Surhan Gas Chemical Operating Company and Shell Catalysts & Technologies have signed a technology licence agreement for the Mustakillikning 25 yilligi (25 years of independence) gas project in Uzbekistan. As part of this deal, Shell Catalysts & Technologies will offer an integrated technology licence for the gas treating and sulphur recovery block.

The project, in Uzbekistan’s southerly Surkhandarya region, will process five billion cubic metres of raw natural gas a year that contains high levels of hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide and mercaptans. Cost-effectively removing these impurities and disposing of them safely or converting them into saleable by-products is critical to the project’s success.

The integrated gas treatment and sulphur recovery unit designed by Shell Catalysts & Technologies features several leading-edge Shell proprietary technologies that offer significant reductions in capital and operating costs compared with the alternatives.

The offer includes the use of Shell’s proprietary hybrid solvent technology: Sulfinol. Sulfinol is a market-leading mercaptan removal technology with more than 220 references worldwide. Unlike alternative technologies, the Sulfinol process removes contaminants, including mercaptans, in a single process step, which can help to reduce capital expenditure by up to 30%, operating costs by 10–30% and life-cycle costs by 15–30%.

The Shell Claus offgas treating (SCOT?) process will be used to enhance sulphur recovery, and the Shell sulphur degassing process will remove hydrogen sulphide from the liquid sulphur produced.

In addition, to remove carbon dioxide, the unit’s design features Shell’s ADIP ULTRA process.

“We are seeing more and more gas projects having to contend with highly complex gas compositions. These are often beyond the capabilities of standard, off-the-shelf solutions, but, by tailoring our approach to their specific objectives, we are helping customers to meet stringent product specifications and emissions standards, and to reduce their capital and operating costs. Shell is pleased to offer its market-leading and innovative gas processing and sulphur recovery technologies to Uzbekistan. We look forward to working with Surhan Gas Chemical Operating Company to push the boundaries of what is technically achievable,” says Andy Gosse, Vice President, Shell Catalysts & Technologies.

For further details, please contact:

SGCOC:
Tamila Karimova
Telephone: +99878 150 30 50
Email: info@sgc-oc.com

Shell:
Pavan Chilukuri
Telephone:+31 655205871
Email: P.Chilukuri@Shell.com

^{*SCOT is a trademark owned by the Shell group of companies.}

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Mustakillikning 25 yilligi field project

The project will be implemented in two stages. Stage 1 (2018–2022) will comprise geological exploration, well drilling, field infrastructure construction and gas processing plant construction. Stage 2 (2023–2025) will see the construction of a gas–chemical complex that will generate up to 500,000 t/y of polymer-based products.

The investment consortium, which includes Gas Project Development Central Asia AG, Altmax Holding Ltd and Uzneftegazdobycha JSC (a member of Uzbekneftegaz), established Surhan Gas Chemical Operating Company to manage the field’s development.

About Shell Catalysts & Technologies

Shell Catalysts & Technologies, part of Shell, is a leading technology licensor and brings owner-operator–innovator–licensor capabilities to the market. It has more than 1,200 references for gas processing technologies at gas plants and refineries worldwide.

It supports Shell and non-Shell businesses by working with them to co-create integrated, customised solutions comprising licensed technologies, refining and petrochemical catalysts, and technical services.

It was formed by combining Shell Global Solutions, a technology licensor with a track record of delivering pioneering process schemes and innovative configurations; Criterion Catalysts & Technologies, the world’s largest hydroprocessing catalyst supplier; and CRI Catalyst Company, a pioneer in the petrochemical catalyst sector.

It operates across the energy value chain: from upstream, gas processing and liquefied natural gas through to downstream refining and petrochemicals.