Locational analysis for the petrochemical industry

Technical Report · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5625849· OSTI ID:5625849

Isard, W.; Parcels, L.

Among the many factors complicating locational analysis of the petrochemical industry are (1) the infinite number of process combinations possible in a large petrochemical complex; (2) the difficulty of quantifying agglomeration economies which characterize the industry; (3) the large number of products defined as petrochemicals (some of which tend to be raw-material-location-oriented while others are market-oriented). One of the most important changes the petrochemical industry is undergoing is the current shift in feedstocks. Now that natural gas is becoming costly and scarce, new production facilities will no longer be based on the light feedstocks such as ethane, but will instead be based on heavier feedstocks such as gas-oil and naptha. In this analysis, the authors attempt to outline the locational factors that will be most relevant to petrochemical producers of the future. The divergence of opinion over the effects and magnitude of the energy crisis or the future impact which environmental lobbying will have an petrochemical location makes it impossible to make projections with certainty. Consequently, they try to make explicit their assumptions and the uncertainty involved in some of these assumptions so that the reader can easily adjust their estimates in light of alternative hypotheses. Wherever possible, they rely on published predictions by industry experts. 36 references, 17 figures, 11 tables.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-02-0016
• OSTI ID: 5625849
• Report Number(s): BNL-50934
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020500 -- Petroleum-- Products & By-Products
03 NATURAL GAS
030400 -- Natural Gas-- Products & By-Products
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Fossil Fuels
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL PLANTS
COAL
DEMAND FACTORS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SUPPLIES
EVALUATION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
IMPORTS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
NATURAL GAS
PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS
PETROLEUM
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
SITE SELECTION