Chevron Oronite announced that it doubled detergent capacity at its plant in Gonfreville, France, that it will build a carboxylate production facility at its Singapore plant, and that it will upgrade and expand in Belle Chasse, La.
The San Ramon, Calif.-based chemical additive maker announced Monday completion of its detergent production expansion at Gonfreville, a project that it unveiled in October 2013. The facility can now produce more carboxylates and overbased sulfonate, which Oronite sells as supplemental detergents in additive packages.
The company did not disclose costs or volumes of the expansion projects.
Oronite will also add carboxylate production to its Singapore additives plant, which it expanded last year. Expected to be completed in 2017, the expansion will double the companys worldwide carboxylate capacity, according to its Jan. 12 press release.
At its Belle Chasse plant, Oronite expects to have expanded production by the end of 2016, in time for the next engine oil standards for passenger cars and heavy-duty trucks. The specification for passenger cars will be GF-6. The draft heavy-duty standard is PC-11, although its name will change upon adoption. Upgrades at Belle Chasse will include new and repurposed tankage, new piping, advanced blending capabilities, new mechanical equipment and new instrumentation.
Jirong Xiao, Oronites vice president of sales and marketing, noted that the company has not undertaken a larger series of investments since 1999. In addition to physical upgrades, the company is also investing in technology advancements, Xiao added.
Oronite is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron Corp.