Shell Chemicals' alpha olefins capacity expansion at Geismar, Louisiana, remains on track for startup by end-2018, the company said Monday.
Construction of a 425,000 mt/year line at the site is ongoing, along with a completion of a cooling tower and two new storage areas, one for rail and one for the alpha olefins unit's high-purity butenem, Shell said in a statement.
The site already has three alpha olefins units, with ethylene feedstock supply coming from Shell's Norco, Louisiana, and Deer Park, Texas, sites.
Upon completion of the line, the new capacity will bring the total alpha olefins production at Geismar to more than 1.3 million mt/year, making the site the largest alpha olefins producer in the world, Shell said.
Shell began construction in January 2016, after making a final investment decision in November 2015.
A Shell spokesman Monday declined disclose financial details, citing company policy.
Alpha olefins are typically used in a variety of household consumer products like polyethylene plastics for packaging and bottles, as well as engine and industrial oils and drilling fluids.
Additionally, Shell said it was proceeding with plans to expand mid-cut and light-cut alcohol capacity at the Geismar site.
The project meets growing demand for surfactant and plasticizer alcohols, the company said. Alcohols can also be dehydrated to make linear alpha olefins.
Shell plans to begin production of incremental alcohols around the same time as the new linear alpha olefin unit.
