Exxon 2008 Annual Report Download - page 37

Battery separator film is a key component in lithium-ion batteries.
New ExxonMobil film technology could help usher in a new generation
of hybrid and electric vehicles.
Selectively Invest in Advantaged Projects
In 2008 we made significant progress on plans to meet
demand growth in Asia as we increased construction activity
on projects in China and Singapore.
Through 2015 we expect about 60 percent of global
petrochemical demand growth will occur in Asia, with
over one-third in China alone. To meet this growth, we are
investing in projects in Asia and the Middle East with long-
term competitive advantages, including integration with other
operations, advantaged feedstocks, proprietary process and
product technology, and market access.
• Construction continued on the integrated refining and
petrochemical facility located in Quanzhou, Fujian
Province, China. This project includes an 800-thousand-
tons-per-year ethylene steam cracker and integrated
polyethylene, polypropylene, and paraxylene units.
Start-up is scheduled for 2009.
• Construction activity ramped up on a new world-scale
petrochemical complex at our existing integrated refining
and chemical facility in Singapore. This project includes
a 1-million-tons-per-year ethylene steam cracker;
polyethylene, polypropylene, specialty elastomer, and
benzene units; and expansions to the existing oxo alcohol
and paraxylene units. Project start-up is expected in 2011.
• Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and ExxonMobil
signed a Heads of Agreement and are progressing detailed
studies at our petrochemical joint ventures in Saudi Arabia,
Kemya and Yanpet, to supply synthetic rubber,
thermoplastic specialty polymers, and carbon black.
• We continue to progress studies in cooperation with
Qatar Petroleum for a world-scale petrochemical complex
in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar. The ethylene steam
cracker would utilize feedstock from gas development
projects in Qatar’s North Field, and the project would
employ ExxonMobil’s proprietary steam-cracking furnace
and polyethylene technologies.
We also continued to invest for growth in our specialty
businesses and to progress low-cost and high-return
efficiency projects. We seek investment opportunities
offering competitive advantages that support growth while
achieving industry-leading returns across the business cycle.
Build Proprietary Technology Positions
Discovery, development, and deployment of industry-leading
process and product technology is a source of competitive
advantage for ExxonMobil. We focus significant research
on the identification, development, and commercialization of
lower-cost advantaged feedstocks, more efficient operating
processes, and higher-value premium products.
APPROVED MAJOR PROJECTS
Commodities
Product
Capacity
(metric tons
per year)
(1)
2009 Fujian, China Ethylene 200,000
Paraxylene 175,000
Polyethylene 200,000
Polypropylene 100,000
Rotterdam, the Netherlands Benzene 20% increase
Paraxylene 25% increase
2011 Singapore Ethylene 1,000,000
Polyethylene 1,300,000
Polypropylene 500,000
Benzene 340,000
Paraxylene 80,000
Specialties
2008 Baytown, Texas Bromobutyl Rubber 60% increase
Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon,
France
Adhesive Polymers 18,000
Pensacola, Florida Compounded Polymers 1 line
Singapore Hydrocarbon Fluids 130,000
2009 Gumi, South Korea Specialty Films 2 lines
2011 Singapore Oxo Alcohols 125,000
Specialty Elastomers 300,000
(1) ExxonMobil equity share of capacity addition.
E X X O N ฀ M O B I L ฀ C O R P O R A T I O N ฀ •฀ 2 0 0 8 ฀ S U M M A R Y ฀ A N N U A L ฀ R E P O R T 35