Worley awarded EPC contract for ExxonMobil’s low-carbon hydrogen project in US

Australian engineering and professional services company Worley will provide reimbursable engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services to US materials major ExxonMobil for the enabling works, infrastructure and interconnects scope of the latter’s planned low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia facility in Baytown, Texas, US.
The Baytown facility is expected to produce 28.3 million cu m of low-carbon hydrogen daily and nearly 1 million tonnes/year of ammonia while capturing more than 98% of the associated CO2 emissions. A final investment decision (FID) is expected in 2025 with an anticipated startup in 2029.

ExxonMobil said the facility will leverage advanced carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies to reduce emissions associated with hydrogen production, adding that by creating US jobs and supporting community development initiatives, the project’s construction will also bring economic benefits to Baytown, the Houston area and Texas.

In September 2024, the US firm signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) under which the latter will acquire a 35% equity stake in the facility.

Also this year, ExxonMobil entered agreements with French industrial gas supplier Air Liquide and Japanese energy major JERA regarding the Texas project.

Partnering with Air Liquide, ExxonMobil said the company aims to enable the growth of a low-carbon hydrogen market along the US Gulf Coast to help industrial customers decarbonise their operations.

As for the deal with JERA, the company revealed that the two parties will explore JERA’s ownership participation in the project. Moreover, the deal includes JERA’s procurement of low-carbon ammonia for demand in Japan.