White Paper: Shell Petrochemical Complex (“Cracker”) Project Overview

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Shell Petrochemical Complex (“Cracker”) Project Overview
The First Step in Establishing a Regional Petrochemical Sector
October 2016
In June 2016, Shell formally announced their decision to move forward with building the ethane
cracker plant and petrochemical complex in Beaver County, PA (Shell Cracker). This
announcement has been referred to as a “game changer” by Governor Wolf - the project represents
the first ethane cracker in the northeastern US and a significant economic development catalyst for
Pennsylvania.
In an ongoing effort to support and promote economic opportunities from Pennsylvania’s natural
gas assets, this paper was developed by John Siggins of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of
Central & Northern PA (BFTP CNP) through their entity the Shale Gas Innovation &
Commercialization Center (www.sgicc.org).
The BFTP program seeks to maximize tech-based job creation across the Commonwealth, and the
Shale Gas Innovation & Commercialization Center (SGICC) focuses on maximizing job creation
through innovation related to the shale gas industry. The SGICC has also played a role as a major
supporter of the utilization of the shale energy resource, having co-sponsored a regional Natural
Gas Utilization Conference for the last 5 years. That conference has focused on not just the uses
of natural gas, but the natural gas liquids (NGLs) as well. The SGICC has also released a series of
papers/studies on other topics of high interest to this sector, including papers on wastewater
management, conversion of natural gas to methanol, use of natural gas in transportation, and a
report that focuses on analyzing how small companies and innovators can best deliver a new
product or service to the industry. These papers can be accessed on our web site (www.sgicc.org)
at the “Research & Reports” button.
As part of an economic development organization, coupled with the center’s focus on the shale
energy industry, the SGICC is well suited to shine a light on the coming buildout of the
petrochemical industry in the region surrounding the significant volumes of NGLs being produced
in portions of the Marcellus and Utica basin. Additionally, there is no doubt that new technologies
that are tied to this opportunity will continue to be developed. As examples, we might expect the
following to be developed: new or improved catalysts to aid in the conversion processes, and
improved technologies for separating the NGLs.

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The SGICC has built a network of stakeholders that spans large and small companies engaged in
all aspects of the shale energy industry. Thus we bring a unique perspective to the table, aware of
the viewpoints of major shale energy E&P companies, the midstream sector, the downstream users
of the resource, and lastly the entrepreneurial community seeking to take advantage of the
opportunities this relatively new industry in our region continues to offer. It is with this unique
viewpoint that we approached this report; as an information provider and with the overall goal to
inform the Commonwealth’s existing companies and entrepreneurial community on a great
opportunity coming to the region. We also believe the impact of this industry buildout will be felt
statewide, not just in southwestern PA, with a “ripple effect” providing opportunities for decades
to come across the Commonwealth.
Just as the discovery, extraction, and use of the natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica
formations has fundamentally and positively changed the energy landscape of the entire region, so
will the use of the NGLs. The Shell Cracker is in essence the first step in the buildout of an entire
petrochemical industry in the region surrounding where the NGLs are being produced from the
Marcellus and Utica basins. But it is important to note that a much broader geographic region that
includes significant portions of the Northeastern and Upper Midwestern U.S. will benefit from the
buildout of this petrochemical industry. Though the major cracker facilities are likely to be
centered in close proximity to southwestern PA, or the bordering areas in Ohio or West Virginia,
use of some of the NGLs and products/intermediates from the cracker facilities will benefit
companies throughout the Northeastern and Upper Midwestern U.S.
To put the impact the shale energy revolution is having on a national scale in perspective, a
September 14, 2016 Bloomberg BNA blog quotes Alan Kovski’s special report titled “Shale Gas
Surge Triggers U.S. Petrochemicals Wave”. Mr. Kovski notes:
“High volumes of natural gas from shale, combined with moderate prices, have given a strong
economic advantage to companies that turn gas and natural gas liquids into intermediate
chemicals and an array of finished synthetic products that are among the most commonplace
manufactured objects in modern life. He continues, Some 268 petrochemical and fertilizer plant
projects linked to shale gas, with an estimated investment of $170 billion, are in various stages of
study or construction, Kevin Swift, chief economist with the trade group American Chemistry
Council, told Bloomberg BNA. At the end of 2010, less than $10 billion in such projects had been
announced.”1
The Shell Cracker is a first step forward towards the buildout of a regional petrochemical hub and
manufacturing renaissance in the plastics and chemicals sector in the Commonwealth that will lead
to new business creation and expansions not just in this sector, but in many sectors that provide
support products and services to it. Both new and existing companies will take advantage of the
polyethylene being produced by the Shell Cracker and polyethylene and intermediates produced
from other potential regional cracker facilities.
This paper goes beyond simply focusing on the Shell Cracker. We believe this project is a catalyst
for future use and development of significant volumes of NGLs available in the Marcellus and

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Utica basin. We attempt to both define the scope, construction details as known today, and the
projected timeline for Shell’s construction, as well as estimate the value of the project, and the
overall expected buildout of the petrochemical sector in the region. This includes details on the
ancillary downstream development possibilities to utilize the NGLs and the product streams from
NGL conversion that will be available in the region. We also highlight the many supporting
industries that will experience growth to supply the materials and maintenance needs of this new
sector in the region.
Shell Cracker Overview
The Shell website notes the following regarding what they refer to as the “Shell Appalachian
Petrochemical Project”:
“The proposed complex would be the first major U.S. project of its type to be built outside the Gulf
Coast region in 20 years. Locating the facility close to both supply and markets would reduce
economic and environmental transportation costs and provide regional plastic manufacturers with
more flexibility, shorter supply chains and enhanced supply dependability.”2
Regarding the scope and key components that will make up the manufacturing complex it further
notes that, “….the facility would include:
• an ethane cracker with an approximate annual average capacity of 3.2 billion pounds
of ethylene;
• three polyethylene units with a combined annual production of approximately 3.5
billion pounds; and
• power and steam generation, storage, logistics, cooling water and water treatment,
emergency flare, buildings and warehouses.” 2
Details on the Key Plant Design Features and Partners on the Shell Cracker:
Shell’s facility would first “crack,” or break apart ethane’s large molecules and re-arrange the
carbon and hydrogen atoms to create ethylene. This is accomplished by heating the ethane to very
high temperatures, greater than 1500°F (800°C), in one of the cracker’s seven furnaces. Natural
gas and “tail gas” (a hydrogen and natural gas combination from the furnace that is recycled) are
used to fuel the process. The ethylene will be further processed to create different types of
polyethylene. 2
Polyethylene is a building block for the plastics industry.
The plant will use approximately 100,000 barrels equivalent/day of ethane. Numerous
fractionation plants (plants used to process and separate the NGLs in to its various components –
ethane, propane, butane, etc.) have been built already in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio
and more are expected to be built as the volume of NGLs extracted grows. It is reported that Shell
has signed contracts with 10 entities to provide the ethane. 3
Cracking furnaces are the heart of ethylene plants, and it is reported that Shell’s cracker will be
utilizing steamcracking technology offered by Linde Engineering North America, Inc.,
headquartered in Houston, Texas. 4

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Photo from Linde Brochure: Seven ethane cracking furnaces by Linde Engineering
North America for Saudi Ethylene and Polyethylene Company 4
Below is a typical furnace design of a steamcracking furnace provided by Linde on the company’s
website.
The engineering, procurement, and construction contractor (EPC) on the Shell project is Bechtel
Oil, Gas, and Chemicals. The combination of Linde and Bechtel is the same partnership chosen
by Exxon to build their olefins recovery units at the ExxonMobil Baytown Olefins Plant located
in Baytown, Texas that was announced in August, 2014. 5

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In addition to the two major prime contractors for the key components of the overall project, Jacobs
Field Service North America, Inc. (Houston, Texas) has been chosen to handle all permitting
aspects for the project, and it is understood that there will be as many as 6 additional EPC contracts
for specific projects (such as the wastewater treatment plant) that will be undertaken as part of the
overall project.
Timeline & Scale of the Project:
The Shell Cracker is what is referred to as a “World Scale” petrochemical plant, and the scale of
the project exceeds any recent major petrochemical plant built or undertaken in the state or outside
of the Gulf region in many years. For that reason, it has taken Shell several years to make the
decision to move forward, and they’ve spent in the range of $500 million in advance of their final
investment decision to prepare the site for the project, including moving a section of Route 18 and
constructing a bridge across the highway to alleviate traffic issues.
The projected budget for building the entire cracker plant and polyethylene (PE) units, plus all
supporting units (power plant, wastewater treatment facility, etc.) is projected to be $6 billion, but
may vary substantially, depending on many factors that arise during the final design/build stages
of a project of this scale. The projected project timeline is as follows:
• Continued site preparation – Through 4Q 2017
• Letting of contracts and beginning building of ancillary support units – Beginning in late
2016 and continuing throughout construction period
• Initiating main construction of cracker and polyethylene units and other facilities –
Estimated to begin in 18 months
• Anticipated project completion – 2020/2021 timeframe
What makes this project so important to the Commonwealth and Surrounding Region?
Shell’s decision to select Beaver County, PA for their cracker positions the
Pennsylvania/Ohio/West Virginia tri-state area to derive substantial benefit in the near term from
the building of the Shell Cracker. The complex itself will provide an estimated 600 full time jobs
when operational, and an estimated 6,000 construction jobs at peak construction while the plant is
being built.
It is the operation of the cracker – in which 1.6 million metric tons of polyethylene will be produced
annually in our region - that is so important. Polyethylene is the initial building block for so many
products, and the other byproduct streams that will be produced in much smaller quantities from
the operation also will be converted to various high value chemicals and fuels. Prior to the Shell
Cracker, the Gulf Coast has been the US “Hub” for cracker plants and petrochemical plants, and
the corresponding production of large volumes of polyethylene and other petrochemicals. Bringing
this scale of plant to the region is truly a “game changer” as it not only will produce large quantities
of low cost polyethylene, a “building block” for so many plastic products, right in our region, but
it will also open the door for an entire petrochemical industry to develop.
As noted on the Shell website, the polyethylene pellets will be shipped to manufacturers to make
many of the plastic products we use every day. They note:

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“Different grades of polyethylene make different types of products: Low-density polyethylene
(LDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) are the raw materials for items like food
packaging, film, trash bags, diapers, toys and housewares; and High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
is used to create “stiffer” products such as crates, drums, bottles, food containers and other types
of housewares.” 2
We anticipate that Shell has negotiated supply contracts for a portion of the LLDPE and HDPE
polyethylene that Shell will be producing at this facility in order to financially support their
investment. But even if only a portion of the polyethylene remains available for new or existing
businesses, this will be significant. Shell has not identified who the potential buyers of the
polyethylene will be, but we anticipate that the majority of the polyethylene will be sold to existing
proximate customers (within a 700 mile radius).
Although the ultimate disposition of the polyethylene from the Shell cracker is unknown, having
polyethylene available in large quantities right in the region close to the largest end use markets in
the nation, one would anticipate that this will spawn some level of additional polymer processing
plants to be built in the region. Having access to the polyethylene may also lead to new niche
opportunities spawning smaller manufacturing opportunities. This could enable the production of
lower cost plastic pieces that go in to many of the final products being manufactured by companies
across the region, lowering their overall manufacture cost.
It is also important to note that there are already other cracker plants and NGL end use conversion
opportunities in the planning stages for the region, and in all likelihood one or more crackers will
be built, especially now that Shell has committed to the Beaver County complex. Critical regional
infrastructure will be built to support the cracker, and critical capabilities developed to support the
cracker industry. This makes it very likely that one or more of the proposed crackers will announce
their intentions to build in the near term. The following lists three major cracker projects that are
in various stages of planning in the region:
• PTT Global Chemical---Belmont County, Ohio
• Appalachian Resin-----Monroe County, Ohio
• Braskem Ethane Cracker—Near Parkersburg, West Virginia
At a recent regional conference, it was reported that initial site preparation activities at the PTT
Global Chemical proposed site located on the Ohio River in Ohio has begun. They are
decommissioning a coal fired power plant and hoping to start construction on the cracker plant in
the 2017/2018 timeframe.
Thus, it would appear that the Shell announcement is just a first in a series of projects to be
announced. Thus it is important for regional planners and the existing industries in the region to
understand what the possibilities are, and to develop strategic plans to maximize the opportunities
that will present themselves.

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Project Energy Requirements
The Shell Cracker will require substantial electricity to power it (equivalent to the power needed
by roughly 100,000 homes). Shell will be building their own natural gas-powered electric
generating plant on the site, and excess electricity generated will be sold back to the local grid.
The plant will be a Combined Heat & Power (CHP) or Combined Cycle Co-Generation plant to
provide both the steam and electricity the plant will require. The CHP facility will include three
combustion turbines with duct burners and heat recovery steam generators providing the electricity
and steam for use on site. Total generating capacity will be about 250 MW with enough excess
electricity to be sold to the grid to classify the power plant as an electric utility.
Bechtel has the contract to build the Combined Cycle Power Plant, and will be releasing contracts
to vendors to assist them with the construction by the fall. In an article titled “Shell nears permit
for 250 MW power plant in Pennsylvania” 6
, dated March 30, 2015, by Barry Cassell, Chief
Analyst, in “Power Engineering” magazine, it provides a detailed extensive list of the major
equipment pieces that will be installed during the building of the petrochemical complex, including
the power plant.
Delivery of the Ethane to the Shell Petrochemical Complex & NGLs Overview
Natural Gas Intelligence’s article “Shell At Work on Three-State Ethane Pipeline System to Feed
PA Cracker” 3
details how Shell plans to deliver the bulk of the ethane to the complex. It also
highlights some of the existing pipelines in place to move NGLs out of the region.
In order to deliver the ethane to the complex, it was publicly announced in August, 2016 that Shell,
through its affiliate Shell Pipeline Company LP is developing a 94-mile ethane transport system.
The “Falcon Ethane Pipeline System” will be a common carrier pipeline system with construction
to begin in late 2018. It will be located in southwestern Pennsylvania and extend into West Virginia
and Ohio. Ethane will be collected from MarkWest Energy Partners LP's Houston Processing and
Fractionation facility in Washington County, PA, and from MarkWest’s Cadiz Complex in
Harrison County, OH. The system will also receive ethane from Utica East Ohio Midstream via
their Harrison Hub fractionation plant in Scio, OH. Shell has identified ten ethane suppliers, and
several have signed 10-20 year agreements to provide ethane to Shell. 3
According to the article, the Falcon system will be comparable in size to the entire existing
Appalachian Basin's current NGL infrastructure. The article notes that currently, the Appalachia-
to-Texas Express (ATEX) pipeline, which carries Marcellus and Utica ethane to Mont Belvieu,
TX, has an expandable capacity of 125,000 b/d. The Mariner East 1 pipeline, which carries ethane
and propane from Western Pennsylvania to the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex near Philadelphia
for domestic and international distribution, has a capacity of 70,000 b/d. And the Mariner West
pipeline carries 50,000 b/d of ethane from the basin to Michigan and Canada. 3
The proposed
Mariner East 2 pipeline(s) that are in the permitting process, and that are to be built adjacent to the
Mariner East 1 pipeline seeks to increase the total capacity of the Mariner East pipelines up to
675,000 barrels per day of NGLs. 7
As one example of the buildout of just the infrastructure necessary to support the processing and
distribution of the NGLs being extracted from the wet gas Marcellus and Utica region, the article

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in Natural Gas Intelligence provides the following. “Kevin Hawkins, MPLX's senior manager of
investor relations, said the company was not yet ready to provide specifics about how it might
meet Shell's demands. The company highlighted plans to invest between $500 million to $1 billion
in ethane solutions over the next five years on its second quarter earnings call. Management said
there will likely be a "number of de-ethanization facility investment opportunities" and added that
those would go beyond Shell's cracker.” 3
S&P Global Platts addresses projected volumes of NGLs coming out of the Marcellus and Utica
region over the next few years. They note, “US ethane supply from gas plants (before rejection)
in the Marcellus and Utica has grown from 5,000 b/d in 2013 to about 276,000 b/d in 2015,
according to Platts Bentek. ethane production is estimated to grow to 387,000 b/d in 2017 and
443,000 b/d in 2018, according to Platts Bentek Market Call: North American NGLs, 1Q2016.”8
It is difficult to surmise the total volume of economically recoverable NGLs that are available in
the wet gas region of the Marcellus and Utica basin. But it’s logical to conclude that based on the
level of interest and activity of major players like Shell, Braskem, and others to develop major
NGL use projects in the region, their analysis indicates that there are sufficient volumes to supply
multiple world scale NGL conversion plants, while also providing ample NGLs for export to other
regions via the network of pipelines that are being developed or are already in place. Of course not
all proposed regional petrochemical projects and export pipelines are likely to be built, and a
“sorting out” process will take place, including perhaps a race to secure available NGLs over the
coming months and years.
According to the numbers provided in the above references, projected potential NGL pipeline
exports along existing pipelines (ATEX and Mariner East/West) alone total 850,000 bpd. The
Shell plant will use an estimated additional 100,000 bpd of ethane. According to the Platts
information, in 2018, ethane production is to only be 443,000 bpd before “rejection”, which refers
to ethane that instead of being recovered is “rejected,” and blended in with the methane to be
burned as fuel. However, the pipelines being built may also be carrying away propane, butane, and
a mixture of NGLs, so without more knowledge of the “mix” of NGLs that will make up the
850,000 bpd it is not readily clear what the exact shortage of ethane will be if all projected pipeline
projects come on line.
The above discussion points to the fact that the amount of NGLs available from the Marcellus and
Utica that can be extracted and recovered from the play at an economically viable price point is
not readily available. But based on the geographic scale of the wet gas play, it does seem likely
that a ramp up of production can be undertaken to produce significantly larger volumes of NGLs
than are currently being produced. This demonstrates the need for a better in-depth analysis of the
“NGL picture” going forward. At this point, all signs indicate that the E&P companies are prepared
to ramp up to meet the production demands to fulfill announced projects, and there have been no
signs that an over-commitment of NGLs is being approached. Thus, this reinforces the earlier
assertion that the region needs to prepare strategically for the impending buildout of the

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petrochemical industry in the region to maximize the value provided to new and existing small
through large companies, and the accompanying job creation opportunities that will result.
Downstream Opportunities:
The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council (MOVRC) commissioned a report that provided a detailed
analysis of the potential downstream opportunities for growth of the manufacturing sector based
on the proposed Odebrecht cracker that is on hold, proposed to be built in Parkersburg, West
Virginia. 9
It also summarizes some of the opportunities for business growth that will occur during
the building of a cracker plant. Although the report was commissioned based on the proposed West
Virginia project, the results of the study are very pertinent to the Shell Cracker because it is
essentially a mirror image of the Odebrecht proposed project. The report notes that the “…Analysis
focused on two key areas: 1) Identifying regional companies that would benefit from the proposed
ethane cracker; and 2) Identifying potential companies that may look to expand to the region in
order to take advantage of proximity to the cracker.”
The graphic below shows the entire downstream potential products matrix that can come from an
ethane cracker.
Ethane – Ethylene Supply Chain Graphic from Page 4 of the “Ethane Cracker Supply Chain Market Study”
commissioned by the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council (MOVRC) 9

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The top two “product lines” shown on the graphic and the associated downstream manufacturing
opportunities that utilize high and linear low density polyethylene (as will be produced at the Shell
Cracker) should be expected to benefit in our region. If additional cracker plants are announced,
or the Shell plant’s design is modified (or additional plants are built separate from the Shell facility
to take ethylene from the plant) other product lines shown on the graph may also be produced
locally.
The report also notes the following regarding the polyethylene (also referred to as “polymer
resins”):
“Polymer resins are usually produced in the form of plastic pellets. Pellets are shipped to
fabrication sites where plastics materials and products are manufactured. Plastics products are
made using various methods, including: extrusion (film), injection molding (containers), blow
molding (bottles) or rotation molding (hollow plastic products). Pellets are typically shipped via
rail or truck to plastics fabricators. Due to high shipping costs, fabricators tend to locate near
final product assembly. Thus, fabricators will be located near automotive, aerospace, packaging,
medical device, and related industry clusters.” But it also notes, “Alternatively, producers of
plastic resins may choose to locate close to raw material extraction and feedstock – this is why
much of the industry is located along the gulf coast in Texas and Louisiana. However, the
possibility of extracting natural gas from shale is likely to change this arrangement. In fact, there
is a strong possibility that a second petrochemicals hub will develop in the Marcellus basin.”9
(Note: Bolding & underlining added for emphasis by this paper’s author)
The report also emphasizes specific “Target Industries” that would be expected to locate in the
area as a result of the buildout of the cracker. It zeros in on four key areas - Plastics and Rubber
Manufacturing, Chemical Manufacturing, Transportation and Warehousing/Wholesalers, and Oil
and Gas Extraction, prioritizing the opportunities into the following three groups:
• Primary targets are the most promising industries for expansion. Targets here show high growth
potential alongside a new ethane cracker, positive macroeconomic trends, and strong
nationwide/global market forces. Additionally, these industries can be recruited.
• Secondary targets share similar characteristics to primary targets, but show slightly less strong
indicators for progress.
• Tertiary targets may or may not improve with the presence of a cracker, but accompany industries
which show promise or could grow with favorable macroeconomic trends. Additionally, some
tertiary industries show promise for growth but face large barriers to entry. A listing by NAICS
codes for 35 different manufacturing opportunities follows. As an example, under Primary Targets,
under Chemicals NAICS 32511 – Petrochemical Manufacturing is listed with a paragraph
regarding the opportunity. 9
Based on the above descriptions, the table below highlights the target industries for the ethylene
supply chain. Some are likely to be developed in relation to the cracker plants that are developed
within the Marcellus and Utica basins.

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All Target Industries for Ethylene Supply Chain
Primary Targets Secondary Targets Tertiary Targets Short-Term Targets
Petrochemical
Manufacturing
Polystyrene Foam
Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical
Manufacturing
Support Activities for Oil and
Gas Operations
Organic Chemical
Manufacturing
Urethane Foam
Manufacturing
Cosmetic and Beauty
Products Manufacturing
Natural Gas Distribution
Plastic and Resin
Manufacturing
Tire Manufacturing Gasoline and Petroleum
Bulk Stations
Electrical Contractors and
Other Wiring Installation
Contractors
Adhesive
Manufacturing
Hose and Belt
Manufacturing
Gasoline and Petroleum
Wholesaling
Plumbing, Heating, and Air-
Conditioning Contractors
Chemical Wholesaling Rubber Product
Manufacturing
Refined Petroleum
Pipeline Transportation
Oil and Gas Field Machinery and
Equipment Manufacturing
Plastic, Film, Sheet and
Bag Manufacturing
Oxygen and Hydrogen
Gas Manufacturing
Oil Drilling and Gas
Extraction
Pipeline Transportation of
Natural Gas
Plastic Pipe and Parts
Manufacturing
Dye and Pigment
Manufacturing
Oil and Gas Field
Services
Construction, Mining, and
Forestry Machinery and
Equipment Rental and Leasing
Laminated Plastics
Manufacturing
Inorganic Chemical
Manufacturing
Other Commercial and Industrial
Machinery Equipment Rental and
Leasing
Plastics Bottle
Manufacturing
Synthetic Fiber
Manufacturing
Engineering Services
Miscellaneous Plastics
Products
Fertilizer
Manufacturing
Plastics Wholesaling Pesticide
Manufacturing
Paint Manufacturing
Soap and Cleaning
Compound
Manufacturing
Ink Manufacturing
Explosives
Manufacturing
Chemical Product
Manufacturing
“All Target Industries for Ethylene Supply Chain” Graphic from Page 14 of the “Ethane Cracker Supply Chain Market
Study” commissioned by the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council (MOVRC). 9
Based on an informational brochure prepared by Dow, other specific products that can be
manufactured from polyethylene include:
1. Durables, Goods, and Flooring
2. Flexible Food and Specialty Packaging
3. Health and Hygiene

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4. Industrial and Consumer Packaging
5. Pipes and Fittings
6. Rigid Packaging. 10
There is clearly an extensive list of products that are made from polyethylene, indicating that
having multiple crackers producing polyethylene right here in the Appalachian region will likely
be a “game changer” to our plastics manufacturing industry going forward.
As an example of what is likely to become regular announcements across the region, on August
30, 2016 it was made public that international plastics packaging manufacturer Retal is opening a
regional headquarters and production plant in Donora, PA planning to create 88 jobs. The article
in the Mon Valley Observer – Reporter notes, “Retal PA LLC is a subsidiary of Retal Industries
LTD, a Cyprus-based international manufacturer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic
preforms and containers and high density polyethylene lids and closures for the food and beverage
industries used in the production of plastic bottles for water, carbonated and still drinks and liquor
and beer.” 11
Summary:
Though the actual production of polyethylene from the Shell Cracker won’t be occurring for a few
more years, now is the time for regional businesses to begin positioning themselves to benefit from
the opportunities that will be presented during the construction of the first regional petrochemical
facility. Also this is the time for both small and large companies to begin gaining an understanding
of all of the various opportunities that are likely to be presented as both cracker facilities,
midstream pipeline buildouts and NGL processing facilities, and additional downstream
petrochemical projects are announced to utilize the abundant NGLs.
Now is the time for regional planners to be identifying their prime locations for prospective
companies to build facilities, to be determining necessary infrastructure upgrades, and to develop
appropriate incentives to attract investors and prospects.
Uday Turaga, President of ADI Analytics, a boutique consulting and advisory firm that focuses on
the oil and gas, energy, and chemicals sectors, advising companies, start-ups, investors, and
governments in this space, provided the following comments regarding the exciting opportunities
the Shell Cracker brings to the state:
- “Polyethylene (PE) production spawns a wide range of large (PE derivatives
manufacturing) and small businesses (PE processing, e.g., blow mold processing) that will
drive employment in a more sustainable manner. This is why Saudi and the Middle East
have been developing downstream chemical businesses to create jobs for their population.
It is important to emphasize that it will create both small and large businesses driving a
big economic resurgence.”
- “Several other industries will expand or come in the vicinity, e.g., fabrication shops,
equipment (pump/compressor) service centers, industrial cleaning and waste management
facilities, etc.”

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- “It will lay the basis for the development of a new industrial logistics and transportation
system on the East Coast, and make further cracker or petrochemical plant additions /
expansions much cheaper and easier.”
- “Finally, the plant will train a new generation of workers, create opportunities for
entrepreneurs, and drive research dollars in the neighborhood.”
These are truly exciting times in the state! A manufacturing renaissance has been launched as a
result of this opportunity.
References:
1
http://www.bna.com/shale-gas-surge-b57982076968/
2
http://www.shell.us/about-us/projects-and-locations/appalachian-petrochemical-project/about-
the-appalachian-petrochemical-project.html
3
http://www.naturalgasintel.com/articles/107415-shell-at-work-on-three-state-ethane-pipeline-
system-to-feed-pa-cracker
4
http://www.lindeus-
engineering.com/internet.le.le.usa/en/images/LENA%20EthyleneBrochure%202013136_90655.
pdf
5
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2014/08/22/exxon-mobil-touts-chemical-plant-expansion/
6
http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/03/shell-chemical-nears-air-permit-for-250-mw-
power-project-in-pennsylvania.html
7
http://articles.philly.com/2016-07-16/news/74496931_1_sunoco-pipeline-mariner-east-
pipeline-sunoco-logistics-partners
8
http://blogs.platts.com/2016/03/01/ethylene-projects-ethane-northeast-us/
9
http://www.apeg.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Ethane_Cracker_Supply_Chain_-
_Public_Final_-_May_2015.pdf
10
http://msdssearch.dow.com/PublishedLiteratureDOWCOM/dh_0376/0901b80380376c20.pdf?f
ilepath=/003-10051.pdf&fromPage=GetDoc
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A Renaissance for the Plastics Industry, www.expansionsolutionsmagazine.com, K. John
Gutshaw and David S. Laszlo, Wadley Donovan Gutshaw Consulting.
DISCLAIMER
The Ben Franklin Technology Partners Shale Gas Innovation & Commercialization Center
(SGICC) has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this
document. However, SGICC and the author and their representatives do not make any warranty,

14
expressed or implied, or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness,
or usefulness of any of this document.
About the SGICC
The Ben Franklin Shale Gas Innovation and Commercialization Center
(www.sgicc.org) is designed to harness innovation and new technologies as a means to maximize
the economic return to Pennsylvania’s citizens from the Marcellus and Utica shale
formations. The Center’s goal is to increase sustainable employment while supporting the
commercialization of technologies that enhance responsible stewardship of the environment while
properly utilizing this transformative energy asset.

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