By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Aug. 22 -- Williams Cos. Inc., Tulsa, hired Chemical Market Associates Inc., Houston, to perform an international marketing evaluation as part of an Alaskan petrochemical feasibility study.
Williams' study will gauge the economic feasibility of building gas processing and natural gas liquids enhancement facilities in the state of Alaska as a catalyst for petrochemical development (OGJ Online, May 25, 2001).
The company is assessing numerous opportunities associated with a proposed pipeline to move Alaskan gas to the lower 48 states.
"Our preliminary analysis of the development of Alaska North Slope liquids indicate that extracting and cracking ethane in the state to provide feedstock for a petrochemical plant is economically feasible under certain conditions," said Cavan Carlton, Williams' project director for Arctic gas development. "The portion of the study that CMAI is doing is one component of our formal evaluation that will analyze the global petrochemical markets."
The value of the CMAI contract was not disclosed.
Williams said it has formed a dedicated team to address issues related to an Alaskan natural gas pipeline, natural gas liquids extraction and enhancement, and regulatory, government, and community affairs.