Gas to fuel and chemicals: from technology to market

The commercialization of natural gas reserves via synthesis to liquid products is a particularly active area of research which could permit this energy carrier to penetrate new markets. This study provides a global perspective of developments in this area, the technology and its economic and environmental implications, completed by a full review of current projects. A number of research centres as well as engineering companies and oil and gas companies are engaged in significant research programmes to improve the processes employed in the gas to liquids chain. This section provides a complete picture of the recent technology developments and the areas for potential future improvement.The research activities of each organisation and the process scheme employed are described.The implications of the major differences in the technologies are reviewed. Each step in the GTL chain-feed preparation, syngas production, the Fischer-Tropsch process and product work up is covered. The relationship between the products from the process and the technology employed is discussed. Aside from the technological aspects, the economics of the GTL process remains the major hurdle to be overcome if this technology is to be more widely utilized.The key parameters affecting the economics of GTL developments are the cost of natural gas, capital investments and the impact of economies of scale.The key driver for the oil and gas companies is to provide a way of commercializing natural gas reserves when other means, such as pipeline transportation or LNG, are not viable. This section provides a review of the costs and economics of the GTL chain taking into account the process configuration and resulting capital costs, the products produced, the effect of scale and other relevant factors.The aim is to provide an understanding of the economic factors affecting the GTL chain. Middle distillate fuels produced from the GTL process are sulphur and aromatics free and will be attractive for use in the production of clean diesel.The environmental balance from the point of view of carbon dioxide emissions is less clear however. This section makes a comparison of CO2 emissions for a GTL based process in comparison with the traditional refining route. The availability of natural gas reserves in many regions of the world along with the environmental attractiveness of using natural gas derived products and recovery of flared gas has resulted in a number of GTL projects being developed. After South Africa and Malaysia, projects in Qatar, Australia,Venezuela and Nigeria among others are under way or under development. These projects vary significantly in size, the type of products (fuels, special waxes and lube oils, petrochemicals) and cost of feedstock (recovered flare gas). A complete description of each project is provided. Contents: Executive Summary; 1- Introduction; 2 - Technology challenges: Introduction, Review of the GTL process chain, Synthesis gas production, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, FT Product Upgrading, FT GTL Plant Efficiency, FT GTL Project Alliances, Areas for further development; 3 - Economic analysis Overview; Review of economic data: Capacity, Investment, Operating costs, Natural gas cost, incomes, Other factors, Synthesis, Economic analysis, Conclusions; 4 - Environmental analysis in terms of atmospheric emissions: Analysis 'from well to station', 'Well to Wheel' analysis, Conclusions 5 - Projects development: Overview, Natural gas availabilities, North and South America, Middle East, Asia, Africa / Europe / FSU; 6 - Conclusions; Annexes: GTL products slate and qualities; Trends in oil products quality; Gas oil / Diesel oil market trends; Major R and D program / Main company agreements