Royal dutch shell is weighing the pros and cons of building a gas to liquids facility on the u. Shell risella x oils are manufactured at shells new pearl gtl plant in qatar, which is the culmination of some 35 years of research and development. Moreover, the shell risella x range offers several advantages over conventional process oils, including extra purity excellent performance in selected applications. Pearl gtl is a worldscale project located in ras laffan industrial city, 80km north of doha, qatar. This represented a stepchange in commercial scale gtl production. Established by shell and qatar petroleum in 2006, pearl gtl is the largest gas to liquids facility on the planet. It was one of the worlds largest and most complex construction sites. Small scale and modular technologies for gas to liquid. Construction of the shell pearl gastoliquids gtl plant set a world record in qatar and shells 100 year project history. But could low prices also jumpstart a niche industry called gas to liquids, or gtl that for nearly a century has struggled to establish a foothold in the world of fossil fuels. Gas to liquids gtl is a technology that enables the production of cleanburning diesel fuel, liquid petroleum gas, base oil and naphtha from natural gas. The worlds largest gas to liquids facility runs on.
Pearl gtl is a worldscale project located in ras laffan industrial city, 80km. Construction of the shell pearl gastoliquids gtl plant. Pearl gtl gastoliquids is the worlds largest plant to turn natural gas into cleanerburning fuels and lubricants. Yet through teamwork and an imaginative approach to training that broke through language barriers, the project set a safety record. The pearl gastoliquids gtl plant, jointly owned by qatar petroleum and shell. Apr 25, 2016 shells gas to liquids gtl technology converts natural gas the cleanestburning fossil fuel into highquality liquid products that would otherwise be made from crude oil. Kbr is the undisputed leader for delivering these facilities. Each train of the pearl gtl comprises of an asu air separator unit, a fgp feed gas. Design and economics of a fischertropsch plant for converting natural gas to liquid transportation fuels. Small scale and modular technologies for gas to liquid industry. Nov 07, 2016 andy brown, managing director pearl gtl and executive vice president for shell in qatar, explains how the giant pearl gtl plant gives qatar the chance to turn its abundant gas reserves into high. Download the shell gtl fuel knowledge guide shell global.
It produces a staggering 140,000 barrels a day, and 120,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of natural gas liquids and ethane. A gtl gas to liquids plant consists of three main sections figure 1. Our proprietary shell gtl technology is at the heart of our gtl plants. Fuel additives mtbe, butanol, dmc, etc others ammonia, urea, etc. These products include transport fuels, motor oils and the ingredients for everyday necessities like plastics, detergents and cosmetics.
Shells gas to liquids gtl technology converts natural gas the cleanestburning fossil fuel into highquality liquid products that would otherwise be made from crude oil. A natural gas to liquids gtl process model for optimal. Diesel reforming smr syngas gas to liquids gtlft fischertropsch gas to chemicals gtc and fuels step 2. The pearl gtl project also includes transporting and processing the gas to extract natural gas liquids and ethane, and the conversion of the remaining gas into liquid hydrocarbon products through the construction of a new fully integrated gtl complex in ras laffan industrial city situated 80km north of doha. Shell qatar chairman and managing director andrew faulkner pictured said the pearl gas to liquids gtl project is operating efficiently and achieving the business objectives for which it was founded. Shell could hardly have chosen a better time to bring its qatari pearl gtl gas to liquids project on stream. An inspiring mega project situated in qatar, pearl gas to liquids gtl is the worlds largest gtl project and source of gtl products. Converting natural gas into premium grade diesel fuels, naphtha, lubricants and more can be highly lucrative on a large scale though this requires. Qatar shell japan delivering through partnership the. Shell pearl gtl andy brown read the transcript andy brown, managing director pearl gtl and executive vice president for shell in qatar, explains how the giant pearl gtl plant gives qatar the chance to turn its abundant gas reserves into highquality liquid products. The pearl gtl plant in qatar entered planned mainte nance in february 2015. Our integrated gas business manages liquefied natural gas lng activities and the conversion of natural gas into gas to liquids gtl fuels and other products, as well as our new energies portfolio. Qatar shell, worleyparsons sign 5year epcm service contract. The gtl process transforms natural gas into very clean diesel fuel because products are colorless and odorless hydrocarbons with very low level of impurities.
It has a capacity of 260,000 barrels of gtl products and natural gas liquids per day. Historical development and future prospects olga glebova ng 80. Gtl technology assessment in support of aeo20 24 bechtel 2002 gerald n choi, sheldon kramer and samual s tam. It is the worlds largest source of gas to liquids gtl products. Historical development and future prospects olga glebova.
Thousands of workers from more than 50 countries built the pearl gtl gas to liquids plant. Shell pearl gastoliquids gtl plant set a world record. While gtl or gas to liquids is frequently referred to in natural gas circles, apart from project. Of pearls two trains, the second train underwent planned maintenance from march to may 2016. The first commercial shipment from the pearl gtl was made on june 2011. It is the worlds largest source of gastoliquids gtl products. Oryx gtl and pearl gtl based on sasol and shell technologies. Pearl gas to liquids gtl project in ras laffan industrial. Shell s pearl gtl gas to liquids plant in qatar makes synthetic oil products from natural gas, including cleanerburning diesel and oils for advanced lubricants. It includes natural gas exploration and extraction, and the operation of upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver gas to market. Pearl gtl is the crown jewel in the shell qatar petroleum partnership and one of the most complex and challenging energy projects ever commissioned. Petroleum and shell, which has a capacity of 260,000 barrels oil equivalent a day. So developing a commercialscale technology that can transform cheap gas into highvalue oil products is like turning water into wine.
Qatar petroleum and shell nature gtl gastoliquids outcomes construction of a gtl plant capable of producing 3 billion barrels of oil over the projects lifetime main contractors kbr and jgc case study pearl gtl about the project pearl produces and processes around 1. Pearl gas to liquids gtl, a project jointly developed by qatar petroleum and shell, is the worlds largest gastoliquids plant with peak capabilities of converting 1. The gtl process also produces water which is then recycled to avoid the need for fresh supplies crucial in a country where every drop of water counts. Pearl gtl has a capacity of 140,000 barrels per day of these products. The pearl team checked thousands of pieces of equipment as they worked to breathe. The facility, jointly developed by qp and shell, is the largest gas to liquids facility in the world, capable of producing 140,000 barrels of gtl products per day and 120,000 barrels of oil per day of natural gas liquids ngls and ethane. Upon its completion, shell pearl gtl will be the worlds largest plant that.
The pearl gtl project, located in northeast qatar, comprises the development of upstream gas production facilities as well as an onshore gas to liquid gtl plant that produces 140,000 barrels per day bpd of gtl products as well as approximately 120,000 bpd of associated condensate and liquefied petroleum gas. Pearl gtl is integrated from wellhead to finished product, while oryx gtl receives methane as feedstock from other facilities in qatar. Clients needs shell wanted a zero liquid discharge, zld, facility, not only with respect to the gtl effluent water, but all other water streams had to stay inside the fence. Pearl gtl is the crown jewel in the shellqatar petroleum partnership and one of the most complex and challenging energy projects ever commissioned. Bp gtl plant nikiski, alaska 3 mmscfd of natural gas 300. Pearl gastoliquids project, ras laffan hydrocarbons. The pearl gtl is a gas to liquids gtl plant based in ras laffan, qatar. Shell plant in malaysia and the oryx plant in qatar use cobalt. Arpae natural gas conversion technologies workshop. The plant in qatar is the worlds largest source of gtl products. Gastoliquids gtl has emerged as a commerciallyviable industry over the past.
Shell pearl gtl collaborating on success careers at. It converts natural gas into liquid petroleum products. Shell today agreed a partnership aimed at accelerating the development of lng fuelling infrastructure around the world. Pearl gas to liquids gtl, a project jointly developed by qatar petroleum and shell, is the worlds largest gas to liquids plant with peak capabilities of converting 1.
Pearl gtl stone laying feb 2007 abdulla salatt rig visit 2009 pearl gtl dpsa signing jul 2004 pearl gtl stone laying feb 2007 pearl gtl start of commissioning oct 2009 first commercial flight on gtl fuel oct 2009 abdulla salatt rig visit jun 2009 qsrtc inauguration apr 2009 qpishell petrochemical jv. Sasol and shell technologies are used at these gtl plants. Gtl innovation produces clean base oils from natural gas. This technology has been brought to life in the gtl pearl plant, a joint development between qatar. Shell s gas to liquids gtl technology converts natural gas the cleanestburning fossil fuel into highquality liquid products that would otherwise be made from crude oil. Upgrading naphtha lubes methanol dme, olefins, gasoline fuel additives mtbe, butanol, dmc, etc hydrogen, ammonia, urea, ch 4 co and xh 2.
Shell is also commissioning a world scale gtl plant pearl gtl plant in 2011 with the capacity of 260,000 bblday. Storage tanks for liquids made at shells pearl gtl plant in qatar. Fully ramped up since 2012, the plant helps to meet the worlds growing demand for cleaner energy. We will therefore use the more specific ftgtl abbreviation in place of gtl in order to. The gas to liquids gtl plant, a joint development by qatar petroleum and shell, provides nearly 8% of shell s production worldwide making it one of the companys key projects. Pdf success factors for the commercialisation of gastoliquids. Shell pearl gastoliquids gtl plant set a world record in. Shell pearl gastoliquids gtl plant andy brown youtube. Integrated security and surveillance technology specialist, synectics, has developed a bespoke cctv solution to protect the worlds largest gastoliquids gtl plant in ras laffan industrial city, qatar. Shells pearl gtl plant running at reduced production.
Shell pearl gtl achieved a major milestone by attaining 77 millionworkerhours without a lost time injury lti for the first time since construction had begun several years before. Qatar petroleum and shell to expand lng marine fuel availability. Shell was involved in the nineyear consultation process, having first proposed the creation of a specification in 2007, before the largest gtl facility, pearl gtl, came on stream in qatar. Pearl gtl is the worlds largest plant to turn natural gas into cleanerburning fuels and lubricants. Shell qatar chairman and managing director andrew faulkner pictured said the pearl gastoliquids gtl project is operating efficiently and achieving the business objectives for which it was. Oryx gtl is a joint venture between qatar petroleum 51% and sasol49%. Andy brown, managing director pearl gtl and executive vice president for shell in qatar, explains how the giant pearl gtl plant gives qatar the chance to turn its abundant gas reserves into high. Pearl gtl is located in ras laffan industrial city and made its first commercial shipment in june 2011.
It is the worlds largest source of gtl products, producing 140,000 barrels each day, and 120,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of natural gas liquids and ethane. In 2011, we started up pearl gtl in qatar, with a capacity of about 140 thousand boed of highquality liquid hydrocarbon products and 120 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day of natural gas liquids ngl and ethane. Pearl gas to liquids gtl project in ras laffan industrial city, qatar is the largest gtl project in the world and jointly developed by qatar petroleum qp and shell. Pearl gtl, on the other hand, is a revenue sharing project between qatar petroleum and shell. Gas to liquids broad product options natural gas step 1. Notwithstanding the 201415 plunge in crude oil prices, gastoliquids gtl technology has. The plant comprises two identical gtl trains, with a total capacity of 140,000 barrels per day of gtl products plus 120,000 barrels per day of natural gas, liquids, and ethane. Shell gas to liquids gtl shell natural gas youtube.
Gas to liquids gtl is the conversion of natural gas to liquid fuels and other products, including gasoil, naphtha, kerosene, normalparaffin and lubricants. An abundance of natural gas from recent levels of record production has created new opportunities for gastoliquid gtl operations. Gas to liquids gtl is the conversion of natural gas to liquid fuels and. The worlds largest gastoliquids plant shell global.
A natural gas to liquids gtl process model for optimal operation. The idea to produce base oil for lubricant applications using natural gas as the hydrocarbon source was developed 40 years ago at the shell technology center in amsterdam, the netherlands. Gtl is the largest gas to liquids facility on the planet. Shells foothills assets, located in central and southern alberta canada, produce sales gas methane, natural gas liquids ngl, condensate and sulphur. Shell sees big potential for gastoliquids from qatar. In 2011, we started up pearl gtl in qatar with a capacity of about 140,000 boed of highquality liquid hydrocarbon products and 120,000 boed of natural gas liquids ngl and ethane.