Siemens delivers five compressor trains for Fermaca pipeline in Mexico

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Siemens has recently delivered five gas turbine-driven compressor trains to Fermaca Enterprises (Fermaca) for two pipeline stations in Mexico, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The pipeline projects, which also include a long-term service agreement, are part of the Comision Federal de Electricidad de Mexico’s (CFE) ongoing energy reform program intended to increase the availability of low-cost energy and stimulate the country's economic growth.

Both stations plan to begin commercial operation in 2018, and the entire 500 kilometer pipeline is expected to be fully operational in 2019.

The five compressor trains, packaged at Siemens’ Telge Road facility in Houston, Texas, USA, each consist of a SGT-400 gas turbine driving a STC-SV single-shaft pipeline compressor. The gas turbine trains will provide compression power for a 1,500 kilometer pipeline that will transport natural gas from northern Mexico to the center of the country. Two of the trains will be installed at a pipeline station in La Laguna, Coahuila, Mexico. The other three units will be part of a pipeline compressor station in Villa de Reyes, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

This order follows on the heels of three pipeline compressor trains driven by SGT-750 gas turbines that Siemens provided in 2015 for the El Encino compression station pipeline project that is part of the same pipeline transportation system that includes La Laguna y Villa de Reyes. The complete system is powered by the three stations developed exclusively using Siemens equipment. This recent order continues the momentum of the Mexican oil and gas industry’s goal to supply high-efficiency power plants with natural gas to boost local economies.

Siemens has sold more than a dozen SGT-400 turbines to customers in Mexico over the last three years and more than 60 worldwide. Both the 13.4- and 15-MW versions of the SGT-400 high-efficiency gas turbines offer excellent emissions performance in a rugged industrial design. This makes it an ideal choice for a wide variety of applications, from simple- and combined-cycle power plants, to cogeneration, to power generation and mechanical drive applications for onshore and offshore projects in oil and gas.

Project teams for Fermaca and Siemens worked closely together to determine the optimum train solution that resulted in a competitive CAPEX and OPEX offering, paired with short cycle times. In addition, Siemens designed identical packages for both sites, including all auxiliaries systems to maximize common parts and streamline operations and maintenance teams. The only difference between the two projects is the gas turbine core engine and compressor bundles due to different power demands and operational conditions of each site.

"We are pleased to be selected as the only equipment provider for this important pipeline project," said Eric Carlos, Head of Sales for Latin America at the Dresser-Rand business. "Our ability to deliver a proven product with the lowest total life cycle cost, on time and on budget, demonstrates Fermaca's confidence in us to provide leading-edge technologies that enable the safe, efficient operation of their compressor trains."

"Because of our previous work with Siemens, we were able to review past projects and incorporate lessons learned and best practices into this most recent project,” said Dr. Raul Monteforte, Chief Development Officer of Fermaca. "The close proximity of Siemens facilities and their impressive performance with past projects and equipment makes it easy to manage expectations for this pipeline extension," Monteforte added.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The March contract price of propylene was agreed in Europe down by EUR20/tonne from February. However, European producers reduced their export prices only for propylene copolymers to be shipped to the CIS markets in March, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

Negotiations over March prices of European PP began on Monday. All market participants stated the ambiguity of decisions on export prices for polymer in March, given lower propylene prices in Europe. In fact, prices of propylene homopolymers (homopolymer PP) virtually either rolled over or went up from February, whereas prices dropped by EUR20-25/tonne in the propylene copolymers segment.

Deals for March shipments of homopolymer PP were done in the range of EUR1,060-1,145/tonne FCA, whereas February deals were negotiated in the range of EUR1,030-1,140/tonne FCA. Some producers had limited export quotas for injection moulding homopolymer PP.

Deals for block copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) were discussed in the range of EUR1,195-1,250/tonne FCA, down by an average of EUR20-25/tonne from February.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) - March contract price of ethylene in Europe was agreed down EUR20/tonne from the February.
Taking this into account European producers have announced a proportional reduction in export prices for low density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) for supplies to CIS countries, according to the ICIS-MRC Price Report.

Negotiations on the March supply of polyethylene from Europe to the markets of the CIS countries started last Monday. The decrease in the cost of ethylene in the region led to a decrease in export prices for LDPE and LLDPE for buyers from the CIS, while prices of high density polyethylene (HDPE) were practically rolled over from the level of February. There was no information about restrictions of PE delivery from Europe this month.

Some European producers, on the contrary, have increased March HDPE prices from the February level. Most deals were done in the range of EUR1000-1070/tonne FCA.

Prices for black PE 100 were mostly rolled over from the February level of EUR1270-1330/tonne FCA.

Deals on March shipments of European LDPE last week were agreed in the range of EUR1100-1150/tonne FCA.

European producers decreased the price for hexene linear polyethylene (LLDPE C6) by EUR 20/tonne. Deals were discussed in the range of EUR 1360 - 1420/tonne FCA.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Clariant, a world leader in masterbatches and specialty compounds, has announced a price increase globally for its entire range of masterbatch and compound products containing titanium dioxide, polymers, carbon black, pigments, dyes and several additives by 4-7% (depending on the grade, concentration and quality of the titanium dioxide, polymer, carbon black, pigments, dyes and additives), as per the company's press release.

The increase includes white, black, color, additive masterbatches and compounds and relates to the following product brands: REMAFIN, RENOL, CESA, HiFormer & MEVOPUR.

This will be effective for all deliveries from April 1, 2018 or as soon as contracts allow. This price increase is due to the continued rise in prices of titanium dioxide, polymers, carbon black, pigments, dyes and additives driven by several factors including supply-demand dynamics, ongoing capacity reductions in the pigment and dye industry and related increases in feedstock costs of several materials.

As MRC informed before, in H2 2017, Clariant completed a significant expansion at its plant in Lewiston, ME, adding equipment that increases its capacity to compound high-temperature fluoropolymers, which include FEP, ETFE, and PVDF. These materials are important for the production of medical catheters because of their flexibility, lubricity and chemical resistance. Demand for these polymers and for specialized masterbatches, which Clariant markets for medical applications under its MEVOPUR brand, continue to grow worldwide.

Clariant AG is a Swiss chemical company and a world leader in the production of specialty chemicals for the textile, printing, mining and metallurgical industries. It is engaged in processing crude oil products in pigments, plastics and paints. Clariant India has local masterbatch production activities at Rania, Kalol and Nandesari (Gujarat) and Vashere (Maharashtra) sites in India.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Company has restarted a high density polyethylene/linear low density polyethylene (HDPE/LLDPE) swing plant, as per Apic-online.

A Polymerupdate source in China informed that the company has resumed operations at the plant earlier this week. The plant was taken off-line for maintenance on February 24, 2018.

Located at Jiangsu in China, the plant has a production capacity of 200,000 mt/year.

As MRC informed before, in mid-May 2017, Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical took off-stream its polypropylene (PP) plant for a maintenance turnaround. The duration of the planned shutdown could not be ascertained. Located in Jiangsu province, China, the plant comprising three units have a production capacity of 200,000 mt/year, 100,000 mt/year and 100,000 mt/year.

Sinopec Corp. is one of the largest scale integrated energy and chemical companies with upstream, midstream and downstream operations. Its refining and ethylene capacity ranks No.2 and No.4 globally. The Company has 30,000 sales and distribution networks of oil products and chemical products, its service stations are now ranked third largest in the world.
MRC