Panel Discussion: Are there Major Advancements in the Light Hydrocarbons Industry?

The chemical manufacturing industry is blossoming on the Gulf Coast.  Investments are coming from American companies as well as foreign investment, driven by the low cost of ethane.  No industry is immune to disruption, however, and announcements have recently been released that suggest there is potentially disruptive technology under serious study. What are the disruptive technologies on the horizon, if any? Will membranes ever play a significant role in processing? Is there any role for academia in the basic chemical industry, or is the lost forever in the United States? Given our footprint, is there a role or a place for government sponsored research involvement? What are the major areas for improvement in light hydrocarbon processing?  We encourage the industry experts to engage in the discussion, particularly to drive interest in encouraging research and investigation into this important topic.