(3b) Success Can't Be Taken for Granted

Shale gas developments opened up new opportunities for petrochemical industry that has been in steady decline for almost fifteen years. The size and number of these facilities and associated investments will also pose challenges due to lack of large scale investments in the region for almost two decades. Based on the announcements in public domain, the potential investment level for petrochemical industry (base chemicals and downstream polymers/derivative facilities)  will exceed forty billion dollars in US Gulf Coast region during 2013 to 2018 timeframe. This level of investment is unprecedented relative to any recent period of growth in the region.

This paper will focus on laying the background for the challenges this can pose on the resources during engineering, procurement and construction phases of implementation.