Linde North America has commissioned air separation unit (ASU) and associated facilities in La Porte, Texas, US.
The ASU is part of Linde North America’s $250m investment, which also includes construction of a gasification train and supporting equipment and facilities in La Porte.
The ASU, which produces oxygen, nitrogen and argon, strengthens Linde’s presence in Houston covering air gases and synthesis gas production and supply to its customers.
Linde Americas president Pat Murphy said: “These additional capabilities allow Linde to better serve growth opportunities for the energy, chemicals and manufacturing industries that have been enhanced by the shale gas revolution.”
With the ASU, Linde will be able to serve gaseous oxygen and nitrogen needs for its existing gasification units, as well as a new gasifier under construction at the complex.
The gasification unit is expected to begin operations this year, making the gas-based partial oxidation complex one of the largest in the world to produce syngas products for petrochemicals.
It will convert natural gas into syngas and derivatives, including carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon dioxide, which are used to produce methanol, downstream chemicals and transportation fuels.
Linde also operates three partial oxidation facilities in the US that produce syngas products.
The new ASU transports liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon to the Houston Ship Channel surrounding merchant markets, as well as to customers in Northern California and the Pacific North West.
Linde’s expansion plan also includes new ASU in Lewisville, Arkansas; a nitrogen liquefier in Ohio; expansion of nitrogen and oxygen production in Oregon; ASU upgrades in British Columbia, Canada, and Braddock, Pennsylvania; as well as a new specialty gases plant in Indiana, US.
