Ethane

Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Enterprise Products Partners | Ethane | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

Exporters Say China is Now Gun-Shy About Buying U.S. Ethane
August 11, 2025August 11, 2025

The two U.S. companies that export ethane, Energy Transfer and Enterprise Products Partners, are both saying that the Trump administration’s temporary block on shipping ethane to China in June gave our export industry a black eye, and China is much less likely to contract for more of our ethane shipments. (Cue the violins.) However, when you consider that China buys half (50%) of our ethane exports, and that ethane exports represent a good chunk of revenue for both companies (both with operations in the Marcellus/Utica), it’s not nothing. Read More “Exporters Say China is Now Gun-Shy About Buying U.S. Ethane”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Regulation | Shell

Antis Hound PA DEP for More Notifications & Fines re Shell Cracker
August 6, 2025August 6, 2025

Two days ago, MDN brought you the news confirming that Shell is looking to sell all or part of its Beaver County, PA, ethane cracker plant operation (see Shell Looks to Sell All or Part of Monaca, PA Ethane Cracker Plant). We remain somewhat incredulous that it wants to sell an asset like the cracker plant. The question is, why? We said this: “We still think Shell is just plain tired of dealing with all of the CRAP from the environmental left and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, which declares a new emergency or violation at the plant about every other day.” Right on cue, a group of radicals is hammering the DEP, claiming the cracker plant is polluting everything in sight and that the DEP is not being hard enough on Shell. Read More “Antis Hound PA DEP for More Notifications & Fines re Shell Cracker”
Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Shell Looks to Sell All or Part of Monaca, PA Ethane Cracker Plant
August 4, 2025August 4, 2025

Back in March, the Wall Street Journal reported that Shell is “exploring a potential sale of its chemicals assets in Europe and the U.S.,” which includes the recently completed Monaca (Beaver County, PA) ethane cracker complex (see Shocker: Shell Considers Selling Beaver County, PA Ethane Cracker). It looks like the rumors were right. Last week on an earnings call with analysts, Shell CEO Wael Sawan said, concerning the Monaca cracker, that Shell is “not the natural operator and owner of that asset.” Read More “Shell Looks to Sell All or Part of Monaca, PA Ethane Cracker Plant”
Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Enterprise Products Partners | Ethane | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

Much Ado About Nothing: U.S. Ethane Exports to China Fully Resume
July 8, 2025July 8, 2025

MDN recently brought you the news that the Trump administration was blocking cargoes of ethane to China (see U.S. Denies Permit for Enterprise to Export Ethane Cargoes to China). Ethane is a raw feedstock used to create plastics. Denying China access to our ethane hurts the Chinese economy. We later reported that the export ban to China was just a bargaining position and had been lifted (see Trump Trade Deal Lifts Ethane Export Ban to China; Cargo to India). However, in another twist to this saga, the Trump administration informed Enterprise Products and Energy Transfer (the two companies exporting ethane to China) that they could load the ethane and ship it. However, before unloading, they will still need U.S. government permission (see Trump Admin Sends Mixed Signals on Ethane Exports to China). The mixed signals are once again clear. Read More “Much Ado About Nothing: U.S. Ethane Exports to China Fully Resume”
Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Enterprise Products Partners | Ethane | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

Trump Admin Sends Mixed Signals on Ethane Exports to China
June 26, 2025June 26, 2025

mixed signals

MDN recently brought you the news that the Trump U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) was blocking at least three (possibly more) cargoes of ethane by rejecting permits to export to Enterprise Products Partners (see U.S. Denies Permit for Enterprise to Export Ethane Cargoes to China). Ethane is a raw feedstock used to create plastics. Denying China access to our ethane will hurt the Chinese economy. We later reported that the export ban to China was just a bargaining position and had been lifted (see Trump Trade Deal Lifts Ethane Export Ban to China; Cargo to India). However, in another twist to this saga, the Trump administration has informed Enterprise Products and Energy Transfer (the two companies exporting ethane to China) that they can load the ethane and ship it. However, before unloading, they will still need U.S. government permission. Huh? Read More “Trump Admin Sends Mixed Signals on Ethane Exports to China”
Ethane | Exporting | Industrywide Issues

Trump Trade Deal Lifts Ethane Export Ban to China; Cargo to India
June 16, 2025June 16, 2025

MDN recently brought you the news that the Trump U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) was blocking at least three (possibly more) cargoes of ethane by rejecting permits to export to Enterprise Products Partners (see U.S. Denies Permit for Enterprise to Export Ethane Cargoes to China). Ethane is a raw feedstock used to create plastics. Denying China access to our ethane will hurt the Chinese economy. We later reported that it appears the export ban to China was just a bargaining position and was unlikely to remain in place (see Trump Using Ethane Exports to China as Bargaining Chip in Trade War). That observation was prescient. On June 10, U.S. and Chinese negotiators reached a tentative framework that removed the export ban. Read More “Trump Trade Deal Lifts Ethane Export Ban to China; Cargo to India”
Accidents | Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

PA DEP Says Shell Ethane Plant Fire May Have Released Carcinogens
June 6, 2025June 6, 2025

Footage of Shell’s ethane cracker in Monaca, Pa. shows smoke coming off the site. Image: Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community

Another incident happened Wednesday afternoon at the Shell ethane cracker plant facility in Beaver County, PA. This isn’t the first problem at the plant (see our cracker problem stories here). An explosion and fire (with smoke) were reported at the ethane cracker on Wednesday. A company spokesperson stated that smoke was seen coming off of a furnace unit at the plant around 2:20 p.m. She said the incident was managed by site personnel, and the smoke dissipated. However, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has a concern that “a possible release of an unknown amount of 1,3-butadiene and benzene” —both hazardous air pollutants and known carcinogens (cancer-causing). Read More “PA DEP Says Shell Ethane Plant Fire May Have Released Carcinogens”
Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Shocker: Shell Considers Selling Beaver County, PA Ethane Cracker
March 4, 2025March 4, 2025

According to the Wall Street Journal, Shell is “exploring a potential sale of its chemicals assets in Europe and the U.S.,” according to “people familiar with the matter.” The review and potential sale are part of a continuing drive to refocus the company’s business on its most profitable operations. One of the petchem assets that may be on the auction block is the recently completed Monaca (Beaver County, PA) ethane cracker complex. Our heads are officially exploding. Read More “Shocker: Shell Considers Selling Beaver County, PA Ethane Cracker”
Belmont County | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Processing Plants | PTT Global

PTT Investing $21.25B in 2025 to 2029, But Not in Ohio Cracker
January 3, 2025January 3, 2025

This is your friendly (somewhat snarky) semi-regular reminder from MDN that the PTT ethane cracker project in Ohio is dead (see Facing Reality – PTT Ohio Cracker Plant Project is Dead). We periodically look for signs of life in the project, and it has been a flat line for YEARS. Nothing. Local and state leaders in Ohio used to pop their heads up to tell us to have hope, that it will still happen. Not anymore. While PTT still chips in donations to the town now and again, no one seriously thinks there will be a cracker plant on the site in Dilles Bottom (Belmont County), Ohio. We have more evidence to support our view… Read More “PTT Investing $21.25B in 2025 to 2029, But Not in Ohio Cracker”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Crime | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Shell | Statewide PA

BIG Mistake: Shell Falcon Pipe Pleads Guilty to Criminal Charges
November 26, 2024November 26, 2024

click for larger version

Shell’s 97-mile Falcon ethane pipeline, which feeds 100,000 barrels a day of Marcellus/Utica ethane to the mighty cracker plant in Beaver County, PA, was built and running as of January 2021, well before the cracker itself was finished (see Shell Cracker Construction “in the Home Stretch” – Ready in 2022). Ironically, more of this ethane pipeline was built in Ohio and West Virginia than in Pennsylvania. Only 45.5 miles of the system is located in PA. Yet in April, the Pennsylvania Attorney General, Michelle Henry (an anti-drilling Democrat hack about to leave office) used the testimony of two fired Shell employees to charge the long-done pipeline with crimes for how it was constructed (see PA AG Files Bogus Charges Against Long-Done Shell Falcon Pipe). Shell stupidly agreed to plead guilty to three of 13 criminal charges for violating the state Clean Streams law when building the pipeline in Allegheny, Beaver, and Washington counties. Read More “BIG Mistake: Shell Falcon Pipe Pleads Guilty to Criminal Charges”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Same Two Enviro Groups Sue Shell Cracker for 2nd Time in 17 Months
November 1, 2024November 1, 2024

In May 2023, two radicalized Big Green groups—the Environmental Integrity Project (based in D.C.) and the Clean Air Council (based in Philadelphia)—filed a lawsuit against the Shell Polymers Monaca Plant (ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, PA), claiming the plant has repeatedly violated federal air pollution limits (see Radical Antis File Lawsuit Aiming to Shut Down Shell PA Cracker). The lawsuit requested the court assess huge fines and force it to close down unless it can operate without any further violations of the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) and the federal Air Pollution Control Act (APCA). The same two groups are back 17 months later, telling Shell via a “notice of intent to sue” that they will soon file the same type of lawsuit again. Read More “Same Two Enviro Groups Sue Shell Cracker for 2nd Time in 17 Months”
Ethane | Industrywide Issues | NGLs | Research

U.S. and M-U Ethane Production Reached Record High in 1H24
October 29, 2024October 29, 2024

U.S. ethane production increased steadily over the last decade and reached a record of 3.0 million barrels per day (b/d) in May 2024. Ethane production in the first half of 2024 (1H24) averaged a record 2.8 million b/d, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Petroleum Supply Monthly. Ethane production in the Marcellus/Utica region (called the Appalachian No. 1 refining district), which straddles most of the Appalachian Basin production area in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, increased during 1H24, averaging 327,000 b/d, up from 292,000 b/d in 1H23. Read More “U.S. and M-U Ethane Production Reached Record High in 1H24”
Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Shell

Shell Pa. Cracker Ready for Prime Time, but Has an Achilles’ Heel
October 22, 2024October 22, 2024

Last Friday, RBN Energy published a blog post declaring that the Shell ethane cracker in Monaca (Beaver County), PA, is now “firing on all cylinders.” The post retrospectively covers the project’s history, from construction through recent problems as the plant was commissioned to the present day. We learned something interesting: Shell, a petrochemical giant and owner of other cracker plants producing various products, had exited the plastic pellets business years ago. The Monaca cracker is Shell reentering that market. Read More “Shell Pa. Cracker Ready for Prime Time, but Has an Achilles’ Heel”
Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Shell Execs Admit Rocky Start for PA Cracker, Things are Improving
August 12, 2024August 12, 2024

The mighty Shell ethane cracker plant in Monaca (Beaver County), PA, has a new person in charge: Emma Lewis, senior vice president of U.S. chemicals and products at Shell. We told you Lewis had replaced Hilary Mercer back in January (see Shell PA Cracker’s First Birthday – One Unit Still Not Online). Lewis splits her time between the Monaca cracker and four other sites on the Gulf Coast. According to a recent tour at the plant, Lewis said, “Let me start by saying I think we didn’t have the most smooth startup. There has been more disruption to the community than I think you would typically expect during normal operations.”
Read More “Shell Execs Admit Rocky Start for PA Cracker, Things are Improving”
Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Shell CEO: Monaca Cracker Plant Not Fully Operational Til 2025/26
August 5, 2024August 5, 2024

Wael Sawan

During last week’s second quarter update conference call by oil and gas giant Shell, the CEO, Wael Sawan, had some interesting comments about the mighty Shell ethane cracker in Monaca (Beaver County), PA. Sawan praised progress at the plant but then said it would be 2025 or 2026 before the plant would be “fully operational.” That was new news for us.
Read More “Shell CEO: Monaca Cracker Plant Not Fully Operational Til 2025/26”
Commodity Price | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | NGLs

Price for Ethane Dips Below NatGas for First Time in 2024
June 25, 2024June 25, 2024

Ethane molecule (C2H6)

Ethane is an interesting NGL (natural gas liquid). It’s one of the compounds that comes out of the ground as a gas along with methane. Ethane gas can be liquefied under pressure or at reduced temperatures and separated from methane (natural gas). However, liquefied ethane is not burned, like another NGL called propane. Instead, liquefied ethane is used as a feedstock in big cracker plants like the Shell cracker in Monaca, PA. The ethane is “cracked” and turned into plastics. However, if the price ethane fetches is lower than the cost of methane, the ethane gas is left in the methane gas stream and burned along with methane (called “rejection”). The analysts at RBN Energy have noticed that the price of ethane is now below the price of natgas and theorize more ethane rejection (leaving it in the methane stream) may be on the way.
Read More “Price for Ethane Dips Below NatGas for First Time in 2024”