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Production of ultra-low sulfur diesel and gasoline to expand by more
than 40,000 barrels per day
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Proprietary technology removes sulfur and yields product with minimal
octane loss
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Investment will ensure gasoline meets latest environmental standards
ExxonMobil
today announced plans to increase production of ultra-low sulfur fuels
at its Beaumont refinery by approximately 40,000 barrels per day,
further strengthening its integrated downstream portfolio while meeting
environmental standards.
Construction is scheduled during the second half of 2016 to install a
selective cat naphtha hydrofining unit, which uses a proprietary
catalyst system to remove sulfur while minimizing octane loss. Startup
of the flexible technology, known as SCANfining, is expected in 2018.
Gasoline produced using this technology will meet the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s Tier 3 gasoline sulfur specifications.
“ExxonMobil continues to strengthen its portfolio of world-class
refining assets,” said Steve Cope, director of North America refining,
for ExxonMobil. “This investment further enhances the competitiveness of
our U.S. Gulf Coast refineries.”
Installation of the selective cat naphtha hydrofining unit is the
facility’s second expansion project in a year, following the
announcement of the Beaumont refinery’s capacity expansion in 2015, and
demonstrates ExxonMobil’s long-term view and disciplined approach toward
advantaged business investments. Beaumont is well positioned to
competitively supply high-demand growth markets around the U.S. in the
face of a challenging industry environment.
“This specialized unit will improve our product yield, and demonstrates
our technology advantage and focus on increasing energy efficiency,”
said Fernando Salazar, manager of the Beaumont refinery. “This project
represents the largest capital investment in our Beaumont refinery
operations in more than a decade, and will benefit the local economy
with both temporary and full-time jobs.”
About ExxonMobil Refining & Supply
ExxonMobil Refining & Supply and its stewarded affiliates operate a
global network of reliable and efficient manufacturing plants,
transportation systems, and distribution centers that provide a range of
fuels, lubricants, and other high-value products and feedstocks to our
customers around the world.
About Beaumont Refinery
ExxonMobil’s Beaumont refinery is part of the company’s integrated
operations in Beaumont, Texas, which includes a 345,000 barrel-per-day
capacity refinery, as well as chemical, lubricants and polyethylene
plants. ExxonMobil has approximately 2,100 area employees, and its
operations account for approximately 1 in every 7 jobs in the region. A
20,000 barrel-per-day expansion of the refinery’s crude processing
ability, announced in 2015, is currently under way.
Cautionary Statement: Statements of future events or conditions in this
release are forward-looking statements. Actual future results, including
project plans, timing and capacities and the impact of new technologies,
could vary depending on changes in long-term market prices for oil, gas
and refined products; the development and competitiveness of alternative
technologies; technical and operating factors; political and regulatory
developments including changes in environmental regulations; and other
factors discussed in this release and under the heading “Factors
Affecting Future Results” on the Investors page of ExxonMobil’s website
at exxonmobil.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160726005387/en/
Copyright Business Wire 2016
Source: Business Wire
(July 26, 2016 - 10:00 AM EDT)
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