Transportable gas to liquid plant
A transportable GTL processing facility constructed on an inland barge is provided. Also provided is a process for producing liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas utilizing a transportable GTL processing facility. The facility and process may be used to access and convert stranded natural gas in an economical fashion into liquid hydrocarbons. Further provided is a transportable GTL processing facility and process for producing liquid hydrocarbons wherein the liquid hydrocarbons are upgraded into transportation fuels and other locally usable materials.
1 . A transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility comprising:
a liquid hydrocarbon synthesis facility comprising:
a synthesis gas generator; and
a Fischer-Tropsch reactor for receiving and processing a synthesis gas produced by the synthesis gas generator and producing a predominantly liquid hydrocarbon product.
wherein the synthesis gas generator and Fischer-Tropsch reactor are constructed on an inland barge.
2 . The transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility of claim 1 further comprising:
a ground flare.
3 . The transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility of claim 1 wherein the inland barge comprises two or more decks including a lowermost deck and wherein no hydrocarbon processing equipment is located beneath a lowermost deck.
4 . The transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility of claim 2 wherein the ground flare is placed on an auxiliary deck.
5 . The transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility of claim 2 wherein the ground flare is located on land accessible to the inland barge by piping.
6 . The transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon synthesis facility further comprises a product upgrading unit
7 . The transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility of claim 6 wherein the upgrading unit comprises one or more units selected from the group of hydrocracking unit, hydrotreating unit, and hydrodewaxing unit.
8 . The transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility of claim 1 further comprising a natural gas liquid production unit for extracting propane and higher carbon number hydrocarbons from a natural gas stream before the natural gas is fed into the synthesis gas generator.
9 . The transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility of claim 1 further comprising a natural gas liquid production unit for extracting propane and higher carbon number hydrocarbons from a tail gas stream from a Fischer-Tropsch reactor.
10 . The transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility of claim 1 wherein the synthesis gas generator is an autothermal reformer.
11 . The transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility of claim 1 further comprising an associated utility section.
12 . The transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility of claim 11 wherein utility components are located between hydrocarbon vessels and/or process equipment and ignition sources.
13 . The transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility of claim 10 wherein the autothermal reformer is fed natural gas from a stranded natural gas reserve and air or oxygen-enriched air.
14 . A process for producing synthetic liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas at or near calm water comprising the steps of:
dry hauling a mobile synthetic liquid hydrocarbon production facility to or near the calm water location;
installing the mobile hydrocarbon production facility so that it is not freely floating;
connecting the mobile hydrocarbon production facility to a source of natural gas; and
synthesizing heavier hydrocarbons from the natural gas.
15 . The process of claim 14 further comprising the step of transferring the produced heavier hydrocarbon product to an FSO.
16 . The process of claim 14 wherein the heavier hydrocarbon product is synthetic crude.
17 . The process of claim 14 further comprising the step of upgrading the heavier hydrocarbon product into a transportation fuel.
18 . The process of claim 15 wherein the FSO is a reconditioned single hull tanker.
19 . The process of claim 14 wherein the heavier hydrocarbon is predominantly a liquid hydrocarbon.
20 . The process of claim 14 wherein the transportable liquid hydrocarbon facility is constructed on an inland barge.
21 . The process of claim 14 wherein the transportable synthetic liquid hydrocarbon facility is dry hauled by use of a lift ship.
22 . The transportable facility of claim 1 wherein air-derived oxygen is fed to the synthesis gas generator.
23 . The process of claim 14 wherein the calm water location has wave action of no greater than that of Sea State 0.