deliver control and safety systems for the Natgasoline LLC methanol plant. Currently under construction in Beaumont, Texas, this facility will have a capacity of approximately 1.75 million tpy when it starts production in 2017, making it one of the world’s largest methanol plants. Based on nameplate capacity, it will be the largest methanol plant in the US.

For the process control and safety of the Lurgi MegaMethanol(R) process technology and auxiliary facilities throughout this plant, Yokogawa will deliver the CENTUM(R) VP integrated production control system, ProSafe(R)-RS safety instrumented system, Exaquantum(TM) plant information management system, and Plant Resource Manager (PRM(R)) software package. Yokogawa Corporation of America will be responsible for the engineering and delivery of these systems, and will provide support with installation and commissioning. The delivery of all systems will be completed by August 2016.

Yokogawa won this order because of its excellent track record in completing projects and demonstrated ability to deliver comprehensive, integrated solutions that help optimise operations.

"Yokogawa entered the US market in 1957 and we have grown our business across diverse markets, but have had particular success in oil and gas refining and offshore production, LNG liquefaction and chemical manufacturing. We are proud to win the first order for a new US grass roots methanol plant that exceeds 1 million metric tpy. This project allows us to build on our already extensive track record in executing and maintaining methanol production in North America", says Daniel Duncan, President and CEO of Yokogawa Corporation of America.

Though the chemical industry in the US has long relied on imported methanol, the amount of methanol produced in the US is steadily increasing due to the ready availability of ethane produced from domestically sourced shale gas. Leveraging its project experience, Yokogawa will capitalise on this opportunity to expand its control business in North America and other key markets.

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/petrochemicals/13112015/yokogawa-wins-order-for-one-of-the-worlds-largest-methanol-plants-1737/