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To: Esoteric1 who wrote (62832)	4/20/2006 8:49:35 AM
From: Esoteric1	Respond to of 206089

PENTAGON EYES SYNFUELS AS PERMANENT PART OF GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN Defense Environment Alert April 18, 2006 A Pentagon advanced fuels initiative sees synthetic fuels (synfuels) becoming an integral part of both the domestic and global transportation fuel supply in the next five years, with the Defense Department scrambling to examine the hurdles in using these ultra-clean Fischer Tropsch fuels in fleets, according to informed military sources. Some experts suggest a new diesel standard that would incorporate Fischer Tropsch -- a trend that observers say will begin in Europe before hitting the states. The military has been examining global trends in synthetic fuel availability to plot a course toward greater incorporation of the clean fuels to reduce dependence on petroleum and improve fuel logistics, according to expert military sources. DOD sees increased use of Fischer Tropsch as part of a move toward a universal fuel type that would reduce the logistics pressure of using more than one fuel type. This transition eyes fuels that burn more efficiently in new generation diesel engines, these sources say. Fischer Tropsch, a name for clean synthetic fuel produced from gasified coal, biomass or other sources, would also outweigh biofuels in terms of power. But some environmentalists have expressed concern about the potential effects of increased coal-mining and questioned the Fischer Tropsch process's environmental benefits. One factor seen driving increased military interest in gas-to-liquids technologies -- that produce the clean-burning Fischer Tropsch fuels --is the emergence of the nation of Qatar in the Arabian Gulf as the world's leading natural gas producer, say these sources. Qatar is also home to U.S. Central Command in the Mideast. Qatar has drawn global commercial interest to develop its gas resources, with many of the major oil companies looking to develop synthetic fuel operations in the country. Several facilities are expected to come online by 2010 that will be producing nearly 130,000 barrels/day of synthetic fuels. Chevron has invested $6 billion in a gas-to-liquids facility in Qatar in a joint venture with Sasol, the South African petro-chemical group. ExxonMobil, Marathon and ConocoPhillips have also invested in sizable projects. This is a factor that military clean fuels proponents see moving more synthetic fuels into the market -- and with that the military wants to understand how it will affect engine power and performance. DOD's fuels initiative seeks to devise ways to blend the gas-to-liquids fuels with JP-5 and JP-8 jet propulsion fuels, seen as the building blocks towards the development of a universal fuel type, according to DOD. A gas-to-liquids process would ultimately lead to cleaner, low-sulfur versions of JP-8 that the military would use in land vehicles and aircraft. Evaluating Fischer Tropsch is less a geopolitical challenge than a technology-based one, says one well-placed military source. Qatar is a starting point in a trend toward greater manufacturing of clean synthetic fuels and expanded use. But it is a "technical phenomenon, rather than geopolitical," the source says. Growing interest in coal-to-liquids, even biomass-to-liquids, technologies within the U.S. and Europe is another principal factor in a military fuels strategy that sees Fischer Tropsch as the best way to promote alternatives to oils and biofuels. Fischer Tropsch fuels "will find their way into the market, whether we are prepared or not," the source says. This has led DOD to begin examining the hurdles in using the clean-burning fuels in diesel trucks. Problems would most likely arise when using the fuel in older vehicles, which expert sources say make up a significant portion of the military's fleet. Problems arise even in new generation engines, however, when clean-burning fuels are introduced, causing seals, for instance, to shrink and cause leaks. Also, with Fischer Tropsch fuels, lubricity is lost, leading to possible fuel pump failures. If the military prioritizes its defense fuels initiative with increased funding then a Fischer Tropsch fuel introduction plan could be five years away, say sources. To date, the Pentagon has not moved to make the Defense Assured Fuels Initiative an official program with the budget necessary to expedite the evaluation and implementation process, these sources say, despite lobbying among military clean fuels proponents. In the meantime, DOD advanced fuel experts are directing their attention to the rapid development and introduction of synthetic fuels in Europe, say these sources. New movement on the part of the Shell Oil Company mixing its synthetic stock from plants in Malaysia with diesel in Europe has peaked DOD interest that a new fuel type has arrived and the U.S. may be behind in its preparation to adapt to it, sources contend. Right now, the best way to negotiate the potential increase in "synfuels" is to think in terms of blends, according to experts. The military is thinking about a 50-percent Fischer Tropsch diesel blend (50 percent FT, 50 percent regular diesel). Using a blend takes the pressure off the military having to compensate for lubricity and engine performance problems in deploying a 100-percent Fischer Tropsch fuel. Using something like a 50-50 blend would seem to solve a lot of their problems. One obvious benefit of using a 50 percent blend would be not having to maintain two separate fueling pumps, say sources -- something that moves in line with the Pentagon's concern over fuel logistics and development of a universal fuel for the military. ragingbull.lycos.com