Conoco GTL plant makes headway with delivery of first production modules

March 13, 2002
Conoco Inc. said it has received and installed the first production modules at its demonstration gas-to-liquids plant being constructed at Ponca City, Okla. Last year, the company announced plans to build the $75 million plant to commercialize its proprietary GTL technology.


By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Mar. 12 -- Conoco Inc. said it has received and installed the first production modules at its demonstration gas-to-liquids plant being constructed at Ponca City, Okla. Last year, the company announced plans to build the $75 million plant to commercialize on its proprietary GTL technology (OGJ, May 21, 2001, Newsletter, p. 8).

Each of the 58 modules to be delivered will weigh 27,000 lb and will be 13 ft high and 21 feet long, Conoco said. The plant, which is expected to be completed later this year, will convert 4 MMcfd of natural gas into 400 b/d of diesel, kerosine, and other products.

Using the engineering data and performance analysis from the demonstration plant, Conoco will design a larger, commercial plant.

"With an estimated 3,000 [tcf] of stranded natural gas worldwide, the business opportunity for a company with a viable commercial gas-to-liquids technology is tremendous," said Jim Rockwell, Conoco manager, gas-to-liquids.