LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa.,
Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Air
Products (NYSE: APD), the leading global hydrogen provider, today
announced a long-term agreement with Shell Oil Company for the
supply of a significant portion of the hydrogen requirements at
Shell's Deer Park, Texas refinery.
The hydrogen supply will commence in mid-2013. The Deer
Park facility will be connected to Air Products' industry-leading
Gulf Coast hydrogen pipeline supply network that serves multiple
refinery and petrochemical companies in the region.
"We are pleased to be selected to supply Shell's hydrogen need
at Deer Park. The structure
of this agreement is another example of the flexibility and
reliability provided by our Gulf Coast hydrogen pipeline network.
The value created by the versatility of the pipeline network
to be able to shift supply, if necessary, to customer facilities
throughout the Gulf Coast was recognized and resulted in our
winning this business," said Wilbur
Mok, vice president - North America Tonnage Gases at Air
Products.
Air Products is working toward enhancing its hydrogen pipeline
supply capability in the Gulf Coast to make it the world's largest
hydrogen pipeline network. Air Products announced plans to
construct a new 180-mile long pipeline in October 2010. The new pipeline extension,
which is in the project execution phase, will connect Air Products'
Texas hydrogen system to the
Louisiana hydrogen system.
Once complete, Air Products' hydrogen pipeline supply network
will stretch from the Houston Ship Channel in Texas to New
Orleans, creating the world's largest hydrogen plant and
pipeline supply network. This integrated pipeline system will
unite over 20 hydrogen plants and over 600 miles of pipelines.
It will supply the Louisiana
and Texas refinery and
petrochemical industries with over 1.2 billion cubic feet of
hydrogen per day. The new Gulf Coast hydrogen pipeline
network is expected to be operational in 2012.
Globally, Air Products' hydrogen pipeline operational expertise
is evidenced by the 40 year safe operation of its network of
systems. Pipelines offer a safe, robust and reliable supply
of hydrogen to the refinery and petrochemical industry around the
world. In addition to the Gulf Coast hydrogen pipeline
system, Air Products also has hydrogen pipeline networks operating
around the world in the U.S. in Southern
California; in Canada in
Sarnia, Ontario, and Edmonton, Alberta; and in The Netherlands in Rotterdam.
Hydrogen is widely used in petroleum refining processes to
remove impurities found in crude oil such as sulfur, olefins and
aromatics to meet the product fuels specifications. Removing
these components allows gasoline and diesel to burn cleaner and
thus makes hydrogen a critical component in the production of
cleaner fuels needed by modern, efficient internal combustion
engines.
About Air Products
Air Products (NYSE:APD) serves customers in industrial, energy,
technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio
of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance
materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air
Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as
semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare
services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and
adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative
culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the
environment. In fiscal 2010, Air Products had revenues of
$9 billion, operations in over 40
countries, and 18,300 employees around the globe. For more
information, visit www.airproducts.com.
***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements
within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are
based on management's reasonable expectations and assumptions as of
the date of this release regarding important risk factors. Actual
performance and financial results may differ materially from
projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking
statements because of many factors not anticipated by management,
including risk factors described in the Company's Form 10K for its
fiscal year ended September 30,
2010.
SOURCE Air Products