For its substantial polyethylene expansion project in Beaumont, Texas, Exxon Mobil Corp. (Spring, Tex.; www.exxonmobil.com) has awarded service contracts to Wood Group (Aberdeen, Scotland; www.woodgroup.com) and Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Dallas, Tex.; www.jacobs.com)
ExxonMobil Chemical awarded a $40-million contract to Wood Group to provide main automation contractor services, including detailed design and site construction of the process control systems, for the grassroots polyethylene plant to be built in Beaumont. Wood Group completed the front-end engineering design for the process control systems in 2015.
Wood Group is currently providing process control systems detailed engineering, procurement and fabrication services for ExxonMobil Chemical’s multi-billion dollar expansion project at the Baytown and Mont Belvieu plants near Houston. Much of the work done for that project will be used for this new project, applying a design-one, build-two concept that helps to reduce project costs and schedules.
Robin Watson, chief executive of Wood Group, said: “Wood Group’s global experience delivering automation and control solutions for large-scale projects will help to ensure a safe, cost-effective and efficient process control solution for this new petrochemical facility. We look forward to continuing our long, successful history of executing notable projects with ExxonMobil Chemical.”
Separately, Jacobs announced a contract award from ExxonMobil to provide engineering, design and construction management (EPCM) services as part of the new 650,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) polyethylene facility.
Under the terms of the contract, Jacobs is delivering front-end engineering, detailed design and construction management to support enabling works and installation of offsite facilities, including rail, and interconnecting piping required for the new polyethylene train. The completed facility will produce pelletized polyethylene to be used in the manufacture of plastic products.
In making the announcement, Jacobs Senior Vice President Petroleum and Chemicals Manuel Junco stated, “Our proactive project execution plan will support the high degree of integration and versatility of ExxonMobil’s existing plant, all while delivering a design that enables safe, efficient construction. The experience and lessons learned we’ve gained while executing similar, recent projects will contribute to the success of this important expansion.”