Study of the Viability of a Methanol-To-Gasoline Process for the Monetization of Stranded Natural Gas
Journal Title: Saudi Journal of Engineering and Technology - Year 2017, Vol 2, Issue 10
Abstract
Abstract: Methanol-to-Gasoline Process involves the chemical transformation of Natural gas into usable gasoline range products. The objective of this work was to conduct a techno-economic analysis of Methanol-to-Gasoline Process, identifying heat integration, recycle and cost saving opportunities in the Process, and determining the Present-day Profitability of the Process. Aspen Hysys v8.6 was used in the model simulation, with an Auto-thermal Reformer being Used in modelling Synthesis Gas Manufacture, and a Plug Flow Tubular Reactor used in the methanol synthesis, with kinetic data similar to that of the commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 Catalyst. The Gasoline synthesis reactor was modelled as a conversion reactor, with 94% conversion based on the CuO/ZnO/HZSM-5 zeolite conversion yield. It was also discovered, that starting with 10.02MMscfD of natural gas, we obtained 1462 Barrels/day of Gasoline, 82 Barrels/day of Methanol and 147 Barrels/day of Di-Methyl Ether. The total Capital Cost came to $172,360,500, the Operating Cost of $21,808,945 annually, and Gross annual revenue came to $26,575,626, with annual savings of $4,766,681. After Heat Integration and product recycle, a savings of $7,303,009 was realized (74% reduction). The simple payback period of 36.2 years and a Net-present value of -$94million after 20 years, indicating that the MTG process is not viable under the present economic situation. The results of the sensitivity analysis show that the MTG process will be profitable within the 1st 20 years when the price of natural gas falls $500/MMscf or is completely free, or when the interest rate falls 5% or when the inflation rate rises above 20%. The reason for its non-profitability was discovered to be its water to hydrocarbon volume distribution, with water being 53.32% and Gasoline was 46.68%. Keywords:Natural gas, Stranded, Monetization, Profitability
Authors and Affiliations
D. Appah, B. O Evbuomwan, E. P. Uhunmwangho
Keywords
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