ADNOC Gas explores tech to turn methane into graphene, hydrogen

ADNOC Gas, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) business of ADNOC Group, has teamed up with Baker Hughes to install Levidian’s LOOP technology at the Habshan Gas Processing Plant, marking the first deployment of the technology at an operational gas processing site.

The innovative technology will capture carbon from methane, the main constituent of natural gas, and transform it into graphene and hydrogen.

“The LOOP unit is capable of producing more than 1 tonne per annum (tpa) of graphene and one tpa of hydrogen, making it a dual-purpose innovation aligned with global energy transition goals,” ADNOC Gas said in a statement.

Data collected during the pilot project will be used to refine the ongoing development of AI modelling and digital twins to minimise energy consumption and maximise graphene output from future installations. ADNOC Gas forecasted that future industrial-scale installations will deliver 15 tpa.

“The deployment of LOOP technology is a significant milestone for ADNOC Gas. By transforming methane into valuable graphene and clean hydrogen, we are unlocking new value from natural gas, driving decarbonisation and supporting the UAE’s industrial growth and climate ambitions,” said Mohamed Al Hashemi, chief operations officer of ADNOC Gas.

The company’s technology team will evaluate and use the graphene produced at the Habshan complex to explore possible applications.

Graphene has the potential to be used across industries, from enhancing the performance of electric vehicle batteries and solar panels to creating stronger, more durable materials such as concrete, tyres, and polymer pipes.

ADNOC Gas recently awarded three contracts worth about $2.1bn for an LNG pre-conditioning plant (LPP), compression facilities and transmission pipelines to supply feedstock to the Ruwais LNG Project.

The contracts are part of the $15bn CAPEX that ADNOC Gas plans to invest through 2029.

The Ruwais LNG plant will more than double ADNOC’s current 6 mtpa LNG capacity to over 15 mtpa. It will leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovative technologies to enhance safety, minimise emissions, and drive efficiency.

The facility, currently under development in Abu Dhabi, will be the first LNG export facility in the Middle East and North Africa region to run on clean power. When completed, it is expected to consist of two 4.8 million mtpa LNG liquefaction trains with a total capacity of 9.6 mtpa.

Meanwhile, ADNOC’s board of directors increased the company’s budget allocation for decarbonisation projects, technologies and lower-carbon solutions to a record $23bn (Dhs84.4bn), up from $15bn in January 2024.

The state-owned energy giant accelerated its decarbonisation strategy in July 2023, advancing its net zero carbon emissions target by five years to 2045 and aiming to achieve zero methane emissions by 2030.

Read: ADNOC Gas invests $2.1bn to advance LNG supply infrastructure