Shell, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences to demonstrate new syngas technology in China
Jun 24, 2011
Shell Global Solutions International B.V. (Shell), Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences (SARI-CAS) and Shanxi Lu’An Group (Lu’An) today signed an agreement to jointly demonstrate a novel “dry reforming” technology that can use or recycle methane and CO2 to produce syngas, the key raw material for a wide range of chemical products and fuels.
Novel “dry reforming” technology to produce syngas from methane and CO2
Gerald Schotman, Chief Technology Officer of Royal Dutch Shell plc, said: “I’m pleased to see this major step forward to broaden our partnership with SARI-CAS in R&D and technology demonstration and deployment. This novel technology, once proven successful on a commercial scale, can be an alternative to the classical coal gasification process and create more market opportunities.”
Prof. Sun Yuhan, Vice President of SARI-CAS said: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to once again partner with Shell in this joint project. With Lu’An as a new partner, I look forward to a fruitful joint demonstration of this new technology which can play a significant role in China’s future energy and chemicals landscape.”
Liu Bin, Deputy General Manager of Lu’An said: “We are very pleased to cooperate with Shell and SARI-CAS in the catalyst scale-up and engineering research for CO2-CH4 reforming to synthesis gas, and to carry out a demonstration plant of the technology at Lu’An Low Carbon Economy Zone. We anticipate that we can provide a new efficient route to large-scale production of synthesis gas through trilateral cooperation, contributing to the development of coal-based chemical industry.”
The new agreement follows a joint R&D programme run by Shell and the Institute of Coal Chemistry of Chinese Academy of Sciences (ICC-CAS) in 2008 to 2010. The researchers studied the conversion of syngas to higher alcohols, where they saw a mixture of CO2 and methane as side-products.
Using this new “dry reforming” catalyst, which applies nanotechnology, the joint research team recycled these side-products to re-produce syngas. The catalyst stays active for a prolonged period of time, becoming a commercially attractive way to increase the process’ carbon efficiency.
Under this three-party agreement, this technology will undergo a pilot test at a commercial site of Lu’An, before it could be made available to the market.
For inquiries, please contact:
Li Lusha
Shell Companies in China
Tel: (86-10) 6505 4501 ext. 2685
Email: lusha.li@shell.com
Notes to Editors
About Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 90 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects. For further information, visit www.shell.com.cn.
Shell Global Solutions is a network of independent technology companies in the Shell Group which provide technical consultancy and licensed technologies for both the Shell Group and third party customers within the energy industry. In response to the significant challenges facing the industry today, Shell Global Solutions strives to deliver innovative technical solutions and effective technology to support its customers in their day-to-day operations and delivery of strategic plans. More information is available at www.shell.com/globalsolutions
Cautionary Note
The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release “Shell”, “Shell group” and “Royal Dutch Shell” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this press release refer to companies in which Royal Dutch Shell either directly or indirectly has control, by having either a majority of the voting rights or the right to exercise a controlling influence. The companies in which Shell has significant influence but not control are referred to as “associated companies” or “associates” and companies in which Shell has joint control are referred to as “jointly controlled entities”. In this press release, associates and jointly controlled entities are also referred to as “equity-accounted investments”. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect (for example, through our 24% shareholding in Woodside Petroleum Ltd.) ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest.
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ‘‘anticipate’’, ‘‘believe’’, ‘‘could’’, ‘‘estimate’’, ‘‘expect’’, ‘‘intend’’, ‘‘may’’, ‘‘plan’’, ‘‘objectives’’, ‘‘outlook’’, ‘‘probably’’, ‘‘project’’, ‘‘will’’, ‘‘seek’’, ‘‘target’’, ‘‘risks’’, ‘‘goals’’, ‘‘should’’ and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell’s 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2010 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov). These factors also should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, 24 June 2011. Neither Royal Dutch Shell nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
The We may have used certain terms in this press release that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov. You can also obtain these forms from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.