Tim, hello.
Adding to JQP's note, there are a couple of companies which are currently using this technology, one of which is Syntroleum (I forget the other). Both use Fischer-Tropsch technology. South Africa actually has a small refinery turning this stuff out, others have been proposed in Australia, Trinidad, and Malaysia.
The technology got its start with the Nazis but has never taken hold because it is expensive toi build and run. Cheap oil has been the obstacle to overcome in the past, but now expensive natural gas (the feedstock) is putting the obstacle up front.
Because of the high front-end expense of natural gas infrastructure - whether it's methanol, LNG, plastics, or fertiliser (ammonia) production - I suspect it will be a long time before anyone again seriously considers GTL, unless unless in the context of a niche market for no-sulfur fuels (diesel and Jet-A), which are their specialty.
Good Luck,
Aggie |
