Chevron Phillips Chemical has completed construction of the world’s largest on-purpose 1-hexene unit in Old Ocean, Texas, with operations set to begin at the plant by early September, company officials announced today.
The company celebrated its new 1-hexene unit with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Old Ocean site, which included remarks by elected leaders and CPChem executives.
New unit increases CPChem’s 1-hexene capacity
CPChem’s investment in the new unit brings its total U.S. 1-hexene capacity up to 646 thousand tons per annum. The new unit’s location provides additional flexibility and production capacity to meet anticipated demand from our growing customer base.
CPChem has been operating two full-range alpha olefin units and one on-purpose 1-hexene unit at its Cedar Bayou plant in Baytown, Texas. CPChem’s new unit in Old Ocean will surpass Baytown as the world’s largest on-purpose 1-hexene unit. The new unit will use the latest iteration of CPChem’s proprietary, on-purpose technology to produce exceptional-purity 1-hexene, a component in the production of polyethylene.
“This represents an exciting step forward in our manufacturing capabilities, and I am incredibly proud of the work it has taken to get us to this point,” said Bruce Chinn, President and CEO of CPChem.
1-Hexene unit brings additional economic benefit to region
The 1-hexene unit has become a major economic engine for the region, joining CPChem’s other assets in creating jobs and adding to the local economy. In addition to increased production capacity, this project created more than 600 construction jobs and 50-plus full-time positions.
In 2022, CPChem spent $31.5 million with more than 70 Brazoria County vendors and suppliers for operating materials, equipment and services for the facility. CPChem spent an additional $1.4 million for catering, office supplies and other indirect consumable items and services.
Investing in the community is also part of CPChem’s vision to serve as a neighbor of choice, said Jose Trevino, plant manager at the Sweeny, Clemens & Old Ocean facilities.
“We take pride in investing time, talent and resources to make a lasting impact in the surrounding communities,” Trevino said.
CPChem has invested in education like the CPChem Career & Technical Education Center in Sweeny Independent School District and supported scholarships at Brazosport College and Wharton County Junior College.
“These investments help prepare generations of local students for careers in our industry,” he said.
Other CPChem community investments include support of local healthcare options like the Sweeny Community Hospital and Matagorda County Medical Center and the Friends of the River San Bernard organization.
“And we strive to increase economic prosperity by supporting non-profits like United Way, True to Life Ministries and Communities in Schools,” Trevino said.
CPChem leverages advances in design to reduce emissions
CPChem leveraged the latest advances in process design to reduce emissions while maximizing production at the new unit. Resource efficiency and reduced emissions are both central to the company’s sustainability strategy.
“Aligning our investment strategy to our sustainability goals is a critical component to our business strategy, and this is a great example of balancing our sustainable commitments with manufacturing growth,” Chinn said. “The new asset harnesses the latest advances in process design to maximize production, optimize resource management and reduce emissions.”