Synfuel as a Solution for “Waste” Natural Gas

With the price of oil exceeding US$100 per barrel, the economics of alternative sources of liquid fuels become much more attractive. One of the fuel sources typically wasted is the natural gas associated with petroleum drilling. On oil rigs, especially in remote locations, this associated gas has been considered a nuisance and is treated as a waste by-product of drilling. Typically, it is disposed of by flaring the gas, resulting in not only a waste of the energy value of this gas, but also contributing to pollution from the drilling operation. 

CAI has been working for several years with clients who are innovatively addressing the problem of associated gas. Utilizing reforming/Fischer-Tropsch technologies with unique system engineering designs to meet the constraints of working on a platform (for example in the North Sea), these clients are transforming gas-to-liquid technology to economically capture the energy value of the associated natural gas rather than wasting it. 

CAI helps these clients to scale up their catalyst formulations from bench-top to pilot scale, and to convert powdered catalyst preparations to packed bed and monolith-supported systems. We are excited to be a part of the efforts to improve the overall efficiency and ecological footprint of these oil rigs throughout the world.