CEMEX to expand cement capacity in Texas

Expansion of Texas cement plant to meet growing demand for well cements for oil and gas industry

CEMEX have announced plans to expand production capacity at their Odessa cement plant, in Texas, by 345,000 tonnes to nearly 900,000 tonnes per year to keep pace with rapidly growing demand for speciality cements in the West Texas market, led mainly by the oil and gas industry.

The expansion, which will utilize state-of-the-art production technology for greater fuel efficiency and improved productivity, will also include an improved higher-capacity load-out system, allowing for a more efficient truck-loading process.

‘This expansion reinforces our long-standing history of serving West Texas and the oil and gas industry by providing superior products coupled with superior customer service,’ said Karl Watson, Jr, president of CEMEX USA.

‘We look forward to remaining a top cement provider to the oil and gas industry as well as supporting the region’s growth in infrastructure and residential construction.’

The demand for speciality cement products used in well construction is growing as a result of the use of more efficient extraction technologies, such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

Oil wells using this technology typically reach depths of thousands of feet and special well cement is required for the complex application and extreme conditions to which these wells are exposed.