StatoilHydro has together with PetroSA and Lurgi built a large semi commercial process demonstration low temperature FT plant located in Mossel Bay, South Africa in order to test core FT technology developed by the parties.
The demonstration plant uses synthesis gas produced by the existing PetroSA GTL plant and the product is integrated into the existing product refinery, blending and storage facilities.
The catalyst has been tested in the lab and in the demonstration plant in Mossel Bay, where also the own developed slurry bubble reactor design has been tested out. The very positive tests during 2006 will be put to test in the long term test planned for in Q3-Q4 2008 which focuses on testing the long term performance. Engineering documents have been produced, and it is expected that the technology will be ready for licensing early in 2009.
Research & development (R&D)
StatoilHydro is one of the pioneers in modern Fischer Tropsch (FT) and gas conversion technologies. Development of FT started at the R&D Centre in Trondheim in 1986 and continued through 1987 – 92 with pilot testing and further development. In 1999 the decision was taken to qualify the FT technology for commercialisation.
The R&D centre is also the basis for further FT technology improvement, troubleshooting and building of know-how & competence within the FT and gas conversion area.
StatoilHydro researchers have, through extensive research since 1985, been able to create a FT catalyst that has excellent performance abilities enabling high conversion rates and moderate deactivation rates. As from 2002 StatoilHydro’s research in the FT catalyst area has been done in cooperation with PetroSA and Lurgi. An important breakthrough that lifted the catalyst to a level significantly above the competitors was seen in 2006, when it was verified that a new version of the catalyst has superior resistance to catalyst attrition.
