Vancouver, British Columbia-based methanol producer Methanex has fast-tracked the relocation of a major chemical plant across continents to capitalize on natural gas prices from Louisiana's shale plays. It's a massive undertaking involving thousands of skilled workers and a seven-month sea voyage—but it's still cheaper than building a new plant.
Nearly 1,000 workers are on site each day at the Geismar, La., site, with a wide selection of contractors and subs. Jacobs Engineering, Pasadena, Calif., is the engineering and procurement contractor (EPC); Cajun Industries Inc., Baton Rouge, has handled site prep and concrete work; and the Netherlands' Mammoet was charged with lifting and hauling the process modules from the original plant site near Puntas Arenas, Chile, to Louisiana.