Gas to gasoline technology offer

Air Liquide E&C Solutions has announced that it has entered into a global technology licensing agreement with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering. Under the terms of the agreement, Air Liquide will market and license its proven Lurgi MegaMethanol technology combined with ExxonMobil’s proprietary methanol to gasoline (MTG) technology to transform natural gas into ultra low sulfur gasoline. The combination of technologies will be marketed under the trademark G2G.

The specifications

G2G transforms natural gas, as well as other feedstocks, into motor gasoline containing virtually no sulfur and is low in benzene content. The integration of both Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions and ExxonMobil technologies into one combined solution will minimise project interfaces, off sites and logistics complexities, as well as overall investment for synthetic fuel production. The G2G technology offer will be licensed as an integrated solution and will be deployed globally through Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions’ network.

Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions has signed nearly 20 licenses for its Lurgi MegaMethanol technology since 2000, with acceleration over the last 18 months, notably in the US where natural gas prices are advantageous. ExxonMobil has the proven technology to produce quality gasoline from methanol as a feedstock. The MTG technology selectivity converts methanol to ultra low sulfur gasoline. ExxonMobil’s first plant using the methanol to gasoline technology operated in New Zealand from 1985 until 1995. A second facility using Exxon’s technology has been in operation in China since 2009, and a third facility is currently under construction, also in China.

Comments

Cristiano Torelli, VP and Chairman, Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions, said, “methanol has becomes a promising energy carrier enabling the market to fully utilise the potential of lower cost energy sources into low sulfur transportation fuels. This technology licensing agreement will further enhance Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions’ technology portfolio, in line with Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions’ mission to create value over the long term by delivering high quality solutions to customers.”

Edited from press release by Claira Lloyd

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/refining/11062015/g2g-tech-offer/