Abundant

While the debate rages over whether exporting liquefied U.S. natural gas is a good idea, stocks of natural gas liquids (NGL) are so abundant, export of some is viewed as a necessity. And in the United States, more chemical sector demand can’t come fast enough.

While the debate rages over whether exporting liquefied U.S. natural gas is a good idea, stocks of natural gas liquids (NGL) are so abundant, export of some is viewed as a necessity. And in the United States, more chemical sector demand can’t come fast enough.

Besides powering a manufacturing/petrochemical industry renaissance, North America’s abundant supply of shale gas is fueling a war of words over the merits of energy exports versus domestic usage.

Over-abundant markets and fallen prices have gutted government natural gas royalties in both of Canada’s main producing provinces, Alberta and British Columbia (BC), according to disclosures by their treasury departments.

Over-abundant markets and fallen prices have gutted government natural gas royalties in both of Canada’s main producing provinces, Alberta and British Columbia (BC), according to accounts disclosed by their treasury departments.

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has accepted Avista Utilities’ long-term integrated resource plan (IRP) in which shale gas-driven low prices and abundant supplies dominant the next 20 years. Customer demand is projected to grow at slightly more than 1% during the period.

Dow Chemical Co. officials on Monday said a comprehensive plan to connect U.S. operations with “cost-advantaged feedstocks” from abundant supplies of domestic shale gas is moving forward and is on track to deliver long-term competitive advantages for the worldwide operations.

In a long-term bet on abundant U.S. natural gas, South Africa’s Sasol Ltd. on Monday announced plans to construct a $16-21 billion natural gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant in Westlake, LA — the second largest commercial plant of its kind in the world.

With shale gas the United States has an abundant natural resource that wasn’t on the industrial or economic development radar screen a mere five years ago. In other words, “a competitive edge is coming back to America,” Dow Chemical Co.’s Brian Ames told a Houston audience last week.