Processing Plants

Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Luzerne County | Nacero | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants

Nacero, Building GTL Plant in NEPA, Gets Air Permit for Texas Plant
December 2, 2021December 2, 2021

Artist rendering of Nacro facility in Texas (click for larger version)

In November we shared the exciting news that Nacero Inc. will build a $6 billion refinery on the site of a former coal mine in Newport Township and Nanticoke in Luzerne County, PA (see NEPA Huge Deal – $6B Plant to Convert Marcellus Gas to Gasoline). The plant will convert Marcellus natural gas into zero-sulfur gasoline for use in existing cars and trucks without modification. However, Nacero has plans to build three such plants in the U.S. One of their projects, located in Texas, has just received an air quality permit and plans to begin construction on phase one within the next 30 days.
Read More “Nacero, Building GTL Plant in NEPA, Gets Air Permit for Texas Plant”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Luzerne County | Nacero | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants

NEPA Gas-to-Gasoline Plant May Grow Prod in Pipe-Constrained Area
November 24, 2021November 24, 2021

Earlier this month we shared the exciting news that Nacero Inc. will build a $6 billion refinery on the site of a former coal mine in Newport Township and Nanticoke in Luzerne County, PA (see NEPA Huge Deal – $6B Plant to Convert Marcellus Gas to Gasoline). The plant will convert Marcellus natural gas into zero-sulfur gasoline for use in existing cars and trucks without modification. We have some expert analysis of this project and a closer look at the company building it.
Read More “NEPA Gas-to-Gasoline Plant May Grow Prod in Pipe-Constrained Area”
Economic Impact | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Luzerne County | Nacero | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants

NEPA Huge Deal – $6B Plant to Convert Marcellus Gas to Gasoline
November 1, 2021November 1, 2021

This rendering, provided by Nacero Inc., shows one of the company’s gas manufacturing facilities that is under construction in Odessa, Texas. It is similar to one the company has proposed for Luzerne County.

Some super-exciting news to share about a massive, $6 billion petrochemical plant coming to northeastern Pennsylvania. On Friday, PA State Sen. John Yudichak, who wisely left the Democrat Party and became an Independent, announced Nacero Inc. will build a $6 billion manufacturing facility on the site of a former coal mine in Newport Township and Nanticoke in Luzerne County, PA. The plant will convert Marcellus natural gas into zero-sulfur gasoline for use in their existing cars and trucks without modification.
Read More “NEPA Huge Deal – $6B Plant to Convert Marcellus Gas to Gasoline”
Belmont County | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Processing Plants | PTT Global

On-Hold PTT Ohio Cracker Still Teases – Claims Will Be Net-Zero CO2
October 27, 2021October 27, 2021

Dan Williamson – PTT Global Chemical America

In August, PTT Global Chemical finally came clean and admitted there will be no final investment decision (FID) to build a $10 billion ethane cracker plant project in Belmont County, OH, until they secure a partner to help finance the project (see PTT Finally Admits Truth – Ohio Cracker Project on Indefinite Hold). In other words, the Ohio cracker is on indefinite hold. Yet the company via its U.S. spokesman continues to tease and offer up hope the project will happen.
Read More “On-Hold PTT Ohio Cracker Still Teases – Claims Will Be Net-Zero CO2”
Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Regulation | Shell

PA DEP Issues Violation to Shell Cracker for Maple Syrup Smell
September 30, 2021September 30, 2021

Imagine Hershey Park getting fined for smelling like a Hershey’s chocolate bar. Or Starbucks getting fined because the businesses next door can smell the coffee. The Shell cracker plant is getting fined for smelling like…maple syrup? Last week residents in several Beaver County, PA municipalities neighboring the Shell ethane cracker complex reported smelling something like a strong whiff of maple syrup. Shell immediately hired a third-party investigator and believes they now know what caused the smell.
Read More “PA DEP Issues Violation to Shell Cracker for Maple Syrup Smell”
Belmont County | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Processing Plants | PTT Global

PTT Finally Admits Truth – Ohio Cracker Project on Indefinite Hold
August 26, 2021September 2, 2021

In February of this year, PTT Global Chemical adamantly claimed a final investment decision (FID) to build the $10 billion ethane cracker plant project in Belmont County, OH would happen by “middle of 2021” (see PTT Says Recent Reports of Ohio Cracker Decision Delay “Not True”). They lied. Again. Last week we told you that since May, PTT Global Chemical’s parent company, PTT Pcl (Thailand’s biggest company by far), has spent almost $10 billion to build an electric vehicle business and buy up petrochemical assets in Europe and renewable-energy projects in Asia (see PTT Blows $10B on Renewables Since May, Still No OH Cracker FID). Yet they can’t scrape together the money to build the Ohio cracker plant. PTT Global Chemical has finally come clean and admitted there will be no FID for the cracker plant–not until they secure a partner to help finance the project. In other words, it’s on indefinite hold.
Read More “PTT Finally Admits Truth – Ohio Cracker Project on Indefinite Hold”
Belmont County | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Processing Plants | PTT Global

PTT Blows $10B on Renewables Since May, Still No OH Cracker FID
August 16, 2021August 16, 2021

In February of this year, PTT Global Chemical adamantly claimed a final investment decision (FID) to build the $10 billion ethane cracker plant project in Belmont County, OH would happen by “middle of 2021” (see PTT Says Recent Reports of Ohio Cracker Decision Delay “Not True”). They lied. Again. Since May, PTT Global Chemical’s parent company, PTT Pcl (Thailand’s biggest company by far), has spent almost $10 billion to build an electric vehicle business and buy up petrochemical assets in Europe and renewable-energy projects in Asia. “And the group isn’t done yet.”
Read More “PTT Blows $10B on Renewables Since May, Still No OH Cracker FID”
Beaver County | Economic Impact | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell | Statewide PA

Study: Shell Cracker Will Create $3.7 Billion in PA Economy Each Year
July 15, 2021July 15, 2021

A new study prepared for Shell Chemical Appalachia earlier this year is just coming to light now. The study, researched by professors at Robert Morris University (RMU), calculates the impact on the Pennsylvania economy from the soon-to-be-completed Shell ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, PA. The numbers are staggering. Each and every year that cracker operates RMU projects the cracker will create $3.7 billion throughout the PA economy. Amazing! And it’s ALL private money–no government transfers from one taxpayer to another. Joe Biden should be jumping up and down and extolling this from the rooftops! Instead, he’s attacking fossil fuels.
Read More “Study: Shell Cracker Will Create $3.7 Billion in PA Economy Each Year”
Commodity Price | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Marathon Petroleum | MarkWest Energy | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Unplanned Outage at MarkWest WV Gas Plants Fixed, Prices Go Up
July 7, 2021July 7, 2021

Last week MDN told you about an unplanned outage at two MarkWest natural gas processing plants located in West Virginia (see Unplanned Outage at 2 WV MarkWest Plants Knocks 2.4 Bcf/d Offline). We have more details about what happened that led to the shutdowns. More importantly, we have new information that the outage is now over and full production capacity has been restored at the two plants.
Read More “Unplanned Outage at MarkWest WV Gas Plants Fixed, Prices Go Up”
Doddridge County | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Marathon Petroleum | MarkWest Energy | Pipelines | Processing Plants | West Virginia | Wetzel County

Unplanned Outage at 2 WV MarkWest Plants Knocks 2.4 Bcf/d Offline
July 2, 2021July 2, 2021

MarkWest Sherwood Complex (click for larger version)

It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s disconcerting. We’re talking about an “operational event” (i.e. outage) at not one but two MarkWest Energy natural gas processing plants–both in West Virginia. MarkWest’s Sherwood plant in Doddridge County and Mobley plant in Wetzel County are affected. According to NGI’s Daily Gas Price Index, four pipeline receipt locations affected by the outage are scheduled to go to zero beginning today “until further notice.”
Read More “Unplanned Outage at 2 WV MarkWest Plants Knocks 2.4 Bcf/d Offline”
Belmont County | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Processing Plants | PTT Global | Regulation

Ohio EPA Extends Expiring Permit for Elusive PTT Ethane Cracker
June 25, 2021June 25, 2021

How’s this for serendipity? We were just thinking about the latest violation of expectations by PTT Global Chemical. In February the company adamantly said a final investment decision (FID) to build the $10 billion ethane cracker plant project in Belmont County, OH would happen by “middle of 2021” (see PTT Says Recent Reports of Ohio Cracker Decision Delay “Not True”). Right. About the same time we were pondering PTT’s non-forthcoming FID and latest broken promise, a sharp MDN reader emailed to ask if we had heard anything further, especially given the project has an air permit issued by the Ohio EPA (OEPA) that will expire at the end of June. Lo and behold, OEPA has just extended the expiring permit until February 2022.
Read More “Ohio EPA Extends Expiring Permit for Elusive PTT Ethane Cracker”
Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Shell Cracker Near Pittsburgh Begins “First Fire” Activities
June 23, 2021June 23, 2021

steam blowing

White vapor clouds (i.e. water) will be visible from Shell’s mighty ethane cracker facility beginning this month as the company begins “first fire” activities in a ramp-up to full production at the facility. In a process called “steam blowing” Shell is testing and checking the plant’s steam piping system. Those passing near the plant may also hear noise associated with testing.
Read More “Shell Cracker Near Pittsburgh Begins “First Fire” Activities”
Enbridge | Energy Services | Guest Post | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Processing Plants

Solution to TETCO (& Other) Southbound Pipes? New NE Refineries
June 14, 2021June 14, 2021

As we report today, Enbridge’s Texas Eastern Transmission (TETCO) pipeline will not be back to full pressure flowing Marcellus/Utica gas south (some of it to the Gulf Coast) until the end of summer. Last week MDN brought you the news that TETCO was denied permission to continue operating its pipeline system (three pipelines, actually) at full pressure (see PHMSA Forces TETCO Pipe to Throttle 40% of M-U Southbound Gas). The reduced pressure of 20% means some 40% of the gas that was flowing from the Marcellus/Utica to the Gulf Coast via TETCO is now gone. Following that post, we received an email from one of our favorite industry observers, Garland Thompson, who proposes the ultimate solution to the problem of decreased flows on TETCO (and other pipelines) to the Gulf Coast.
Read More “Solution to TETCO (& Other) Southbound Pipes? New NE Refineries”
Belmont County | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Processing Plants | PTT Global

Expert Says PTT Ethane Cracker in Belmont, OH Will Get Built
May 20, 2021May 20, 2021

We’ve written many articles about the potential PTT cracker plant since April 2015 when PTT, a huge petrochemical company based in Thailand, first announced they would consider building an ethane cracker plant in Ohio (see It’s Official: Belmont County Chosen as POSSIBLE Cracker Plant Site). PTT has teased a “final investment decision” (FID) to move forward and begin construction so many times over the years since then, we’ve lost count and we’ve become a bit jaded about the prospects for the project. However, someone we highly admire and respect, someone who really would know whether or not it will get built, now says he is “highly confident one way or another…it’s going to happen.”
Read More “Expert Says PTT Ethane Cracker in Belmont, OH Will Get Built”
Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Economic Impact | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Regulation | Statewide PA

PA’s Act 66 Sets Stage for “Transformative Growth” in NEPA Marcellus
May 11, 2021May 11, 2021

In July 2020, PA Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law House Bill (HB) 732, a bill that grants tax breaks to companies willing to build brand new petrochemical plants in the Keystone State–plants that use huge quantities of Marcellus Shale gas (see Victory Lap! Gov. Wolf Signs Tax Break Bill for New Petchem Plants). Wolf vetoed a prior version and got a lot of negative feedback, so when the bill came around a second time he signed it. HB 732 became Act 66 in PA’s codes and regulations. Act 66 is meant to attract big petrochemical plants to northeastern PA. So far only one such facility (already in the works prior to the new law) has taken advantage of the Act 66 law. Efforts are underway to change that.
Read More “PA’s Act 66 Sets Stage for “Transformative Growth” in NEPA Marcellus”
Industrywide Issues | Pleasants County | Processing Plants | Regulation | West Virginia

$350M Methanol Plant in Pleasants County, WV Gets Public Hearing
May 5, 2021May 5, 2021

methanol molecule

Last October MDN told you that a company called West Virginia Methanol Inc. has selected a site in Pleasants County, WV to develop to build a $350 million methanol plant (see WV Announces New $350M Methanol Plant in Pleasants County). The WV Dept. of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Division of Air Quality held a virtual meeting yesterday to address public comments on the project. DEP has already decided to issue a permit for the project. They just wanted the public to weigh in (to make it look good).
Read More “$350M Methanol Plant in Pleasants County, WV Gets Public Hearing”