Epoxy
March 4, 2021
Back to the Future: The U.S. Chemical Industry Started in Appalachia
Texas “Deep Freeze” Opens the Door for Appalachian Basin Investment
Tuesday, March 2nd 2021, 8:13 AM ESTS
PENN VALLEY, PA, U.S., March 2, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ — The physical and mental misery throughout Texas due to the “Big Freeze” plus snow, and the attendant spike in energy prices nationwide is not yet over.
Well-below freezing temperatures and snow did much more than freeze pipelines, ice over wind turbines and cover solar panels.
Much of the U.S. petrochemical industry is centered along the Gulf Coast and, like their refinery cousins, petchem complexes were shut down, froze up, lost power, etc.
While several petchem giants have announced the restart of their facilities, a few factors have converged which could make returning to production impossible.
“The impact of the COVID pandemic, last summer’s very active hurricane season and now the Big Freeze have combined and will lead to a big shock for consumers,” according to Tom Gellrich, founder of TopLine Analytics.
The shock will be due to shortages, Gellrich said, as many of the plastic types we take for granted, used for such everyday things as milk jugs, hydrogen peroxide, even the numerous volume of plastic incorporated in today’s vehicles, could be in short supply.
Gellrich will further explain how the Texas Big Freeze could open the door to increased petchem investment in the Appalachian Basin at the Second Annual Appalachian Basin Real Estate Conference.
Presented by Shale Directories, the one-day program is slated for March 25, at the Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia.
“Tom’s presentation will vividly demonstrate the petrochemical opportunity in the Appalachian Basin is now,” commented Joe Barone, President & Founder, Shale Directories.
Gellrich said the need for plastics related to treating COVID for such things as personal protective equipment (PPE), and hurricane-related flooding which shut petchem plants, led to a sharp drawdown in inventory.
“And now, you have the Big Freeze, which further strains inventories,” Gellrich said.
For chemical producers restarting their complexes, Gellrich said the time needed to do a restart is three weeks minimum, as all equipment must be pulled apart and inspected.
“Employees will need to work overtime, and more outside contractors will be needed to do the job,” he said. And keep in mind, many of these workers have their owns problems at home, with broken pipes, no electricity, etc., which also must be addressed.”
If plant components must be replaced, Gellrich said needed components may not be available. “Every part of the supply chain is so connected today that if one piece of equipment must be replaced, there is a ripple effect throughout the entire chain,” according to Gellrich.
“We might be three months out before things are back to normal.”
The hardships caused by COVID, hurricanes and the Texas Big Freeze are forcing numerous companies, analysts and consultants to take a closer look at supply chains, bringing more chain components back to the U.S. from China and other overseas venues.
“Some companies will look at other locations other than the Gulf Coast to establish petrochemical facilities,” said Gellrich.
The logical region to serve as the U.S.’s Petrochemical Hub No. 2 would be the Appalachian Basin, as it offers inexpensive natural gas for fuel/feedstock and is located within 700 miles of numerous plastic products wholesalers and customers.
Joseph Barone
Shale Directories
+1 610-764-1232
jbarone@shaledirectories.com
First Oil Discoveries
A Pennsylvania oil well in 1859 fueled kerosene lamps. A 1901 gusher in Texas would fuel autos.
The American Oil & Gas Historical Society frequently updates AOGHS.ORG content with new articles as part of its energy education mission. The society maintains a communication network of petroleum museums, teacher workshop programs, county historical societies, and similar organizations.
Edwin Drake, right, stands with friend Peter Wilson of Titusville, Pennsylvania, at the drilling site – but not the original cable-tool derrick – of America’s first oil well. Photo courtesy Drake Well Museum.
To help preserve U.S. petroleum history, the society documents exploration, production, and transportation milestones. It also tells the many stories of generations of “oil patch” families. Contact the society with your suggestions for articles, comments – and much-needed financial support.
Birth of the U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Industry
The domestic petroleum industry that began in 1859 with a well drilled just 69.5 feet deep forever changed America’s economy, standard of living, and culture. The earliest exploration companies began seeking oil for refining into a newly invented lamp fuel called kerosene. This “rock oil” fuel was cheaper than whale oil, and far safer than the more popular but explosive fuel, camphene.
As more states joined Pennsylvania in becoming “producing states,” the political landscape changed as fast as exploration technologies. Early energy issues included need for an infrastructure for producing, storing, and transporting oil and natural gas. As discoveries grew, the rush for “black gold” resulted in complex economic issues on a national scale, including wasteful over-production, sudden collapses of oil prices, questionable stock promotions, and frequent boom-and-bust cycles.
The industry also faced a major challenge just as the improved science of petroleum geology began finding mid-continent oilfields. Thomas Edison invented the first commercially practical incandescent light in 1879, threatening the oil industry’s principle product, kerosene. Demand would continue for other refined products (see vaseline and axle-grease). Fortunately for exploration and production companies, automobiles powered by an internal combustion engine required what had been a refinery byproduct: gasoline. The first U.S. auto show took place inside New York City’s Madison Square Garden in November 1900. Less than two months later, an oil gusher at Spindletop, Texas, launched the modern U.S. oil industry. The coming century would bring far greater challenges for petroleum and the world.
First American Oil Well
American oil history begins in a woodland valley along a creek in remote northwestern Pennsylvania. Today’s U.S. petroleum exploration and production industry is born on August 27, 1859, near Titusville when a well specifically drilled for oil finds it. A former railroad conductor drilled it for New Haven Connecticut investors. Even more early petroleum history came on the banks of Oil Creek: First Oil Well, First Oil Well Fire.
Spindletop launches Modern Petroleum Industry
The 1901 “Lucas Gusher” in Texas reveals the Spindletop oilfield, which will produce more oil in one day than the rest of the world’s oil fields combined. The Prophet of Spindletop – self-taught geologist Patillo Higgins – had founded the Gladys City Oil, Gas & Manufacturing Company in 1892 near Beaumont, Texas.
March 4, 2021
Back to the Future: The U.S. Chemical Industry Started in Appalachia
Texas “Deep Freeze” Opens the Door for Appalachian Basin Investment
Tuesday, March 2nd 2021, 8:13 AM ESTS
PENN VALLEY, PA, U.S., March 2, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ — The physical and mental misery throughout Texas due to the “Big Freeze” plus snow, and the attendant spike in energy prices nationwide is not yet over.
Well-below freezing temperatures and snow did much more than freeze pipelines, ice over wind turbines and cover solar panels.
Much of the U.S. petrochemical industry is centered along the Gulf Coast and, like their refinery cousins, petchem complexes were shut down, froze up, lost power, etc.
While several petchem giants have announced the restart of their facilities, a few factors have converged which could make returning to production impossible.
“The impact of the COVID pandemic, last summer’s very active hurricane season and now the Big Freeze have combined and will lead to a big shock for consumers,” according to Tom Gellrich, founder of TopLine Analytics.
The shock will be due to shortages, Gellrich said, as many of the plastic types we take for granted, used for such everyday things as milk jugs, hydrogen peroxide, even the numerous volume of plastic incorporated in today’s vehicles, could be in short supply.
Gellrich will further explain how the Texas Big Freeze could open the door to increased petchem investment in the Appalachian Basin at the Second Annual Appalachian Basin Real Estate Conference.
Presented by Shale Directories, the one-day program is slated for March 25, at the Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia.
“Tom’s presentation will vividly demonstrate the petrochemical opportunity in the Appalachian Basin is now,” commented Joe Barone, President & Founder, Shale Directories.
Gellrich said the need for plastics related to treating COVID for such things as personal protective equipment (PPE), and hurricane-related flooding which shut petchem plants, led to a sharp drawdown in inventory.
“And now, you have the Big Freeze, which further strains inventories,” Gellrich said.
For chemical producers restarting their complexes, Gellrich said the time needed to do a restart is three weeks minimum, as all equipment must be pulled apart and inspected.
“Employees will need to work overtime, and more outside contractors will be needed to do the job,” he said. And keep in mind, many of these workers have their owns problems at home, with broken pipes, no electricity, etc., which also must be addressed.”
If plant components must be replaced, Gellrich said needed components may not be available. “Every part of the supply chain is so connected today that if one piece of equipment must be replaced, there is a ripple effect throughout the entire chain,” according to Gellrich.
“We might be three months out before things are back to normal.”
The hardships caused by COVID, hurricanes and the Texas Big Freeze are forcing numerous companies, analysts and consultants to take a closer look at supply chains, bringing more chain components back to the U.S. from China and other overseas venues.
“Some companies will look at other locations other than the Gulf Coast to establish petrochemical facilities,” said Gellrich.
The logical region to serve as the U.S.’s Petrochemical Hub No. 2 would be the Appalachian Basin, as it offers inexpensive natural gas for fuel/feedstock and is located within 700 miles of numerous plastic products wholesalers and customers.
Joseph Barone
Shale Directories
+1 610-764-1232
jbarone@shaledirectories.com
First Oil Discoveries
A Pennsylvania oil well in 1859 fueled kerosene lamps. A 1901 gusher in Texas would fuel autos.
The American Oil & Gas Historical Society frequently updates AOGHS.ORG content with new articles as part of its energy education mission. The society maintains a communication network of petroleum museums, teacher workshop programs, county historical societies, and similar organizations.
Edwin Drake, right, stands with friend Peter Wilson of Titusville, Pennsylvania, at the drilling site – but not the original cable-tool derrick – of America’s first oil well. Photo courtesy Drake Well Museum.
To help preserve U.S. petroleum history, the society documents exploration, production, and transportation milestones. It also tells the many stories of generations of “oil patch” families. Contact the society with your suggestions for articles, comments – and much-needed financial support.
Birth of the U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Industry
The domestic petroleum industry that began in 1859 with a well drilled just 69.5 feet deep forever changed America’s economy, standard of living, and culture. The earliest exploration companies began seeking oil for refining into a newly invented lamp fuel called kerosene. This “rock oil” fuel was cheaper than whale oil, and far safer than the more popular but explosive fuel, camphene.
As more states joined Pennsylvania in becoming “producing states,” the political landscape changed as fast as exploration technologies. Early energy issues included need for an infrastructure for producing, storing, and transporting oil and natural gas. As discoveries grew, the rush for “black gold” resulted in complex economic issues on a national scale, including wasteful over-production, sudden collapses of oil prices, questionable stock promotions, and frequent boom-and-bust cycles.
The industry also faced a major challenge just as the improved science of petroleum geology began finding mid-continent oilfields. Thomas Edison invented the first commercially practical incandescent light in 1879, threatening the oil industry’s principle product, kerosene. Demand would continue for other refined products (see vaseline and axle-grease). Fortunately for exploration and production companies, automobiles powered by an internal combustion engine required what had been a refinery byproduct: gasoline. The first U.S. auto show took place inside New York City’s Madison Square Garden in November 1900. Less than two months later, an oil gusher at Spindletop, Texas, launched the modern U.S. oil industry. The coming century would bring far greater challenges for petroleum and the world.
First American Oil Well
American oil history begins in a woodland valley along a creek in remote northwestern Pennsylvania. Today’s U.S. petroleum exploration and production industry is born on August 27, 1859, near Titusville when a well specifically drilled for oil finds it. A former railroad conductor drilled it for New Haven Connecticut investors. Even more early petroleum history came on the banks of Oil Creek: First Oil Well, First Oil Well Fire.
Spindletop launches Modern Petroleum Industry
The 1901 “Lucas Gusher” in Texas reveals the Spindletop oilfield, which will produce more oil in one day than the rest of the world’s oil fields combined. The Prophet of Spindletop – self-taught geologist Patillo Higgins – had founded the Gladys City Oil, Gas & Manufacturing Company in 1892 near Beaumont, Texas.
March 4, 2021
87% of Arrivals Late
Container chaos will take through to Q3 to resolve: TPM
Sam ChambersMarch 2, 20213 17,375 3 minutes read
Shippers have been told they’ll need to wait through to the second half of the year before any semblance of normality returns to container trade flows. The CEOs of three of the world’s leading global carriers – Ocean Network Express (ONE), Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk – have been speaking at TPM, the world’s top container shipping event, organised by the Journal of Commerce, during which they discussed the current supply chain logjam and potential routes out of the ongoing container crunch.
Jeremy Nixon, the CEO of Japanese carrier ONE, discussed issues relating to terminal productivity in North America, which lag Asian counterparts by up to 50% thanks to less working hours.
Splash has reported repeatedly on the record ship queues at ports on both North American coasts in recent weeks.
When quizzed as to when normal cargo flows would return on the transpacific, Nixon said that because of all the ships alongside or at anchor in North America: “We’re actually running out of ships in Asia.”
“Frankly we’ve probably got another three to four months to work this through,” Nixon said, adding: “Hopefully by the second half of 2021 we should see a more stabilised trade.”
Nixon told TPM attendees that liners and their clients need to get better at forecasting, at working out how booking patterns will change. ONE is developing its own predictive analytics looking at the movement of cargoes.
We’ve probably got another three to four months to work this through
Presenting from the port of Hamburg with one of his ships, the Philadelphia Express, in the background, Rolf Habben Jansen, the CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, told TPM delegates that today’s strong volumes would continue for “quite some time”.
Like Nixon, Habben Jansen talked about the tight availabilities of both boxes and ships at the moment, which combined with terminal delays have created a “perfect storm that everybody needs to work through”.
“We will get to some kind of normalcy hopefully within one or two quarters,” the Hapag-Lloyd boss said, going on to claim that the types of peaks seen in the market in recent months are not good for everyone, calling for a return to stability.
“By Q3 it ought to be more or less a normal situation again,” Habben Jansen predicted.
Vincent Clerc, the CEO Of A.P. Moller-Maersk Ocean & Logistics, the world’s largest containerline, said that global supply chains had never before experienced the stress tests of the past few months.
As with his liner counterparts, Clerc noted the underinvestment along the coastline of North America as a critical part of today’s backed-up box crisis.
While containerlines have been reaping enormous profits, Clerc said that for him and his Maersk colleagues it has not felt like a “big high-five moment” because of all the inconveniences clients were facing with delays and rolled cargoes.
Latest data from Sea-Intelligence showed that global schedule reliability dropped to a record low of 34.9% in January – or put another way, just one in three boxes was arriving on time last month – a period of time where shippers were paying record sums for their goods to be shipped.
For Asia-North America west coast, almost 87% of the arrivals were late last month, according to Sea-Intelligence analysis. And when they are late, they are on average more than 10 days late.
Clerc told TPM delegates that Maersk views the current unexpected surge in consumer demand as temporary. Clerc said Maersk is forecasting a return to a more normal base – similar to 2019 levels – during the course of 2021.
The pandemic has not changed Maersk’s long term view of the industry with “fairly subdued” long-term growth anticipated, Clerc said.
“I don’t think anyone expects the current level of shipments to be a new normal from which growth will accelerate,” Clerc said.
The Maersk CEO also told delegates that within five years he expects close to 100% of the liner’s business to be based on two-way binding contracts.
“It makes sense that we have a clear view on what we are going to do for each other,” Clerc said.
Splash will be bringing further news from TPM this week, including a report on what Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, has to say. He is due to speak later today, promoting a new book entitled How to Avoid a Climate Disaster.
March 4, 2021
87% of Arrivals Late
Container chaos will take through to Q3 to resolve: TPM
Sam ChambersMarch 2, 20213 17,375 3 minutes read
Shippers have been told they’ll need to wait through to the second half of the year before any semblance of normality returns to container trade flows. The CEOs of three of the world’s leading global carriers – Ocean Network Express (ONE), Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk – have been speaking at TPM, the world’s top container shipping event, organised by the Journal of Commerce, during which they discussed the current supply chain logjam and potential routes out of the ongoing container crunch.
Jeremy Nixon, the CEO of Japanese carrier ONE, discussed issues relating to terminal productivity in North America, which lag Asian counterparts by up to 50% thanks to less working hours.
Splash has reported repeatedly on the record ship queues at ports on both North American coasts in recent weeks.
When quizzed as to when normal cargo flows would return on the transpacific, Nixon said that because of all the ships alongside or at anchor in North America: “We’re actually running out of ships in Asia.”
“Frankly we’ve probably got another three to four months to work this through,” Nixon said, adding: “Hopefully by the second half of 2021 we should see a more stabilised trade.”
Nixon told TPM attendees that liners and their clients need to get better at forecasting, at working out how booking patterns will change. ONE is developing its own predictive analytics looking at the movement of cargoes.
We’ve probably got another three to four months to work this through
Presenting from the port of Hamburg with one of his ships, the Philadelphia Express, in the background, Rolf Habben Jansen, the CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, told TPM delegates that today’s strong volumes would continue for “quite some time”.
Like Nixon, Habben Jansen talked about the tight availabilities of both boxes and ships at the moment, which combined with terminal delays have created a “perfect storm that everybody needs to work through”.
“We will get to some kind of normalcy hopefully within one or two quarters,” the Hapag-Lloyd boss said, going on to claim that the types of peaks seen in the market in recent months are not good for everyone, calling for a return to stability.
“By Q3 it ought to be more or less a normal situation again,” Habben Jansen predicted.
Vincent Clerc, the CEO Of A.P. Moller-Maersk Ocean & Logistics, the world’s largest containerline, said that global supply chains had never before experienced the stress tests of the past few months.
As with his liner counterparts, Clerc noted the underinvestment along the coastline of North America as a critical part of today’s backed-up box crisis.
While containerlines have been reaping enormous profits, Clerc said that for him and his Maersk colleagues it has not felt like a “big high-five moment” because of all the inconveniences clients were facing with delays and rolled cargoes.
Latest data from Sea-Intelligence showed that global schedule reliability dropped to a record low of 34.9% in January – or put another way, just one in three boxes was arriving on time last month – a period of time where shippers were paying record sums for their goods to be shipped.
For Asia-North America west coast, almost 87% of the arrivals were late last month, according to Sea-Intelligence analysis. And when they are late, they are on average more than 10 days late.
Clerc told TPM delegates that Maersk views the current unexpected surge in consumer demand as temporary. Clerc said Maersk is forecasting a return to a more normal base – similar to 2019 levels – during the course of 2021.
The pandemic has not changed Maersk’s long term view of the industry with “fairly subdued” long-term growth anticipated, Clerc said.
“I don’t think anyone expects the current level of shipments to be a new normal from which growth will accelerate,” Clerc said.
The Maersk CEO also told delegates that within five years he expects close to 100% of the liner’s business to be based on two-way binding contracts.
“It makes sense that we have a clear view on what we are going to do for each other,” Clerc said.
Splash will be bringing further news from TPM this week, including a report on what Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, has to say. He is due to speak later today, promoting a new book entitled How to Avoid a Climate Disaster.
March 4, 2021
Composites Canada Acquires Airheart Distributing
Airheart is an authorized distributor of Martin G. Scheufler and Hexion product lines which feature resin systems for the wind, marine, aerospace and sporting good end markets.
Edited by Grace Nehls Assistant Editor, CompositesWorld
Composites Canada (Mississagua, Ontario, Canada), a distributor of what is said to be Canada’s largest selection of composites materials, announced on Feb. 26 that it has acquired Airheart Distributing Inc. (Hamilton, Ontario).
Airheart is an authorized distributor of Martin G. Scheufler (MGS) and Hexion (Columbus, Ohio, U.S.) epoxy resins in North America. Composites Canada notes that the MGS and Hexion product lines feature high-performance, versatile and user-friendly resin systems for light aircraft, sporting good, marine structures and wind energy manufacturing. Composites Canada says the Airheart philosophy and high customer service standards will be maintained under the acquisition and the business will continue to operate as Airheart Distributing Inc.
https://www.compositesworld.com/news/composites-canada-acquires-airheart-distributing
Everchem Updates Archive 
Sign Up for Email Updates