Bechtel, Linde target N American cracker projects
28 Jul 2011
San Francisco – Bechtel Corp. and Linde AG are to work together to expand and build ethylene cracker plants in North America: combining Bechtel’s engineering, procurement, and direct-hire construction capabilities and Linde’s ethylene technology.
The alliance builds on the companies’ previous work together at the Borouge petrochemicals complex in the UAE. Together, they performed EPC, and start-up for the ethylene plant, off-site facilities, and utilities at the complex, which was completed on schedule in February 2002.
“With the growth in shale gas production in North America, ethylene producers are planning new grass-roots projects and major expansions,” said Jack Futcher, president of Bechtel’s oil, gas & chemicals unit. “Linde’s record of success makes the company a strong partner for Bechtel.”
The partnership aims to offer the most competitive ethylene solutions to the North American petrochemical industry, added Dr. Aldo Belloni, member of the Linde executive board.
Bechtel has built ethylene facilities in China, India, as well as the UAE in the last 10 years, while Linde has the highest recent market share in ethane crackers, including the largest ethane cracker in the world.
The Bechtel-Linde team will serve the North American market from Bechtel’s offices in Houston, Texas.
