Beaver County

Beaver County | Butler County | EdgeMarc Energy | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Rex Energy

MarkWest Expanding Again in Butler County, PA with Rex & EdgeMarc
August 26, 2014August 26, 2014

When you have a good thing going, like MarkWest Energy does with its Keystone processing complex in Butler County, PA, you keep growing it. And that’s just what MarkWest is doing. The company announced today they have a couple of new customers for the complex–Rex Energy and EdgeMarc Energy. The new customers will each get their own 200 million cubic feet per day (Mmcf/d) processing plants in the Bluestone facility–part of the Keystone complex that includes Bluestone and Sarsen facilities. In addition, MarkWest is also adding an additional 40,000 barrels per day (Bbl/d) of de-ethanization capacity and over 20,000 Bbl/d of additional propane and heavier NGL fractionation capacity. It means more capacity, more production, more money for landowners, and more major money will be invested in Butler County…
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Air Quality | Beaver County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Odebrecht | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell | West Virginia | Wood County

Cracker Race Continues: Odebrecht Files Remediation Application
August 26, 2014August 26, 2014

The race continues to see who will build the first multi-billion dollar ethane cracker plant in the Marcellus/Utica region. Yesterday MDN brought you the news that Shell had filed, back in May, a detailed air pollution application with the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) for their proposed cracker plant in Beaver County, PA (see Details for Shell Ethane Cracker Revealed in Air Pollution Application). Although arriving on the scene several years after Shell’s project, Odebrecht announced last November they want to build a cracker plant near Parkersburg, WV (see WV Announces Brazilian Company to Build Ethane Cracker Complex). Odebrecht has now filed a similar document–a Voluntary Remediation Program application–with the WV Dept. of Environmental Protection (WVDEP)…
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Air Quality | Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Regulation | Shell

Details for Shell Ethane Cracker Revealed in Air Pollution Application
August 25, 2014August 25, 2014

We now have a very detailed, inside look at Shell’s proposed ethane cracker plant. In May, Shell filed an Air Quality Plan Approval application with the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection. The 715-page document (just now coming to light, full copy embedded below)–mammoth in scope and size–lays out, in detail, just how much air pollution the proposed ethane cracker would produce. As part of that document we gain insight into the technology Shell plans to use at the plant. The application also outlines other potential impacts from the plant, including soil and vegetation. The application concludes that the proposed plant emissions “are not expected to result in adverse effects to soils, crops, or plant species of concerns, within the vicinity of the project site”…
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Beaver County | Cardinal Gas Services | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation

Beaver County Organic Farm vs Cardinal Midstream Compressor Plant
July 31, 2014July 31, 2014

A drama playing out in Beaver County, PA that first came to public attention last week pits a midstream company against an organic farmer. Don and Becky Kretschmann operate one of (perhaps the) largest Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) organic farms in western Pennsylvania. The vegetables, fruits and herbs they produce on the farm are sold to some 1,000 customers throughout the area. Cardinal Midstream plans to build a pipeline compressor station with first four compressors, and eventually eight compressors, at a location about 1/3 of a mile (2,000 feet) from the Kretschmann’s organic farm. The Kretschmanns say the compressor station threatens the existence of their farm and organic certification…
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Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Shell Takes a Few More Baby Steps Toward PA Ethane Cracker Plant
June 9, 2014June 9, 2014

A small bit of progress to report on the Shell ethane cracker plant planned for Monaca (Beaver County), PA. According to comments made by Shell Chemicals Executive Vice President Graham van’t Hoff at the American Chemistry Council’s Annual Meeting last week in Colorado, Shell has made a few more baby steps toward making the cracker plant a reality–but they still aren’t committed to it just yet. Here’s the steps recently taken…
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Beaver County | Economic Impact | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Big News from Shell PA Meetings: Beaver County WANTS a Cracker!
April 17, 2014April 17, 2014

Yesterday Shell held two meetings in Beaver County, PA to talk to area residents about their proposed plan to possibly build a multi-billion dollar ethane cracker plant. One session was from 11 am to 2 pm, the other from 4-7 pm, both held at the Shadow Lakes country club in Hopewell. Shell expected around 350 people to show up for the daytime session–more than 700 showed. By the end of the day, well over 1,000 people attended the two sessions. As predicted, Shell did not say they’ve decided to move forward, but they are still actively pursuing the project. From that perspective, neither event produced anything “newsworthy.”

Yet, there was big news coming from the two sessions: Attendance was twice what they expected, and the overwhelming majority of those attending support the project and want to see it built. We would go so far as to say Beaver County came out in force with open arms and rolled out the red carpet for Shell. They WANT this cracker plant, and they want it bad. Which is good news for Shell–to have such overwhelming community support…
Read More “Big News from Shell PA Meetings: Beaver County WANTS a Cracker!”
Beaver County | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Shell Meetings Today in Beaver County, PA on Ethane Cracker Plant
April 16, 2014April 16, 2014

Shell is holding two public meetings today at the Shadow Lakes club in Hopewell (Beaver County), PA to discuss the possibility of building a multi-billion dollar ethane cracker plant in Monaca, PA. The meetings, according to Shell, are not an indicator that Shell has decided to move forward with the project. The meetings are, according to Shell, a way for the company to hear concerns from the people who live in the area and would potentially be affected by the plant, and for Shell to share information on where the project stands at this point and what’s ahead. It’s all about good, two-way communication.

More details about the meetings today, and a brief background on the proposed Shell ethane cracker…
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Beaver County | Economic Impact | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell | Statewide PA

County Officials Meet with Shell on PA Cracker, Come Away Hopeful
March 27, 2014March 27, 2014

Seems like it’s “cracker day” at MDN. Long before Odebrecht announced their potential ethane cracker plant for Parkersburg, WV, Shell announced plans to build a cracker in Pennsylvania. In fact it was exactly two years ago this month that Shell announced the location would be Monaca (Beaver County), PA (see Shell Announces Location of Ethane Cracker Plant). PA state legislators eventually voted on a package of significant tax breaks for the proposed new plant (see PA Legislature Reaches Deal on Tax Credit for Cracker Plant). However, since that time, it seems like the PA cracker deal has cycled through highs and lows as to whether it would actually get built (see PA Ethane Cracker – On Again, Off Again…Now On Again?).

More recently MDN told you the pendulum had swung back to the pessimistic side (see Shell’s Shale Pessimism Signals Worry for Some re PA Cracker). But what’s this? Last week some 30 Beaver County officials met with Shell about the proposed ethane cracker plant and left that meeting feeling “hopeful”–which is a good sign. Shell told the officials about moving forward with plans to move a portion of a local roadway, relocate power lines and other big-ticket projects that Shell would not be spending money on unless there is serious interest in moving forward. Here’s more from last week’s hopeful meeting between Shell and Beaver County officials…
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Beaver County | Economic Impact | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Cracker Plant Talk Spurs Economic Growth in Beaver County, PA
March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

Over the past couple of years the prospects for an ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, PA have swung from wild optimism to wild pessimism and everything in between. Most recently the pendulum has once again tilted negative (see Shell’s Shale Pessimism Signals Worry for Some re PA Cracker). But don’t talk negative to the businesses setting up shop and expanding in Beaver County. The mere talk that it’s possible Shell will build the $2-$3 billion ethane cracker in Monaca has caused a significant uptick in the local economy. One Realtor has said for businesses looking to get a piece of the coming economic pie–you’re already late! Many have already grabbed up space and it’s increasingly difficult to find commercial real estate in the county.

Here is the story of the economic boom already under way in Beaver County just from talk–talk that Shell may build a cracker plant there…
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Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Shell’s Shale Pessimism Signals Worry for Some re PA Cracker
March 14, 2014March 14, 2014

The Shell emotional roller coaster continues to gyrate up and down when it comes to the fate of a multi-billion dollar ethane cracker plant previously announced by Shell for Beaver County, PA. We knew it would be a years-long process just to make a decision, and told you that two years ago almost to the day (see Shell’s Cracker Plant Actually “Years Away”?). Since that time it seemed at one point like all was lost (see Rumor Mill: PA Ethane Cracker Plant on Shell Chopping Block?). Over the past two years we’ve written dozens of stories, at first it seemed like a sure thing, then it wasn’t, then it was again, then it wasn’t again… you get the idea (see our list of Shell cracker stories here).

According to a Morningstar analyst interviewed by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the pendulum has now swung back to the pessimistic side again in light of Shell CEO Ben van Beurden’s comments yesterday knocking U.S. shale (see our companion story today). van Beurden said Shell is triming back on U.S. shale investments this year, “restructuring” those assets (which is CEO talk for selling a good portion of it). Although the ethane cracker will be fed by Marcellus and Utica Shale gas, Shell’s impotence when it comes to turning a profit from shale drilling doesn’t mean they will walk away from a huge petrochemical plant. Such big projects are what they think they’re best at doing. Still, van Beurden’s comments have at least one analyst wondering if the PA cracker plant is now down the list of Shell’s priorities…
Read More “Shell’s Shale Pessimism Signals Worry for Some re PA Cracker”
Beaver County | Economic Impact | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Beaver County, PA – In the Marcellus/Utica Catbird Seat
February 21, 2014February 21, 2014

In many ways, Beaver County, PA is in the catbird seat with respect to the Marcellus and Utica Shale. The county has seen some Marcellus drilling with 17 unique well permits were issued for Beaver for the last four months of 2013 according to the latest volume of the Marcellus and Utica Shale Databook. However, it is Beaver’s geography for reasons other than drilling that gives it its advantage: the Ohio River flows through Beaver; two interstate highways pass through; lots of railroads; and of course, close to the Pittsburgh International Airport.

Beaver is also the chosen location for Shell and their $2-$3 billion ethane cracker plant. It’s been a roller coaster of will they or won’t they build it? Lately, it certainly seems like Shell is favoring a green light for the project–but only when they finally buy the property on which a now closed zinc plant sits will everyone breath a sigh of relief that the project is a done deal. (See Shell to Begin Demolition at PA Ethane Cracker Site Early 2014 for the latest.) Even if Shell doesn’t build the cracker plant, Beaver County officials say there’s still a lot happening in the county and the future looks bright, because of the Marcellus…
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Beaver County | Braskem | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Odebrecht | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell | West Virginia | Wood County

WV Cracker Plant has Already Purchased Land for Future Site
January 20, 2014January 20, 2014

In November, WV Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced he finally had him a cracker (see WV Announces Brazilian Company to Build Ethane Cracker Complex). By Dec. 31, Odebrecht, the company that will build the ethane cracker, had purchased the future site for their proposed plant in Wood County, WV through a holding company–for $10.9 million. A chemical plant currently located on the site employing 130 people will close in 2015. But have no fear–when the cracker plant is built, it will (for a time) employ 10,000 people to build it. It’s a massive undertaking that will ultimately lead to an estimated $7 billion economic injection just for the state of West Virginia. Talk about an economic revolution!

Compare WV’s proposed cracker to the Pennsylvania proposed cracker plant. Shell announced their intention to build a PA cracker plant in June 2011. How long did it take Shell to purchase the property on which they plan to build their cracker plant? They still haven’t purchased it. Let’s see: under 2 months to purchase the property for the WV cracker, still no purchase after 2 1/2 years for the PA cracker. Which one do you think is serious about building, and which one will get built first?…
Read More “WV Cracker Plant has Already Purchased Land for Future Site”
Beaver County | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Shell to Begin Demolition at PA Ethane Cracker Site Early 2014
December 27, 2013December 27, 2013

In June 2011 Shell announced to the world that they would build a “world-scale” ethane cracker plant in the northeast (see Shell Commits to Building a Billion Dollar Chemical Plant in the Marcellus Region of U.S.). After looking around and being heavily courted by West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, Shell finally chose a location northwest of Pittsburgh–in Beaver County, PA–in March 2012 (see Shell Announces Location of Ethane Cracker Plant). At the time a spokesperson said the final decision about whether or not to proceed was years away (see Shell’s Cracker Plant Actually “Years Away”?). She wasn’t kidding.

Fast forward two years later and it’s been a real roller coaster ride as to whether or not Shell would proceed–especially in light of recent comments by Shell’s retiring CEO Pete Voser that the company would not be able to build all three of its previously announced big projects, which includes the PA ethane cracker (see Rumor Mill: PA Ethane Cracker Plant on Shell Chopping Block?). But several recent things have happened to indicate the PA cracker plant project is alive and well, including the announcement yesterday that Shell has extended their option to purchase the proposed plant site in PA and intends to start demolishing existing buildings on the site in early 2014…
Read More “Shell to Begin Demolition at PA Ethane Cracker Site Early 2014”
Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell | Statewide PA

PA Sen. Bob Casey “Pressures” Shell to Commit to PA Cracker Plant
December 12, 2013December 11, 2013

This is rich. MDN has long chronicled the flakiness of U.S. Bob Casey (Democrat, PA) on the shale drilling issue. On one hand he wants the heavy hand of the federal government to regulate drilling, violating the Constitution in doing so. On the other hand, like a typical sleazy politician, he has his hand out and wants the money and jobs shale drilling generates (see The Two Faces of Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA) on Shale Drilling).

The hand-stuck-out-for-money-and-jobs Casey is manifesting again at present. He just fired a letter off to Shell to “pressure them” into making a decision about moving forward with an ethane cracker in PA. Which is kind of funny, that he’s posturing and preening and pretending to goad Shell along when Shell is already well along and likely to move forward with no regard for what Bob Casey wants or thinks (see Odds in Favor of a PA Ethane Cracker Just Went WAY Up). What a waste of a Senate seat. Here’s what the preening Bob Casey said to Shell…
Read More “PA Sen. Bob Casey “Pressures” Shell to Commit to PA Cracker Plant”
Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Odds in Favor of a PA Ethane Cracker Just Went WAY Up
December 6, 2013December 6, 2013

At the end of October, MDN told you about comments from Shell’s retiring CEO Peter Voser that stoked fears that the previously announced Pennsylvania ethane cracker plant they may build was in doubt (see Rumor Mill: PA Ethane Cracker Plant on Shell Chopping Block?). Voser said that Shell’s wishlist included three major projects: the ethane cracker in PA, a gas-to-liquids plant in Louisiana, and an LNG plant in Canada. At the time Voser said Shell cannot build all three projects and would need to make “hard choices.”

It looks like the choice has been made and it’s very good news for PA! Yesterday Shell announced they are nixing the gas-to-liquids project in Louisiana, which (MDN’s view) makes it much more likely the PA ethane cracker plant will go forward. Here’s Shell’s statement from yesterday:
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Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Cracker Talk: Shell Rumored to be Buying Up Land Near Site
November 22, 2013November 22, 2013

Yes, more “cracker talk,” but we’re hopelessly addicted to cracker talk. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that Shell is buying up more land around a proposed ethane cracker site in Beaver County, PA. If Shell has decided to not build the cracker, it certainly doesn’t make sense for them to spend money on purchasing land. So, maybe this is a good sign that Shell is moving forward with their cracker?

The race is now on to see who will build the first ethane cracker in the northeast: PA or WV. Is the talk about Shell buying land just more hype by the Pittsburgh media? Or is there something “there” with this story? The latest scuttlebutt about the Shell cracker…
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