The Chemical world This week
SOVIET GAS DEAL SHAPING UP About 5% of natural and substitute lion cu. ft. per year, depending on gas used in the U.S. in the early availability. Hence, LNG to come 1980's may be supplied from gas from Siberia could be nearly 5% of fields in the vast Siberian region of available gas. the Soviet Union. Negotiations The eastern Siberian project in under way for nearly a year could which El Paso and Occidental hope lead to signing of contracts by early to participate may be the larger of 1973 that will provide 2 billion cu. the two. Deliveries of natural gas ft. of natural gas daily to consumers and liquefaction facilities in Si on each coast of the continental beria near a port such as Nikolaevsk U.S. The methane will be shipped or Okha could be as large as 4 billion in tankers as liquefied natural gas. cu. ft. of gas daily, although 3 bil Negotiations involve several com lion is a more likely figure. Part of panies and agencies of the two gov the LNG might be delivered to ernments. As a result, spokesmen Japanese customers, possibly in a for the companies are very limited ratio of one third to Japan and two in the details that they can disclose thirds to the U.S. or confirm regarding either pro Finances involved in these pro posed contract. And, as one points posed LNG transactions are enor out, spiking all the rumors is impos mous. If the gas is delivered at a cost sible. of $1.00 per 1000 cu. ft.—a figure What is clear is that one group of now considered typical for LNG to three companies—Tenneco, Texas the U.S.—some $47.5 billion must Eastern Transmission, and Brown & be paid for the gas over the life of Root, a subsidiary of Haliburton— the contract. expects that a contract will be con cluded within 60 days that will lead to LNG equivalent to 2 billion cu. ft. of gas a day being shipped to the U.S. East Coast beginning in 1980 and running for 25 years. Details, such as the fields that will supply the gas, are not available from the group. Rumors are that the gas will come from the Tyumen gas fields near the Ob River in Siberia and that the gas will come by an 1800mile pipeline running generally westward to liquefaction and ship ping facilities in the Murmansk area. Both Tenneco and Texas Eastern began their long-distance U.S. pipe line operations during World War II supplying natural gas to consumers along the East Coast. Brown & Root is a major engineering and construc tion firm. Wisconsin dedicates million Another 2 billion cu. ft. a day of Cell biologist Hans Ris (left) and gas could come to the West Coast of physicist Dale Johnson prepare to the U.S., if negotiations under way operate the first 1 million volt elec by another group, El Paso Natural tron microscope in the world to be Gas and Occidental Petroleum, devoted exclusively to biomedical lead to a contract. Deliveries of this research. The unit, just dedicated at gas, to come from Siberian fields in the University of Wisconsin's animal the Yakutsk area some 2000 miles sciences building and financed by from the eastern coast of Siberia, the National Institutes of Health and also would not begin before 1980. the Wisconsin Alumni Research If both of these proposed gas sup Foundation, will permit greater ply programs come fully into opera specimen penetration, less speci tion, they will supply more than 1.4 men damage, and greater image trillion cu. ft. of gas annually. In the resolution than is possible with lower early 1980's, according to some power units. Dr. Ris, director of the higher forecasts, total gas consump facility, hopes to use the new instrution in the U.S. could reach 30 tril 4
C&EN Nov. 13, 1972
The statement from the group of companies working on the East Coast LNG project emphasizes that it will cause no drain on U.S. bal ance of payments. All materials and equipment—presumably pipe, com pressors and controls, liquefaction plants, and storage and shipping equipment—will be supplied from the U.S., with payment to be made in gas. The rest of the gas will be paid for in credits for purchases of other U.S. goods and services by the Soviet Union. With Japan involved in the West Coast project, materials for the eastern Siberian pipeline and other equipment could come from any country in the world with which the Soviet Union could get the best financial arrangements. Loans through the U.S. Export-Import Bank could weigh heavily in the Soviet purchases for this project, too.
volt microscope ment, Model EM7 Mark II made by the U.K.'s ΑΕΙ, to start a chart of chromosomal structure. A second 1 million volt installation is sched uled for completion in early 1973 at the University of Colorado. Dr. Keith Porter, in charge of that facil ity, says he will engage in work similar to that at Wisconsin but will concentrate on the structure of a cell's center. Until the Wisconsin unit, the only 1 million volt electron microscope in the U.S. was at U.S. Steel—intended primarily for metal lurgical use but, through NIH, made available to life scientists.
in Brief: Nixon may be planning OST, EPA shakeups Within hours of winning the Presidential election by one of the largest margins in the history of the nation, Richard Nixon began planning his second term indicating that a major shakeup of the executive office is in the offing. According to White House press secretary Ronald Ziegler, Mr. Nixon met with Cabinet members and other aids and asked them to pass the word that their resignations were expected on his desk. The President wants to "reinvigorate" his Administration with "new ideas, new thoughts" and intends a "significant reorganization" of the executive branch, according to Mr. Ziegler. One of the first agencies to go may be the Office of Science and Technology, and possibly along with it, Presidential science adviser Edward David. Rumors have persisted for months in Washington that OST would be replaced with some kind of council of scientific and technological advisers. Environmental Protection Agency administrator William Ruckelshaus —publicly at odds with the White House from time to time—may be among the first agency heads to depart. Several Cabinet officers have already told the President they want out. In spite of his overwhelming defeat of Sen. George McGovern (D.-S.D.), the "coattails" effect was slight. For instance, a massive win by Mr. Nixon in Virginia helped defeat Sen. William Spong (D.-Va.), the moving force behind the Senate's hard line on toxic chemicals legislation. When the 93rd Congress convenes in January—still controlled by the Democrats—seven major committees will have new chairmen. In the Senate, Stuart Symington (D.-Mo.) will probably take over the Aeronautics and Space Sciences Committee. New committee chairmen in the House include Rep. James A. Haley (D.-Fla.), Interior and Insular Affairs; Rep. Leonor K. Sullivan (D.-Mo.), Merchant Marine and Fisheries; Rep. Ray Madden (D.Ind.), Rules; and either Rep. Olin Teague (D.-Tex.) or Rep. Ken Hechler (D.-W.Va.), Science and Astronautics. Congress' only chemist, Rep. Mike McCormack (D.Wash.), was re-elected.
A big natural gas deal with the Soviet Union is being negotiated. If the deal goes through, about 5% of natural and substitute gas used in the U.S. in the early 1980's will be supplied from gas fields in Siberia. Negotiations involve several companies and agencies of the two governments. (Facing page) A 1 million volt electron microscope has been installed at the University of Wisconsin to be devoted exclusively to biomedical research. It will permit greater specimen penetration, less specimen damage, and greater image resolution than do lower power units. (Facing page) After a landslide re-election victory, President Nixon begins planning his second term, indicating a major shakeup of the executive office. The President wants to "reinvigorate" his Administration with "new ideas, new thoughts. " (This page) Attracted by higher profit margins, food companies are making a major push into chemicals. In most cases they are going the specialty chemicals route because of their modest cash flow. Latest entrant is United Brands with its 30% interest in Foster Grant. (Page 10) West German promotional effort is giving highly qualified Germans the chance to come home to work. Aimed at West German scientists abroad, the effort is funded largely by the government, is rooted in the sweeping university expansion program now under way throughout the country. (Page 15) When it swings into action early next year, the recently created Consumer Product Safety Commission will have authority to study safety, test products, set standards, and ban hazardous
products. The Food and Drug Administration bureau of product safety will form the core of the new commission. (Page 17) The U.S. energy squeeze is beginning and there seems to be no simple solution to the problem. Complexity arises from economic, technological, environmental, political, and even diplomatic aspects. Moreover, there is no overall coordination or energy policy. (Page 20) Employers vary widely in their attitudes to the Society's Guidelines for Employers, a recent survey shows. Many who responded to the survey think that it is reasonable for ACS to propose such guidelines. Fewer than half, however, would be willing to be identified with the guidelines by company name. (Page 38) Biographical sketches of the 1973 ACS award winners are given. The Priestley Medal, the highest of the Society's awards, and all the others but one will be presented at the 165th ACS National Meeting in Dallas, Tex., next April. The one exception is the Roger Adams A ward in Organic Chemistry, which will be presented in June. (Page 40)
Chemical & Engineering News November 13, 1972 Volume 50, Number 46 3 4
Editorial The Chemical World This Week
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Concentrates Industry/Government/International Science/Education/Technology
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The Departments Industry/Business International Government Special Report ACS News/People Newscripts Letters Cover design: Norman Favin
Nov. 13, 1972 C&EN
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