Gas -to-Liquid s (GTL) technology
Gas-To-Liquids (GTL) technology
Sasol’s GTL technology is a proven alternative solution to monetize Canada’s clean, abundant natural gas
resources to produce high-quality transportation fuels and petrochemical feedstocks in a cost-efficient and
environmentally conscious way.
What is GTL?
GTL technology converts natural gas into high-quality liquid
petroleum products including diesel and naphtha. A GTL facility
has integrated value chain opportunities and synergies with
upstream and chemicals industries.
GTL diesel is cleaner burning than conventional diesel, with
virtually no sulphur or aromatic compounds. Life cycle
greenhouse gas emissions are comparable to, or somewhat
less than, conventional fuels. The low sulphur content and high
cetane number of GTL diesel also make it a desirable blending
component with conventional petroleum products.
A proven, transformative technology
With more than 60 years of experience, Sasol is a commercial
leader in GTL technology.
www.sasol.com | www.sasolcanada.com
• Sasol has been operating synthetic fuel plants since 1955 and is
a world leader in innovative technology.
• In joint venture with Qatar Petroleum, Sasol currently operates
ORYX GTL, a 32,400 barrel per day plant that is among the
most advanced GTL facilities in the world.
• During October 2011, Sasol together with its partners
Uzbekneftagaz and PETRONAS, commenced with FEED of a GTL
plant in Uzbekistan. FEED activities are progressing according to
schedule and are expected to be completed during the second
half of the 2013 calendar year.
• In Nigeria, Sasol, Chevron and the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation have progressed with construction on the GTL facility
and start of operations is expected towards the end of 2013.
• Sasol remains committed to bringing GTL technology to Canada
and has commenced with FEED of an Ethane Cracker and GTL
facility in southwest Louisiana in the United States.
GTL production process
Natural gas is a predominantly methane mixture of hydrocarbons
and other gases including nitrogen, carbon dioxide and sulphur
compounds. In the GTL production process, raw natural gas is first
purified to remove primarily sulphur and other unsaturated low
level contaminants.
1. Natural gas reforming: converts lean natural gas (largely
methane) mixed together with oxygen into synthesis gas, also
known as syn-gas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide).
2. Proprietary technology: converts syn-gas into a broad range
hydrocarbon stream, also called waxy synfuel. This conversion
step is the heart of the GTL process.

Once the natural gas is pre-treated, the GTL conversion process 3. Product upgrading: upgrades waxy synfuel into high quality
consists of three main steps: final products, such as GTL diesel, GTL naphtha, and if desired,
kerosene for jet fuel, and other high-value products.

Methane Sasol Slurry Phase DistillateTM (SPDTM) Process

Upstream Natural Gas GTL Naphtha

Natural Proprietary
Oxygen Product
Gas Synthesis Gas Conversion Waxy Synfuel GTL Diesel
Upgrading
Reforming Process
Air Oxygen LPG
Separation

Nitrogen to Atmosphere Water By-product

Natural gas reforming

• Syn-gas for the GTL production process can be produced from
natural gas through various technologies that require mostly
steam and air or oxygen.
• During the reforming process, the hydrocarbon molecules
in the natural gas are broken down and stripped of their
hydrogen atoms.
• The carbon atoms together with oxygen (introduced as steam,
air, or concentrated oxygen) form carbon monoxyde molecules.
• The resulting gas, called synthesis gas or syn-gas, consists of
hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. It is then ready
for Sasol’s Proprietary Conversion Process.
Sasol’s proprietary conversion process
• The syn-gas is sent to a slurry phase synthesis reactor.
• The temperature, pressure and catalyst (cobalt or iron)
determine whether a light or waxy synfuel is produced.
• Through a catalytic chemical process, hydrogen and carbon
monoxide – under heat and pressure and with the aid of
cobalt or iron-based catalysts – to yield linear hydrocarbons,
oxygenated hydrocarbons and reaction water.
• Hydrocarbons from the slurry phase synthesis reactor are cooled
successively to produce liquid products that are recovered for
final processing.
Product upgrade
• The liquid hydrocarbon products require mild hydroprocessing,
normally a combination of hydrotreating and hydrocorrection
to convert the higher molecular weight molecules to naphtha,
diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
• Due to the combination of these unique petrochemical processes,
the resulting diesel contains virtually no aromatics and sulphur
and burns more clearly than petroleum derived fuels.

Sasol Canada
Suite 1600, 215 – 9th Ave SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 1K3 Canada
Telephone: 587.387.2000
www.sasol.com
www.sasolcanada.com
Sasol Canada is a division of Sasol Limited, a world leader in the commercial production of liquid fuels and chemicals from
coal and natural gas. Sasol Canada owns a 50 per cent working interest in two natural gas fields in British Columbia and is
pursuing the opportunity to build the country’s first gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility to convert natural gas into high-quality
transportation fuels. GTL is a proven technology that harnesses clean, abundant natural gas resources to make diesel, naphtha
and petrochemical feedstocks.
Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sasol has operations in 37 countries and 35,000 employees. Sasol is listed on the
New York Stock Exchange and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Sasol is also included on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes.