ExxonMobil's Burcham Leads the Charge to Finish Line in Major Expansion Project

US: Denise Burcham, the Venture Executive of ExxonMobil's Baytown chemical expansion project, plays a crucial role in overseeing the project's progress while effectively managing communication and collaboration among a large global team. With her extensive expertise, Burcham coordinates with various experts in technology, project-planning, and supply chain to ensure the safe and eco-friendly delivery of products to customers. From its conceptualization seven years ago to nearing completion, Burcham expresses pride in her project team's resilience in managing global suppliers throughout the pandemic, ultimately resulting in a world-scale investment in Baytown - producing daily-use products for people worldwide.

ExxonMobil initiated the $2 billion Baytown chemical expansion project in 2019, which involved installing two new chemical production units. The project generated over 3,500 job opportunities during its construction phase. The company is now set to commence operations this summer. One of the chemical production units will be responsible for manufacturing performance polymers, which are widely used building block materials in various applications such as packaging, automotive, construction, and medical industries. The unit aims to produce 400,000 tons of Vistamaxx™ performance polymers annually. ExxonMobil set to make a grand entrance into the Linear Alpha Olefins market with the launch of its second unit. This move will see the company produce over 350,000 tons of the crucial component annually, utilized in various applications ranging from high-performance engines, industrial oils, waxes, surfactants, Polyethylene plastic for packaging, and other specialty chemicals.

ExxonMobil's Baytown facility is not only the largest integrated petrochemical complex in the United States but also one of the most advanced refining and petrochemical complexes globally. Established in 1919, the complex covers an area of around 3,400 acres alongside the Houston Ship Channel and is located approximately 25 miles east of Houston. The facility comprises a refinery, chemical plant, olefins plant, plastics plant, and a global technology center in nearby Mont Belvieu, Texas. According to Burcham, the two new sites at the expansion project are highly integrated, enhancing plant efficiency and product output.

Darren W. Woods, ExxonMobil's Chairman and CEO, commented on the investment required for these project expansions in the initial press release by saying, extensive investments in the United States are a testament to ExxonMobil's long-term growth strategy and will result in thousands of high-paying jobs. The Baytown chemical expansion establishes a strong foundation for us to maximize the value of increased Permian Basin production while simultaneously producing higher-value products at our Gulf Coast refining and chemical facilities. In the next two decades, global demand for chemicals is projected to surpass energy and GDP growth. Burcham stated that innovation and collaboration are critical to ExxonMobil's success, and the Baytown chemical expansion project employed immersive technologies and content-creation tools to allow technicians to virtually collaborate and walk through the construction process effectively.

Burcham shared that a comprehensive 3D engineering model was created to enable engineers from all over the world to input an updated unit model in real-life scale even before it was constructed. With the virtual model, operators could also develop plant procedures much earlier than usual. These tools not only saved time and kept the project on track, but they also increased consistency and reliability. Amidst managing vast projects and a global team, safety is always at the forefront of Burcham's mind. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 added another layer of complexity. She emphasized that they have numerous protective measures in place within their procedures, equipment, and personnel, which they ensure function every day. Burcham proudly credits the entire team for making this expansion one of the safest projects in the industry.

With the pandemic making its way to their area, the team made safeguarding their workforce a top priority to ensure their health and employment. These were challenging times as they dealt with evolving science and supply chain obstacles. Collaboration with experts from various fields and other ventures was crucial in keeping a step ahead of the situation. Burcham highlighted that the industry's primary challenge moving forward would be strengthening energy supply and reducing emissions to support a net-zero future. The products produced from this expansion align with this goal.

According to Burcham, these experiences have not only helped their neighbors but also served as a reminder of their blessings and strengthened their bonds through service. With the expansion of this project, Burcham's main goal is to inspire the next generation of talented individuals to continue innovating and meeting the evolving needs of ExxonMobil's customers. In the end, Burcham believes that the project will provide long-lasting value to both ExxonMobil and the Baytown community for many years to come.