Foster Wheeler gets FEED contract for Nigerian gas-to-liquids project

Nov. 5, 2001
Chevron Nigeria Ltd. has awarded Foster Wheeler Ltd. a $20 million front-end engineering and design contract for a gas-to-liquids project, said Foster Wheeler Monday.

By the OGJ Online Staff

HOUSTON, Nov. 5 -- Chevron Nigeria Ltd. (CNL) has awarded Foster Wheeler Ltd. a $20 million front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract for a gas-to-liquids (GTL) project, said Foster Wheeler Monday.

CNL is a joint venture of Chevron Corp. and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corp.

Foster Wheeler will be responsible for the FEED and the preparation of the invitation to tender for the engineering, procurement, and construction contract. The scope of work also includes the issue of inquiry for long-lead equipment items, preparation of project estimates, and assistance for early works activities.

The contractor said CNL's planned GTL plant will be built in Escravos. "It provides significant environmental benefits by eliminating the flaring of gas and instead converting it to produce clean GTL fuel."

The plant will produce 34,000 b/d of synthetic fuel and naphtha products.

The plant is the first to use the Sasol slurry phase distillate process, which integrates three GTL technologies from Haldor Topsøe AS, Sasol, and Chevron to produce GTL fuel and naphtha for export. It converts gas into liquid hydrocarbons in three steps.

Ian Bill, chairman and CEO of Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd., said, "This project will use the leading application of GTL technology. It has global significance because the eradication of gas flaring will produce significant benefits for the environment and local community."