Total starts world's largest olefin cracker
20 May 2010
Total has inaugurated the world’s largest olefin cracker based on ethane in Ras Laffan, Qatar. The Ras Laffan Olefin Cracker (RLOC) will feed up to 1300ktpa of ethylene to the new Qatofin polyethylene plant in Mesaieed. Total Petrochemicals, through its participations in Qapco and Qatofin JVs, holds 22.2% of RLOC. The other partners are Qatar Petroleum and Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.
Ethane feedstock used in the Ras Laffan cracker comes from the North Field,a giant offshore gas field in which Total holds interests through the Dolphin and Qatargas I and II projects. The natural gas (methane) is treated for export in the liquefaction plants also based in Ras Laffan and the associated ethane produced at Dolphin will be valorized by the Ras Laffan cracker as raw material for the petrochemical industry.
