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PEMEX Aromatics Complex
Client: Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX)
Location: La Cangrejera, Veracruz, Mexico
Business Segment: Energy Solutions
Industry: Chemicals
Executive Summary
Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) contracted Fluor to lead design for one of the world's largest aromatics complexes. We performed engineering, procurement, expediting, inspection and field technical assistance for this mega-project.
Client's Challenge
Located within PEMEX's large-scale petrochemical complex at La Cangrejera, the new facility was designed to produce 5,940 barrels per day of benzene, 3,040 b/d toluene, 1,190 b/d o-xylene, 5,290 b/d p-xylene, 670 b/d mixed xylenes, 1,450 b/d hexane and 300 b/d heptane. All of the products were produced from catalytic reformate.
Fluor's Solution
Fluor's scope of work involved a number of major processes including reformate splitting, sulfolane extraction, clay treating, BTX fractionation, p-xylene crystallization, xylene isomerization, toluene hydrodealkylation and using Xylenes Plus technology. In addition, fractionation facilities for hexane and heptane solvent production, an off-gas compression system, product run tankage and transfer facilities and interconnecting process and utility lines were included.
We also conducted training seminars for the PEMEX engineers to prepare them for plant start-up operations.
Conclusion
Our work was completed on schedule and within budget. In 1982, the PEMEX aromatics complex commenced operations.
In later years, we were retained again by PEMEX to conduct environmental/industrial hygiene/process safety compliance audits per the specific requirements of the Mexican Federal Environmental Regulatory Agency. The site comprised 20 operating process units for hydrocarbon fractionation and production of aromatics and ethylene and derivatives.
