It's Economics 101: As oil and gas production has swelled in the U.S., the glut of supplies has driven prices down. One collateral victim: natural gas liquids, which historically retail for 55- to 70% of a barrel of oil and provide an uplift for natural gas producers. In the first half of 2012, they dropped to 43% of WTI. But NGLs, such as ethane, could still play a valuable role in revitalizing the petrochemical industry.

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