METHANE CONVERSION FOR HIGHWAY FUEL USE (METHANOL PLANTSHIP PROJECT), INTERIM REPORT

In phase I methanol plantship (MPS) work sponsored by the Department of Transportation in fiscal years 1985 and 1986, the contractor identified uncontested methane sufficient to operate 130 MPSs, 3,000-short ton per day (STPD) (2,722-t/d) capacity each, for 20 years; demonstrated by analyses and by ship model tank tests that long-term efficient methanol plant operations can be conducted in at-sea environments; and showed that the economics of MPS operations are competitive with land-based plants. The current effort, part I of phase II, required the contractor to assess and report the impact of updated permitting, licensing, and environmental constraints on the design and operation of the MPS. As to MPS cost, the impact of new statutes and regulations is measurable. Design and construction costs must now reflect very detailed, prescribed means to meet stringent allowable pollutant release rates/quantities. New operating plans are required; monitoring and reporting requirements are increased. As to MPS operability, the impact of new statutes and regulations is nil; neither the methodology nor efficiency of production operations is impaired. The current effort also determined that projected MPS performance has been consistently verified by the design studies of others; that new process technologies are accommodated by the existing MPS vessel, both physically and as to motions/accelerations; and that revised/updated economic analysis of the MPS, as to plantship capacity and feedstock price, confirmed strong economies of scale. This validates MPS design at 3,000 STPD (2,722 t/d).

• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also Part II of Phase II report, Volume I (FHWA-RD-93-091) and Part II of Phase II report, Volume II (FHWA-RD-93-092).
• Corporate Authors:

  Yankee Energy Corporation

  80 Bohlston Street, Suite 955
  Boston, MA  United States  02116

  Federal Highway Administration

  Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, 6300 Georgetown Pike
  McLean, VA  United States  22101
• Authors:
  • Fink, C
  • Jackson, Ilya
  • Wright, S
  • Booras, P
  • Linaweaver, P
  • Leuba, T
  • FORD, C
  • Booth, F
  • Marten, J
  • Graf, R
  • Greenshield, L
  • Cashman, J
• Publication Date: 1997-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 311 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Cost estimating; Estimates; Floating structures; Methane; Methanol; Methanol fuels; Production
• Old TRIS Terms: Floating methanol plants; Methane conversion; Plantship construction
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00746625
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-92-085, 3E4a0262, Part I of Phase II
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-92-C-00015
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 4 1998 12:00AM