The Pearl GTL facility at Ras Laffan
Pearl GTL, the world’s largest gas-to-liquids plant at Ras Laffan, has begun “first production” of GTL wax from its Train 2. The world scale plant is a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Shell.
The Pearl Project’s second unmanned platform – positioned 60 kilometres offshore – has started to flow gas through a subsea pipeline into Train 2 of the giant onshore complex. The gas processing plant has come online delivering on-spec gas, condensate, LPG and sulphur.
The first of the four air separation units in Train 2 is also online producing on-spec oxygen.
The gas and oxygen have been introduced into the GTL section of the plant, which is now producing GTL waxes from the first of Train 2’s GTL reactors.
“The ability to flawlessly start-up Train 2 in Pearl GTL is a significant achievement for the plant, building on the learnings of Train 1 start-up earlier this year,” Shell Qatar said yesterday.
HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada said: “Pearl GTL continues to make good progress, ramping up. The start-up of Train 2 is a further major step forward towards meeting the vision of HH the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, to establish Qatar as the GTL capital of the world.
“It is also a testament to the partnership we have forged between Shell and QP. ”
Once in full production, Pearl GTL will convert 1.6bn standard cubic feet per day of wellhead gas into 260,000 barrels per day of products, comprising 140,000 barrels a day of GTL products and 120,000 barrels a  day of condensate, LPG and ethane.
Shell CEO Peter Voser said: “Pearl GTL is a very important growth engine for Shell. It demonstrates the robustness of our technology, innovative solutions and global project delivery capabilities.
“I am proud that we are able to deploy our technology and experience to strengthen our partnership with Qatar Petroleum and deliver value to Qatar and Shell for decades to come.”
Andy Brown, Shell executive vice president and managing director of Pearl GTL, said: “The preparations for Train 2 start-up have been flawless, taking full benefit from lessons learnt in the successful start-up of Train 1.
“Over 50,000 people have been involved in designing and building Pearl GTL, and its continued successful start-up is a testament to their hard work, professionalism and dedication. Both trains of the plant will ramp up to full production by mid 2012.”
GTL products are high quality, cleaner-burning oil products such as gasoil and high-specification lubricant base oils and chemicals feedstock.