Ethane

Sunoco Pipeline LP resumed construction of the Mariner East (ME) 2 pipeline over the weekend after it was forced to suspend horizontal directional drilling (HDD) last week when families in southeast Pennsylvania reported that their well water was affected by the operations.

Thailand’s state-owned petrochemical and refining company, PTT Global Chemical pcl (PTTGC), has taken another step toward building its proposed multi-billion dollar ethane cracker in Belmont County, OH, exercising its purchase option for a 167-acre site there.

Another group with varying business interests in the Appalachian Basin has been working quietly since late last year to identify weaknesses in regional infrastructure so that it’s ready to support the growth expected from petrochemical and other shale-related development in the region.

ExxonMobil Chemical Co. has completed two high-performance polyethylene lines at its Mont Belvieu, TX, plastics plant. Production is expected to begin during the third quarter.

Momentum continues building for efforts to attract a substantial natural gas liquids (NGL) storage hub in the Appalachian Basin, with the American Chemistry Council (ACC) unveiling a study on Thursday touting the potential economic benefits and U.S. lawmakers calling on state legislatures to get more deeply involved.

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) has introduced a bill that would require federal agencies to study the feasibility of an underground ethane storage and distribution hub in the Appalachian Basin.

Sunoco Logistics Partners LP reported a small spill of ethane and propane from its Mariner East (ME) 1 pipeline earlier this month, saying on Friday that the system has been fixed.

Enterprise Products Partners LP is expanding its Texas ethylene infrastructure in anticipation of potentially exporting the product.

France’s Total is planning a joint venture with Borealis and Nova Chemicals to construct a $1.7 billion ethane steam cracker and a new polyethylene unit on the U.S. Gulf Coast.