Chevron begins commissioning new PE units, delays cracker’s startup

According to a company statement, Chevron Phillips has completed construction works and began startup process of its new PE units at Old Ocean, Texas. Each PE unit is expected to produce around 500,000 tons/year of PE and a large variety of LLDPE including film and pipe grades.

The new units form the first phase of Chevron Phillips’ $6 billion "US Gulf Coast Petrochemical Project”.

Meanwhile, the company delayed the startup of its new Houston steam cracker to the first quarter of 2018. The initial plan was to complete construction of 1.5 million tons/year cracker in the fourth quarter of 2017, and it was expected to reach full operating rates by the first quarter of 2018. However, the company was forced to postpone the plan due to the serious flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.