en.Wedoany.com Reported - CNOOC Shell Huizhou Phase III Ethylene Project has completed the full installation of nine core cracking furnace modules, marking the first modular construction of cracking furnaces implemented by CNOOC and a breakthrough on the critical path of the project's ethylene unit.
The project, the CNOOC Shell Huizhou Phase III 1.6 million ton ethylene project, is owned by a joint venture between CNOOC and Shell, with a total investment of 52.1 billion yuan, representing the highest investment scale in this review. The core capacity is 1.6 million tons of ethylene, supported by 18 units including metallocene PE, α-olefins, and PAO high-end lubricant raw materials. The process route adopts Shell's globally unique ethylene process technology, with several new technologies being industrialized for the first time.
The cracking furnace is a key piece of equipment for the ethylene unit, significantly impacting the stable production of the refining and chemical plant. The project is equipped with five light oil furnaces, three heavy oil furnaces, and one gas furnace, featuring massive equipment dimensions. The largest single module measures 51.04 meters by 20.41 meters by 42.14 meters, with a maximum single-piece weight of 1,910 tons.
The precision of equipment manufacturing and the level of installation techniques directly affect the long-term safe and stable operation of the unit after commissioning. The project management team broke away from conventional domestic scattered component construction methods, integrating the radiation section, convection section, primary quench, and auxiliary framework into an integrated module. This module was prefabricated, assembled, and tested in a standardized workshop before being shipped as a whole by sea to the site. This approach overcame challenges such as limited site space and flood season interference, reduced cross-operation risks, and improved overall equipment assembly quality and construction stability.
During the module manufacturing phase, the project team implemented a full-chain quality control mechanism, conducting regular joint quality inspections at key production and manufacturing nodes, establishing problem logs, and rectifying and closing out items one by one. All modules underwent high-standard quality acceptance before leaving the factory, eliminating quality risks. This provided a solid foundation for subsequent sea transport of oversized components and precise on-site installation.
In terms of construction organization, the project team customized transport and installation plans based on a "one furnace, one strategy" principle, formed a cross-unit joint team, and implemented grid-based responsibility management at the construction site. To address challenges such as transporting oversized components, heavy rainfall during the flood season, and limited on-site roads, the team adopted multi-process parallel staggered construction, established a 24-hour multi-party coordination mechanism, and precisely seized tidal and weather windows, solving numerous construction difficulties.
Through strict control throughout the entire process, all cracking furnace modules were installed more than 20 days ahead of the original schedule, achieving comprehensive improvements in safety, quality, and progress. In the next phase, the CNOOC Shell Huizhou Phase III Ethylene Project team will continue to advance the construction of process piping and supporting equipment, striving to create a high-quality project and supporting the high-quality development of CNOOC's refining and chemical industry.
