GTL Technology

Gas to Liquids (GTL) technology generally comprises two processes. The first one is performed in a reforming reactor where light hydrocarbons (for example natural gas) are mixed with an oxygen-rich gas in order to partially oxidize them into H₂ and CO mixture (syngas). This intermediary product flows then to a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reactor where, in the presence of a specific catalyst, the syngas converts onto long-chain hydrocarbons. Useful GTL products ("synfuel”) are in the diesel and gasoline boiling range.

ECP has strongly supported, directly or through its associates, some Canadian and US technology companies combining a SynGen reformer (based on our patents) for syngas production with a proprietary, chain-limiting FT catalyst developed in Russia (and then tested at ECP's laboratory using classical, tubular reactors).

In parallel, ECP is also developing its own GTL technology based on our new electrically assisted reformer of hydrocarbon into syngas (granted patent) as well as on our compact plate-reactor (granted patent) for the FT process. Iron-based FT catalysts, reviewed by ECP, are believed to be advantageously adapted to this last reactor. Moreover, the Fe-based catalysts (we are designing, producing and testing them) accept various syngas mixtures at much wider H₂/CO molar ratios than Cobalt catalysts.

ECP believes that its GTL system (mostly our new plate FT reactor) will be superior because of its compactness advantages. For example, relatively small GTL plants can be built for barges or for offshore plants.

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