Merichem Expands with Shanghai Office to Provide Closer Ties with China Refining, Gasification Communities

Merichem Company, a worldwide leader in hydrocarbon-cleaning technology and byproduct management services, will open a Shanghai office Nov. 26 to provide China’s refining and gasification communities with improved access to Merichem’s proprietary and proven technologies.

The office will be staffed with local technical support and office personnel to provide enhanced customer relationships, and will be managed by Robert Hennekes (He, Le Bo). Mr. Hennekes brings over 28 years experience in the refining, engineering and gasification industries to Merichem. Merichem began offering its services to Chinese companies in 1994. In addition to service and support, Merichem plans to offer local manufacturing and other possible ventures in the future, according to Patrick J. Hickey, Merichem Executive Vice President. “We believe we can further assist China’s hydrocarbon industries with the close, local support they need and desire,” Hickey said. “Our Shanghai office is the latest effort to serve customers, wherever they might be, with Merichem’s tested and unique technologies and proprietary equipment.”

Merichem currently has offices and facilities in the United States and Japan. Merichem is represented in China by Kate International for refining ventures and by Tigreen Technologies for gasification ventures. Merichem Company, through its subsidiary Merichem Chemicals & Refinery Services LLC, provides a diversified portfolio of products and services to a wide range of operations, including the refining and petrochemicals industry.

With more than 1,000 licensed process units worldwide, MCRS is the leader in licensing patented process technologies and proprietary equipment to provide hydrocarbon treating solutions and by-product management services that remove sulfur and other impurities from hydrocarbon liquids and gases in the upstream and downstream energy sectors. While it began as a domestic operator in the United States, MCRS today offers products and services to customers globally.

New Kongsberg Maritime sensor factory in China

Kongsberg Maritime China Jiangsu (KMCJ), an advanced new 2880m2 sensor production facility located in the Norwegian Industrial Park in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, China, was officially opened on Monday 30th November 2009 during a traditional Chinese ceremony attended by over 150 guests.

Work started on the modern new sensor production facility, which is based on the same methodology and processes used at Kongsberg Maritime's Trondheim, Norway, sensor production facility, in February 2009.

"The establishment of KMCJ was an international effort, involving a number of people from different departments, from our sensor production facility in Trondheim and other Kongsberg Maritime sites," comments Håvard Johnsen, General Manager, KMCJ.

"We currently have 15 employees, all of whom were hand-picked for their positions. As a high-tech, international technology company we are dedicated to bringing only the best people onboard and although most key personnel are now in place, the headcount at KMCJ will continue to grow," says Johnsen

The considerable investment in the new facility will support Kongsberg Maritime's position as a leading developer of sophisticated sensors for marine and offshore applications such as engine monitoring, bearing wear and tank monitoring, in addition to ensuring local capability to service the significant marine sensors market in the region.

"Far East Asia engine manufacturers constitute a large portion of the potential market for the standard sensors produced by Kongsberg Maritime, whilst we have also identified a direct requirement from shipyards for the delivery of our sensor products," says Andreas Jagtøyen, Vice President of Kongsberg Maritime's Merchant Marine sensor division in Trondheim (MM-T).

"The sensor production lines set up at KMCJ are intended for larger volumes and mass production for these customers, while in Trondheim, we will take care of customer specific sensors, spare parts and European orders," continues Jagtøyen.

The KMCJ production facility also features a state-of-the-art mechanical workshop, with a range of advanced CNC-machining centres, and other workshop machinery for production of sensor parts and other mechanical components. This will ensure the continued quality and reliability of Kongsberg Maritime sensor products in addition to enabling a competitive market offering.

"To ensure the right product quality and to meet the market price, it was necessary to in-source and take control over the mechanical production of our sensors," explains Oddbjørn Malmo, Production Manager at MM-T.

The new KMCJ building is part of a larger project to establish a significant KONGSBERG presence in Zhenjiang, following the purchase of 55,000m2 of land in the area. Over 30,000m2 of modern production facilities are scheduled to be in place by 2012, representing Kongsberg Maritime's largest production operation outside of Norway.

Shell Opens one of the world’s largest mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) plants in Singapore

Shell has delivered another world-scale project on schedule with the official opening of its mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) plant on Singapore’s Jurong Island today by Lim Hng Kiang, Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry and Ben van Beurden, Shell Executive Vice President Chemicals.

With a nameplate capacity of 750,000 tonnes of MEG per annum, the 100% Shell-owned unit is one of the largest MEG plants in the world. This plant is a key component of the Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex (SEPC), which is on track for full completion in early 2010. When SEPC is fully operational, it will be Shell’s largest, fully-integrated refinery and petrochemicals hub, bringing economic and efficiency benefits in terms of feedstocks, operations and logistics.

This new MEG plant marks another technology first for Shell. It is the first time Shell is using its award-winning OMEGA processing technology. The OMEGA process gives the highest commercial yields of MEG from ethylene. Production and operating costs are lower than a traditional MEG plant, less steam is consumed and less wastewater produced.

Ben van Beurden said: “Singapore is already Shell’s largest petrochemical production and export centre in the Asia-Pacific region, and the SEPC project is Shell’s largest Downstream investment in Singapore. The successful completion of the MEG plant,” he continued, “signifies another significant step in our strategy to grow our Chemicals business selectively to meet the needs of our Asia Pacific customers.”

“I am delighted that we are using our newest technology in our newest world-scale plant,” he added. “I believe the combination of OMEGA and the integration benefits with our refinery will be a winning formula that will position the MEG plant for a robust future.”

Minister Lim said: “The MEG plant marks an important milestone in the run-up to the completion of the Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex in 2010. We are delighted to have a partner like Shell, who continues to take a long-term view in their investments, and have trust and confidence in Singapore. With the continued growth momentum in Asia, Singapore remains a strategic base for companies looking to expand in Asia, and beyond.”

Construction on the MEG plant began in 2007, and since then, not one worker has taken time off because of an injury. This translates to 13.5 million hours without a lost time injury, a world-class achievement in safety performance. The SEPC project comprises the MEG plant, a new 800,000 tonnes per annum Ethylene Cracker Complex (ECC), a butadiene plant, and modifications to the existing Pulau Bukom Refinery, which are planned to start up in early 2010. SEPC has been strategically located to take advantage of existing infrastructure and to ensure that maximum benefits are achieved by integrating the petrochemical site with the existing Bukom Refinery.

More than 200 customers, guests, staff and media witnessed the opening of the Shell Singapore MEG plant. This was followed by a tour of the new plant.

MEG is a key petrochemical intermediate that is used in the production of a wide range of consumer and industrial products, such as polyester fibres for clothing and furnishings, safety equipment, PET bottles, film, anti-freeze, coolants and others. The majority of the MEG produced at this new plant will be consumed in the Asia-Pacific region, which accounts for 70% of global MEG consumption.

Merichem Expands with Shanghai Office to Provide Closer Ties with China Refining, Gasification Communities

Merichem Company, a worldwide leader in hydrocarbon-cleaning technology and byproduct management services, will open a Shanghai office Nov. 26 to provide China’s refining and gasification communities with improved access to Merichem’s proprietary and proven technologies.

The office will be staffed with local technical support and office personnel to provide enhanced customer relationships, and will be managed by Robert Hennekes (He, Le Bo). Mr. Hennekes brings over 28 years experience in the refining, engineering and gasification industries to Merichem. Merichem began offering its services to Chinese companies in 1994.

In addition to service and support, Merichem plans to offer local manufacturing and other possible ventures in the future, according to Patrick J. Hickey, Merichem Executive Vice President.

“We believe we can further assist China’s hydrocarbon industries with the close, local support they need and desire,” Hickey said. “Our Shanghai office is the latest effort to serve customers, wherever they might be, with Merichem’s tested and unique technologies and proprietary equipment.” Merichem currently has offices and facilities in the United States and Japan.

Merichem is represented in China by Kate International for refining ventures and by Tigreen Technologies for gasification ventures.