THE NATIONAL ENERGY PROBLEM: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY

The changing energy situation in the United States has been a subject receiving increasing attention in the news media and in public discussion. There is growing awareness that we are moving from a period of domestic abundance of crude oil and natural gas available at low prices to an era of potential shortages, greater reliance on foreign supplies and higher prices. But there is little understanding of the effect these new conditions will have on other industries, particularly the closely related petrochemical industry. The purpose of this paper is to examine these effects. Petrochemicals are used for the manufacture of a wide range of products which find their way into all areas of the economy. The petrochemical industry has developed in close association with the petroleum industry. In future, it will draw more heavily on petroleum feedstocks, and the interrelationship will, consequently, intensify. Under present conditions it seems unlikely that adequate additional petrochemical capacity will be constructed. A position of short supply of petrochemicals during the period up to 1980 seems probable.

• Corporate Authors:

  Shell Oil Company

  Public Affairs, P.O. Box 2463
  Houston, TX  United States  77001
• Publication Date: 1973-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 20 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chemicals; Energy resources; Fuels; Supply
• Uncontrolled Terms: Energy crisis
• Old TRIS Terms: Fuel shortage
• Subject Areas: Energy; Freight Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00050089
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 11 1974 12:00AM