Our State-of-the-art Polyethylene Plant Redefines The Industry

Title: Administration Building Handover Pennsylvania Chemicals Project

Duration: 1:03

Description:

A short video showing the administration building being completed

Administration Building Handover Pennsylvania Chemicals Project

[Bill Watson, Site General Manager speaking:]

It feels exciting. It really is that first step into the start-up. This will be the permanent home for, really, the majority of our staff that’s gonna stay here and operate and maintain the plant.

[Jeroen “Dutch” Blijlevens, GAB Turnover Coordinator speaking:]

It was a multi-discipline, multi-people, multi-company effort between the implementation contractor and GAB, Shell.

It was a real good team effort to get this building over.

[Chris Howell, Shell Project Director speaking:]

This is the first thing that a lot of people will see when they come to Pennsylvania Chemicals. It’s the star attraction as you walk onto site. I’m really proud! When you look around and you see the detail behind the facility, it really is impressive. And I think folks will come here and be really proud to show up each and every day and work in a facility like this.

[Chris Jackson, Production Unit Manager, PE Logistics speaking]

This is a milestone that a lot of people have been waiting for, and now we’re able to call this building our home.

Title: Starting Up Raw Water Treatment Pennsylvania Chemicals Project

Duration: 1:43

Description:

A short video showing the start up of the raw water treatment plant

[Heather Michaux, UGF Deputy CSU & Maintenance Lead speaking]

It was January 31st, the day we actually started it up. Snow, polar vortex, the whole nine yards.

[Scott Thompson, Production Unit Manager, UGF speaking]

The temperatures outside are below freezing, and therefore, starting up a water plant in these conditions can be extremely difficult.

[Huberto Diaz, CSU Lead, UGF speaking]

Everything was ready, and ready to go. You get those butterflies in your stomach.

[Heather Michaux speaking]

You’re like, “OK this is the moment of truth,” right?

[UGF employees speaking over radio]

“I’m ready.”

“Yeah, Roger that. 5-9-3-0-1 Charlie, here comes your start.”

[Heather Michaux speaking]

Hearing the pump start up and then once it stayed on suction and actually ran, all of this work that we put in all of this effort over, literally, years and years that has gone into actually getting to start up real plant equipment…it was an exciting feeling.

[Chad DiStanislao, UGF Operator speaking]

It’s been a long road. There’s been a ton of work to come into this.

[John Platt, Bechtel Senior Project Manager speaking]

Today marks an inflection point for the project as we, in earnest, pivot to starting operations.

[Joe Lollini, UGF Operations Support Engineer speaking]

This milestone will set off a chain reaction, a sequence of events where eventually we’ll get all of the utilities up and running. We’ll get CoGen up and running. We’ll produce electricity for the first time. And eventually we’ll start the ECU and the Polyethylene Units and it will culminate in that very first pellet.

[Huberto Diaz speaking]

Over the last decade, this project came to life. Whether you were wearing this red uniform, or you were wearing a craft uniform in the field, everyone was all marching, walking in the same direction to make this a success.

Title: First Shift in Control Building

Duration: 1:49

Description:

A short video showing the production operator team arriving for their first shift

First Shift in Control Building Transcript

[Franz Grasser speaking]

Today is a big day for Shell Polymers Monaca,where operators of UGF are going on shift for the first time.

Commissioning and start-up is a very sequential thing, and you can not produce products at the end of your process if you have not done the first steps right.

This is really a big step. We are prepared for it.

[Jeff Krafve speaking]

We’re commissioning and handing over the central control building.

A lot of folks put a lot energy, talent, and effort into bringing this to life.

This is the control building that will bring the entire plant to life and realize our aspirations for this site.

[John Plat speaking]

This is the first proper turnover where we’re providing it to the asset and they’re going on shift and starting their activities on site.

[Scott Thompson speaking]

Our operators have been on our team for over two years now. And during that time, prior to operations, we’ve been focusing on training.

[Ikenna Uche speaking]

The operators spend a lot of time on the control system, doing a lot of mach drills and actually getting hands-on training on the control system.

We also have a dynamic simulator where they can practice offline in a very safe environment. The operators are very comfortable and very experienced and well-versed and have all the tools they need to do the job.

[Scott Thompson speaking]

It makes me excited to think about what we’re about to achieve as we continue to commission and start up this plant.

[John Plat speaking]

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing to be a part of, a major start-up like this.

[Ikenna Uche speaking]

Ultimately, we want to be the best PE producer in the country so this is a step in that direction.

[John Plat speaking]

We’re all in this together. We’re moving every day, closer and closer, to making polyethylene.