Praxair To Expand Kirtland, New Mexico Nitrogen Facility

(RTTNews) - Praxair, Inc. (PX) said Monday that it has started up a second nitrogen plant at its facility in Kirtland, New Mexico to support growing nitrogen demand in the San Juan basin, which includes southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico.

The new plant, along with an additional liquefier expansion to be completed later this year, will increase total capacity at the site to 300 tons per day of liquid nitrogen, in addition to gaseous nitrogen that is being supplied to local pipeline customers under long-term contracts.

Demand for nitrogen continues to grow as local oil and gas operators develop new oil resources in the area. Nitrogen is an inert gas that can effectively replace water that is typically used in hydraulic fracturing.