GTL plant opening delayed

Jen Ransom, PNA contributing writer

BP’s gas-to-liquid plant in Nikiski is still not up and running, BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. spokesman Ronnie Chappell told PNA Aug.27. The GTL plant, which was scheduled to begin operating this past spring, is still in the process of warming up, meaning that individual components of the plant have been tested but the plant has yet to produce its first barrel of synthetic crude.

“We’re testing breakthrough technology,” Chappell said. “It’s not like switching on a lamp.”

Chappell says the delay is due to the fact that BP wants to ensure every part of the plant is working properly before they commission the whole plant.

Once operating, the GTL plant is expected to convert 3 million cubic feet of natural gas to 300 barrels of liquid per day. The $86 million plant will be tested for five years, and may become the model for a similar plant built on the North Slope.

At this time, BP is delaying the start up announcement until the plant begins producing a product, Chappell said.