BHC Ltd. began working on the construction of the Bio-DieselPre-Processing Plant in March 2015, the first phase of theArgent Energy expansion plan within the Essar Stanlow Refinery, Ellesmere Port, Chester.
The works comprised of the construction of a 4,500m2 structure including a materials reception and off-loading area, main process hall, specialist process hall,plant and boiler rooms, odour control plant, external covered storage area, and associated offices and welfare facilities.
Prior to construction commencing a site clearance and preparation exercise generated approximately 3000 m3 of existing, below-ground foundations and obstructions, which were stockpiled, crushed, graded and re-incorporated within the works as a piling matt and final formation for the ground floor concrete raft construction.
1,200 concrete piles were driven to an average depth of 18 m to support the waterproof, insitu concrete, multi-level, raft slab construction. Steelwork commenced in early September 2015 and was sequenced to allow the early entry of specialist process works and plant installations.
The erection of the structure was sequenced around the client’s main process, product tanks and plant installation, and included a large, three-storey internal mezzanine structure plus associated access walkways,platforms, internal cranage and hoisting rails.
500 tonnes of structural and secondary steelwork were erected, combining a number of finishes such as intumescent and galvanised. With the installation of main plant items and completion of the steel structure, the internal fire and explosive division walls could be installed with the main roof and wall cladding commencing thereafter.
