A General Licensing Agreement has been signed with Worley Comprimo to support Saudi Aramco’s liquids-to-chemicals programme. Aramco’s strategy aims to remove or streamline several conventional industrial processes by integrating refining processes to produce petrochemicals directly, while reducing direct CO2 emissions from the process through carbon capture. Aramco’s $100bn liquids-to-chemicals programme aims to convert 4 mbpd of its oil production into high-value petrochemicals and chemical feedstocks by 2030. Aramco/Sabic plan to establish 10-11 large mixed-feed crackers by 2030. (January 2024)

• Sabic considering plans to build oil-to-chemicals (OTC) project at Yanbu (April 2014)
• Aramco soon to sign MoU with Sabic for a joint oil-to-chemicals project. Aramco's participation could benefit Sabic by giving it better access to funding as well as assistance in marketing products. (May 2016)
• Sabic is signing an agreement with Saudi Aramco to develop its first crude oil-to-chemicals complex. The agreement will allow Sabic and Aramco to conduct a comprehensive joint feasibility study to be completed by 2017, which if successful will led to the establishment of a joint venture for the development of a fully integrated chemicals complex. The plant is expected to be established in Yanbu, but the feasibility study will ultimately determine its location. Aramco will also name the consulting firms which will undertake the potential project study. (June 2016)
• Sabic expects to conclude the feasibility study of its estimated $30bn OTC complex at Yanbu in a joint venture with Saudi Aramco in the H2 2017. (December 2016)
• Aramco/Sabic has received bids for the PMC contract for their planned JV project at Yanbu. The bidders are - Amec Foster Wheeler, Fluor, Jacobs Engineering, KBR, and WorleyParsons. The contract is expected to be awarded in early 2018. The contract scope will involve PMC of the whole project including pre-front end engineering and design work (pre-FEED) and FEED. (October 2017)  
• Aramco and Sabic close to completing the feasibility study for a new facility to convert crude oil directly to petrochemicals. Once concluded, the two firms will form a joint venture to take the project forward. (October 2017)
• Aramco has signed a preliminary agreement with SABIC that will govern the execution of the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) before a final investment decision is made for the fully integrated crude oil to chemicals (COTC) complex in Saudi Arabia. (November 2017)
• Aramco has signed a technology agreement with CB&I and Chevron Lummus, both of US, for the project. It covers pilot technologies to directly convert 70 to 80 percent of crude intake into chemicals. The aim would be commercialise the process in two years. (January 2018)
• Saudi Aramco and Sabic have awarded a contract to Wood Group of UK for project management and front-end engineering design (FEED) of the planned crude oil- to-chemicals (COTC) complex in Saudi Arabia. (March 2018)
• Saudi Aramco and Sabic have awarded a second contract to KBR of US for project management and front-end engineering design (FEED) for its planned crude oil- to-chemicals (COTC) complex in Saudi Arabia. (May 2018)
• Aramco through its wholly owned subsidiary, Saudi Aramco Technologies Company, has signed a deal with Siluria Technologies for a multi-plant technology license for the integration of Siluria’s proprietary technology (natural gas to olefins) with Saudi Aramco’s high-olefins cracking process technology. By integrating Siluria’s technology with existing facilities, operators can upgrade their methane-containing by-product streams from fuel to chemical value, improving carbon efficiency and production rates. (June 2018)
• The client seeks to purchase licensed technologies worth over $1bn for the COTC project. Technologies related to: package 1 relates to residual hydrocracking; package 2 for vacuum gas oil (VGO) and base oil extraction; and package 3 pertains to diesel and Naptha Hydrotreating. (September 2018)
• Saudi Aramco and Sabic have announced the selection of Yanbu, on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, as the site for the development of an integrated industrial complex to convert crude oil to chemicals (COTC). (November 2018)
• Aramco is modifying the size and scope of its crude oil-to-chemicals project. (October 2019)
• Aramco and Sabic are considering an alternative approach for plans to build a greenfield petrochemicals plant in Yanbu using COTC technology. Part of this alternative plan is building the greenfield petrochemicals plant in close proximity to the Yasref refinery in Yanbu for feedstock advantage. (May 2020)
• Saudi Aramco and Saudi Basic Industries have decided to re-evaluate their $20 billion crude-oil-to-chemicals project and are now looking at integrating existing facilities instead. Aramco and petrochemical producer Sabic in 2017 signed a preliminary deal to build a $20 billion complex to convert crude oil to chemicals. Sabic said the two companies are now considering the integration of Aramco’s existing refineries in Yanbu with a mixed feed steam cracker and downstream olefin derivative units. (October 2020)
• Contractors expect tendering for the COTC project to be delayed. There could be more changes expected in the scope of the project. (November 2022)
• Sabic plans to study setting up a complex to convert oil and liquids into chemicals in Ras Al-Khair, with the capacity to convert 400,000 barrels per day of crude oil into chemicals. (November 2022)
• Saudi Aramco has appointed project management consultants (PMC) for four main liquids-to-chemicals projects. Project East (PMC 1) – involves converting the Saudi Aramco Jubail Refinery Company (Sasref) complex in Jubail into an integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex through the addition of a mixed-feed cracker. Project West (PMC 2) – involves converting the Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company (Yasref) complex in Yanbu into an integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex through the addition of a mixed-feed cracker. Project X (PMC 3) – involves converting the Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company (Samref) complex in Yanbu into an integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex through the addition of a mixed-feed cracker. Project RTC (PMC 4) – involves building a crude oil-to-chemicals (COTC) complex in Ras al-Khair. Aramco’s $100bn liquids-to-chemicals programme aims to convert 4 mbpd of its oil production into high-value petrochemicals and chemical feedstocks by 2030. Aramco/Sabic plan to establish 10-11 large mixed-feed crackers by 2030. (October 2023)