Utica Shale: Ethane Cracker Planned in West Virginia
Friday, February 15, 2013
According to the Intelligencer, Houston-based Appalachian Resins is looking to build a $500 million ethane cracker somewhere in Marshall County, West Virginia.
A January NPR report explained “ethane cracking”:
“‘Cracker’ is industry lingo for a plant that takes oil and gas and breaks them into smaller molecules. An ethane cracker creates ethylene, a compound used in the manufacture of plastic. There’s much more ethane in Appalachia these days thanks to the controversial drilling techniques known colloquially as ‘fracking.'”
The site will likely be near the Ohio River.
Read it:
“The site likely would be along the Ohio River, as the petrochemical plant would have easy access to water, river transportation, CSX railroad lines and W.Va. 2 – as well as the steady supply of ethane coming from local Marcellus and Utica shale natural gas operations.”
Economic boost
If the project is completed, it’s expected to bring more than 100, full-time, jobs to Marshall County and more than $500 million in investment.
There’s currently no ethane cracker in the Utica and Marcellus regions. Some companies now ship product to facilities in Canada or along the Gulf Coast. Others burn product off via flaring.
» Via: The Intelligencer › Local Ethane Cracker Planned
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