Challenges encountered when expanding a world-class petrochemical facility

This paper describes the challenges encountered when adding a new ethylene plant, a polyethylene plant, a cogeneration plant, and associated utilities to a major petrochemical facility located in Joffre, AB, Canada. It covers load estimation, power quality, reliability, common electrical specificati ons, and project coordination with several major engineering, procurement, and construction firms. It also highlights the unique design and utility in terconnection challenges of building Canada's largest cogeneration plant (r ated at 420 MW) within an existing petrochemical plant. The challenges incl ude transmission system capacity and connection, fault levels, stability, a nd voltage regulation. The paper makes recommendations based on the learnin g experienced during the implementation of this project, to assist the read er faced with a similar major plant expansion.