Praxair will supply hydrogen to Shell’s refinery from a system of steam methane reformers and hydrogen recovery units connected via a 300-mile hydrogen pipeline network along the US Gulf Coast beginning in 2010. This system is also strategically integrated with Praxair’s hydrogen storage cavern to provide high levels of supply flexibility and availability.

The Deer Park refinery is a 50-50 joint venture partnership between Shell Oil Company and PMI Norteamerica S.A. de C.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex). Since the partnership was formed in 1993, significant investments have been made to upgrade the refinery to handle heavy sour crude and produce low-sulfur transportation fuels.

Praxair has been providing Shell’s Deer Park refinery and chemical complex with oxygen and nitrogen for over 40 years as well as large volumes of industrial gases and services to 11 additional Shell facilities in four countries.

Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion.