The steam methane reformer will have a hydrogen production capacity of more than 50 million standard cubic feet per day and is projected to be completed in the second quarter of 2012. The facility will provide hydrogen and steam for Marathon’s heavy oil upgrade project at its Detroit refinery.

Increased and reliable hydrogen supply will be important to Marathon’s heavy oil upgrade project. As more sour crude oil is brought in from sources around the world, the requirements for additional hydrogen to make cleaner burning fuels also grows.

—Alex Masetti, vice president - North America Tonnage Gases at Air Products

Marathon’s Detroit hydrogen facility is the 31^st plant to be built through the global alliance between Air Products and Technip. Technip provides the design and construction expertise for steam reformers while Air Products provides the gas separation technology. The plants are operated and maintained by Air Products under long-term agreements with customers.