The Challenges of International Petrochemical Technology Project Execution
International petrochemical technology licensing and project execution is a complex undertaking and involves the licensing sale, basic engineering, offshore procurement, training and also the supporting of detailed engineering, onshore procurement, construction, commissioning and start up of the facilities.
Shaw’s relationship with SABIC Innovative Plastics, formerly GE Plastics, has lead to the successful licensing of 2 x 200 kTA Emulsion Acrylonitrile, Butadiene and Styrene (ABS) and a 40 kTA High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) plus 90 kTA Crystal Polystyrene (GPPS) polymer plants in China and a 200 kTA ABS polymer plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. All of these licensed projects are all being executed from Shaw’s Toronto Office
These licensing projects will be explored to exemplify the considerable people, business, technical and project execution challenges experienced. For example, a single 200 kTA ABS plant has more than 1000 pieces of equipment, 15,000 I/Os, rigorous Health Safety and Environmental (HSE) requirements and a capital investment of over $700 MM for some locations.
The Chinese ABS plants are nearing mechanical completion and the polystyrene plants were started up 4Q10.
The KSA ABS plant has undergone considerable Value Engineering and cost reduction to improve the viability of the business case. A “go” decision is expected 1Q10.
Speaker:
Dave Purvis, P. Eng
VP Technology, Polymers
Shaw Energy & Chemicals Group
Professional Bio:
Dave has over forty (40) years of professional experience most of which has been in technology development, international licensing, process engineering design, engineering management and project management.
Since 2002 Dave has worked for the Shaw Group and is based in Toronto.
Currently Dave is the VP Technology (Polymers) and reports to the head of the Shaw Technology Division in Houston.
From 2002 through July 2009 he was the Project Director for all polymer projects and reported to the Senior VP Petrochemical Projects in Houston.
From 1997 – 2001 he was the General Manager of Licensing for NOVA Chemicals based in Calgary.
From 1991 – 1997 he was VP Process Sector for Stone & Webster, Canada.
Prior to 1990 he spent 20 years working for ABB Lummus Global in Canada, USA and the UK having responsibilities for technology licensing, process engineering, and projects.
Dave has a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Bradford (UK), is a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers (UK) and a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario and Alberta. He was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto in the 1980’s teaching undergraduate course in plant design and post graduate courses in Health, Safety and Environmental Engineering.