ExxonMobil Chemical opens new synthetic base stocks plant in Texas

ExxonMobil Chemical on Friday announced the opening of its world-scale manufacturing facility that will enable the company to produce up to 50,000 tpy of SpectraSyn Elite metallocene polyalphaolefin (mPAO) synthetic lubricant base stocks.

The new plant is located at the company's integrated refining and chemical complex in Baytown, Texas. At its peak, the Baytown synthetic base stocks plant project, which began in 2011, employed over 700 construction-related workers.

“Our new Baytown manufacturing plant marks another significant milestone in ExxonMobil Chemical’s history of technology leadership in advanced synthetic base stock innovation,” said Russ Green, ExxonMobil Chemical vice president for its global synthetics business. 

“This substantial investment extends our commitment to providing customers with a reliable, global base stock supply to help them achieve their goals. Since the introduction of our Esterex esters nearly 50 years ago, we have applied synthetic base stock technology to help our customers meet changing market needs and increasing demands on lubricants.”

Developed using a proprietary metallocene catalyst process, SpectraSyn Elite mPAO base stocks are scientifically engineered to offer improved performance characteristics versus conventional PAO base stocks. These attributes include higher viscosity index, improved shear stability and enhanced low-temperature properties. SpectraSyn Elite mPAO can help formulators manufacture automotive and industrial finished lubricants that offer greater durability, enhanced energy efficiency and extended drain intervals.

“At ExxonMobil Chemical, we believe that innovative lubricants start with using high-performing synthetic base stocks, such as SpectraSyn Elite mPAO,” said Green. “That’s why we have invested in new technology and production capacity at our Baytown chemical complex to support the expected long-term global growth of synthetic automotive and industrial lubricants.”

ExxonMobil Chemical is among the world’s largest synthetic base stocks providers, offering a wide selection of advanced synthetic base stock fluids, including SpectraSyn and SpectraSyn Plus PAOs, Synesstic alkylated naphthalene and Esterex ester fluids.