Olefins
NOVA Chemicals produces a significant quantity of chemical co-products while producing ethylene. Ethylene is primarily used by NOVA Chemicals to produce polyethylene. All of NOVA Chemicals’ crackers (ethylene production units) are 100% ethane capable, meaning they can convert ethane into ethylene. Currently, this is the most efficient method of ethylene production, which results in lower co-product production, when compared to cracking other typical feedstocks such as propane, butane, naphtha or gas oil.
Products
Ethylene
NOVA Chemicals produces approximately 8 billion pounds of ethylene each year at production facilities across Canada and the United States. Ethylene is a hydrocarbon gas that is used as a building block to produce polyethylene, ethylene oxide, PVC, styrene, and various other chemical applications.
Polymer Grade Propylene
PGP is primarily used in the plastics industry. Over half of PGP in North America is used to produce polypropylene, with other common products including propylene oxide and acrylonitrile.
Crude Butadiene
The Crude Butadiene stream produced at Geismar is approximately 70% 1,3 butadiene. This production is shipped via barge for further processing into a more pure butadiene stream. Most butadiene is made into synthetic rubber.
Debutanized Aromatics Concentrate
Debutanized Aromatics Concentrate, also known as DAC or Pyrolysis Gasoline, is an aromatics stream made up of about 40% benzene. DAC is further refined, and used to create gasoline additives, styrene, and other petrochemical products.
Locations
Geismar, Louisiana, U.S.
In addition to ethylene, this site produces three coproducts: Polymer Grade Propylene, Crude Butadiene, and Debutanized Aromatics Concentrate.
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Joffre, Alberta, Canada
One of the largest ethylene and polyethylene production complexes in the world, the Joffre site actually consists of five manufacturing facilities.
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Corunna, Ontario, Canada
A petrochemical facility that can produce 1.8 billion pounds of ethylene and up to 700 million pounds of co-products annually, this facility was first fully integrated cracker and petrochemical complex in North America.
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