In the last two years, SNF Group (Andrezieux, France; www.snf.com) has added 75,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) of powder-grade polyacrylamide (PAM) production capacity globally to match the increased demand for EOR (enhanced oil recovery) applications. By the end of 2020, SNF will increase PAM capacity by an additional 75,000 m.t./yr. This 150,000 m.t./yr new capacity is spread across several regions, thus providing easy access to SNF products, the company says.
At the same time, through new investments and debottlenecking, SNF added 500,000 m.t./yr production capacity for emulsion-grade PAM within and 100,000 m.t./yr. outside the U.S. This substantial increase is mainly driven by demand within the U.S. hydraulic fracturing (fracking) market as well as emerging fracking demands outside the U.S. In the U.S., SNF will complete an additional emulsion-grade PAM expansion of 100,000 m.t./yr. this year by early Q4. SNF’s goal is to have a total emulsion-grade PAM production capacity in the U.S. of 1 million m.t./yr by the end of 2020.
To support this growth in polymer production, SNF continues to invest in upstream monomer production capabilities as well. Cationic monomer expansion in China is complete, bringing an additional 40,000 m.t./yr. of dimethylaminoethyl acrylate (ADAME) to the market. In the U.S., SNF will invest in new ADAME monomer capacity bringing an additional 50,000 m.t./yr capacity over existing global capacity of 160,000 m.t./yr by the end of 2022. Acrylamide monomer expansion continues in each region as PAM production volumes grow. In the U.S., SNF will add 100,000 m.t./yr (expandable to 200,000 m.t./yr) in 2021.
With turnover of $3.5 billion, SNF is the world’s leading manufacturer of water-soluble polymers and associated monomers, SNF has major production sites in the U.S. (Riceboro, Ga.; Plaquemine, La.; Pearlington, Miss.); Europe (France, U.K.); and Asia (China, India, Korea), with many smaller plants located throughout the world.
SNF produces acrylamide monomer and cationic monomers used in the manufacture of PAM in various physical forms. These finished products are sold into the following markets: municipal drinking water and wastewater treatment, oil and gas production, industrial water and wastewater, mining, paper, agriculture, cosmetics, construction, and various other industries.