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afrol News, 19 April - The Atlantic Methanol Production Company reports that it has shut down its methanol plant in Equatorial Guinea on 30 March "in order to replace certain materials used in the construction of the steam reformer." The plant shutdown is expected to reduce average gas production from the Alba field during the second quarter of 2002 by approximately 22 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. Noble Affiliates Inc., which has a 45 percent share in the Atlantic Methanol Production Company (AMPCO), published a release yesterday to inform about the shutdown of its methanol plant in Equatorial Guinea on 30 March, almost three weeks ago. It was estimated that the plant would be down for a period of approximately 60 days, "with an anticipated startup in early June," Noble informs. Prior to shutdown the plant was producing approximately 2,650 tons per day. Noble however assures that "AMPCO has made arrangements to ensure that their customers will not experience any supply interruptions." The methanol plant shutdown was expected to reduce Noble's average gas production from the Equatoguinean offshore Alba field. Noble has been actively engaged in exploration, exploitation and development of oil and gas properties offshore Equatorial Guinea since 1990, according to the web site of AMPCO.
The primary offshore Equatorial Guinea production is from the Alba field, which began producing in 1991 and at the end of 2000 was producing approximately 9,000 barrels of condensate per day and approximately 100 million cubic feet of gas per day. "The gas has been flared due to a lack of a market," AMPCO notes. - In 1998 the company decided to monetize the gas by constructing a methanol plant, according to the company's presentation. "The methanol facility should be the one of the most cost efficient methanol plants in the world." Approximately one-half of the gas production from the Alba field - which is projected to reach 250 million cubic feet per day - is to be sold to the methanol plant. Sources: Based on Noble and afrol archives
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