Focus on gas-to-liquids (GTL) : feasibility study to monetize Alaskan North Slope natural gas

• Main Author: Marin, Rodolfo Rafael
• Other Authors: Van Rensburg, W. C. J.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Natural gas; Alaskan North Slope; Alaska; Gas to liquid; GTL; Gas reserves; Gas-to-Liquid Fischer-Tropsch; GTL-FT; Energy market; north slope
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/2152/117095; https://doi.org/10.26153/tsw/43989

The need to develop economically viable ways to transport stranded natural gas reserves to commercial markets is driving the development of new technologies. The Alaskan North Slope holds proven gas reserves of 35 Tcf, but its remote location and the investment required to monetize this gas have kept this source locked up. However, the need for environmentally friendly fuels on the US west coast and the outlook for high energy prices are, among other factors, encouraging the development of these reserves. Even though three methods have been proposed to monetize this gas (LNG, GTL-FT and pipeline) and there are two additional emerging technologies (CNG and Gas by Wire), this report only focuses on the development of Alaskan North Slope gas through the implementation of a stand-alone GTL-FT project. The study presents the current status of Alaskan North Slope gas reserves and production, a general review of the GTL-FT technology, and a specific description of the technical and economic elements of the GTL-FT project on the Alaskan North Slope. Finally, the report presents an economic evaluation of the different options to implement a large-scale GTL-FT project on the Alaskan North Slope, recommendations to make the project more attractive, and conclusions. Energy and Earth Resources