Canada's NOVA Chemicals begins 45-day turnaround at Ontario plants

16 September 2011 17:30  [Source: ICIS news]

TORONTO (ICIS)--NOVA Chemicals has begun a “major” 45-day turnaround at its plants in southern Ontario, the Canadian petrochemicals producer confirmed on Friday.

NOVA said the turnaround, which began on 14 September, includes its production sites at Corunna, Moore and St Clair – all located near Canada’s border with Detroit, Michigan, US.

The turnaround will include an overhaul of critical equipment; inspection, cleaning and repair of vessels; piping repairs; electrical system repairs; and capital improvements, NOVA said.

In addition to the maintenance work, investments will be made to install tie-ins –compatibility equipment – for the Corunna cracker’s conversion to 100% natural gas liquids (NGL) feedstock.

“This project will enable the Corunna facility to process larger volumes of ethane feed,” the company said.

“Installation of the tie-ins this year is expected to eliminate the need for an additional shutdown to complete the project,” it added without commenting on capacities.

According to NOVA, the company’s capacities include 1,800m pounds/year (816,000 tonnes/year) of ethylene at Corunna, 840m pounds/year (380,000 tonnes/year) of polyethylene (PE) at Moore, and 450m pounds/year (204,000 tonnes/year) of PE at St Clair.

NOVA Chemicals recently agreed a number of ethane sourcing deals from the Marcellus shale gas region in the US to supply the Corunna cracker with feedstock, ICIS reported.

For more on NOVA and other producers visit ICIS company intelligence

Additional reporting by Al Greenwood in Houston

By: Stefan Baumgarten
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