The technological challenges for economically recovering “unconventional” natural gas is presented. Unconventional natural gas includes tight gas, shale gas, coal seam gas and gas hydrates. Nexant provides a global forecast of out to 2030 for both conventional and unconventional gas production.

The chemistry, process technology and production economics for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are presented.  Conventional PET technology is compared to several “improved” licensable PET processes. Of particular interest is a speculative analysis of Eastman’s IntegRex process on both stand-alone and close-coupled bases.  Regional PET S/D forecasts are also provided.

The chemistry, process technology, and production economics for maleic anhydride are presented. Fixed bed, fluid bed, and transport bed reactors are described and compared, along with solvent and aqueous recovery techniques.

The economics of using competing feedstocks for VCM manufacture are elucidated.  Coal-based acetylene in China, ethanol-based ethylene in Brazil, E/P-based ethylene in the U.S. and naphtha-based ethylene in Western Europe for VCM production are compared.