BAYTOWN, TX — The Baytown chemical expansion project will include a linear alpha olefins (LAO) unit and a solution polymer unit (SPU). The LAO unit will have an estimated production capacity of around 350,000 tons a year. The SPU will produce around 400,000 metric tons of polymers each year, including Vistamaxx performance polymers.

Worley has completed the engineering and procurement phases of the offsite expansion project and will now deliver construction outside the battery limits for the new units. This construction comprises all the interconnecting process and utility streams piping, tie-ins, equipment, and the electrical and instrumentation connections required to integrate the new units into the existing complex. The LAO and SPU units are expected to start up in 2023.

“We look forward to constructing this specialty chemicals project on the U.S. Gulf Coast for ExxonMobil,” said Brad Van de Veen, President Americas Field Services at Worley. “Having executed the engineering and procurement for the project, it means a lot to us to carry that through to the construction phase — a full EPC execution.”

It has been said, the 100-year-old Baytown complex is the largest integrated petrochemical complex in the U.S., It spans about 3,400 acres along the Houston Ship Channel and includes a refinery, chemical plant, olefins plant, plastics manufacturing, and a global technology center.