Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : SLH Corp. (SYNM) - From natural gas to crude oil -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: James J. Franklin who wrote (24)	11/23/1997 12:54:00 PM
From: John S. Baker	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281

< But the big difference between Syntroleum and RNTK that I can see is that Syntroleum already has the licensing agreements from some huge oil companies. I don't know about RNTK. < What makes RNTK different and what will their niche be? Are they a "me too" company or do they really have something? < RNTK has a recently-signed agreement with Texaco which may eventualy lead to a licensing agreement. (Texaco in the past had seemed conspicuously absent in discussion of GTL conversions, so thsi may be a "catch-up" on Texaco's part????) My impression of a difference between the two is that RNTK makes a pretty big deal about their success at helping to recover useful (valuable) products from the "negative value" heavy stuff left over in a refinery. No similar discussion from Syntroleum that I've seen. (I follow both stocks but have not invested in either yet.) JSB.

To: James J. Franklin who wrote (24)	3/13/1998 1:05:00 AM
From: John M	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281

James, The key to the Syntroleum process is that it uses air instead of oxygen. This eliminates an oxygen plant from the capital cost. The other real trick is the tremendous amount of heat which is generated by the reaction. This heat can be converted to steam and then electricity or heat for another process. These two aspects of the process are what has attracted the big boys to Sytroleum. The Sasol process has been around for a long time but it costs way too much to install. Exxon, Shell and RNTK use oxygen too. The key to success for this entire venture is the catalyst life. Catalyst should last at least 3 years between changeouts to make sense. Also, catalyst activity needs to stay high throughout the life for economic operations. I will be really happy to see Texaco's commecial plant built. My guess is that if that project is approved, Texaco will have decided that the catalyst issues are resolved and is willing to sink 50 million$ into a plant. Big oil companies don't drop that kind of cash without knowing the answer. I was just surfing through and thought I would pass this along.