(Archived) Praxair Awarded Hydrogen Contract by Shell

DANBURY, Conn., April 9, 2009 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) has been awarded a hydrogen contract by Shell Oil Company to supply high-purity pipeline hydrogen to Shell’s Deer Park, Texas, refinery for the production of ultra-low sulfur motor fuels.

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 U.S. Gulf Coast beginning in 2010. This system is also strategically integrated with Praxair’s unique hydrogen storage cavern to provide high levels of supply flexibility and availability.

“We are very pleased to have been selected by a global leader in the refining industry to supply hydrogen to one of Shell’s most important refineries. Praxair understands the complex and changing needs of refiners, especially in today’s environment, and is committed to being the supplier of choice,” said Anne Roby, vice president, South Region, for Praxair’s North American Industrial Gases business.

The 340,000-barrels-per-day Shell-operated refinery at Deer Park is the sixth largest in the United States.  It 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 transportation fuels that meet the most stringent low-sulfur specifications.

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.

In addition to hydrogen, Praxair supplies refining customers with a complete portfolio of large-volume industrial gases, cylinder gases and specialized services. The company operates 34 steam methane reformers and seven hydrogen pipeline systems around the world that deliver approximately 950 million standard cubic feet per day of hydrogen.

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. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.