Air Products completes acquisition of Shell’s gasification technology
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On May 7, Air Products announced that it had successfully completed the acquisition of Shell Global Solutions International’s gasification technology business from Dutch shell, and established a strategic partnership with shell to apply slag oil gasification technology in refineries. In January 2018, Air Products signed an acquisition agreement with Shell; this acquisition included Shell’s portfolio of patents related to solid (coal and biomass) gasification, as well as patents for residue and biomass gasification. The specific financial terms have not been disclosed. Air Products said it has expanded its supply of syngas, offering complete gasification units for solids (coal and biomass) and liquids (refinery residues). In its natural gas sales business, Air Products finances the establishment, ownership, operation, and maintenance of natural gas production facilities, allowing its customers to focus on and concentrate on their core businesses. Over the past 50 years, Shell has been at the forefront of gasification research and innovation. Reports indicate that 170 Shell Gasification Process (SGP) units and 34 coal gasifiers have been built, with 96 SGP units and 24 Shell gasification process gasifiers currently in operation. Through this new strategic partnership, Air Products will supply the refining industry with complete sales gas residue gasification facilities, and will become a partner in the operation of strategic industrial gas projects. As demonstrated by the world-class combined gasification/refining project under construction in the Jazan Economic City in Saudi Arabia, this partnership will make full use of Shell’s technological leadership in the field of liquid (residue) gasification.
Once this acquisition is completed, Air Products will be incredibly powerful – with its air separation islands and gasification islands, a comprehensive supplier will have been created!
It seems that the players involved in the development of gasification islands have arrived; large gas companies are welcome to get involved. Clearly, both air separation and gasification represent major components of investment in coal chemical industries
Not only on the gasification islands, but new energy sources will surely be developed there as well. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is advancing at a rapid pace – so what’s wrong with taking a bold gamble?
You can take big risks, but it’s not like you’re from a wealthy family:lol
AP acquired Shell, GE acquired Texaco, and AP acquired GE – which means that AP now owns the gasification technologies of both Shell and GE. Currently, AP operates in the field of air separation as well as oil and gas gasification and coal gasification. .
It seems to be targeting the Chinese market and making efforts in the coal chemical industry
It’s not just coal chemical industry; AP now also holds a stake in the Jizan project in Saudi Arabia, which features 15 slag oil gasifiers – the largest scale in the world. Personally, I don’t see much value in coal gasification; China has already mastered this technology to a large extent, so it’s likely that such products can only be sold in regions outside of China.
In China, AP projects are mostly carried out under the coal-fired BOO model