Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. plans to build a polyethylene (PE) pilot plant at its research and technology facility in Bartlesville, Okla.

The value of the project was not disclosed.

The state-of-the-art pilot plant will provide “leading-edge research, including new catalyst and polymer development, as well as polymer performance enhancements,” according to a recent company announcement.

“As a global producer of polyethylene, we strive to support our customers with the latest technological advances and process improvements through the efforts of our research and development personnel,” said Don Lycette, Chevron Phillips vice president of research and technology.

The new site will utilize Chevron Phillips Chemical’s exclusive “MarTECH” loop-slurry process for PE production and MarTECH ADL (advanced dual-loop) technology, a proprietary dual-loop process that enables production of bimodal PE resins for advanced applications, according to the announcement.

“All MarTECH technology delivers reliable, high-reactor throughput while minimizing capital expense, operating costs and environmental impact, and it is utilized by numerous commercial reactor facilities worldwide,” the company further noted.

Chevron Phillips Chemical recently completed an ethylene expansion project at its Sweeny complex in Old Ocean, Texas.

Construction on the Oklahoma facility is expected to begin in 2015 and be completed sometime in 2017.