Air Products and Grupo Infra Joint Venture Supplying Nitrogen to Pemex for Enhanced Oil and Natural Gas Recovery in Mexico


LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Dec. 12 -- Air Products (NYSE:APD) announced today that a new joint venture company with its Grupo Infra partner has started supplying 90 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of nitrogen to Pemex Exploracion y Produccion (PEP). The nitrogen from the gas turbine and steam driven facility is being supplied for injection and enhanced oil and natural gas recovery from PEP's Jujo-Tecominoacan oil fields near Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. The nitrogen plant project, announced in January 2006, began its supply of nitrogen during November as scheduled.

"The ability to extract greater quantities of oil and natural gas from existing supplies in the most economic manner is very important. We believe this technology application will be used increasingly worldwide to get the most from available natural resources," said Mike Olivares, Air Products' vice president, Latin America/South Africa. "The overall effort to get the nitrogen production facility on-stream as scheduled ran very smoothly and can be attributed to teamwork and collaboration." Olivares commended the work of its partner, Grupo Infra, on this project. Air Products and Grupo Infra have been supplying industrial gases to Pemex for over 25 years.

Air Products has been supplying nitrogen to the oil and gas industry for enhanced recovery since the early 1980s. Nitrogen for enhanced oil recovery, in combination with nitrogen for the extraction of unconventional natural gas, drives these primary energy markets that provide continued growth opportunities for Air Products and complement the company's leading position in supplying hydrogen to refineries for the production of cleaner burning transportation fuels.

The engineering and imported equipment was provided by Air Products. CryoInfra supplied the local equipment and construction, and will operate the plant. Close collaboration between these two companies and close on-going communication with Pemex were the keys to the successful project execution.

Air Products (NYSE:APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. Air Products has annual revenues of $10 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 22,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

Source: Air Products

CONTACT: Media, Art George, +1-610-481-1340, georgeaf@airproducts.com,

Web site: www.airproducts.com/

All Topics