Oil Patch Bits: Fluor awarded Texas contract for LyondellBasell

Fluor Corp. said Oct. 9 that it was selected by LyondellBasell to perform the engineering and procurement for its propylene oxide and tertiary butyl alcohol project located at its Channelview and Bayport complexes outside of Houston. Fluor booked the undisclosed contract value into backlog in the third quarter of 2017.

The project represents the single-largest capital investment in LyondellBasell’s history. When completed, the plant will produce 1 billion pounds per year of propylene oxide and 2.2 billion pounds per year of tertiary butyl alcohol. At the peak of construction, the project is expected to create up to 2,500 jobs and approximately 160 permanent positions when operational.

Propylene oxide is a building block of many everyday products, including bedding, furniture, carpeting, coatings, building materials and adhesives. The tertiary butyl alcohol will be converted to fuel additives that help gasoline burn cleaner and reduce automobile emissions.

“This facility is a strategic part of LyondellBasell’s organic growth plans and we are pleased to continue our partnership on this project,” said Mark Fields, president of Fluor’s energy and chemicals business in the Americas.

LyondellBasell is one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world and has world-leading propylene oxide and tertiary butyl alcohol technology. Fluor has participated in the project since the commencement of front-end engineering and design in 2015. Project completion is expected in 2021.

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