GAS TO LIQUID (GTL) TECHNOLOGY

Attah Alfred

Outline
Introduction GTL Conversion Process The Syntroleum Process Products from GTL plant Advantages of GTL products Existing/under construction GTL plants Planned GTL plants Potential GTL product trade flow Way forward Conclusion

Introduction.
GTL, a chemical process in which natural gas is converted to liquid hydrocarbon.

GTL Conversion Process.

(The Syntroleum Process.)

Methane is blended with pure oxygen under

heat and pressure (flameless auto-thermal reformer) to produce synthesis gas (a mixture of carbon mono oxide and hydrogen).
Conversion of Natural Gas to synthesis gas;

Natural gas

Air

Steam Catalyst

Synthesis Gas

Water

CH4 + O2 + N2 +H2O CO + H2 + N2 + 2H2O

The Syntroleum Process.

With help from a catalyst, the synthesis gas is

transformed into waxy hydrocarbon.

The waxy hydrocarbon is cracked into

smaller(diesel-like) fuel molecules.
Fischer Tropsch Synthesis
Synthesis Gas
Catalyst Hydrocarbons Nitrogen Water

2H2 + CO + N2 CnH(2n+2) + N2 + H2O

 Diesel

Products from GTL plant.

Global diesel and gas oil demand 1.1 billion tpy (22 million b/d), with a growth rate of 3% per year.

Naphtha
Global demand 200 million tpy (4.7 million b/d), most of which is due to increasing demand for basic petrochemicals.

Others are;
Lubricant base oils, smaller volume of LPG, nparaffins, and waxes.

Advantages of GTL Products.

GTL products exhibit unique high-quality
characteristics.

Has high investment returns.

Diesel; Low in sulfur content. Has very high cetane number. Low aromatic content. Naphtha; Highly paraffinic. When cracked, yields higher ethylene. compared to typical refinery naphtha.

Existing/Under Construction GTL Plants.

Plant Location Mossel Bay, South Africa Bintula, Malaysia Ras Laffan, Qatar Owners Capacity b/d 36,000 Status as of Jan. 2007 Commissione d 1993 Commissione d 1993 Start-up Expected start-up date 1993

PetroSA

Shell

15,000

1993

Oryx GTL (Qatar petroleum & Sasol)

34,000

2007

Escravos, Nigeria

SosalChevron 34,000

Under construction

2009

Planned GTL Plants

Plant Location Owners Capacity Status as of Jan. 2007 b/d 140,000 Engineering & design Start-up date 2010/2012

Ras Laffan, Qatar

Pearl GTL (Qatar petroleum & Shell)

Ras Laffan, Qatar Tinhert, Algeria North-West Shelf, Australia Ras Laffan, Qatar

ExxonMobil Still on bid SasolChevron

154,000 34,000 66,000

Cancelled Feb.20, 2007 Bidder selection to be completed 2007 Feasibility study commenced MOU

_ 2012 2012

Oryx GTL (Qatar petroleum & Sasol)

65,000

2013

Potential GTL Product Trade Flow.

Way Forward.
More GTL plants needed to fully harness the
abundant gas reserve in Nigeria.

GTL products will boost industrialization,

domestic consumption & export.

GTL products will reduce pollution as they

are environmentally friendly.

Conclusion.
Growing reliance on gas is an emerging trend, GTL technology will play an increasingly significant role as crude oil resources is depleting.

THANK YOU