Shell still exploring huge Pa. natural-gas plant
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Shell Oil Co. is still actively exploring a plan to build a huge natural-gas processing plant in Pennsylvania, and may have selected engineering firms to do feasibility studies.
In March 2012 Shell chose a possible site about 35 miles north of Pittsburgh for the so-called ethane cracking, or cracker, plant. It would convert ethane from bountiful Marcellus and Utica Shale natural gas into more profitable chemicals.
Shell spokeswoman Kimberly Wendon says the company is still evaluating the potential site in Monaca, and that the process typically takes several years to complete.
Chemical Week, an industry publication, reports that Shell has chosen San Francisco-based Bechtel Corp. and Linde AG of Germany to do feasibility and pre-project engineering studies. But that doesn’t guarantee the plant will be built.