1. Petrochemical Industry in the US - Abundant Feedstock Supply
from the Shale Reserves to Revive the US Petrochemical
Industry
Report Details:
Published:December 2012
No. of Pages: 62
Price: Single User License – US$3995
Petrochemical Industry in the US - Abundant Feedstock Supply from the Shale Reserves to
Revive the US Petrochemical Industry
Summary
GlobalData, the industry analysis specialist, has released its latest research, “Petrochemical
Industry in the US - Abundant Feedstock Supply from the Shale Reserves to Revive the US
Petrochemical Industry”. The study comes from the company’s petrochemical research group and
provides in-depth analysis of the US petrochemicals industry, highlighting major features and
explaining how the shale gas revolution is driving its revival. The report gives the historic and
forecast demand and production figures and also discusses the feedstock supply scenario.
Additionally, it profiles major liquid-rich shale plays in the US and explains the factors encouraging
the growth of drilling activities in these shale plays. It has been built using data and information
sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by
GlobalData’s research team of industry experts.
The US petrochemicals industry is set to make a spectacular comeback after suffering from low
demand and high feedstock costs for most of the previous decade. Emergence of the Middle East
as a hub of basic petrochemicals production further eroded its competitiveness. In the middle of
the last decade, the discovery of shale gas changed the dynamics of the US petrochemicals
industry by leading to the revival of the natural gas industry which improved the ethane supply and
created high profit margins at the end of 2011 and 2012. The shale plays are steadily taking center
stage in the natural gas industry and so the petrochemicals industry is also hoping for an abundant
supply of ethane feedstock in the future.
Drillers in the US are currently focusing on liquid-rich shale plays such as Eagle Ford, Barnett,
Bakken and Marcellus, which, in addition to natural gas, provide valuable Natural Gas Liquids

2. (NGL, a mixture of hydrocarbon gases such as ethane, propane, butane and isobutane), as by-
product. As a result, NGL production in the US increased from 620 Million Barrels (MMbbl) in 2005
to 809 MMbbl in 2011. Ethane production has also received a boost from high NGL production and
has increased from 236 MMbbl in 2005 to 338 MMbbl in 2011. It is expected to increase further as
drilling in the liquid-rich shale areas continues into the future.
Scope
The report provides in-depth analysis of the opportunities and challenges facing manufacturers of
petrochemicals in the US and abroad. Its scope includes -
- Geological and economic characteristics of major NGL-rich shale plays in the US
- Historic and forecast basic petrochemicals production and consumption
- Historic and forecast ethylene capacity in the US
- NGL and ethane production in the US
- Natural gas production and consumption in the US and the share of shale gas in the total natural
gas production
- Natural gas price changes in the last decade
- Planned ethylene plants based on shale gas
- Major shale gas-based investments by petrochemicals companies in the US
Reasons to buy
The report will enhance your decision-making capability by allowing you to -
- Understand the ethane supply scenario in the US
- Develop market strategies with the help of specific insights into feedstock supply in the US
- Identify opportunities in the US petrochemicals industry with the help of specific insights into
future investments in the US
- Increase future revenue and profitability with the help of insights into future opportunities and
critical success factors in the US petrochemicals industry
- Understand the current and likely future competitive scenario
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from-the-shale-reserves-to-revive-the-us-petrochemical-industry.html
Major points covered in Table of Contents of this report include
1 Table of Contents 4
1.1 List of Tables 6
1.2 List of Figures 7
2 Introduction 8
2.1 Overview 8
2.2 GlobalData Report Guidance 9

3. 3 Shale Gas - A Vital Source of Energy Made Available Through Continuous Technological
Evolution 10
3.1 What is Shale Gas? 10
3.1.1 Shale Gas is extracted through Horizontal Drilling and Hydraulic Fracturing 10
3.1.2 Natural Gas Liquids Fractionated from the Shale Gas are Used in Petrochemical Production
11
3.1.3 The US has the Second Largest Shale Gas Reserves in the World 11
3.2 Increasing Shale Gas Production has Increased Natural Gas Liquid Supply 12
3.2.1 Barnett Shale Play is the Oldest and the Largest Natural Gas Liquid-producing Shale in the
US 12
3.2.2 Eagle Ford is One of the Most Liquid-rich Shale Plays and has the Necessary Associated
Infrastructure 14
3.2.3 Marcellus Shale Play will Supply Huge Quantities of Ethane after the Completion of Planned
Pipelines and Planned Projects 15
3.2.4 Bakken Shale is Primarily an Oil Play with a High Natural Gas Liquid Content 17
4 The US Natural Gas Industry Witnessed a Turnaround after Shale Gas Significantly
Enhanced Production 19
4.1 Historic US Natural Gas Production and Consumption, 1970-2000 19
4.2 Natural Gas Imports Continued to Increase until Advanced Drilling Technologies Made
Production from Shale Plays Viable 20
4.2.1 Natural Gas Supply Shortage until 2005 20
4.2.2 Breakthrough in Drilling Technology Improved Natural Gas Production 20
4.2.3 Shale Plays have created a Plentiful Supply of Natural Gas Production for the Rest of the
Decade 22
4.3 Natural Gas Prices Fell as a Result of Excess Production 23
4.4 Lower Natural Gas Prices have Forced Producers to Seek Liquid-rich Shale Plays 24
5 Turnaround in the Natural Gas Industry to Enhance Ethane Supply for the US
Petrochemicals Industry 25
5.1 The US Petrochemicals Industry Became Less Competitive with the Emergence of the Middle
East as the Most Economic Production Center 25
5.2 The US has been Overtaken by China as the Leader of the Global Petrochemicals Industry 25
5.2.1 China has emerged as the Leader of the Global Petrochemicals Industry in the Last Decade
25
5.2.2 Slower US Petrochemicals Demand Growth due to Mature Domestic Market 26
5.2.3 Chinese Production Increased at an Unprecedented Pace to Fulfill Domestic Demand 28
5.3 US Poised to Regain Strength as Shale Reserves will Provide Abundant Supply of Ethane
Feedstock 30
5.4 Lower Cost of Ethane has Driven Ethylene Margins in the US 32
5.5 More Ethane Crackers are Being Planned in the US to Benefit from the Advantageous
Feedstock Scenario 34
5.6 Increase in Natural Gas Liquid Production has Boosted Fractionation Capacity 35
5.7 Increasing Investment will Increase Ethylene Capacity Substantially by 2017 36

4. 6 Government Regulation and Inadequate Pipeline Infrastructure May Hamper the Ethane
Supply in the US 38
6.1 Tightening Fracking Regulations to Make Drilling More Difficult 38
6.2 Pipeline Infrastructure Must be Improved to Bring Ethane to Petrochemical Markets 40
7 Major Companies Utilizing Shale Resources for Expanding Petrochemicals Business 41
7.1 The Dow Chemical Company 41
7.1.1 Business Overview 41
7.1.2 Dow’s Ethylene Capacity by Country 42
7.1.3 Dow’s Active Olefins Capacity in the US 43
7.1.4 Dow’s Shale Gas-based Investments in the US 44
7.2 Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC 45
7.2.1 Business Overview 45
7.2.2 CPC’s Ethylene Capacity by Country 45
7.2.3 CPC’s Active Olefins Capacity in the US 46
7.2.4 CPC’s Shale Gas-based Investments in the US 46
7.3 ExxonMobil Corporation 47
7.3.1 Business Overview 47
7.3.2 ExxonMobil’s Ethylene Capacity by Country 48
7.3.3 ExxonMobil’s Active Olefin Capacity in the US 49
7.3.4 ExxonMobil’s Shale Gas-based Investments in the US 49
7.4 The Royal Dutch Shell 50
7.4.1 Business Overview 50
7.4.2 Shell’s Ethylene Capacity by Country 51
7.4.3 Shell’s Active Olefins Capacity in the US 52
7.4.4 Shell’s Shale Gas-based Investments in the US 52
7.5 Sasol Limited 53
7.5.1 Business Overview 53
7.5.2 Sasol’s Ethylene Capacity by Country 53
7.5.3 Sasol’s Active Olefin Capacity in the US 54
7.5.4 Sasol’s Shale Gas-based Investments in the US 54
8 Latest Trends in the US Petrochemicals Industry Triggered by Shale Gas Developments
55
8.1 Improved Ethane Supplies will Drive the Use of On-Purpose Technologies in the Future 55
8.2 Ethane from Marcellus Shale will Fulfill Demand from Overseas Markets 56
8.3 Utica Shale May Emerge as Another Source of Ethane 57
9 The US Petrochemicals Industry has a Bright Future as the Advantaged Feedstock
Supply will Remain in the Long Term 58
10 Appendix 59
10.1 Abbreviations 59
10.2 Definitions 59
10.2.1 Installed Capacity 59
10.2.2 Process 59

5. 10.2.3 Technology 59
10.3 Bibliography 59
10.4 GlobalData’s Research Methodology 61
10.4.1 Coverage 61
10.4.2 Secondary Research 61
10.4.3 Primary Research 62
10.4.4 Expert Panel Validation 62
10.5 Contact Us 62
10.6 Disclaimer 62
1.1 List of Tables
Table 1: Natural Gas Industry, Global, Technically Recoverable Shale Gas Resources (tcf), 2011
12
Table 2: Natural Gas Industry, US, Geological and Economic Characteristics of Barnett Shale Play
13
Table 3: Natural Gas Industry, US, Geological and Economic Characteristics of Eagle Ford Shale
Play 14
Table 4: Natural Gas Industry, US, Geological and Economic Characteristics of Marcellus Shale
Play 15
Table 5: Natural Gas Industry, US, Geological and Economic Characteristics of Bakken Shale Play
17
Table 6: Natural Gas Industry, US, Production and Consumption (tcf), 1970-2000 20
Table 7: Natural Gas Industry, US, Share of Shale Gas in Total Natural Gas Production (%), 2000-
2035 21
Table 8: Natural Gas Industry, US, Production and Consumption (tcf), 2001-2011 22
Table 9: Natural Gas Industry, US, Average Quarterly Natural Gas Price ($/MMbtu), 2000-2012 24
Table 10: Petrochemical Industry, US and China, Basic Petrochemicals Demand (MMtpa), 2000-
2016 27
Table 11: Petrochemical Industry, US and China, Basic Petrochemicals Production (MMtpa),
2000-2016 29
Table 12: Petrochemical Industry, US, Ethane Production (MMbbl), 2000-2012 31
Table 13: Royal Dutch Shell and ConocoPhillips, US, Ethylene Margins ($/Ton), January 2010-
April 2012 32
Table 14: Ethylene Industry, Global, Cost of Production ($/Ton), 2005 and 2011 33
Table 15: Petrochemicals Industry, US, Shale Gas-based Ethylene Capacity Expansion Details,
2012-2017 34
Table 16: Natural Gas Industry, US, NGL Production (MMbbl), 2000-2011 36
Table 17: Ethylene Industry, US, Inactive Plants, 2009 36
Table 18: Ethylene Industry, US, Capacity (MMtpa), 2000-2017 37
Table 19: Natural Gas Industry, US, Number of Pending Bills Related to Hydraulic Fracturing, by
State, As of May 30, 2012 39
Table 20: The Dow Chemical Company, Key Facts 41

6. Table 21: The Dow Chemical Company, Ethylene Capacity by Country (%), 2011 42
Table 22: The Dow Chemical Company, US, Active Olefins Plants, 2011 43
Table 23: The Dow Chemical Company, US, Shale Gas-based Planned Projects, 2012-2018 44
Table 24: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, Key Facts 45
Table 25: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, Ethylene Capacity by Country (%), 2011 46
Table 26: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, US, Active Olefins Plants, 2011 46
Table 27: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, US, Shale Gas-based Planned Projects,
2013-2018 47
Table 28: ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Key Facts 47
Table 29: ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Ethylene Capacity by Country (%), 2011 48
Table 30: ExxonMobil Chemical Company, US, Active Olefins Plants, 2011 49
Table 31: ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Shale Gas-based Planned Projects Details in the US,
2013-2016 49
Table 32: Royal Dutch Shell plc, Key Facts 50
Table 33: Shell Chemical LP, Ethylene Capacity by Country (%), 2011 51
Table 34: Shell Chemical LP, US, Active Olefins Plants, 2011 52
Table 35: Sasol Limited, Key Facts 53
Table 36: Sasol Limited, Ethylene Capacity by Country (%), 2011 54
Table 37: Sasol Limited, US, Active Olefins Plants, 2011 54
Table 38: Cracker Yield by Feedstock (%) 55
Table 39: Propylene Industry, US, Planned Plant Details, 2012 56
1.2 List of Figures
Figure 1: Natural Gas Industry, US, Shale Gas Production Process 10
Figure 2: Natural Gas Industry, Global, Technically Recoverable Shale Gas Resources (tcf), 2011
11
Figure 3: Natural Gas Industry, US, Barnett Shale Area 13
Figure 4: Natural Gas Industry, US, Eagle Ford Shale Area 15
Figure 5: Natural Gas Industry, US, Marcellus Shale Area 16
Figure 6: Natural Gas Industry, US, Bakken Shale Area 18
Figure 7: Natural Gas Industry, US, Production and Consumption (tcf), 1970-2000 19
Figure 8: Natural Gas Industry, US, Share of Shale Gas in Total Natural Gas Production (%),
2000-2035 21
Figure 9: Natural Gas Industry, US, Production and Consumption (tcf), 2001-2011 22
Figure 10: Natural Gas Industry, US, Average Quarterly Natural Gas Price ($/MMbtu), 2000-2012
23
Figure 11: Petrochemical Industry, US and China, Basic Petrochemicals Demand (MMtpa), 2000-
2016 26
Figure 12: Petrochemical Industry, US and China, Basic Petrochemicals Production (MMtpa),
2000-2016 28
Figure 13: Petrochemical Industry, US, Ethane Production (MMbbl), 2000-2012 30
Figure 14: Royal Dutch Shell and ConocoPhillips, US, Ethylene Margins ($/Ton), January 2010-

7. April 2012 32
Figure 15: Ethylene Industry, Global, Cost of Production ($/Ton), 2005 and 2011 33
Figure 16: Natural Gas Industry, US, NGL Production (MMbbl), 2000-2011 35
Figure 17: Ethylene Industry, US, Capacity (MMtpa), 2000-2017 37
Figure 18: Natural Gas Industry, US, States with Hydraulic Fracturing Disclosure Requirements,
As of May 30, 2012 38
Figure 19: The Dow Chemical Company, Ethylene Capacity by Country (%), 2011 42
Figure 20: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, Ethylene Capacity by Country (%), 2011 45
Figure 21: ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Ethylene Capacity by Country (%), 2011 48
Figure 22: Shell Chemical LP, Ethylene Capacity by Country (%), 2011 51
Figure 23: Sasol Limited, Ethylene Capacity by Country (%), 2011 53
Figure 24: Utica Shale Area, 2012 57
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