HOUSTON, US: Enterprise Products Partners LP announced its plans to construct a new isobutane dehydrogenation (iBDH) unit in Mont Belvieu, Texas. This plant will have the capability to produce 425,000 tonnes per year of isobutylene.
The project, which is supported by long-term contracts with investment-grade customers, is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2019. The isobutylene produced by the plant will provide the necessary feedstock to fill underutilised capacity at Enterprise’s existing downstream octane enhancement and petrochemical facilities.
Factually, steam crackers and refineries have been the major source of propane and butane olefins for downstream use. But, with the increased use of light-end feedstocks, specifically ethane, the need for on-purpose olefins has increased. Much like Enterprise’s propane dehydrogenation unit, currently scheduled for start of operations in the second quarter of 2017, the iBDH unit will help meet market demand where supplies have been reduced.
The new iBDH plant will increase company’s production of both high purity and low purity isobutylene to be used primarily as feedstock to manufacture lubricants, rubber products and alkylate for gasoline blendstock, as well as MTBE for export.
“The building of this new iBDH plant will extend our butane value chain and allow full utilisation of our existing olefins assets. In developing this project, we are leveraging Enterprise’s extensive integrated midstream network to turn a plentiful, cost-advantaged natural gas liquid into a higher-valued product,” said AJ ‘Jim’ Teague, CEO of Enterprise’s general partner.
Read More: Enterprise to build isobutane dehydrogenation unit in US
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