International Oil Daily: Prospect of Cheap US Ethane Leads to UK Cracker Conversion

“In a report to clients, gas liquids consultants at New York-based Poten & Partners says Sabic hopes to build a 77,000 cubic meter cryogenic ethane import and storage facility at its North Tees site, providing clear confirmation” the chemicals group intends to convert its nearby Wilton ethylene steam cracker from being predominantly naphtha-fed to predominantly ethane-fed….Poten says that once operational, Sabic plans to receive around 30 cargoes per year at the new terminal, equating to some 572,000 tons of ethane imports annually. Nameplate output at the Wilton cracker is currently some 865,000 tons per year of ethylene, 400,000 tons/yr of propylene and 100,000 tons/yr of butadiene.”