Environmental Management at a   Major
Petrochemical Facility
ROBERT N. RICKLES, Vice President
Resource Engineering Associates, Inc.
Stamford, Connecticut
INTRODUCTION
A number of papers have been presented at this conference which relate to
the treatment of industrial wastes, but few details exist on the planned development of a major new industrial facility in a politically and ecologically sensitive
location. This paper will discuss the program undertaken by the Celamse Corporation in the planning and development of a major new petrochemical facility
located in the Bay Port Industrial Development at Houston, Texas and known as
the Clear Lake facility of the Celanese Chemical Company.
' The production of the first quantity of acetaldehyde from the first production
unit in early November of 1967 marked the success of an exceptional effort by
the Celanese project team and the contractor, Brown and Root. No less remarkable were the efforts in the area of environmental management which related
closely to the entire project.
Environmental management considerations have been of prime concern to
the corporation for many years. However, Clear Lake represents the first concerted effort from site selection to plant operation and beyond. This paper will
present a detailed evaluation of that program which continues today as additional
units are planned for the Clear Lake site.
BAY PORT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
Several years ago it became obvious that the further growth of the Celanese
Chemical Company would require a new major production site which could take
advantage of the present and future hydrocarbon sources and future market requirements for the company's chemicals. At that time Celanese already operated
significant petrochemical operations at Bay City, Bishop and Pampa, Texas. Future requirements would demand a complex considerably larger than any currently
in use. A survey of potential sites for "Plant X" focused on Gulf Coast locations
between Lake Charles, Louisiana and Corpus Christi, Texas. Each of the major
locations under consideration were evaluated with regard to current and anticipated air and water pollution control requirements as well as other significant
cost factors. Among the items evaluated was the nearness and intensity of major
pollutional receptors such as aquatic life, large population centers and agricultural developments. Order of magnitude capital requirements for pollution control were prepared in order to make sound economic comparisons of various competing sites. These evaluations were prepared on the basis that the plant would
undertake to employ the maximum control equipment and techniques available to
safeguard the environment.
Despite the extra environmental control costs associated with this area, a site
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