Ethane

Economic Impact | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Pipelines | Statewide WV | West Virginia

WVU Researcher Says Marcellus/Utica Needs an Ethane Storage Hub
May 24, 2016May 24, 2016

Forget about a cracker plant in West Virginia. Well, not really–just put it on the back burner for the moment. A researcher from West Virginia University says what the Mountain State and indeed all of Appalachia really needs is ethane storage. Specifically, an ethane storage hub. According to Brian Anderson, director of West Virginia University’s Energy Institute, without ethane storage (and pipelines) the Marcellus/Utica region risks seeing its abundant ethane leave the area, mostly heading to the Gulf Coast. Why is that bad? Because if we can keep ethane in the area, we will attract manufacturers to the region who want to use the results of that ethane–ethylene, the raw material in plastics. Our region can realize a bonanza in manufacturing jobs and investments–if we can store and use the ethane here, at home…
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Belmont County | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Processing Plants | PTT Global

PTT Global Says Belmont, OH Ethane Cracker NOT Delayed
May 13, 2016May 13, 2016

PTT Global Chemical, based in Thailand, announced in April 2015 they are interested in building a $5 billion ethane cracker plant complex in Belmont County, OH (see It’s Official: Belmont County Chosen as POSSIBLE Cracker Plant Site). From the beginning, PTT let it be known a final decision on whether or not to invest the whole $5 billion would not come until 2016 or 2017. Last week MDN picked up a story from the Bangkok Post which said the decision will definitely come in 2017, calling the decision “delayed” (see PTT Global Says OH Cracker Decision “Delayed” Until 2017). Apparently stung by that story, a local PTT spokesman in Ohio has responded to say the Bangkok story is wrong–the decision is not “delayed” and is, in fact, on track…
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Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

More Progress at Shell’s PA Ethane Cracker Plant Site
May 12, 2016May 12, 2016

Proposed Shell cracker plant site plan – click for larger version

All signs continue to point to a “go” decision for Shell’s planned ethane cracker plant facility in Monaca (Beaver County), PA. Shell has now spent over half a billion dollars out of a projected $2-$3 billion (25%) on the project already (see Shell has Spent “Half a Billion Dollars” on PA Cracker Already!). Last month a local mall owner said that Shell has leased part of the mall’s parking lot for big bucks (see More Evidence that the Shell Ethane Cracker Plant in PA is a Go). And just last week Shell’s CFO said the PA cracker project is “an excellent project” and they expect to make a decision soon (see Shell Says PA Cracker Decision Coming < 12 Months – Looking Good). We can throw a few more positive signs into the mix. A bridge Shell was building over top a local highway to give trucks easy access to the site is now complete. Shell has committed $69 million to build a new water treatment plant for the local town. And they are now building a new dock facility which, according to Shell, will be “critical” to building the new plant…
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Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Supply Chain

New Tech Converts NatGas into Ethylene, Bypassing Cracker Plants
May 12, 2016May 12, 2016

Siluria’s Oxidative Coupling of Methane to ethylene (OCM) demo plant in La Porte, Texas

Ethane cracker plants are big deals. We’ve been writing about cracker plants possibly coming to the northeast since 2012, when Shell first floated their idea for a plant and selected a site outside Pittsburgh, in Beaver County, PA (see Shell Announces Location of Ethane Cracker Plant). A cracker plant is a big deal for a couple of reasons. One reason is that building the plant generates thousands of short-term jobs and injects $2-$3 billion (or more!) into the local and regional economy. It’s an economic stimulus the federal government just can’t match–and it doesn’t come from taxpayer’s wallets! In addition, once the plant is built, manufacturing plants begin to locate around it, like mini-satellites. Why? Because an ethane cracker chemically “cracks” ethane turning it into ethylene, the raw material used to make plastics. And plastics are used in just about everything you touch every day. These satellite companies represent thousands of permanent jobs and perhaps an infusion of $15-$20 billion into the regional economy–off the charts! But what if cracker plants were not needed to create ethylene? What if you could bypass cracking ethane and instead go right from natural gas (or methane) to ethylene? That is the premise behind a disruptive new technology from Siluria Technologies. Siluria has operated a pilot plant in Texas for the past year that essentially converts methane into ethylene, without using ethane. Here’s the details…
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Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Shell Says PA Cracker Decision Coming < 12 Months - Looking Good
May 5, 2016May 5, 2016

The muckety-mucks from Shell held their quarterly earnings phone call with analysts yesterday–and there is what we consider big news to report coming from that call. In response to a question from an analyst, Shell’s Chief Financial Officer, Simon Henry, commented there are four major “chemicals” projects currently under consideration by Shell. He also said a decision on the PA cracker plant project planned in Beaver County will likely be the first decision to be made because of “the timing of certain commitments that are already in place.” He added these glowing words about the PA cracker: “It’s an excellent project…[that] provides quite some portfolio resilience relative to the rest of the opportunities.” He later said “It’s a very strong and robust project.” If the price of oil were higher than the current $40, pulling the trigger on the PA cracker would be “a very easy decision.” When you read his comments, it’s hard to miss the enthusiasm at the highest echelons inside Shell…
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Belmont County | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Processing Plants | PTT Global

PTT Global Says OH Cracker Decision “Delayed” Until 2017
May 5, 2016May 5, 2016

It’s only been one year since Thailand-based PTT Global Chemical announced they are interested in building a $5 billion ethane cracker plant complex in Belmont County, OH (see It’s Official: Belmont County Chosen as POSSIBLE Cracker Plant Site). Since that time PTT has been busy, spending (by our estimates) at least $150 million on the project (see our list of PTT stories here). However, from the very beginning, PTT let it be known a final decision on whether or not to invest the whole $5 billion would not come until 2016 or 2017. We know have confirmation from PTT that the final decision will (disappointingly) come in 2017. The reason for the “delay” in the decision? Falling oil prices…
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Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

More Evidence that the Shell Ethane Cracker Plant in PA is a Go
April 28, 2016April 28, 2016

We have more evidence that Shell’s Monaca (Beaver County), PA cracker plant is now a go. MDN previously told you that Shell has already spent upward of half a billion dollars out of the projected $2-$3 billion it will take to build the project (see Shell has Spent “Half a Billion Dollars” on PA Cracker Already!). Now comes word from an area mall owner that Shell has purchased more land near the proposed plant and has leased part of the mall’s parking lot “for a significant sum of money”…
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Economic Impact | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Statewide WV | West Virginia

WV Gov Tomblin Woos Japanese to Invest in State’s NatGas Industry
April 25, 2016April 25, 2016

WV Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin

In 2013 West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin wooed the Brazilians into investigating and hopefully building a multi-billion dollar ethane cracker in his state (see WV Announces Brazilian Company to Build Ethane Cracker Complex). Odebrecht was supposed to build an ethane cracker near Parkersburg, WV’s third largest city. But then the bottom fell out of the market and Odebrecht’s plans have been shelved (see Odebrecht Pushes the Pause Button on WV Ethane Cracker). We won’t say the project is dead, but there haven’t been any brainwaves in months and the only thing keeping it alive is a respirator. Is that wily WV governor at it again? Last week Tomblin hosted a delegation from Japan, attempting to woo them into exploring “new investment opportunities in natural gas statewide.” What does that mean, exactly? Presentations were delivered by MarkWest and others. MarkWest has several natgas processing and NGL fractionation plants in the state. We know we’re reading between the lines here, but it sure sounds to us like Tomblin is trying to find someone else willing to build a cracker plant in the state…
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Belmont County | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Processing Plants | PTT Global

Steady Progress at Belmont County, OH Ethane Cracker Plant Site
April 25, 2016April 25, 2016

It was exactly a year ago (last Friday) that PTT Global Chemical announced their intentions to build an ethane cracker plant in Belmont County, OH (see It’s Official: Belmont County Chosen as POSSIBLE Cracker Plant Site). Since that time a number of positive signs have occurred that indicate this is a real, very serious project. One such sign is that PTT is paying $100 million to have the engineering work done for the plant (see PTT Announces 2 Contractors Working on Belmont Cracker Plant). Another sign is that demolition work at the site has begun (see Ongoing Demolition Work at Future Belmont OH Ethane Cracker Site). The demolition work, as well as the design work, continues. Here’s an update on the latest good signs coming from the proposed Belmont cracker plant…
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Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | Litigation | Ohio | Pipelines | Statewide OH

UTOPIA Pipeline Sues Holdout OH Landowners Using Eminent Domain
April 19, 2016April 19, 2016

UTOPIA Pipeline map – click for larger version

Just yesterday MDN was commenting that it seems like Ohio antis aren’t all that bothered by Kinder Morgan’s UTOPIA ethane pipeline (see Why is UTOPIA Pipeline Less “Controversial” than NEXUS in Ohio?). Perhaps we spoke to soon! UTOPIA has gotten a lot more controversial since they just filed a flurry of lawsuits against holdout landowners, using eminent domain statutes. The real eye-popper we learn when reading about the eminent domain proceedings is just how much Kinder Morgan was offering for easements to property owners. Of course what you’re offered all depends on how many feet of land the pipeline will cross. Some landowners were offered up to $63,300 for an easement. In some cases, the offers were “more than 10 times the appraised value of the easement.” It’s certainly in a landowner’s best interest to settle before being forced to settle (for far less) via eminent domain. Here’s how it’s going for several landowners who object to the pipeline…
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CONSOL Energy | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Processing Plants | PTT Global | Shell

CONSOL Energy CEO Predicts 2 Ethane Crackers Coming
April 18, 2016April 18, 2016

Nick DeIuliis – CEO CONSOL Energy

Looks like MDN is not the only source that believes both the Shell and PTT Global ethane crackers will (eventually) get built. After all, Shell has spent half a billion (out of $2-$3 billion) on their PA-based project already (see Shell has Spent “Half a Billion Dollars” on PA Cracker Already!). They’re 20-25% of the way there! Doesn’t take a genius to connect the dots with that project. PTT Global has purchased land, is leveling the site and paid for design work on their OH-based site, spending upward of $200 million (see our PTT stories here). Now, none other than Nick DeIuliis, CEO of CONSOL Energy, is predicting both the Shell and PTT Global ethane crackers will get built…
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Energy Companies | Ethane | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | NGLs | Pennsylvania | Rex Energy | Statewide PA

Rex Energy Cuts Deal to Export Ethane, Propane to Europe via Philly
April 12, 2016April 12, 2016

Rex Energy has stepped up to be the second Marcellus/Utica driller to cut a deal using the Mariner East pipeline to ship ethane, propane and (eventually) butane from western PA to the Marcus Hook refinery in Philadelphia, and from there load it onto ships heading to (in this case) Europe. Range Resources was the first driller to use Sunoco Logistics Partners’ Mariner East pipeline to send ethane to Marcus Hook and on to exporting (see Range Resources Ethane Heading to Marcus Hook Beginning February). The Swiss-based company INEOS cut a deal to buy Range Resources ethane to power both Norwegian and Scottish cracker plants (see Cracker Plant in Scotland “Brought Back to Life” Thx to Marcellus Ethane). Now, Rex Energy has cut a deal with INEOS to buy ethane, propane and butane, according to an announcement yesterday by Rex. The particulars (i.e. financial aspects) of the deal were not announced…
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Beaver County | Economic Impact | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Shell has Spent “Half a Billion Dollars” on PA Cracker Already!
April 8, 2016April 8, 2016

The Pittsburgh Business Times hosted an event yesterday in Beaver County, PA–the place where Shell is spending money to explore whether or not to build an ethane cracker plant. Seems like we’ve been writing about Shell’s potential ethane cracker forever. We’ve chronicled just about every up and down. We’ve also highlighted various initiatives they’ve undertaken since announcing Monaca, PA as their chosen site–something they did back in March 2012, now four years ago (see Shell Announces Location of Ethane Cracker Plant). Since that time Shell has purchased the property where they want to build the plant; they’re building a bridge and roads to the plant site; they’ve leased office space near the plant site. They’ve done a whole lot more. What we didn’t realize is that when you add it all together, according to Pat Nardelli, a partner at Castlebrook Development and speaker at the PBT event, Shell has spent “half billion to date if not more, and it’s going up every day.” Yikes! In this economy nobody blows a half bil on something they just decide to walk away from…
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Ethane | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Cracker Plant in Scotland “Brought Back to Life” Thx to Marcellus Ethane
March 30, 2016March 30, 2016

The Swiss-based company INEOS is a young but rapidly growing chemical company with roughly $40 billion in sales per year. INEOS’ competitors would be companies like BASF, Bayer and Dow Chemical. One of the projects owned by INEOS is an ethane cracker/chemical plant complex in Grangemouth, Scotland. It is Scotland’s biggest manufacturing complex hosting Europe’s biggest ethane storage tank–able to store up to 33,000 tonnes of liquid natural gas. INEOS announced yesterday that the second manufacturing unit at the Grangemouth plant has been “brought back to life” some eight years after being mothballed. The reason? To begin processing Marcellus shale ethane that will be shipped to it later this year from the Marcus Hook refinery near Philadelphia…
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Belmont County | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Processing Plants | PTT Global

Ongoing Demolition Work at Future Belmont OH Ethane Cracker Site
March 29, 2016March 29, 2016

Bulldozers and heavy equipment continue to demolish an old coal-fired electric plant in Belmont County–at the site where PTT Global Chemical says they want to build a $5.7 billion ethane cracker plant. It’s a good sign that PTT continues to spend big money on the project. PTT is in the midst of spending $100 million on engineering plans for the plant (see PTT Announces 2 Contractors Working on Belmont Cracker Plant). The project is the first of all the announced cracker projects in the northeast to get its own website (see Getting Serious: Ohio Ethane Cracker Gets its Own Website). And now, demolition at the FirstEnergy R.E. Burger power plant site…
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Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | NOVA Chemicals | Pipelines

Canadian Cracker Gets $400M Upgrade to Handle More Marc. Ethane
March 16, 2016March 16, 2016

Nova Chemicals’ Corunna (Ontario, Canada) cracker plant is in for a $400 million makeover to convert the plant into using 100% ethane feedstock. The project will also invest in a second pipeline to feed ethane from the Marcellus/Utica to the plant. Nova’s board of directors recently approved the investment and work is scheduled for 2017/2018. This is good news for Marcellus/Utica drillers who are waiting (seems like FOREVER) for a regional ethane cracker plant to get built somewhere in the northeast. Even if one of the three major (and one minor) cracker plants is green lighted for the Marcellus/Utica, will will take 4-5 years to build it. In the meantime, if they can contract pipeline space, drillers can send their ethane to nearby Corunna cracker plant–so this is good news indeed. Here’s the details…
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