Gas-to-liquids (GTL)

Gas-to-liquids (GTL)

The gas-to-liquids (GTL) process involves two main operations: the conversion of natural gas into a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen known as syngas via processes such as steam methane reforming (SMR) or autothermal reforming (ATR), followed by the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process to convert the syngas into paraffinic hydrocarbons. The products of the FT process can be blended with naturally occurring crude oil to provide an economic route to market, or upgraded to produce a wide range of high quality finished products including ultra-clean diesel, kerosene (jet fuel), naphtha, bases for synthetic lubricants and waxes. Products of the FT process offer significantly better performance than their petroleum-based equivalents.

Conventional GTL versus smaller scale GTL

In conventional GTL plants the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process is carried out in very large fixed-bed or slurry-bed reactors. These are designed to work on a very large scale. They require a capital investment of $3 billion or more, and are only economically viable for plants producing at least 30,000 barrels per day (bpd). Only about 6% of the world's known gas fields are large enough to sustain a GTL plant of this size.

Smaller scale GTL, enabled by Velocys technology, provides a cost-effective way to take advantage of smaller scale and remote gas resources. Our technology makes it possible to build GTL plants that process 150 – 1500 million m3 per year (15 – 150 million cubic feet per day) of gas, producing 1,500 – 15,000 bpd of liquid fuels. Capital costs, operating costs and plant size are all significantly reduced relative to conventional GTL. The success of Velocys' smaller scale GTL technology lies in the combination of our microchannel reactors and our super-active catalysts that together, significantly intensify the FT process.

Benefits of smaller scale GTL

Smaller scale GTL is suitable for use at many more locations and on many more gas fields than conventional GTL. It offers an attractive way to improve the economics and unlock production of a range of unconventional gas resources including shale gas and stranded gas located far from existing pipeline infrastructure and markets. For refiners, it can provide diversity and security of supply, and can be used to make more valuable products.

Smaller scale GTL also provides an alternative to the flaring of associated gas, thereby unlocking oil production in fields that would otherwise be constrained by the regulation or taxation of flaring.

Thanks to their modular construction methods, plants based on the use of microchannel reactors are very flexible, and can be easily scaled to match the size of the resource. The modules are of a standardised designed and are shop-fabricated in skid-mounted units, making them easier to transport to remote locations or to integrate with existing facilities on refinery or gas-processing sites. This construction approach reduces the costs and risks associated with building plants in remote locations.

Reference

http://www.velocys.com/our_products_applications_gtl.php