A subsidiary of Global Engineering and Construction Group (Foster Wheeler) has been awarded a contract by Sasol to perform the technical portion of a feasibility study for a planned gas-to-liquids facility in Canada, on behalf of the Sasol/Talisman Energy partnership. The GTL facility should be based on the Farrell Creek gas reserves in the Montney shale area. A ‘base case’ for a 48 000 bbl/d GTL plant has been determined, but it is understood that the partners are also assessing an option for a 96 000 bbl/d plant. The technical portion of the feasibility study is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2011. The facility would convert shale gas to GTL naphtha, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas using Sasol's GTL technology. As well as the technical work on the feasibility study, Foster Wheeler will also develop a cost estimate to allow the partners in the joint venture (Sasol and Talisman Energy) to assess the economic viability of the planned facility, with a decision expected in the second half of 2012.