The abundance and low cost of natural gas (NG) in the U.S. is having a significant positive impact on the U.S. economy. In the case of petrochemicals, NG becomes advantaged as a feedstock over all other feedstocks, particularly naptha (oil) in the U.S., for key molecules. The promise of a reliable, low cost supply of ethane and propane from NG has triggered both significant new investment in the U.S. for ethylene and propylene production from NG, and a divergence from the previously coupled production pathway for manufacturing them. In this talk we will focus, for the most part, on the ethylene pathway. The single greatest use of ethylene is for manufacture of polyolefins. Consequently, the expected long term availability of advantaged ethylene has spawned a new wave of announced U.S.-based investments in polyolefins as well. The net result is a renaissance of the polyolefins industry in the U.S. that is expected to leverage and spur innovations along the value chain from manufacture to fabrication of finished goods in diverse applications from packaging to health care and durable goods. It is anticipated that these investments and the bright outlook for the foreseeable future will also foster continuing innovations in olefin polymerization catalysts, processes and polyolefin design for myriad applications. A review and assessment with examples will be provided for how these benefits can accrue along the value chain and how they contribute as well to sustainability of polyolefins.

Abundant, low cost U.S. shale gas supply stimulates polyolefins renaissance

249th National Meeting (2015)

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