Shell Chemicals announced the successful first turnaround at the CSPCL - "Nanhai" petrochemicals joint venture complex in Guangdong, China. Nanhai is a joint venture with China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC). The turnaround was completed while simultaneously carrying out the debottlenecking of an ethylene cracker and process units. Both were finished ahead of time and within budget.



Debottlenecking the ethylene cracker, ethylene oxide/ethylene glycols, and styrene monomer/propylene oxide process units will improve the site\'s competiveness by increasing capacity and reducing unit costs. After the debottlenecking, the annual ethylene capacity went from 800 kilotonnes per annum to 950 ktpa, with total petrochemical production capacity at the plant increasing from 2.3 million tonnes to 2.7 million tonnes.

"Executing a turnaround and simultaneous debottlenecking project on thisscale, within budget and on time is impressive and highlights the robust working partnership between Shell and CNOOC," said Ben van Beurden, Executive Vice President, Shell Chemicals. "The decision to increase capacity at Nanhai supports the Shell strategy to grow selectively and to continue to remain a leader in the expanding Asian petrochemicals market."

The debottlenecking project included construction of an eighth liquid cracking furnace for light and heavy feedstock. Four out of five derivative plants were debottlenecked by 10% to 30%. The planned turnaround took place in March and April this year. In addition to a broad range of planned maintenance activities, more than 1,000 pressure vessels were opened for statutory inspections. The project also included significant instrumentation work.

The CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals Company Limited (CSPCL) is 50 per cent owned by Shell Nanhai BV, a Shell company, and 50 per cent owned by the CNOOC Petrochemicals Investment Company Limited. It began operations in January 2006 and supplies products primarily to Guangdong and the high consumption areas of China’s southeast coastal economic zones.

Nanhai Capacities:

Ethylene - 950,000 tonnes per annum
Propylene - 500,000 tpa
Butadiene - 165,000 tpa
Low Density Polyethylene - 250,000 tpa
High Density Polyethylene - 260,000 tpa
Polypropylene - 260,000 tpa
Mono-Ethylene Glycol - 350,000 tpa
Styrene Monomer - 640,000 tpa
Propylene Oxide - 290,000 tpa
Polyols - 170,000 tpa
Propylene Glycol - 60,000 tpa

Shell Chemicals

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