Williams selects Elliott compressors for Redwater PDH complex in Canada

Elliott Group will supply the compression equipment for Williams' new 525,000 tpy propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant in Redwater, Alberta, officials announced on Tuesday.

The PDH unit is an expansion of the company's existing Redwater fractionation, distribution and storage complex. The engineering procurement contractor for the project is Fluor Canada.

Elliott will provide three compression trains for the reactor effluent, heat pump, and propylene refrigeration duties at the new plant. Elliott's expertise in refrigeration compression and double flow technology were factors in the award decision. 

The package also encompasses equipment auxiliaries including lubrication, buffer gas, and control systems.

When it comes online in 2017, the PDH plant will be the first in Canada to produce polymer-grade propylene (PGP), using propane produced at Williams' Fort McMurray processing facility as the feedstock. 

"We worked closely with Fluor throughout the bidding process to address the technical challenges of converting propane to polymer-grade propylene," said John Rann, vice president of engineered products at Elliott Group. "Elliott compressors are already operating successfully in other olefin applications throughout Canada and globally, enabling us to demonstrate the added value that Elliott can bring in understanding the complex compression requirements of propylene production. 

"We are pleased to partner with Williams on this important project, which further underscores Elliott Group as the global leader in PDH applications," he added.