ABSTRACT
The purpose of small-scale Fischer-Tropsch gas-to-liquids (GTL) facilities is to convert unconnected natural gas to a transportable liquid product. The design intent and constraints are therefore different to that of large-scale facilities. All individual units in Fischer-Tropsch-based GTL conversions have been proven industrially, and the design challenge is not scaling down individual units. The foremost technical challenge is to reduce the utility footprint. Mobility and utility self-sufficiency are two requirements imposed by the nature, size, and remoteness of unconnected natural gas sources. As a consequence, process design may in some respects have to be subservient to the utility design. Loss of economy of scale is inevitable, but a small-scale integrated modular design can offset some of the increase in capital cost per unit production capacity by improved robustness, scalability, turndown, and manufacturing efficiency. Modular small-scale GTL designs also have advantages related to reservoir capacity and production dynamics.
