gas-to-liquids facility a game-changer for America’s energy future The U.S. shale gas revolution, coupled with the current wide differential between gas and oil prices, has created attractive opportunities for Sasol’s continued growth and investment in the U.S. market. Sasol is uniquely positioned to monetize and diversify use of U.S. natural gas resources through our transformational technologies. Our proposed gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility – a first for the U.S. – will convert natural gas into more than 96,000 barrels per day of GTL diesel and other valuable products, maximizing in-country value. The current project cost for the GTL facility is estimated at between US $11 – US $14 billion. The front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase for the project is expected to be completed in 2016 with beneficial operation to be achieved in 2019 (phase one) and 2020 (phase two). about Sasol Sasol is an international, integrated energy and chemical company that employs more than 34,000 people in 38 countries. We build and operate large-scale petrochemical facilities using proprietary and licensed technologies to produce a range of products, including liquid fuels, chemical and electricity. Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sasol is listed on the New York and Johannesburg stock exchanges. Sasol’s U.S. headquarters are located in Houston, Texas, and our current U.S. operations are located in Westlake, Louisiana; Tucson, Arizona; Houston, Texas; Richmond and Hayward California; Oil City, Pennsylvania and Tulsa, Oklahoma where we produce a range of chemical products. what is GTL technology? While natural gas is a major energy source for global power generation, it has lacked the versatility to address today’s transportation needs. Contrasted from liquefied natural gas (LNG), in which natural gas is essentially chilled to very low temperatures to facilitate transportation, Sasol’s proven GTL technology chemically converts natural gas into liquid fuels and chemical, including GTL diesel. Westlake, Louisiana
Transcript
gas-to-liquids facility
a game-changer for America’s energy future
The U.S. shale gas revolution, coupled with the current wide differential
between gas and oil prices, has created attractive opportunities for Sasol’s
continued growth and investment in the U.S. market. Sasol is uniquely
positioned to monetize and diversify use of U.S. natural gas resources
through our transformational technologies.
Our proposed gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility – a first for the U.S. – will convert
natural gas into more than 96,000 barrels per day of GTL diesel and other
valuable products, maximizing in-country value.
The current project cost for the GTL facility is estimated at between
US $11 – US $14 billion. The front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase
for the project is expected to be completed in 2016 with beneficial operation
to be achieved in 2019 (phase one) and 2020 (phase two).
about SasolSasol is an international, integrated energy and chemical company that
employs more than 34,000 people in 38 countries. We build and operate
large-scale petrochemical facilities using proprietary and licensed technologies
to produce a range of products, including liquid fuels, chemical and electricity.
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sasol is listed on the New York and
Johannesburg stock exchanges. Sasol’s U.S. headquarters are located in
Houston, Texas, and our current U.S. operations are located in Westlake,
Louisiana; Tucson, Arizona; Houston, Texas; Richmond and Hayward California;
Oil City, Pennsylvania and Tulsa, Oklahoma where we produce a range of
chemical products.
what is GTL technology?
While natural gas is a major energy source for global power generation,
it has lacked the versatility to address today’s transportation needs.
Contrasted from liquefied natural gas (LNG), in which natural gas is
essentially chilled to very low temperatures to facilitate transportation,
Sasol’s proven GTL technology chemically converts natural gas into
liquid fuels and chemical, including GTL diesel.
Westlake, Louisiana
GTL process
GTL productsGTL diesel is a cleaner-burning, next-generation fuel that can be used neat or as a blendstock in existing diesel vehicles and fuel delivery infrastructure without modifications, unlike other proposed alternatives to petroleum-based fuels.
Approximately 70 percent of facility production will be GTL diesel, with naphtha and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) as co-products:• GTL naphtha: A high quality liquid feedstock than can be used in cracking and is an ideal diluent for heavy hydrocarbons, such as those extracted from oil sands• LPG: A mix of hydrocarbon gases, commonly sold as propane, butane or a mixture of both, and used as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles
The balance of approximately 30 percent of production will be chemical products, including: • Paraffin: Used in the production of LAB, a biodegradable chemical used in detergents• GTL waxes: With high purity and molecular linearity, are ideal for use in the adhesives and polymers industries, and for production of industrial waxes and construction boards, as well as candles and personal care products• GTL base oils: A premium feedstock for the production of high quality synthetic lubricants that help engine manufacturers meet increasingly stringent fuel economy and emission standards
A Cleaner-Burning, High Performance Fuel GTL diesel is virtually free of sulfur and aromatic compounds, cleaner-burning than conventional diesel with equivalent or lower greenhouse gas emissions. Its use for transportation – especially in older vehicles without advanced exhaust after treatment systems – reduces emissions of particulates and other pollutants, helping to improve ambient air quality.
GTL diesel has a number of performance benefits including enhanced engine cleanliness, better cold start performance and positive impacts on lubricant condition and engine life. GTL diesel’s properties make it an ideal blendstock for refiners to upgrade heavier products into higher quality diesel fuels.
a proven, transformational technology
Sasol’s U.S. growth projects: fostering economic growthSasol entered the FEED phases for a world-scale ethane cracker and
GTL facility in December 2012 to be located adjacent to its existing
chemical complex near Westlake, Louisiana. With an estimated
total cost of between US $16 - US $21 billion, these projects mark
the largest single manufacturing investment in the history of
Louisiana and one of the largest foreign direct investment
manufacturing projects in the history of the U.S.
The two projects combined will create more than 1,200 permanent
jobs, 7,000 construction jobs at peak construction, and more than
50,000 indirect jobs across the U.S., with approximately half in
Louisiana. The total economic impact of the projects over the next
20 years has been estimated at $46.2 billion according to a study
completed by the Louisiana State University.
Sasol’s proprietary GTL technology is fully proven and operating
commercially today. Sasol has produced liquid fuels from natural
gas and coal for more than 60 years.
In partnership with Qatar Petroleum, we have successfully
developed the ORYX GTL plant in Qatar which has produced
more than 45 million barrels of fuel since start-up in 2007.
We are currently advancing two other GTL projects in Nigeria
The oil from a vehicle fueled by GTL diesel (left), compared to the oil from a vehicle running on conventional diesel (right) , following an overland expedition from South Africa to Qatar.
