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WHERE THERE'S GAS

27th April 2006, Page 56
27th April 2006
Page 56
Page 57
Page 56, 27th April 2006 — WHERE THERE'S GAS
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

THERE'S BRASS....

As the price of crude oil continues to rocket, the main lubricant producers are looking at alternative ways to satisfy demand.

Andy Salter gets the low-down on Chevron's plans...

It's ironic that a process developed more than 70 years ago could hold the key to the future supply of diesel and lubricants. But as oil reserves continue to dwindle and the price of crude oil soars, the big oil companies are looking for alternative ways to satisfy the world's insatiable demand for oil products.

Previously expensive means of extracting oil are becoming economically viable — witness the extraction of oil from sand in Canada. And now a process called Fischer-Tropsch has returned to vogue, 74 years after it was discovered by the Germans as they sought to address their lack of natural oil reserves.The process involves the conversion of gases such as natural gas to liquid form, known as 'gas to liquid' or GTL (see panel).

GTL technology has not been used on a global scale before, simply because the world oil supply has been abundant and oil refining less expensive. The cost of GTL technology today is becoming more competitive because refining costs for cleaner fuels are increasing and because GTL producers can target those sectors where demand is highest — such as diesel and lubricants. In addition, GTL diesel is already ultra-clean, with virtually no sulphur or aromaties.As a result, the R&D focus has been on reducing the capital and operating costs of GTL production.

Reduced emissions

GTL diesel, or synthetic diesel as it is sometimes referred to, offers a number of benefits, particularly in terms of exhaust emissions. It is virtually sulphur-free, and significantly reduces local emissions of particulate matter, nitrous oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. What's more, the early indications are that synthetic diesel is more efficient by mass than mineral diesel. Synthetic diesel, though, is not the only product from the GTL process that may find its way into European commercial vehicles. Synthetic lubricants can also be produced from GTL manufacturing.

Chevron, in co-operation with South African oil firm Sasol. has been one of the leaders in the current resurgence of G'I'L as a solution to dwindling oil stocks. In South Africa. GTL is used to produce about 40% of domestic liquid transport fuels and Sasol has been a pioneer in GTL technology. With large reserves of natural gas in many countries around the world Qatar, Australia and South Africa, for example a number of GTL plants are scheduled for construction. By 2015, GTL will account for the production of more than 50,000 barrels of base oil per day, according to Peter Thomson, global product manager for heavy-duty motor oils at Chevron.

While rising crude oil prices create demand for alternative lubricant opportunities, the development of engine technology puts the lubricant under severe stress-and this in itself drives technological developments in the direction of GTL lubricants.

"The requirements for zero-sulphur base oils and low-viscosity oils that offer fuel economy improvements both favour synthetic lubricants," says Thomson. "The proposed GTL lubricants offer better quality than is currently available from the Group III and Group IV base oil products and will be available at the same price."

GT". base oils are three years away from full production but when that time comes, expect to hear much more about the process. Improved viscosity, reduced emissions, lower evaporative losses and resistance to oxidation are just some of the benefits that GTL technology can offer. We'll keep you posted as the product releases occur. •

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