Qatar Petroleum, Sasol Chevron study $6 billion Oryx GTL expansion, GTL initiative plans

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Mar. 24 -- Qatar Petroleum Co. and Sasol Chevron Consulting Ltd. are studying the technical and financial feasibility of expanding the Oryx GTL plant at Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar, to almost 100,000 b/d from 34,000 b/d. The project, planned to start up by 2009, would involve the addition of a three-train, 65,000 b/d facility.

In addition, QP and Sasol Chevron agreed to develop a 130,000 b/d upstream-downstream integrated GTL project based on Sasol's slurry phase distillate process and utilizing natural gas resources from North gas field. This will involve defining the feasibility of installing a six-train facility to start up by 2010.

The combined plan will represent an investment of more than $6 billion.