What CompactGTL does

CompactGTL is a privately-held UK engineering company that designs and supplies modular, small-scale Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) plants for converting stranded or associated natural gas into synthetic crude oil or diesel at the point of production. The company's proprietary platform is built around mini-channel plate-fin reactors that integrate a low-temperature Steam Methane Reformer (SMR) — operating at 650–800°C and tolerating up to 50 mol% CO₂ in the feed — with a patented two-stage Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis section running at 220–235°C and 25 bar on cobalt catalyst. Process modules are sized as shipping containers of no more than 30 tonnes, enabling remote onshore and offshore deployment, including on FPSO vessels, and an ex-situ catalyst refurbishment philosophy keeps plants operational while reactor modules are swapped out for factory refurbishment.

The company has accumulated roughly nine years of operating experience across two demonstration facilities: a 1 bbl/week pilot plant at Wilton, UK (operational from July 2008 for over six years) and a 200,000 scf/d commercial demonstration plant at Aracaju, Brazil, built under a US$45 million 2008 contract with Petrobras, which granted full technology approval in November 2011. CompactGTL holds DNV Approval in Principle for offshore deployment and an exclusive reactor-supply relationship with Sumitomo Precision Products, with Johnson Matthey supplying catalysts and Fluor providing engineering support. Revenue is generated primarily through project-based sales of modular GTL plants and licensing of patented two-stage FT technology (a global licence was granted to Shell for European Patent 1,567,616 following a 2009 opposition hearing). The company is now extending its modular platform into the Waste-to-Liquids (WTL) market, targeting 100–500 t/day facilities that produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel, diesel, naphtha and hydrogen from municipal and industrial waste.

Name

CompactGTL

Legal name

CompactGTL Limited

Website

https://compactgtl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CompactGTL is a privately-held UK company that designs modular small-scale Gas-to-Liquids plants converting stranded or associated gas into synthetic crude or diesel for oil and gas operators, and is extending its platform into Waste-to-Liquids for SAF and hydrogen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Modular Gas-to-Liquids Systems

NAICS

Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511), Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (332410)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533), Petroleum Refining (2911)

akta.pro primary industry

Gas Processing Plant Equipment & Skids (Separators, Heat Exchangers, Turboexpanders) (EUAAABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gas Processing & NGL Recovery (Dehydration, Sweetening, Cryogenic Recovery) (EUALAGAG), Gas Conditioning & Treatment for Industrial Use (Dehydration, Sweetening, NGL Removal) (EUALALAG)

Keywords

• Modular gas-to-liquids
• Fischer-Tropsch synthesis
• Stranded gas conversion
• Synthetic crude production
• Waste-to-liquid fuels

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Modular GTL Plant Sales: Sale and deployment of modular gas-to-liquids plants to oil and gas operators. Plants convert stranded associated gas into synthetic crude oil or diesel at point of production.
2. Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary GTL technology including two-stage FT process. Global license granted to Shell for European Patent 1,567,616.
3. Waste-to-Liquids (WTL) Plants: Future revenue from small-scale modular waste-to-sustainable fuel facilities converting 100-500 tons/day of waste into SAF, diesel, naphtha, and hydrogen.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CompactGTL designs, manufactures and supplies modular Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) plants that convert stranded or associated natural gas into synthetic crude oil or diesel at the point of production. The proprietary process combines feed gas treatment, Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) and a patented two-stage Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis using mini-channel plate-fin reactors, with modules sized as shipping containers no heavier than 30 tonnes. The company also licenses its GTL technology and is extending its modular platform into waste-to-liquid (WTL) plants producing SAF, diesel, naphtha and hydrogen.

Product overview

CompactGTL is the world's leading small-scale modular Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) company offering an end-to-end solution for converting stranded and associated gas into high-value synthetic crude oil or diesel. The core product portfolio consists of proprietary modular GTL Plants incorporating multiple interconnected sub-products: Modular Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) Systems for syngas generation, Two-Stage Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Systems using Mini-Channel Reactors with cobalt catalysts, and optional product upgrading capabilities. The company operates demonstration facilities including the UK Pilot Plant at Wilton (1 bbl/week) and the Commercial Demonstration Plant with Petrobras in Brazil (200,000 scf/d). Recently, CompactGTL has expanded into the Waste-to-Liquid (WTL) market with a modular facility producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel, diesel, naphtha, and hydrogen from waste feedstock (100-500 tons/day capacity).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Modular GTL Plant Proprietary modular Gas-to-Liquids plant that converts stranded or associated natural gas into synthetic crude oil or diesel through feed gas treatment, syngas generation, two-stage Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and optional product upgrading; designed for deployment at remote onshore and offshore oilfield locations and offered to oil and gas operators.
• Waste-to-Liquid (WTL) Facility Integrated small-scale modular waste-to-sustainable fuel facility combining downdraught gasification, synthesis gas clean-up and a Fischer-Tropsch unit to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), diesel, naphtha and optionally hydrogen; targeted at local waste management sites and municipalities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Catalyst life of 3-5 years (vs 1-2 years for single-stage FT systems)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ShellcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2009Global license granted to Shell following opposition hearing in 2009 where process claims of European Patent 1,567,616 were upheld as granted without amendment. Shell withdrew its appeal against this decision. Equivalent patents also granted in numerous key territories.
• Sumitomo Precision ProductscoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive reactor supplier for SMR and FT reactors following long joint development, evaluation and competitive selection process. Developed automated system for catalyst insertion and removal for commercial manufacture and refurbishment of CGTL's SMR reactors.
• PetrobrascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS$45 million commercial demonstration plant at Aracaju, Brazil. Operated by CGTL and Petrobras. Technology approved by Petrobras in November 2011. Primary application for integration with EWT and FPSO facilities. Only small scale GTL company with technology approved by Petrobras.
• Johnson MattheycoreTechnology or IntegrationSupply of process catalysts (cobalt-based FT catalyst) for SMR and FT reactors in demonstration and commercial plants.
• FluorcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering partner providing expertise and experience for commercial plant project execution. CGTL engaging only leading world-class 3rd party licensors for major balance of plant process equipment.
• Bayer Technology ServicessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnology development and testing facilities in Leverkusen, Germany. Multi-reactor testing, consultancy, reactor and process simulations, kinetic modelling support for CGTL technology development.
• StratagemsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLong-standing relationship with IP experts on all IP matters. Protection of intellectual property and Freedom to Operate searches. Conducts regular targeted FTO searches to ensure freedom to operate.
• DNVcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndependent certification body that granted Approval in Principal (AIP) for use of CGTL's modular GTL systems offshore. Critical for FPSO and offshore deployment applications.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Velocys: Develops microchannel Fischer-Tropsch reactors for small-scale gas-to-liquids and waste/biomass-to-SAF, directly overlapping CompactGTL's modular FT technology and target markets.
• Greyrock Energy: Provides modular, small-scale gas-to-liquids systems converting natural gas and flare gas into diesel, competing directly in the stranded/associated gas conversion niche.
• Emerging Fuels Technology: Supplies Fischer-Tropsch catalysts and modular FT plant technology for GTL, BTL and waste-to-fuel, a close technology analog to CompactGTL's FT platform.

Broad incumbents

• Topsoe: Licenses syngas, reforming and Fischer-Tropsch/SAF technologies and catalysts, overlapping with CompactGTL's SMR and FT technology and catalyst domain.
• Sasol: Global leader in large-scale Fischer-Tropsch GTL and coal-to-liquids; overlaps on core FT synthesis chemistry but operates at world-scale rather than modular units.
• Shell: Operates large-scale GTL (Pearl) and holds a license to CompactGTL's FT patent; an incumbent in gas-to-liquids technology and a licensing counterparty.

Emerging players

• Infinium: Produces synthetic fuels via Fischer-Tropsch from CO2 and hydrogen (e-fuels), overlapping in FT-based liquid fuel synthesis and sustainable fuel end markets.
• LanzaJet: Modular technology producer of Sustainable Aviation Fuel from waste and low-carbon feedstocks, comparable to CompactGTL's Waste-to-Liquids/SAF ambitions.
• Fulcrum BioEnergy: Converts municipal solid waste into transportation fuels including SAF via gasification and FT, directly comparable to CompactGTL's WTL facility concept.

Others

• Johnson Matthey: Supplies CompactGTL's FT and SMR catalysts and also licenses its own GTL technology; an ecosystem supplier and adjacent technology provider rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/compactgtl

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CompactGTL