Shell making strides with GTL technology

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SUPPORTING ENERGY NEEDS: Photo shows a panoramic view of Pearl GTL in Ras Laffan Industrial City. Given that the aviation sector will rely heavily on hydrocarbons for several decades to come, the GTL jet fuel will support future energy needs by industries by diversifying away from the traditional oil-derived kerosene.

SUPPORTING ENERGY NEEDS: Photo shows a panoramic view of Pearl GTL in Ras Laffan Industrial City. Given that the aviation sector will rely heavily on hydrocarbons for several decades to come, the GTL jet fuel will support future energy needs by industries by diversifying away from the traditional oil-derived kerosene.

QATAR: Riding on its success with its gas to liquids (GTL) plant in Bintulu, Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell) is making strides in its Pearl GTL plant here in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar, particularly for the aviation industry.

One of this plant’s recent break through is in GTL jet fuel which is now a reality in Qatar.

Given that the aviation sector will rely heavily on hydrocarbons for several decades to come, this new product will support future energy needs by industries by diversifying away from the traditional oil-derived kerosene.

“GTL jet fuel is a blend of GTL kerosene and conventional oil-based kerosene. It is the first new commercial fuel available for civil aviation over the last two decades,” highlighted Shell Qatar managing director and chairman, Wael Sawan to the media during a recent visit to its plant here.

“This jet fuel has been approved for use as an aviation fuel at up to 50 per cent blend with conventional kerosene. It can help to diversify the aviation fuel supply chain and offer a number of attractive benefits for airlines and airports.”

Shell operated its first commercial GTL plant in Bintulu, Sarawak back in 1993. Since then, it has also developed the Pearl GTL, a joint project between Qatar Petroleum and Shell. It is currently the world’s largest GTL plant and is located in Ras Laffan Industrial City.

When operating at full capacity, Pearl GTL is the world’s largest sources of GTL products, capable of producing 140,000 barrels of GTL products each day. It is expected to produce 25,000 barrels of GTL kerosene per day.

The plant can also produce 120,000 barrels of oil per day of natural gas liquids and ethane. During the briefing, Sawan noted that Pearl GTL could not have gotten to where it was “without the contributions made by the Bintulu GTL plant.”

Currently, the Bintulu plant produces specialised GTL products, while the Pearl GTL produces .

When asked on the synergistic possibilities between the Pearl GTL and Bintulu GTL, Sawan told The Borneo Post that there were many apart from the original testing of equipment prior to Pearl GTL’s ramp up.

“There are many synergies – people synergies, potential in technology synergies, operational synergies,” he explained.

“There is sharing of technology – even the products production in Bintulu – some of the special products are used in Pearl GTL so there is definitely some sharing there. In terms of operational synergies, we share learning how to run a specific until differently.

“Even when we talk about reduction of flaring, the lessons we’re learning is from Bintulu,” he shared.

“So we really look forward to continue working together.”