olefins fuel gas recovery presenters: sean mollberg and john west

OLEFINS FUEL GAS RECOVERY
PRESENTERS: SEAN MOLLBERG AND JOHN WEST
Dow Proud Video
Fostering a Sustainability Culture
•
Dow believes that by pursuing efficient operations that drive environmental
benefits for our communities and the world, we will help enable a transition to a
more sustainable planet and society.
•
World-Leading Operations Performance 2025 Sustainability Milestone:
Though we will grow globally over the next 10 years, Dow’s absolute greenhouse
gas emissions will not exceed our 2006 baseline.
ST. Charles Site Overview
• 2000 acre integrated petrochemical manufacturing complex
Boilers
Cogens
SC2
Timeline
2008 UNPLANNED
OUTAGE COUPLED
WITH POOR
ECONOMY
5
Valuing Collaboration
• Site integration networks enable
communication beyond usual work groups
• Energy unit saw opportunity to purchase less
natural gas as fuel
• Light Hydrocarbons unit saw opportunity to
reduce flare losses
• Some economic decisions move against
sustainability goals and require cooperation
among departments to solve the problem
What Motivates YOU!
• Meaningfulness: Continuous flaring – wasted energy –
unnecessary emissions – and threatened public perception
• Choice: No buyer for a commercial sale – No capital for a large
project – Persistence led to an unconventional approach
• Expertise: Technical aptitude – Knowledge of unit operations –
Boots on the ground – Cost effective and simple solution
• Progress: Fueled by leadership engagement towards a
sustainable and valuable opportunity
The Four Intrinsic Rewards that Drive Employee Engagement, Kenneth Thomas, Dec.
2009, Ivey Business Journal
Project Innovation
• Value created by transferring excess fuel via a pressure let down
station that complies with applicable design & safety rules.
• Optimized existing operations.
• Previous projects attempts not funded due to large investment.
• Innovation allowed for a smaller project scope reducing capital
investment.
– Utilized existing assets in lieu of purchasing new.
– Implemented reliable principles
• Innovation involves:
– What is desirable to users
– What is possible with technology
– What is viable in the marketplace
Energy Value
• Recovery averages 4,300 lbs/hr fuel
• Equates to an annualized measure of
1.3 trillion Btu/yr
• 1,300,000,000,000 is the same magnitude as
the US national debt…unfortunately
• The recovered energy quantity directly offsets
use of Natural Gas
Emissions Equivalent to 69,000 Tons CO2/yr
Courtesy of: www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator
Sequestration of 69,000 Tons CO2/yr
Courtesy of www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator
The Human Element
It’s our hope that other
companies with a commitment
to sustainability might also
identify similar opportunities.
A big THANKS to
• The ACC for the Energy-Efficiency Award
with distinction of Exceptional-Merit
-&• IETC for allowing us to present today.