Plastics are forever

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Across the Board; (United States)

OSTI ID:6219418

Rogers, J T

Following the 1973 Arab oil embargo, Arthur D. Little, Inc., developed an estimate of how a 15% decline in organic chemicals would impact the U.S. economy. Results show that the impact would be a loss of 1.6 to 1.8 million jobs in consuming industries and a loss of domestic production of $65 billion to $70 billion annually at 1973 prices. At present the petrochemical industry requires about 7% of energy resources used annually in the U.S.--3 percent as feedstocks for plastics and fertilizer and 4 percent as fuel. Within a few years, large supplies of liquid petroleum gas may be available from the MIddle East as supplements to U.S. resources of fuel and petrochemical feedstocks. Some consumers of natural gas may switch to other sources of energy in the face of shortages, rising prices, and the importance of fertilizers. In the longer run, coal can be made into gas or liquids. The technology is available, but the economics are not likely to be attractive for large-scale operation until after 1990. Beyond that lie possibilities based on the resourcefulness of human ingenuity in the face of sufficient demand. Fossil fuels are the remains of living things long ago. Hydrocarbons are in every living thing now. Perhaps by the 21st century processes will be found whereby these hydrocarbons may be transformed into the equivalent of coal, petroleum, or natural gas. (MCW)

• OSTI ID: 6219418
• Journal Information: Across the Board; (United States), Journal Name: Across the Board; (United States) Vol. 15:4; ISSN ACBOD
• 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
294002* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Petroleum
294003 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Natural Gas
ALCOHOLS
ALKENES
BY-PRODUCTS
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
CHEMICAL PLANTS
COAL GASIFICATION
COAL LIQUEFACTION
DEMAND FACTORS
DRUGS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ECONOMICS
ENERGY MODELS
ENERGY SHORTAGES
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHANOL
ETHYLENE
FLUIDS
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
INPUT-OUTPUT ANALYSIS
LIQUEFACTION
NATURAL GAS
NUCLEAR FUELS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLANNING
PLASTICS
REACTOR MATERIALS
SIMULATION
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES