ZPC lets contract for Phase 2 of integrated complex

Zhejiang Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (ZPC) has let a contract to Honeywell UOP LLC and Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS), both divisions of Honeywell International Inc., Des Plaines, Ill., to provide a range of process technologies, engineering design, equipment, catalysts and adsorbents, and advanced automation controls for units to be installed as part of the second phase of its 800,000-b/d integrated refining and petrochemical complex in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, China (OGJ Online, Nov. 6, 2018).

“This second phase of the complex by itself will process 400,000 b/d of crude oil and produce another 6 million tonnes/year of aromatics when completed,” said Bryan Glover, Honeywell UOP’s vice-president and general manager of process technology and equipment.

Once completed, the Phase 2 development will make ZPC’s site the largest crude-to-chemicals complex in the world, with more than 50% of the crude converting to petrochemicals, helping China move closer to achieving self-sufficiency in paraxylene while serving as a major new source of propylene, jet fuel, and more, Glover said.

UOP’s scope of delivery for the project includes licensing, design, key equipment, and all associated catalysts and adsorbents, for the following:

• A two-train aromatics complex based on UOP’s LD Parex process—including its Sulfolane, Isomar, and Tatoray process technologies—that will produce 4.8 million tpy of paraxylene.

• Three proprietary UOP Unicracking process units for conversion of vacuum gas oil and distillate into petrochemical feedstock.

• Two continuous catalytic reforming (CCR) units based on UOP’s CCR Platforming process for production of aromatics and blend stocks used to make high-octane fuels.

• A reverse UOP Butamer unit for production of normal butane.

For control of all refining and petrochemical processing units at the site, HPS will implement its Experion distributed control system—designed and configured for Honeywell UOP processes—to integrate all process control-safety systems and automation software for ZPC.

This latest order follows ZPC’s contract award to Honeywell UOP and HPS for similar technologies as part of the project’s 400,000-b/d Phase 1 development, which was due for startup by yearend 2018 (OGJ Online, May 11, 2017).

A timeframe for commissioning of the project’s second phase has yet to be disclosed.

ZPC—a joint venture of China-based Rongsheng Holding Group Co. Ltd., Juhua Group Corp., Tongkun Group Co. Ltd., and Zhoushan Marine Comprehensive Development Investment Co. Ltd.—previously said it would invest about 160 billion yuan to complete both phases of the project.

In late 2018, Saudi Aramco also signed a memorandum of understanding with ZPC to acquire ownership interest in the complex (OGJ Online, Oct. 26, 2018).

Contact Robert Brelsford at [email protected].