Gas to liquids (GTL) microrefinery technologies: A review and perspective on socio-economic implications
Deborah Braide, Christopher Panaritis, Gregory S. Patience, Daria C. Boffito
Abstract
With a global shift towards cleaner sources of energy and net zero carbon by 2050, the development of natural gas projects must apply technologies that reduce the industry’s environmental footprint. These technologies strive for energy efficiency, low-carbon energy (natural gas), carbon-free energy (renewables, hydrogen), and carbon–neutral energy (biogas). Natural gas is a low emission fuel to facilitate an equitable energy transition, mitigate energy poverty in vulnerable regions, and meet the needs of processes that in the short term would require high energy density liquid fuels which renewables may not sufficiently provide. Process intensification of Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) technologies for stranded natural gas assets, small gas volumes and associated gas from oil and gas extraction reduces capital risks typically encountered from conventional large scale gas conversion plants, while allowing scale up or down to match varying resource availability, even in remote sites. Additionally, GTL contributes to combatting CH4 and CO2 emissions, especially when CO2 capture/conversion is integrated into the syngas generation process. This review specifically expands on Fischer-Tropsch (FT) based GTL processes to produce cleaner liquid fuels compared to conventional fossil fuels. Modular FT plants allow even greater flexibility within GTL processes as microchannel technology is seeing increasing interest due to its high conversion efficiency up to 70% while decreasing unit size. The social, political, and economic contexts of an energy transition are also explored. Existing and planned GTL micro refinery projects are highlighted.