UPES SPE FEST

2013
Gas to Liquid Technology:
Techniques, Prospects and
Challenges

10 12February,

SHASHWAT
VATSA
B.Tech.
APE(GAS )

Gas Monetization alternatives:

present scenario

What is GTL?
Gas to Liquids (GTL) conversion is an umbrella
term for a group of technologies that can
create liquid hydrocarbon fuels from a variety of
feedstock such as biogas from waste, effluent
anaerobic treatment, landfills, gas hydrates, coal
bed methane (CBM), refinery gas and natural gas.
chemically converts natural gas into cleaner liquid
fuels which can further be shipped to the
market.
Converting natural gas to liquid fuels through
well-known Fischer Tropsch (FT) synthesis not
only eases the transportation facilities but also
benefits the environment.

Drivers of the wonder technology

Energ
y
securi
ty

Econo
my

EVOLUTION: How it
Developed

Was first used in Germany during World War II as a motor fuel

and by Sasol
in South Africa(from 1955) to convert coal to synthesize gas
and then oil
after the basic technology was developed by German
scientists FISCHER & TROPSCH in 1920. Over the years the
technology has come up in a big way.

GTL Process: Flow diagram

Mechanism
The Fischer-Tropsch process, using coal or natural gas, generally
consists of three major steps. The process requires large energy
streams, both for Syngas production & FT synthesis with significant
production of low calorific value fuel gas. Overall efficiency depends
upon the following steps discussed:
1. Synthesis gas production :

CH4+ H2O ------------> CO + 3H2

( H=206 kJ/ mol)

2. Syngas conversion to liquid fuel :

CO + 2H2 -----------> (CH2--) --- + H2O.
(chain-growth
mechanism)
The length of the chain and the product is determined
by catalyst selectivity and the reaction conditions.

 Although the process is quite complex,

but a generalization study can be done as
:
n CO + 2n H2
--------------------->
( -40kcal/gmol of CO)
2 n CO + n H2
---------------------->
(2 n-1) CO + (n+1) H2 ---------------->
CO2 (-30kcal/gmol of CO)
n CO + 2n H2 ------------------------->
(n-1) H2O

---(--CH2 ---)n + n H2O

---(--CH2 ---)n + n CO2
Cn H2N+1 OH + (n-1)
H-(--CH2 ---)nOH +

Product up gradation and

synthesis
Conventional refinery processes are used for upgrading
the FT liquid and wax products. Hydrocracking of large
chained molecules is carried to break them into smaller
units, followed by distillate hydro treating and catalytic
reformation.
The synfuel composition depends on the reaction
conditions such as H2 / CO ratio of syngas,
temperature, pressure and catalyst type. At 330350 deg. C, gasoline and olefins will be primarily
produced. However if a temperature of 180-250 deg. C,
will result in diesel and waxes. Typical operating
pressures are 20-35 bars.

Case study : Shells Pearl

GTL

INDIA : Where does it stands

Chief energy sources in the form of coal, hydel and at a domestic level
biofuels.
Current GDP is 6.9% with 75% oil imported.
Current petroleum import bill is Rs. 5.11 lac crore.
outlook 2030 predicts, India and China together, will account the total
increase in global coal demand, 94% of the net oil demand growth, 30% of
gas growth demand and 48% of the net growth in non-fossil fuel
Span of 3.14 million square kilometres of sedimentary basins with 400 tcf
of prognostic gas and 50 tcf coming from CBM.
COAL reserves estimated to be 118 billion tonnes. Gas produced from coal
(CBM)is believed to increase the gas abundance by 15%.
84.9% of rural and 21.5% of urban households use biomass
(firewood/dung cake etc.) based fuel in thermally inefficient and polluting
mud stoves, while 66.9% households use solid biomass presently.

BIOMASS TO LIQUID ( BTL) : Indias

Solution

Coal to liquid technology : the

With the kind of huge
proven
theory.
reserves , India has a true
potential to go for Coal to
Liquid projects.
Coal gasification can be
used to produce synthesis
gas:

Coal + O2 + H2O
--------->H2+CO
(Syngas)
Following factors favour
the CTL projects to be
realised in India :
Fuel independence from
crude import.
Ease of foreign currency
crunch.

Economics of
GTL..

3 vital components deciding

the economics of an GTL
project:
1. Capital Cost
2. Operating cost
3. Raw material.
GTL barrel may cost
significantly less than the
refined crude barrel, even
with the current state of the
technology.
GTL costs have dropped to a
point where they are almost
similar to LNG which has a
disadvantage in comparison
.
It requires specialist ships
($300 mill each) and regasification terminals at the
discharge ports (+$600
million).

 The current and the future

crude prices would
ascertain the economic
viability of a strong GTL
industry.
The plants rate of returns
fluctuates from 10-28%,
depending on the Brent
crude prices.
For a crude price range
between $30-$60/ bbl., the
cost of a refinery barrel
ranges from $36-64 as
compared to the GTL barrel
cost of $18-32.

THE
DREAM
BARREL

GTL AND
ENVIRONMENT

Excellent quality.
No sulphur and clean fuel.
High cetane No.
Very low particulates&
aromatics.
Meets or exceeds all existing
environmental specifications.
Can be used in its pure form
in existing engines as a low
emission fuel but main use will
be as blend-stock in refinery
production .
25-30% blends with conventional
diesel give disproportionately
high reduction in emissions.

Barriers to the
technology

Produces high
value products
Capital and
operating costs for
plants are
decreasing.
Integrated
economics, with
upstream gas
resource are
attractive

GTL/ CTL /

THANK YOU