Pearl GTL
{{Short description|Gas to liquids plant based in Ras Laffan, Qatar}}
{{Infobox building
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| building_type = Gas to liquids plant
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| location_city = Ras Laffan
| location_country = Qatar
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| cost = $18 billion
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| owner = QatarEnergy
Royal Dutch Shell
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| website = {{URL|https://www.shell.com/about-us/major-projects/pearl-gtl/pearl-gtl-an-overview.html|shell.com/pearl-gtl}}
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The Pearl GTL is a gas to liquids (GTL) plant based in Ras Laffan, Qatar. It converts natural gas into liquid petroleum products. It is the largest GTL plant in the world.
{{cite news
| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article150373.ece
| title = Pearl GTL set for big payback
| author=Damon Evans
| newspaper = Upstream Online
| publisher = NHST Media Group
| date = 2008-03-11
| accessdate = 2008-04-20}}
{{cite news
| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article143202.ece
| title = Pearl plant on schedule, says Shell
| newspaper = Upstream Online
| publisher = NHST Media Group
| date = 2007-10-30
| accessdate = 2008-04-20}}
The first commercial shipment from the Pearl GTL was made on 13 June 2011.
{{cite news
| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article261401.ece
| title = First cargo for Pearl GTL
| newspaper = Upstream Online
| publisher = NHST Media Group
| first = Steve | last = Marshall
| date = 2011-06-13
| accessdate = 2011-12-05}}
Pearl GTL received the 2021 "Asset of the Year" award by Shell.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/717043/Pearl-GTL-plant-wins-Asset-of-the-Year-award-by-Sh |title=Pearl GTL plant wins 'Asset of the Year' award by Shell |date=May 12, 2022 |publisher=Gulf Times |access-date=January 1, 2023}}
Technical features
Upon achieving its full capacity in 2012, the Pearl GTL will convert {{convert|1.6|e9cuft/d}} of natural gas into {{convert|140,000|oilbbl/d}} of petroleum liquids and {{convert|120,000|BOE}} into natural gas liquids and ethane. The integrated process automation and control system for the main plant and the onplot tank farm will be designed and implemented by Honeywell, while that for the offplot tank farm and the loading berths will be designed and implemented by Invensys. Page Europa was contracted as overall Telecom System Integrator for both onshore and offshore telecommunications systems. ABB Group was contracted to supply all of the electrical and control systems. The first train will be commissioned in 2010, followed by the second train in 2011.
{{cite news
| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article149960.ece
| title = Pearl GTL on track for 2010 start-up
| newspaper = Upstream Online
| publisher = NHST Media Group
| date = 2008-03-04
| accessdate = 2008-04-20}}
{{cite news
| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article145371.ece
| title = Flowserve bags Pearl GTL orders
| newspaper = Upstream Online
| publisher = NHST Media Group
| date = 2007-12-06
| accessdate = 2008-04-20}}
The main contractors are KBR and JGC Corporation. Other contractors are J. Ray McDermott, CB&I, Consolidated Contractors Company, Kentz, Descon Engineering Limited. The process pumps are supplied by Flowserve, chemical injection pumps are by LEWA Germany and eight turbomachinery trains for use in the air separation systems are supplied by Linde. Half of the 24 reactors for the Fischer–Tropsch process were supplied by MAN AG.
{{cite news
| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article117139.ece
| title = MAN adds to Pearl's lustre
| newspaper = Upstream Online
| publisher = NHST Media Group
| date = 2006-08-14
| accessdate = 2008-04-20}}
The Pearl GTL project builds upon the foundations of the smaller scale GTL project in Bintulu, Malaysia, which has been in operation since 1993.
{{cite news
| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article134051.ece
| title = Shell shrugs off Sasol GTL warning
| newspaper = Upstream Online
| publisher = NHST Media Group
| date = 2007-05-27
| accessdate = 2008-04-20}}
The plant is expected to reach full production in mid-2012.
{{cite news
| url = http://www.arabianbusiness.com/shell-s-qatar-pearl-gtl-plant-reach-full-production-mid-2012-389449.html
| title = Shell's Qatar Pearl GTL plant to reach full production mid-2012
| newspaper = Arabian Business
| publisher = ITP Publishing Group
| date = 2011-03-22
| accessdate = 2011-03-23}}
Cost
In 2003, the project cost was estimated to be US$5 billion. However, after facing huge cost escalation, it was reported to be $18 billion in 2007, and, according to QatarEnergy sources, final project cost is expected to reach as high as $24 billion.{{cite news
| url = http://www.energyintel.com/DocumentDetail.asp?Try=Yes&document_id=251811&publication_id=10
| title = GTL Approaching End Of Its Road (requires a subscription)
| publisher = World Gas Intelligence
| date = 2009-02-18
| accessdate = 2009-03-07
| archive-date = 2020-06-22
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200622235645/http://www.energyintel.com/pages/login.aspx?fid=art&DocId=251811%2F
| url-status = dead
}} Because Shell's contract provided them with the input gas for free, the project was calculated to be viable once the price of oil exceeded $40 per barrel.
{{cite news
|url=http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article204485.ece
|title=Shell waits on Pearl's first flows
|newspaper = Upstream Online
| publisher = NHST Media Group
|date= 2010-01-26
|accessdate=2010-03-17}}
Project company
The project is a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) between QatarEnergy and Shell.
GTL fuel
The primary products of the Pearl GTL plant is naphtha and transport fuels, with paraffins and lubricant oils as smaller by-products of the process. The transport fuel can be used in existing light and heavy diesel engines and has been shown to have a number of benefits, such as lower emissions and engine performance enhancement.
{{cite news
| url = http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=14582
| title = Qatar Petroleum & Shell Sign DPSA for Pearl GTL Project
| publisher = Rigzone
| date = 2004-07-24
| accessdate = 2008-04-22}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{official website}}
{{Portal|Energy}}
{{Royal Dutch Shell}}
{{coord|25|54|18|N|51|30|19|E|display=title}}
Category:Energy infrastructure in Qatar
Category:Shell plc subsidiaries
Category:Synthetic fuel facilities
Category:Non-renewable resource companies established in 2011