Ever since new natural gas resources have become available as a result of horizontal hydraulic multi-stage fracking, there have been many attempts to quantify how beneficial these new resources are to the U.S. economy. Since natural gas is often used for power production and as a feedstock for the petrochemical industry, it makes sense to… Keep reading →
Although natural gas prices already increased this year more than many expected – largely due to weather-related demand and inventory draws – business opportunities for energy infrastructure projects that use natural gas as feedstock remain attractive. Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firms could be particularly well placed to benefit from a medium-term “mega cycle,” according… Keep reading →
The US has gone from a net chemical importer in 2011 to an exporter with anticipated export revenue of almost $30 billion by 2018, thanks in large part to comparatively cheap natural gas and power prices. “US groups such as ExxonMobil, Dow Chemical, Chevron and Phillips 66 are among the leaders in investing in new… Keep reading →
When you’re talking about trends, it’s usually the major cities in the U.S. that create them. From there, the smaller towns around the major city adopt the trend and it continues to spread onward. The green movement has done just that, with cities being the first to implement recycling programs and finding sustainable solutions to… Keep reading →
The importance of energy to modern society cannot be overstated and energy-related products are virtually ubiquitous in our homes, workplaces and modes of transport. “Chemical engineering is a remarkable profession. It can take the smallest of discoveries in laboratories – from all fields of science and technology – and replicate them on a mass scale,… Keep reading →
Novomer is a small start-up chemistry company developing novel methods for converting waste carbon dioxide, CO2, into useful plastics, polymers and chemical intermediates. Novomer has developed proprietary catalysts that react with CO2 and allow it to bond with other molecules. CO2 is a difficult molecule to work with for the same reasons that it accumulates… Keep reading →
Scotland will vote on a referendum to secede from the UK this September. A major component of that decision involves the future of the massive Grangemouth refining and petrochemical complex and oil reserves located in the Scottish portion of the North Sea. “Mr. Salmond, Scotland’s first minister, is banking on North Sea oil to underpin… Keep reading →
Iran has agreed to an initial nuclear deal that will involving the country dialing back its nuclear program in exchange for six months of sanctions relief. Iran will gain access to over $4 billion in frozen oil revenues, as well as a suspension of sanctions on petrochemical exports. [Bloomberg] The deal will also “eas[e] of the… Keep reading →
United States law prohibits exports of crude oil and condensate except under certain conditions, while exports of refined products and natural gas are far less restricted. While these laws had little impact when the country was in a position of oil and gas scarcity, the country’s newfound energy abundance has rendered some of them obsolete,… Keep reading →
The Chevron-Apache Kitimat LNG export project in British Columbia has the potential to capitalize on Canada’s vast natural gas resources, as well as the proximity of its western coast to Asian markets. But it is also up against competition from producing countries like Australia, where the buildout of LNG export infrastructure is already well underway,… Keep reading →
