McDermott International Inc. was granted a sizable technology contract for Next Wave Energy Partners LP's grassroots alkylate production facility in Pasadena, Texas.

The contract includes a process design package to be provided by McDermott's Lummus Technology LLC as well as a license for Lummus' proprietary Dimer process, which converts ethylene into a high-purity butene-2 feed stream for an alkylate with a higher octane value, according to a Dec. 12 news release from McDermott.

The alkylate is used for blending the cleaner-burning gasoline required for high-performance engines, McDermott said.

The facility, known as Project Traveler, will be able to consume 1.2 billion pounds of ethylene per year to produce an estimated 28,000 barrels of alkylate a day when operations start in mid-2022.

While no contract value was disclosed, McDermott defines a sizeable contract as between $1 million and $50 million.

Next Wave Energy Partners is an independent energy company based in Houston.