Williams’ second offgas processing plant opens in Canada

Photo: Williams

Williams Cos. Inc., a provider of energy infrastructure, reported on March 23 its new offgas liquids extraction plant north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, is now operating.

The company’s second offgas liquids extraction plant recovers ethane, propane, propylene and other liquids from the upgrader’s offgas streams. Williams then transports, fractionates and markets the products.

“This new offgas plant at the upgrader is helping the environment and creating value from what was previously a low-value oil sands resource,” says David Chappell, president of Williams Energy Canada, in a press release.

Following extraction at the upgrader, the natural gas liquids-olefins mixture will be transported by Williams’ recently extended Boreal Pipeline to its expanded Redwater Olefinic Fractionator. Most of the propane is expected to feed Williams’ planned propane dehydrogenation (PDH) facility near Edmonton for the production of polymer-grade propylene. Williams signed a 25-year contract with North American Polypropylene, an affiliate of Goradia Capital and a private equity global petrochemical group, for 450 kilotons per annum of the propylene for polypropylene production.

“This developing complex will greatly reduce Canada’s current dependence on polypropylene imports while spurring domestic manufacturing and strengthening the region’s economy,” Chappell says.

The company’s two offgas processing plants in Canada together will eventually reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 500,000 tons and annual sulphur dioxide emissions by 5,500 tons.