Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP successfully introduces feedstock and commences operations of a new ethane cracker at its Cedar Bayou facility in Baytown, Texas. At peak production, the unit will reportedly produce 1.5 million metric tons/3.3 billion pounds per year. In September 2017, the company announced the successful commissioning and start-up of two new Marlex polyethylene units in Old Ocean, Texas. Together, these assets form the bulk of the company's U.S. Gulf Coast Petrochemicals Project (USGCPP), which was first announced in 2011.
Ethylene produced by the new ethane cracker at Cedar Bayou will be used to meet the needs of the company's derivative units, including the units at Old Ocean, Texas, which are capable of producing products ranging from metallocene linear low-density polyethylene to Advanced Dual Loop bimodal polyethylene resins. These resins are turned into consumer and industrial products such as plastic films for food safety and preservation; and polyethylene pipe for water distribution and natural gas transport. In addition, the ethylene will feed the company's AlphaPlus normal alpha olefins plants, which are used extensively for polyethylene comonomers, plasticizers, synthetic motor oils, lubricants, automotive additives, surfactants, paper sizing and in other specialty applications.
At peak construction, the USGCPP employed approximately 10,000 construction workers, according to Chevron Phillips. Combined, it has reportedly generated 400 additional permanent jobs.
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