BHP PETROLEUM'S NEW TECHNOLOGY METHANOL RESEARCH PLANT

Abstract

BHP Petroleum (BHPP) is in the process of constructing a 164 tonne per day Methanol Research Plant (MRP) on the outskirts of Melbourne. The plant is designed to demonstrate and develop the Leading Concept Methanol (LCM) technology of ICI Katalco. The plant will be the first large scale demonstration of this technology and is part of BHPP's strategy to develop viable options for the development of Australia's uncommitted gas resources. The strategy is to demonstrate and develop the LCM technology onshore and then to apply the technology to an offshore production environment.

The LCM technology as applied to the MRP involves a new synthesis gas generation process and other features which result in a compact plant design with low utilities requirements and insensivity to vessel motion effects.

Although the MRP is being built primarily for Research and Development (R&D) it has been sized consistent with future scale up to world scale methanol capacity. The plant capacity is sufficient to supply a major share of Australia's methanol demand, particularly that of the immediate vicinity in Victoria.

The construction of the plant started in April, 1993 and is currently about 85 per cent complete and on schedule. Final mechanical completion is scheduled for mid 1994 with commissioning in the third quarter. The capital cost of the project is approximately A$70 million.