ExxonMobil Methanol to GasolineExxonMobil Methanol to GasolineCommercially Proven Route Commercially Proven Route for Production of Synthetic Gasolinefor Production of Synthetic Gasoline

Routes for Synthetic Transportation FuelRoutes for Synthetic Transportation Fuel

SynGasSynGasGenerationGeneration

Methanol toMethanol toGasolineGasolineSteam

Natural GasCoal

BioMass

• Both are 3 Step Process• Thermal Efficiencies are Essentially Governed by

Coal or Natural Gas C/H Ratios• Coal is CH to Fuels plus CO2• Natural gas is CH4 to Fuels plus H2O

PrimarilyGasoline

FischerFischerTropsch (LT)Tropsch (LT)

MethanolMethanolGenerationGeneration

RefiningRefining PrimarilyDiesel

Routes for Synthetic Transportation FuelRoutes for Synthetic Transportation Fuel

SynGasSynGasGenerationGeneration

Methanol toMethanol toGasolineGasolineSteam

Natural GasCoal

BioMass

PrimarilyGasoline

MethanolMethanolGenerationGeneration

Commercial technology with multiple technology suppliers

Comparison of Fischer Tropsch with MTG*Comparison of Fischer Tropsch with MTG*

1001001000.13.2-Oxygenates-4.052.0Heavy Oil/Wax-7.014.0Gasoil/Distillate

82.340.018Naphtha10.92.01.9Butane1.19.03.1Butylenes4.32.01.7Propane0.212.02.7Propylene0.44.01.8Ethane-4.03.1Ethylene

0.710.12.0Methane

MTGSynthol FT(High Temp)

ARGE FT(Low Temp)Compound

* Shields, Fox & Chaung GPA 64th. Conv.

MTG ScaleMTG Scale--up and Developmentup and Development

• Unique “Shape Selective” chemistry discovered in the early 1970’s

• Major Challenge – Make marketable gasoline

• Development done through the 70’s on a verity of process options

– Pilot operations up to 4 bpd in the US– Pilot operations up to 100 bpd in Germany

• Decision by New Zealand Government in 1979 to build commercial 14.5 kbd plant in New Plymouth NZ. Plant ownership 75% NZ Government/25% ExxonMobil

• Plant started up 1985 and operated successfully for ~10 years till conversion to chemical grade Methanol production

MTG Product YieldsMTG Product Yields

3200Gasoline, bbl/Day

420LPG, bbl/Day

96.6Fuel Gas, bbl FOE/Day

ProductionPer 1000 tonnes MeOHProducts

MTG CommercializationMTG Commercialization

• Fixed bed is generally conventional type hardware. However– Multireactor System– Cyclic Operation

• Feed can be a wide range of crude Methanol compositions (water/methanol)

• Significant challenges in catalyst scale-up and development– Yield– Cycle length

• Advantages over Fischer Tropsch– Methanol is proven and widely used technology– Methanol is storable which enhances operability between stages– Methanol to Gasoline uses gas phase conventional type fixed bed

reactors

Schematic of New Zealand Gas to Gasoline Schematic of New Zealand Gas to Gasoline ComplexComplex

MethanolMethanolSynthesisSynthesis MTGMTG DistillationDistillation BlendingBlending

HGTHGTWater Product to Treatment

Crude Methanol

Steam

Natural Gas

Fuel Gas / LPG

Light Gasoline

Hea

vy

Gas

olin

e

Finished Gasoline

New Zealand New Zealand SynfuelSynfuel Plant Built with Modular Plant Built with Modular Construction Construction

• A Methanol Plant Compressor in Route

• Modular Construction History– Maximum Module

• 33 by 15 Meters• 600 tonnes

– Total Lift• 66 Modules• 15,000 tonnes

New Zealand Synfuel PlantNew Zealand Synfuel Plant

MONTHLYProduction (‘000’s te)Stream Factor (x)

Methanol 01 ProductionMethanol 01 Production

0

20

40

60

80

100

Oct 1985 Feb 1986 Jun 1986 Oct 1985 Feb 1987

Production Stream Factor

Methanol 02 ProductionMethanol 02 ProductionMONTHLYProduction (‘000’s te)Stream Factor (x)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Oct 1985 Feb 1986 Jun 1986 Oct 1985 Feb 1987

Production Stream Factor

Total Gasoline YieldTotal Gasoline Yield

7

8

9

10

11

12

Nov 1985 Mar 1986 Jul 1986 Nov 1986

(te Gasoline / TJ Nat Gas)

Yield

New Zealand MTG Unit Gasoline Yield*New Zealand MTG Unit Gasoline Yield*

75

80

85

90

95

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

12 R

VP G

ASO

YIE

LD, W

T PC

T O

F H

C

*12 RVP

ExpectedPlant

New Zealand MTG Unit Gasoline Octane (R+O)*New Zealand MTG Unit Gasoline Octane (R+O)*

*12 RVP

ExpectedPlant

86

88

90

92

94

96

98

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

12 R

VP G

ASO

YIE

LDR

ON

+O

New Zealand Finished Gasoline QualityNew Zealand Finished Gasoline Quality

196 - 209204.5End Point, °C94 – 96.594.9% Evaporation at 180° C

51.5 – 55.553.2% Evaporation at 100° C29.5 – 34.531.5% Evaporation at 70° C

Distillation1.74 – 2.292.0Durene Content, wt%260 – 370325Induction Period, min.728 – 733730Density, kg/m3

82 – 9085Reid Vapor Pressure, kPa82.2 – 83.082.6Octane Number, MON92.0 – 92.592.2Octane Number, RON

RangeRangeAverageAverage

Methanol to GasolineMethanol to GasolineCommercially Proven Route for GasolineCommercially Proven Route for Gasoline