Air Liquide La Porte Steam Methane Reformer
Large load · 11450 W. FAIRMONT PARKWAY, La Porte, TX
Air Liquide's La Porte, Texas, steam methane reformer makes hydrogen on the Gulf Coast. The unit was ribbon-cut in 2012 and feeds gaseous hydrogen into the company's Texas Gulf Coast pipeline system, mainly for refinery sulfur removal. A February 2024 Canary Media visit describes the reformer breaking off pure hydrogen from methane and venting carbon dioxide, and the company holds a DOE grant for engineering studies to add carbon capture to the site.
Overview
Air Liquide held a ribbon-cutting for its new hydrogen production unit in La Porte in April 2012. The steam methane reformer produces 120 million standard cubic feet per day of gaseous hydrogen that feeds the company's pipeline system along the Texas Gulf Coast, including a recently built 85-mile pipeline expansion that supplies refineries in Port Arthur. A Houston Public Media report on the opening describes the unit's main job as extracting hydrogen from natural gas, and says the hydrogen is used mainly to remove sulfur from fossil fuels so that refiners can process heavier crudes.
Profile
- Operations and output
- Canary Media's 2024 visit describes a train of tanks, tubes and reformer equipment, with methane delivered by a network of pipes and valves to the reformer unit, which breaks off pure hydrogen gas and vents carbon dioxide as a byproduct. The article reports that Air Liquide makes 116.5 million standard cubic feet of hydrogen per day at La Porte, that three other reformers bring the regional total to 400 million standard cubic feet a day, and that the company operates 330 miles of hydrogen pipeline to deliver the product. The article also says the company can draw on its underground salt cavern at Spindletop when it needs to conduct maintenance.
- Carbon capture and federal engagement
- Air Liquide's team won a Department of Energy grant to conduct the engineering studies needed to retrofit La Porte with carbon-capture equipment. The company points to its Cryocap H2 and Cryocap FG technologies as carbon capture options for existing steam methane reforming plants. A Department of Energy team visited the La Porte steam methane reforming facility to discuss clean hydrogen production and carbon capture, and the company says it is a member of six of the seven hydrogen hubs announced by the Department of Energy.
Facility
- Activity
- Hydrogen production by steam methane reforming
- Industry
- Manufacturing
- Site type
- Facility
- Operating status
- Operating
Related records
Timeline
- Apr 26, 2012
- Air Liquide held a ribbon-cutting for its new La Porte hydrogen production unit
Air Liquide announces start up of new Steam Methane Reformer in La Porte, Texas | Air Liquide USA
- Feb 1, 2024
- Canary Media visited the La Porte reformer, which breaks off hydrogen and vents carbon dioxide
Clean hydrogen is driving the next Gulf Coast energy… | Canary Media