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Guest Blogger
Look downstream: Ohio's chemical companies to benefit from liquids-rich natural gas
Despite all that has been said and written about the job creation and economic growth potential of the shale gas boom in Ohio, the effects are just beginning to be felt. However, the awareness, excitement and enthusiasm are unmistakable and widespread across the state. Much less understood, but perhaps no less important, are the downstream positive impacts of shale gas on the specialty chemical and polymer industries. These sectors already have a large economic stake in the region, but the shale gas growth, particularly the presence of natural gas liquids (NGLs) in the Utica Shale, have the potential to significantly accelerate the growth and improve the global competitiveness of Ohio's specialty chemical and polymer industries. In fact, the energy and chemical industries are anchor industries in Ohio, so any developments that benefit both of them should receive strong support statewide. Purchased raw materials (feed stock) and purchased energy (gas & electricity) are two of the largest cost items for chemical companies, and low-priced, locally sourced natural gas addresses both of those factors. Natural gas liquids (ethane, propane and butane) are crucial feed stocks for high value added products of the chemical industry. As a result, U.S. manufacturing and the chemical industry were hit hard by high natural gas prices between 2004 and 2008. Prices started to fall dramatically as supplies from shale formations began to be realized and understood. Now, low-priced natural gas and ethane from natural gas liquids (NGLs) have the potential to significantly improve the global competiveness of Ohio's chemical companies. The growing supply is also helping to keep Ohio's energy costs among the most competitive in the country. "The downstream opportunities from locally sourced shale gas appear to be more revolutionary than evolutionary for the specialty chemical and polymer industries," said Dennis Barber, Executive Director, Ohio Polymer Strategy Council. "Specialty chemicals and polymers already have a strong foundation in the state, but these local, lower-cost feed stocks and reduced energy costs are potentially game-changing for our industry and its supply chain." Ohio Polymer Strategy Council, based in Westerville, is a united group of senior industry, academic, and government leaders working collectively as a driving force to strengthen Ohio's polymer industry. This potential game-changing impact is the topic for a shale gas plenary session at the upcoming Advanced Energy B2B Conference & Expo (October 30 and 31 in Columbus). The October 31 session, "Shale Gas – Significance of Ohio's Downstream Opportunities," will feature Jim Zehringer, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources; Jon Laughner, Allegheny Extension Director, Penn State Extension; David Mustine, Managing Director, Energy, Chemicals & Polymers, JobsOhio; Brendan O'Neil, Managing Director, IHS Consulting; and Anil W. Saraf, Director, Market Innovation, PolyOne Corporation. Wayne Earley, President and CEO of PolymerOhio, Inc., will moderate the panel discussion. The conference and expo are presented by Advanced Energy Economy Ohio and produced by NorTech. For more information about the conference, visit http://www.advancedenergyexpo.com. Natural gas liquids such as ethane, propane and butane are the shale gas downstream priority for the chemical industry. For example, through the stream cracking process, ethane is used to produce ethylene, which is found in thousands of specialty chemical and polymer products. This method is already a cost-effective means of producing ethylene, and U.S. ethane cracker capacity is expected to increase by as much as 40 percent over the next several years. In a much-anticipated announcement earlier this year, Shell Oil Co. officially selected the Pittsburgh area as the site for an ethane-cracking refinery. A revitalized Ohio chemical industry will also have a positive impact on other parts of the regional economy, including benefiting transportation and logistics companies (for shipping raw materials and finished goods) and the construction industry (for building plant capacity). As shale gas development accelerates locally to produce abundant natural gas and NGLs, which will help keep natural gas prices low, many industries and segments, both upstream and downstream, stand to benefit. The specialty chemical and polymer industries will probably be among the first to capitalize, and should enjoy a long-term, positive impact.


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Busy times – and handouts
2 November, 2010 at 8:04 pm 2 comments
I've been very busy lately, writing and teaching, but without time to write new blog entries.
At the recent History and Genealogy Expo, run by Unlock The Past, I gave talks entitled 'Which Genealogy Program?' and 'DNA for Genealogists'.
'Which Genealogy Program?' is the title of the book I wrote with Rosemary Kopittke, and it is available through Gould Genealogy & Heraldry. Actually today I finished the revisions for an updated edition 2 of the book, which will be launched next week at the History and Genealogy Roadshow. Edition 2 of the book includes reviews of the latest versions of Ezitree Plus, Family Tree Maker 2011 and MacFamily Tree.
A second talk I gave at the Expo was 'DNA for Genealogists', and a short excerpt from my talk can be seen in this clip. (Having seen it, I realise that I really must learn to trust the remote controls for changing slides, so I don't need to keep looking down at the computer in order to step through the slides of my presentations!)
I have also attended the 'Lost in the Internet' seminar at the State Library of NSW, conducted by the Society of Australian Genealogists (SAG). My topic to speak on there was 'How Pay-to-view Websites can be Good Value'. A photo from that day can be seen here.
Today Louise St Denis, the Managing Director of the National Institute of Genealogical Studies (NIGS) released some information that will also be announced next week at the Roadshow – I am to be the Director of Australian Studies for an Australian Certificate course run through NIGS. Her announcement can be seen here. The various courses will be released over 2011.
Anyway all that is why I haven't had time to write about anything in particular, although I have actually been doing a lot of genealogical writing. With all these talks, I decided to make available on my website the handouts from some of the talks I have given in the last few years. (Bear in mind that some of these handouts were prepared some years ago – each shows the date indicating when it was prepared.)
I retain the copyright, but hopefully at least some of the information contained might be useful for others. Handouts include: Arrivals (Immigration); Australian births, deaths & marriages; Australian government archives; DNA for genealogists; Pay-to-view websites; New Zealand research; Publishing personal research to the Internet; Scottish research; Victorian Goldrush; Western Australian genealogy.
Entry filed under: Education, Research techniques. Tags: Archives, BDM, DNA, Education, Gould, handouts, Immigration, Internet, National Institute of Genealogical Studies, New Zealand, NIGS, Pay-to-view websites, SAG, Scottish, Society of Australian Genealogists, Unlock the Past, Victorian Goldrush, Western Australia, Which Genealogy Program?.
2 Comments Add your own
Thanks for your generosity – I am so impressed that you give handouts. It is do disappointing when speakers do not give something to attendees.
Your handout from the recent DNA talk was very useful.
Congrats on your Directorship – it is well deserved.
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