Plant Being Constructed for Production of Gasoline from Synthesis Gas

In Ovadandepe settlement of Ahal province, the largest plant is being constructed for production of gasoline from synthesis gas.

According to the client – Turkmengas State Concern – this unique high-tech enterprise, being built with the Japanese company, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., for the first time in world practice will convert large volumes of natural gas into liquid fuel – gasoline.

GTG – Gas to gasoline project, based on the well-established technology by Haldor Topsoe, the Danish company, will allow annual processing of 1 billion 785 million cubic meters of natural gas and produce 600 thousand tons of A-92 gasoline complying with the Euro-5 standard requirements. Thanks to this technology, depending on the hydrogen-carbon monoxide ration in the gas mixture, it is possible to synthesize liquid hydrocarbons that are similar on chemical composition to crude oil fractionation products. Such synthetic gasoline will have virtually ideal environmental characteristics, as it will not contain sulfur compounds and organic nitrogen compounds that are harmful to the environment.

Cutting-edge equipment by leading global manufacturers has been purchased for the enterprise. More precisely, reactors were supplied by Haldor Topsoe of Denmark and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. of Japan. Large compressors were delivered by Mitsubishi of Japan; software solutions for production management were developed by Yokogawa; diesel units were supplied by MAN, mechanical engineering company of Germany; pumping equipment was delivered by American, Korean and French manufacturers. The enterprise has the newest equipment by the companies of Holland, Korea, India, Great Britain and Sweden.

The enterprise under construction reminds a genuine gigantic chemical laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment. For example, the technological process for conversion of gas into liquid gasoline that was offered by Japanese specialists had required construction of the chain of technological facilities for deep purification of natural gas, production of syngas, methanol; and only after that facilities for obtaining and refining fuel were constructed.

The technological area, where these processes will take place, equipment has been installed in all sections that ensure the conversion of natural gas. They include tanks, reactors, heat exchangers, columns, furnaces, separators and compressors.

The key component of current technology is water. It is active both as vapor in obtaining syngas, and as cooling liquid in the reactors for synthesis of methanol where the temperature can reach up to thousand degrees. Therefore, this modern enterprise has the multi-stage industrial water treatment and regeneration system. Due to the use of cutting-edge equipment, 87 per cent of liquid remains there for repeated use. Overheated water vapor will be used in compressors and pumps, and will also ensure energy self-sustainability of the enterprise: steam turbines installed here will fully meet the demand for electric energy in all areas of the plant.

Equipment mounting and installation of septic tanks, filters, water cooling towers, boilers and evaporators are nearly complete in the auxiliary systems area.

The center of the technology zone has an overpass that connects to various technology areas through engineering networks. Installation of underground pipelines, firefighting and sewage systems reached final stages.

Over 700 specialists of foreign companies and more than 4700 workers and engineers from various regions of our country are currently working at the construction site. They are to complete laying of connecting pipes; installation of utilities; construction of the office building and control panel and the area for loading finished products; get tankers ready to fill up with products and prepare other facilities. Construction of a 7-kilometer-long supply pipeline and 26-kilometer-long waterway is underway.

According to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, construction of such plants is one of the key factors of further development of the economy of the country, increase of its technological safety, expansion and diversification of sales markets of hydrocarbon resources, and promotion of development of nearly all branches of the national economy.