Detailed interpretation of globally renowned ethylene cracking patent technology licensors and their process characteristics

The technology for producing ethylene via cracking of petroleum products is inextricably linked with the development of cracking process technologies. In recent years, patent technology companies have made significant progress in enhancing reaction selectivity, feedstock flexibility, and single-furnace cracking capacity. Currently, the primary ethylene cracking technology route involves steam cracking using tubular furnaces, coupled with separation processes including sequential separation, front-end ethane removal with pre-hydrogenation, and front-end propane removal with pre-hydrogenation. World-renowned ethylene patent technology licensors include Lummus Company, Stone & Webster (S&W) Company, KBR Company, Linde Company, and TPL/KTI Company. All these companies offer mature and reliable technologies, each with world-scale ethylene plants in operation; however, technical details differ among them. Lummus employs sequential separation; Linde uses front-end ethane removal with pre-hydrogenation; Technip’s TPL division applies asymptotic separation; while S&W, KBR, and domestic ST technology all adopt front-end propane removal with pre-hydrogenation. 1. LUMMUS Company Lummus’ ethylene production technology holds a pivotal position in the global ethylene industry, backed by over 50 years of olefin plant design experience. Currently, nearly 200 ethylene units worldwide employ Lummus technology, with a combined capacity exceeding 40 million tons per year—accounting for approximately 30% of global ethylene production capacity. In China, Lummus technology was adopted in the four 300,000-ton-per-year ethylene plants commissioned in the early and late 1970s at Yan Shan, Yang Zi, Qi Lu, and Shanghai; the Pan Jin and Fu Shun ethylene plants started up in the early 1990s; medium-scale ethylene plants in Xin Jiang, Tian Jin, and Zhong Yuan launched in the mid-1990s; two rounds of expansion and revamping of the Yan Shan, Yang Zi, and Qi Lu ethylene plants around 2000; the Sinopec–BP (SECCO) and Fujian joint-venture mega-ethylene projects (both 1 million tons/year), as well as the Tianjin and Zhenhai mega-ethylene complexes, commissioned around 2010; and Satellite Petrochemical’s planned 2.5-million-ton-per-year ethane cracker. Key features of its process include: (1) Use of SRT-series cracking furnaces—high thermal efficiency, broad feedstock adaptability (suitable for both light and heavy feeds), and high ethylene yield. (2) Quench section equipped with quench oil circulation and viscosity-reduction systems, effectively lowering the viscosity of quench oil in the gasoline fractionator bottom and raising the sump temperature. (3) Sequential separation train with low-pressure demethanization. (4) Binary and ternary mixed-refrigerant refrigeration systems; ternary refrigeration reduces equipment count and capital investment. (5) Catalytic distillation technology applied to propyne/propadiene hydrogenation. (6) Low-pressure propylene fractionation column integrated with propylene compressor into a heat pump system. 2. S&W Company Stone & Webster is one of the world’s leading ethylene patent licensors, with over 130 ethylene units globally utilizing its technology—representing about 30% of total world ethylene production capacity. Since 1990, 40% of newly added global ethylene capacity has adopted S&W technology. In Canada’s Novachem facility, S&W built the world’s largest ethane-based ethylene plant (1.27 million tons/year). In China, S&W technology has been deployed in Da Qing, Mao Ming #1, and Guang Zhou ethylene plants; the Yangzi–BP and CNOOC–Shell ethylene joint ventures; the Guangzhou ethylene revamp and Shanghai #2 ethylene’s second-phase revamp; PetroChina’s large-scale ethylene plants in Fu Shun and Sichuan; Sasol’s 1.5-million-ton-per-year ethane cracker in the U.S.; CPChem’s 1.5-million-ton-per-year U.S. ethylene plant; and Saudi Rabigh’s 1.2-million-ton-per-year ethane cracker.

Recommended overseas petrochemical projects for Chinese enterprises

1. Asia-Pacific Potash Co., Ltd. Udon South Potash Project Located 18 km southeast of Udon Thani city in northeastern Thailand, this project is developed by Asia-Pacific Potash Holdings Co., Ltd.—an investment vehicle of SDIC Mining Investment Co., Ltd. The project’s designed recoverable resource volume totals 85.82 million tons, enabling production of 33.72 million tons of potassium chloride (KCl, 95% purity). Planned annual output: 2.1 million tons of KCl, with minimum K₂O content of 60%. Total investment: ~RMB 7.6985 billion. 2. Shandong Tiancheng Chemical Co., Ltd.: Formaldehyde and Hexamethylenetetramine Project in Thailand Located in the Nong Ji Industrial Park, Chachoengsao Province, Thailand, this project—invested by Shandong Tiancheng Chemical Co., Ltd.—includes construction of a 49,000-ton-per-year formaldehyde unit and a 10,000-ton-per-year hexamethylenetetramine unit, supporting an annual 50,000-ton epoxy resin and 50,000-ton phenolic resin production line. Total site area: 17,335 m² (~26 mu); total floor area: 3,810 m². Total investment: RMB 78.7 million. 3. Shandong Yueto Investment Co., Ltd.: Eco-Friendly Plastic Products Production Line in Vietnam Located in Rach Bap Industrial Park, An Tay Ward, Ben Cat City, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam, the project occupies a total land area of 4,995.4 m²—including Factory No.1 (860 m²) and Factory No.2 (1,860 m²). It specializes in manufacturing eco-friendly plastic packaging bags using biodegradable polymers and additives, employing core blown-film forming technology. Upon completion, it will achieve an annual production capacity of 4,000 tons of eco-friendly plastic products. Investment: RMB 10 million. 4. Silleno Project (Kazakhstan): Polyethylene Plant and Utility Systems The Refining & Chemical Engineering Group signed an EPC总承包 contract for the polyethylene plant and utility systems of the Silleno Project in Kazakhstan. This project is jointly executed by Sinopec Shanghai Engineering Co., Ltd. (SSEC) and the globally renowned engineering firm Tecnimont. According to official Silleno announcements, the polymerization unit and associated facilities, infrastructure, and off-site works (including utilities and auxiliary systems) were awarded to a consortium formed by Italy’s Tecnimont S.p.A. and Sinopec Shanghai Engineering Co., Ltd. (SSEC). The EPC contract was signed on May 29, 2025. 5. Mongolia Khovd–Ulaangom Road Asphalt Construction (Lots II & III) Longjian Co., Ltd. won the bid for Lots II and III of the new Khovd–Ulaangom asphalt road project in Mongolia. Total winning bid amount: RMB 254 million. The project spans 108 km between Khovd and Ulaangom provinces, covering earthwork, pavement, culverts, and traffic signage installation. 6. Fujian Jingfeng Technology Co., Ltd.: Nylon Fiber Plant in Vietnam Located in Tan Tru Industrial Park Phase I, Tan Tru Town, Tan Phuoc District, Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province, Vietnam, the project focuses on manufacturing and sales of nylon fiber, nylon chips, and engineering plastic chips. Land lease area: 60,000 m²; total factory building area: ~68,000 m². Planned annual output: 60,000 tons of nylon filament yarn. Construction period: 18 months, targeting completion in 2026. Total investment: USD 120 million.

Petkim awards FEED for major cracker, polymers expansion in Turkey

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Petkim awarded Technip Energies FEED contracts for a major petrochemical expansion including a 1.2 million metric ton/year ethylene cracker. The project aims to double polymer production capacity pending a final investment decision after feasibility studies conclude in 2027.

chemweek

2026-09-29

Petkim awards FEED for major cracker, polymers expansion in Turkey

Petkim awards FEED for major cracker, polymers expansion in Turkey

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