Pact™, a New Flexible and Robust Technology for the Conversion of Light Alkanes to Aromatics, Octane

Paraffin Activation and Conversion Technology (PACTâ„¢), jointly developed by Phillips66 and Haldor Topsoe 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 PACTâ„¢ Process converts C5+/natural gasoline/very light naphtha and other light alkane streams into more valuable products including high octane blendstocks, aromatics, olefins, and hydrogen through the utilization of well-proven and 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.