Shell actively exploring Western Pa. cracker project

Katie Colaneri

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Katie Colaneri is a reporter for StateImpact Pennsylvania and WHYY in Philadelphia covering energy and the environment. Before joining StateImpact, Katie worked as an investigative and enterprise reporter at WBGO in Newark, New Jersey. She covered some of New Jersey's biggest stories including the devastation and aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, as well as the day-to-day triumphs and struggles to revitalize state's largest city. A native of New Jersey with roots in South Central Pennsylvania, Katie holds a bachelor's degree from Wellesley College.

November 19, 2013 | 5:30 PM

Scott Detrow / StateImpact Pennsylvania

The Associated Press reports Shell is still actively exploring a multibillion dollar ethane cracker plant in Western Pa.

Royal Dutch Shell’s decision about whether to build a multibillion dollar ethane cracker in Beaver County could still be several years off, but the Associated Press has found that the company is actively taking steps to explore the site.
More from the Associated Press:

Shell has an option to buy the industrial site in Monaca that’s now owned by Horsehead Corp. In an early November conference call, Horsehead CEO Jim Hensler said Shell continues to be “extremely active” at the site, with “about 70 people crawling all over” it recently.
Shell spokeswoman Kimberly Wendon told the AP in an email that “our evaluation of the site continues” and that the process “typically takes several years to complete.” Wendon added that the company expects a similar time frame in Monaca.
There also are other signs Shell is seriously considering the project.
Gulfport Energy Corp. said in early November that it signed a contract to provide Shell with raw natural gas for the project, if it gets built. And last month Chemical Week, an industry publication, reported that Shell has chosen two multinational engineering firms to do feasibility and pre-project planning. Executive Vice President Graham van’t Hoff told the publication that Bechtel Corp. and Linde AG of Germany would do the preliminary work.

Shell went out to bid for ethane to supply the proposed Beaver County plant over the summer and Governor Tom Corbett said in April he expects to know early next year whether Shell will build the plant.