Technological improvements and investment commitments by the world’s largest oil companies suggest that the gas to liquids industry (GTL) is likely to transform itself from a small, specialized producer to a large-scale fuel producer over the next decade. As expansion of GTL proceeds, the industry could become a major consumer of natural gas, placing it in direct competition with the growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry for access to natural gas supply. If competition leads to limited natural gas supplies, the result is likely to be higher prices for natural gas consumers at the same time the United States looks to world LNG markets to meet increasing domestic demand.
Natural gas can be use to produce bulk petrochemicals, including methanol and ammonia, but these are relatively small users of the gas reserves with limited markets. Liquid and other petroleum products are cheaper to transport, market, and distribute to large markets. They are transported in existing pipelines, product tankers, and even blended with existing crude oil or product streams. Furthermore, no special contractual arrangements are required for their sale within many suitable domestic and foreign markets.
New technology is being developed and applied to convert natural gas to liquids in gas to liquids technology (GTL). The projects are scalable, allowing design optimization and application to smaller gas deposits. The key influences on their competitiveness are the cost of capital, operating costs of the plant, feedstock costs, scale, and ability to achieve high utilization rates in production. As a generalization however, GTL is not competitive against conventional oil production unless the gas has low opportunity value and is not readily transported.
GTL not only adds value, but also is capable of producing products that could be sold or blended into refinery stock as superior products with fewer pollutants, for which there is growing demand. Reflecting its origins as a gas, gas to liquids processes produce diesel fuel with an energy density comparable to conventional diesel, but with a higher cetane number, permitting a superior performance engine design. Another “problem” emission associated with diesel fuel is particulate matter, which is composed of unburnt carbon and aromatics, and compounds of sulfur. Fine particulates are associated with respiratory problems, while certain complex aromatics have been found to be carcinogenic. Low sulfur content, leads to significant reductions in particulate matter that is generated during combustion, and the low aromatic content reduces the toxicity of the particulate matter reflecting in a worldwide trend towards the reduction of sulfur and aromatics in fuel.
This report on Gas to Liquids looks at this lucrative and fast rising industry from the basics to the specific technologies involved in the GTL process. A summary of the major players, major technologies involved, economic analysis of the GTL process, and much more, is contained inside this comprehensive guide to the Gas to Liquids industry.
View Table of ContentsPublication Date: March 2007
Publisher: Energy Business Reports
)
