Cerilon moves into FEED stage, advancing North Dakota GTL complex toward FID

Cerilon Inc., Calgary, has completed front-end-loading (FEL 2) for its proposed grassroots gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant in Trenton, Williams County, ND, and is moving into front-end engineering design (FEED), the last stage before the company makes a final investment decision (FID) for the project.

Cerilon aims to develop a GTL complex that will convert North Dakota’s abundant natural gas supplies into 24,000 b/d of high-performance synthetic products, including ultralow-sulfur diesel (ULSD), naphtha, and Group III+ lubricant base oils, Cerilon said. The complex is also expected to feature a carbon capture and sequestration component.

During the FEL 2 engineering stage, de-risking actions and decisions were taken “that improved accuracy of the project schedule and cost estimates,” the company said in a release June 4.

Worley was selected to complete the project's FEL 3 FEED scope, which will include smart manufacturing operations design and digital integration.

In March, Cerilon let a contract to Chevron Corp. subsidiary Chevron USA Inc. to deliver processing technologies for the first phase of the complex in (OGJ Online, Oct. 21, 2021; Mar. 14, 2024).

A final investment decision is expected in mid-2026 with construction on the first complex to begin shortly thereafter for project start-up in 2028. It is expected to be fully operational in 2029.

Cerilon is seeking regulatory approvals for the complex and a phase two complex of similar capacity on the same site. The company has submitted all major permit applications and anticipates that these regulatory reviews will be complete by yearend.