Statoil withdraws from ownership in Swiss gas-to-liquids licensing venture
Statoil will withdraw from ownership and management roles with gas-to-liquids venture company GTL.F1.
The Norwegian oil and gas major said it had played a key role in developing GTL.F1's technology but, being primarily a user of technology in its own operations, does not see licensing of GTL technology as part of its core business.
As a result, Statoil’s further partnership is no longer essential for continuing success, the venture firm said. Statoil will have access to the GTL.F1 technology on a preferential commercial basis.
GTL.F1, founded in 2005 in Zurich, Switzerland, by Statoil, PetroSA and Lurgi, licenses proprietary technologies for GTL investments. Lurgi is the operator of the company.
GTL.F1 has combined the expertise of the three companies to develop and commercialise the Fischer–Tropsch (F-T) technology as part of gas-to-liquids offerings.
Through joint activities, GTL.F1 has acquired technological and engineering expertise for the licensing of large-scale plants including GTL.F1´s proprietary F-T technology.
Lurgi, a member of the Air Liquide Group, acts as operator and engineering partner of GTL.F1, while PetroSA will provide the operating experience and reference plant.
An engineering contract for an F-T plant is under execution and various commercial proposals are being negotiated, the venture said.
The technology development phase, mainly in the laboratories of Statoil in Norway and the semi-commercial demonstration at Petro SA's Mossel BayRefinery, South Africa, has now come to a successful conclusion.
As such, the technology has progressed to where a new phase directed at licensing, engineering and commercial operation has started, the venture said.
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