Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG) today announced plans to build a new 450
ton-per-day liquid carbon dioxide plant in the greater Houston area to
replace its plant at the Shell Deer Park Refinery complex that is
expected to close late this year. Airgas has entered into long-term
agreements with affiliates of Denbury Resources, Inc., to transport and
deliver feedstock of raw carbon dioxide to the new Airgas facility.
'The construction of this facility represents Airgas′ commitment to this
very important and strategic market,? said Phil Filer, President, Airgas
Carbonic and Airgas Dry Ice. 'With our long-term feedstock agreements we
will be able to serve existing and secure new carbon dioxide customers
in the petrochemical industry, as well as the traditional food chilling
and beverage carbonation industries. We will also be supplying liquid
carbon dioxide to our dry ice facility in LaPorte, Texas.?
Airgas expects that construction will begin shortly on its new carbon
dioxide purification and liquefaction plant and will be completed in the
fall.
The Airgas and Denbury relationship goes back to 2001, when Airgas sold
its Jackson Dome reserves and the associated 183-mile pipeline in
Mississippi to Denbury. Recently, Denbury opened up its Green Pipeline
which transports this natural, well-based carbon dioxide more than 500
miles to its current terminus at the Hastings Field, just south of
William P. Hobby Airport.
According to Filer, the new Airgas plant will repurpose many of the
existing assets from the current Deer Park facility, such as storage
tanks, truck loading equipment, scales, and analytical equipment.
Furthermore, current Airgas production and distribution personnel will
all be relocated to the new facility.
Airgas currently operates eleven liquid carbon dioxide plants and 52 dry
ice facilities supplying customers in the chemicals, food processing,
food service, beverage, pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
About Airgas, Inc. Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), through its
subsidiaries, is one of the nation′s leading suppliers of industrial,
medical and specialty gases, and hardgoods, such as welding equipment
and related products. Airgas is a leading U.S. producer of atmospheric
gases with 16 air separation plants, a leading producer of carbon
dioxide, dry ice, and nitrous oxide, one of the largest U.S. suppliers
of safety products, and a leading U.S. supplier of refrigerants, ammonia
products, and process chemicals. More than 15,000 employees work in
approximately 1,100 locations, including branches, retail stores, gas
fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and distribution
centers. Airgas also markets its products and services through
eBusiness, catalog and telesales channels. Its national scale and strong
local presence offer a competitive edge to its diversified customer
base. For more information, please visit
