Paraffin Activation and Conversion Technology (PACT), a New Flexible and Robust Technology for the Conversion of C5+/Natural Gasoline to Higher Valued Products

Paraffin Activation and Conversion Technology (PACT), jointly developed by Haldor Topsoe and a U.S.-based development partner is a new, flexible, and robust technology for the conversion of C5+/natural gasoline to higher valued products. The recent increase in the supply of natural gas liquids (NGLs) due to the U.S. shale revolution motivates an opportunity to upgrade surplus C5+/natural gasoline streams to products with larger market and higher value. Existing commercial technologies for NGL conversion are optimized for lighter paraffins, but more cost-effective upgrading of C5+/natural gasoline streams can be realized with novel advancements in catalysis coupled with a unique process design.

Current U.S. EIA estimates show a 60% increase in C5+/natural gasoline supply within the US from 2018 to 2022 with supply continuing to outpace demand. Additionally, global supplies of C5+/natural gasoline/light naphtha are expected to rise at similar rates providing a global overall surplus of these streams. While this supply continues to grow, traditional outlets for C5+/natural gasoline, including gasoline blending, diluent for heavy crudes, and naphtha steam cracking, are likely unable to absorb the growing surplus of C5+/natural gasoline.

The newly developed PACT Process converts C5+/natural gasoline streams into more valuable products including high octane blendstocks, aromatics, olefins, and hydrogen through the utilization of robust operation units to minimize technical risk. Pilot studies of the paraffin activation step of the PACT Process have demonstrated process flexibility for a variety of streams. This presentation will include pilot-scale results highlighting the yield and conversion structure along with key process and economic indicators for this new technology.