Updating of Costs for Production of Methanol from Natural Gas and Vacuum Residue Feedstock

摘要

The National Swedish Industrial Board has requested Trichem to prepare a study updating the cost for production of methanol from natural gas and vacuum residue. This cost was to be compared with the cost for production of gasoline from cat-cracking of heavy fuel-oil. Based on 1981 feedstock prices the cost of producing gasoline by the cat-cracking is estimated to be 307.9 dollar per ton and the cost for methanol from vacuum residue is 307.5-315.9 dollar per ton and from natural gas 299.5 dollar per ton. 1 ton of motor gasoline is equivalent to 1.584 tons of methanol when used as a motor fuel. Methanol would have to be produced for 194.4 dollar per ton to compete with cat-cracked gasoline. The cost of producing gasoline from heavy fuel oil could well move in a downward direction whereas methanol production costs can only move in an upward direction. (ERA citation 08:033160)