Process for the production of liquid hydrocarbons

• US 6,942,839 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Huisman, Hans Michiel, De Leeuw, Koen Willem
• Primary Examiner(s): PARSA, JAFAR F
• Application Number:
  US10/931,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 422/188, 422/189, 422/190, 422/194, 422/198
• US Class Current: 422/608
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0261 containing a catalytic partial oxidation step [CPO]
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0405 Purification by membrane separation
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0415 Purification by absorption in liquids
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/045 Purification by catalytic desulfurisation
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0485 the impurity being a sulfur compound
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/062 Hydrocarbon production, e.g. Fischer-Tropsch process
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/065 using hydrotreating, e.g. hydrogenation, hydrodesulfurisation
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0883 by indirect heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0894 Generation of steam
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1023 Catalysts in the form of a monolith or honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1064 Platinum group metal catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1082 Composition of support materials
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1241 Natural gas or methane
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/127 Catalytic desulfurisation
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/386 Catalytic partial combustion
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 1/0485 Set-up of reactors or accessories; Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2521/06 Silicon, titanium, zirconium or hafnium; Oxides or hydroxides thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2523/75 Cobalt
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/30 from carbon monoxide with hydrogen

Abstract

A process for producing normally liquid hydrocarbon products from a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock, especially from normally gaseous hydrocarbon feed, having the following steps: (a) partial oxidation of the normally gaseous hydrocarbon feed at elevated pressure using air or oxygen enriched air as oxidant, to obtain a syngas mixture having hydrogen, carbon monoxide and nitrogen; (b) converting hydrogen and carbon monoxide obtained in step (a) into a normally liquid hydrocarbon product and a normally gaseous hydrocarbon product; (c) separating from the reaction mixture obtained in step (b) an off-gas mixture having nitrogen, normally gaseous hydrocarbon product, and unconverted hydrogen, carbon monoxide and normally gaseous hydrocarbon feed, insofar as such unconverted components are present; (d) combusting at least a part of the off-gas mixture in a steam raising apparatus, producing steam of an elevated pressure; and (e) expanding the steam produced in step (d) for compressing the air or oxygen enriched air and/or the normally gaseous hydrocarbon feed used in step (a); and a plant having equipment in a line-up suitable for carrying out the process.

Claims

1. A plant comprising:

(a) a reactor for partially oxidating a normally gaseous hydrocarbon feed at elevated pressure using air or oxygen enriched air as oxidant, to obtain a syngas mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and nitrogen;

(b) a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor for converting hydrogen and carbon monoxide obtained in step (a) into a normally liquid hydrocarbon product and a normally gaseous hydrocarbon product;

(c) a separator for separating from the reaction mixture obtained in step (b) an off-gas mixture comprising nitrogen, normally gaseous hydrocarbon product, and unconverted hydrogen, carbon monoxide and normally gaseous hydrocarbon feed, insofar as such unconverted components are present;

(d) a combustor for combusting at least a part of the off-gas mixture in a steam raising apparatus, producing steam of an elevated pressure; and

(e) an expander for expanding the steam produced in step (d) for compressing the air or oxygen enriched air and/or the normally gaseous hydrocarbon feed used in step (a)

wherein there is no gas turbine installed in the plant.

2. An offshore platform which comprises the plant of claim 1.