March 2012

Petrochemical

Definition: “Petrochemical” comes from the Ancient Greek language where “Petro” means “rock”  in referring to these rocks, “Petro”, producing “oleum” meaning “oil” to become “petro-oleum”, the “oil of rocks”. Therefore the word “Petrochemical” has been originally given to the chemistry issued from the oil. Comments: From process perspective, the “Petrochemical” industry begins where the “Refining” or […]

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Total joins KPC and Sinopec JV for the $9 Bn Zhanjiang Refinery & PC

Total joins Kuwait Petroleum Corp. (KPC) represented by its wholly-owned subsidiaries Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) and Petrochemicals Industries Co. (PIC) in the Joined Venture with Sinopec for this $9 billion “Refinery” and “Petrochemical” complex at Zhanjiang, in China’s southern Guangdong province. In fact Total took the opportunity to substitute Shell which had pulled out of

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Naphtha

Definition: The “Naphtha” or “Naphtha petroleum” is the common name given to the “Aliphatic hydrocarbons“.  Comment: The “Naphtha” results from the distillation of the oil in the refinery. But since there are hundreds of different petroleum crude oil worldwide with its own unique composition, there are as many “Naphtha“. Each refinery produces its own “Naphtha” with their own

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Cracker

Definition: A “cracker” breaks down large molecules from oil and natural gas into smaller ones. An ethylene “cracker” produces base petrochemical “building blocks” which are the first stage in the chemicals manufacturing chain. Comments: Natural gas companies have to remove Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) from methane to make it “pipeline quality.” NGLs are made up of ethane,

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Shell Appalachia petrochemical project is moving on

Shell continues to progress plans to build a proposed world-scale petrochemical complex in the Appalachia region, USA, which could upgrade locally-produced ethane from Marcellus shale gas production.  Shell Appalachia is headquartered in Warrendale, PA, USA, and has 185 employees located in Pennsylvania, with approximately 50 employees located in Tioga County.  With the acquisition of East Resources,

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Shale gas

Definition: “Shale gas” is the name given to natural gas accumulation is locked in tiny bubble-like pockets within layered sedimentary rock such as shale.  Comment: “Shale gas” is usually found in compact, low-permeability rocks deep beneath the surface. Reserves of this gas are very substantial and well distributed over the globe: they are estimated to represent

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