Wyoming Business Council, a state economic development agency, will give Rentech Inc., Denver, Colo., $800,000 to fund a feasibility study using Rentech's gas-to-liquids technology.
There are two phases to the project. One involves studying the retrofit of part of an existing methanol facility in Wyoming, which, Rentech said, could produce 2,500 b/d of GTL products. The second is a study of constructing a separate 10,000 b/d greenfield plant at the same site.
Rentech expects the study to take 6-9 months.
If either project proves feasible, the council will be able to recoup its investment from project financing and a production royalty for a limited term.
Rentech is discussing use of its technology with many companies, including Texaco Inc., Forest Oil Co., and Pertamina (OGJ Online, Dec. 22, 2000).
The company also plans to create the first commercial gas-to-liquids plant in the US by converting Sand Creek plant near Commerce City, Colo., from a methanol plant. That plant is expected on line in 2002, 3-5 years before other such plants are likely, the company said (OGJ, Oct. 9, 2000, p. 55).
