Stream’s themes: Petrochemicals and more November news highlights
Joe Massaro
Upstream and midstream developments have boosted Pennsylvania’s national energy standing. Now, the time has come for the state to conquer the downstream sector. The Shell Chemicals ethane cracker plant helps accomplish that. The plant is a $6 billion investment for the state. But it’s also the beginning of a petrochemical revolution in the commonwealth.
That was the impetus behind a March 2017 study conducted by IHS Markit, a leading market research firm. The study was sponsored by Team Pennsylvania, a nonprofit partnership between the private and public sectors supporting education and economic development.
“One petrochemical facility in the form of Shell is great, but we think there is opportunity for much more here in Pennsylvania,” Team Pennsylvania President and CEO Ryan Unger told The Stream during a wide-ranging interview in November.
Now streaming: Energy updates from The Stream Team
Natural gas pipeline inspection dogs make a ‘ruff’ job easier: These days, even dogs are finding natural gas-related jobs.
Canine pipeline inspections offer an alternative to traditional inspection methods, Susan Hagberg, president of CDIS K9 Pipeline Leak Inspection in Chicago Ridge, Illinois, told The Stream.
“It’s an environmentally friendly, cost-effective approach,” Hagberg said. “We quickly find the leak and save [the pipeline owner] money, all by using a trained dog.”
Shale spotlight: Natural gas in the news
Here’s a look at key energy headlines from November.
- On the eve of split from Consol, CNX Resources speeding up growth plans. The new gas company is moving up its plans to add a new drilling rig to its operations.
- How shale gas extraction is fueling a manufacturing renaissance. The growth of U.S. shale gas extraction is offering a big boost to the plastics manufacturing sector.
- Pennsylvania gas activity climbs along with Marcellus production. Gas production from the Pennsylvania portions of the Marcellus field reached a record high in October, according to the Energy Information Administration.
- ‘We’re hiring,’ oil and gas companies say. For the first time in four years, the oil and gas industry expects to hire more people than it lays off in 2018, according to a recent study.
- Why Philly oil refiners want to dump ethanol mandates. They’re stepping up a campaign to persuade the federal government to relax ethanol-blending rules for Northeast states.
- China Energy Investment signs MOU for $83.7 billion in W.Va. projects. The world’s largest power company by asset value plans to invest $83.7 billion in shale gas, power and chemical projects in West Virginia.
- U.S. oil and gas ‘resurgence’ expected as global demand grows. Oil will continue growing as a source of energy for over two decades, with the U.S. set to become the undisputed leader in crude and gas production.
- Perry urges collaboration among U.S., Canada and Mexico on energy. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said U.S. officials and their counterparts in Canada and Mexico must collaborate to speed the development of the continent’s vast energy resources and remove regulatory roadblocks to cross-border energy infrastructure projects.
- Northumberland County portion of Atlantic Sunrise pipeline begins. The first work in Northumberland County for the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline project is underway. The 42-inch pipeline will run from Columbia County across approximately 10 miles of Northumberland County south into Schuylkill County.
- Natural gas tax comes up for debate in Pa. House. Legislation to impose a tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas production is getting closer to a vote in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives, although the long-sought tax faces hurdles in the nation’s No. 2 gas state.
The Stream: What’s in the pipeline
Coming up in December, we’ll explore programs that make it more affordable to heat your home this winter. We’ll also identify some trends to look for in the energy industry as we head into the new year.
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Joe Massaro
Joe Massaro is based in Bravo Group's Pittsburgh office and has deep energy industry expertise. He previously served as the field director for a Pennsylvania-based oil and gas industry grassroots PR firm.