Saudi Cracker Contract Goes to McDermott

Saudi Cracker Contract Goes to McDermott
The Amiral plant reportedly will be one of the world's largest mixed-feed crackers.

Saudi Aramco and Total S.A. unit Total Raffinage Chimie have awarded McDermott International, Inc. a contract for what will be one of the world’s largest mixed-feed crackers, McDermott reported Tuesday.

Under the contract, McDermott will provide licenses, a basic engineering package, extended basic engineering, training and technical services and supply proprietary equipment for the Amiral complex, the contract recipient noted. McDermott added that its Lummus Technology unit will provide licensing and engineering services for its:

  • olefins technology
  • low pressure recovery (refinery off-gas recovery and treating)
  • pygas hydrotreating
  • “CDMtbe” methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) production technology using catalytic distillation
  • “CDIB” MTBE back cracking technology to produce high-purity isobutylene and methanol
  • BASF NMP N-methylpyrrolidone-based butadiene extraction process.

McDermott added that Lummus will provide proprietary “Short Residence Time (SRT)” heaters. As a January 2019 Bloomberg article posted to Rigzone notes, the $5 billion Amiral petrochemicals project will be developed in Jubail in eastern Saudi Arabia near Aramco and Total’s existing Satorp refinery.

“Lummus has a reputation for innovation and reliability in the market, and this award strengthens our industry-leading ethylene position by taking on the role of master licensor for multiple licensed units,” Leon de Bruyn, McDermott’s senior vice president for technology, stated. “This award is also a testament of our long-standing relationship with Aramco and Total and our commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

McDermott’s senior vice president for the Middle East and North Africa, Linh Austin, noted the contract also demonstrates the company’s ability to support Saudi Arabia’s goal of increasing petrochemical output.

“This award sets the foundation for Saudi Aramco and Total to deliver a world-scale integrated refinery and petroleum complex,” said Austin.

McDermott did not specify the contract amount but called it “large,” translating into a value ranging from US$50 million to US$250 million.

To contact the author, mveazey@rigzone.com.



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