Aramco, Total plan integrated petrochemical complex at Jubail

Robert Brelsford

Downstream Technology Editor

Saudi Aramco and Total SA have signed a memorandum of understanding to add an integrated petrochemical complex downstream of their jointly held Saudi Aramco Total Refinery & Petrochemicals Co.’s (Satorp) 440,000-b/d full conversion refinery in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

To be located next to and receive feedstock from the Satorp refinery in the same industrial area, the new complex will include a mixed-feed steam cracker—50% ethane and refinery off gas—with a capacity to produce 1.5 million tonnes/year of ethylene and related petrochemical units designed to yield an overall production of more than 2.7 million tpy of high-quality chemical products, the companies said.

Alongside an Aramco-Total investment of about $5 billion, the project’s cracker will feed other petrochemical and specialty chemical plants that represent an additional $4 billion investment by third party investors for an overall project value of about $9 billion.

Aramco and Total said they will begin front-end engineering and design for the project during this year’s third quarter.

The proposed petrochemical complex comes as part of broader strategies by both Total and Aramco to diversify, expand, and integrate their downstream business units.

“This project illustrates our strategy of maximizing the integration of our large refining and petrochemical platforms and of expanding our petrochemical operations from low-cost feedstock to take advantage of the fast-growing Asian polymer market,” said Patrick Pouyanne, Total’s chairman and chief executive officer.

In addition to strengthening the long-standing relationship between the companies, the project complements Aramco’s strategy to expand its capacity in the chemicals sector by 2030 in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, said Amin H. Nasser, Aramco’s president and chief executive officer.

Satorp refinery

A joint venture of Aramco 62.5% and Total 37.5%, Satorp recently completed a 10% capacity expansion project to lift overall crude processing at the refinery to 440,000 b/d from its original 400,000-b/d nameplate capacity (OGJ Online, May 18, 2016; Sept. 26, 2013; Apr. 25, 2013).

Configured to process Arabian Heavy crude oil into low-sulfur gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, the refinery currently is integrated with petrochemical units to produce paraxylene, propylene, and benzene.

Other products produced at the complex include petroleum coke and sulfur.