Bechtel-Linde Consortium to Build Large-Scale Ethylene Plant at Baytown Complex

HOUSTON, June 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Bechtel and Linde have been awarded a contract to design and build an ethylene plant in Texas for ExxonMobil. The plant will be built just east of Houston at the ExxonMobil Baytown Complex, one of the largest and most technologically advanced petroleum and petrochemical complexes in the world. At a capacity of 1.55 million tons of ethylene per year, the new facility will be one of the world's largest ethylene plants. Construction will begin immediately, with design and procurement of key equipment already under way.

"This is an important project that will create thousands of jobs during construction and hundreds of permanent jobs during operations," said Brendan Bechtel, president of Bechtel's Oil, Gas & Chemicals business unit. "In addition, our program will include extensive training for personnel building the plant and operating new equipment. We look forward to working with Linde to safely deliver this world-class ethylene facility to ExxonMobil."

"This project marks a major step for Linde Engineering in the North American market," said Dr Samir Serhan, managing director of the Linde Engineering Division. "Along with a proven track record of successfully executing large EPC projects together in the past, the combination of Linde's leading ethylene technology and Bechtel's extensive construction experience provides a world-class team to deliver a safe and reliable ethylene plant to ExxonMobil."

Linde is responsible for engineering, procurement and services during pre-commissioning and commissioning of the new facility. Bechtel is responsible for the construction of the facility and related procurement.

In 2011, Bechtel and Linde formed an alliance focused on providing North American customers a competitive design-and-build approach to ethylene cracker facilities. The alliance builds on the companies' previous work together building a world-scale petrochemicals complex in the United Arab Emirates, successfully completed on schedule in 2002.

Bechtel has been executing complex petrochemical projects for more than 60 years, using traditional feedstock processes as well as nontraditional processes for producing chemicals from natural gas and coal. Signature Bechtel-built petrochemical projects include Borouge Petrochemical Complex in Abu Dhabi, CSPC Nanhai in China, and LP-7 in Canada.

Since building the world's first olefin plant over 80 years ago, Linde has continued to incorporate the latest improvements and innovations into the design of each new plant. More than 40 large-scale ethylene plants based on liquid and/or gaseous feedstock with an aggregate capacity of more than 18 million tons of ethylene have been built with Linde technology.

About Bechtel:

Bechtel is among the most respected engineering, project management, and construction companies in the world. We stand apart for our ability to get the job done right—no matter how big, how complex, or how remote. Bechtel operates through five global business units that specialize in civil infrastructure; power generation, communications, and transmission; mining and metals; oil, gas, and chemicals; and government services. Since its founding in 1898, Bechtel has worked on more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents. Today, our 53,000 employees team with customers, partners, and suppliers on diverse projects in nearly 40 countries. www.bechtel.com

About Linde:

In the 2013 financial year, The Linde Group generated revenue of EUR 16.655 bn, making it the largest gases and engineering company in the world with approximately 63,500 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

For more information, see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com

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SOURCE Bechtel