Eni SPA and Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) have signed a joint development agreement to advance a technology for conversion of natural gas into synthesis gas.
The partnership will build a demonstration plant at an Eni facility.
The technology is based on the short contact time catalytic partial oxidation of natural gas.
“This technology was initially developed by Eni after an intensive [research and development] period,” Eni said in a press statement. “This was coupled with SABIC’s short contact time reactor R&D and the company’s extensive knowledge of the integration of synthesis gas generation into processes to produce derived chemicals.”
The statement said the joint technology will improve synthesis gas production and integration into high-value applications by lowering capital and operating expenditures, increasing energy efficiency, lowering carbon dioxide emissions, and broadening feedstock flexibility.