This is the comment that was heard from a number of exhibitors at the Ohio Valley Oil & Gas Expo held this past Tuesday evening and Wednesday.  Congratulations to MPR Supply Solutions, The Belmont County Commissioners and Port Authority.  This is the fourth year of the expo and was probably the best.

The Ohio Valley Oil & Gas Expo was sold out.  In fact there was a waiting list for exhibitors.  With NatGas prices beginning to recover and the likelihood of the cracker plant happening, I strongly recommend that you reserve your booths as soon as possible next year.

There was Networking Reception Tuesday evening that featured speakers, Callum Streeter, COO EdgeMarc Energy, Rob Wingo, and Paul Wojciechowski, Project Director, PPTGC America, LLC, the company looking to build the cracker plant in Belmont County, OH.

Wojciechowski’s comments were of particular interest to everyone there.  He outlined some key dates working toward the final “Go-NoGo” decision for the cracker plant.  Bechtel and Flour are currently working on the engineering plans for the cracker.  Both companies are scheduled to deliver the engineering plans with initial costs by June 6, 2016.  These same companies will deliver their final budgets for the plant by September, 2016.  Wojciechowski said that PTTGC will be making the final decision to proceed early in the first quarter of 2017.

The economic benefit to be derived from the cracker plant is probably beyond comprehension of most of us.  But it sure will change Southeastern OH and Western WV.

Joseph Barone
www.ShaleDirectories.com