LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD), the leading global hydrogen provider, today announced a long-term supply contract and plans to construct a new world scale hydrogen production facility, which will be connected to Air Products' extensive Louisiana Hydrogen Pipeline Network, to serve ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge, Louisiana refinery and additional customers in the region. The facility is expected to be on-stream in March 2010.

"We are very pleased to expand our global business relationship with ExxonMobil. Air Products takes great pride in its production facilities and hydrogen supply reliability, and this project will enable us to demonstrate the added value of our expanded Louisiana Hydrogen Pipeline Network," said Alex Masetti, vice president, North America Tonnage Gases for Air Products. Air Products' most recent collaboration with ExxonMobil included hydrogen production facilities brought on-stream in 2006 in Baytown, Texas and Joliet, Illinois.

"This will become the third world-scale hydrogen facility Air Products has built in the Mississippi river corridor in four years, joining the Convent facility which came on-stream in 2006 and the Garyville facility which will come on-stream in 2009. This newest expansion of our infrastructure in Louisiana continues to build upon our multi-source hydrogen network with over 650 MMSCFD of capacity, which provides enhanced flexibility and supply reliability to our customers," said Thomas Wendahl, manager -- Tonnage Business, East Gulf Coast Area for Air Products. Supplying global refiners with hydrogen to make cleaner burning transportation fuels is one of the top growth businesses for Air Products.

Air Products has the largest hydrogen pipeline network in the U.S. Gulf Coast. Air Products' Gulf Coast pipeline network extends from the Houston Ship Channel in Texas to Lake Charles, La., and from Baton Rouge to Norco, La., and east of New Orleans. This pipeline network provides highly reliable hydrogen supply to approximately 50 refinery and process industry customers.

Air Products' hydrogen facility at Baton Rouge will be the 30th plant to be built through the global alliance between Air Products and Technip. This alliance continues to provide the worldwide refining industry with competitive technology and world-class safety. Technip provides the design and construction expertise for steam reformers while Air Products provides the gas separation technology. Air Products, through its extensive operating network, and Technip, from its large reference base, also bring effective operational and engineering knowledge to "design-in" high reliability and efficiency. The plants are operated and maintained by Air Products under long-term agreements with customers.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE: APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. Air Products has annual revenues of $10 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 22,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit http://www.airproducts.com.

About Technip

Technip is a world leader in the fields of project management, engineering and construction for the oil & gas industry, offering a comprehensive portfolio of innovative solutions and technologies.

With 23,000 employees around the world, integrated capabilities and proven expertise in underwater infrastructures (Subsea), offshore facilities (Offshore) and large processing units and plants on land (Onshore), Technip is a key contributor to the development of sustainable solutions for the energy challenges of the 21st century.

Present in 46 countries, Technip has operating centers and industrial assets (manufacturing plants, spoolbases, construction yard) on five continents, and operates its own fleet of specialized vessels for pipeline installation and subsea construction.

The Technip share is listed on Euronext Paris exchange and over the counter (OTC) in the USA.

For more information, visit http://www.technip.com.

***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations.

SOURCE Air Products