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.

Microcap & Penny Stocks : Rentech(RTK) - gas-to-liquids and cleaner fuel -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: J Kurt Bonk who wrote (2353)	3/22/1998 7:23:00 AM
From: TokyoMex	Respond to of 14347

Every one is getting into act.... resounding vote of confidence for GTL ... They don't have it yet but they don't like SLHO either or cobalt... keeps spending millions and millions .. like BP who epent over 375 mill to produce 70 bbpd.. Imagine the intellectual property and patent rights good will valuation on RNTK ,, for having built a plant that produces 330 bbpd.... and also shows how smart TX folks are.... cheaper to pay license to RNTK then spend 300 mill plus and perhaps ,, 5 0 10 years to find out that cobalt is a no no .. Do we have a sure thing or not ? conoco.com Conoco, DuPont blaze their own GTL trail. (gas-to-liquids technology) Barbara Shook 02/12/98 The Oil Daily Page 1 COPYRIGHT 1998 Energy Intelligence Group ÿ Conoco Inc. and its DuPont Co. parent are on a fast track to develop their own proprietary natural gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology. The two companies combined research and development efforts early last year to create their own process for converting natural gas into middle distillates, said Paul J. Grimmer, manager of diversified businesses in Conoco's business development group. If all goes as planned, their pilot plant will be up and running in 1999, followed by a commercial-scale facility within about five years, Grimmer told The Oil Daily. The GTL process converts natural gas into middle distillates such as diesel, naphtha, jet fuel, refinery feedstock and other products. The process is built around conventional air separation and Fischer-Tropsch conversion technologies. Several variations of the process have been developed in recent years. Among the large companies with GTL technologies are Exxon Corp., Royal Dutch/Shell Group and South Africa's Sasol. Two smaller companies with other versions are Syntroleum Inc. of Tulsa, Okla., and Denver-based Rentech Inc., which are licensing their technology to third parties as well as developing their own ventures. The location for the pilot plant has not yet been selected, but it probably will be adjacent to a Conoco refinery at either Ponca City, Okla., or Lake Charles, La., Grimmer said. Conoco had been discussing licensing Syntroleum's technology before deciding to pursue another route, he said. The company elected to call on the resources of parent DuPont, one of the world's leading research and development companies, for its expertise in catalysts, reactors and similar process technology. The two began working together about 11 months ago and already are at the bench-test phase, Grimmer said. He would disclose few details of their efforts, saying that all the necessary patents have not been granted. "We're not prepared to say we've got the answer yet," Grimmer said. The economics of the Conoco-DuPont process are based on 50 cents/Mcf gas and current market oil prices. He added, "We won't develop a process that takes $25 oil." He also acknowledged that Conoco and DuPont are benefiting from earlier research done by others. He estimated that after the pilot plant is built, their investment will be about $100 million. By comparison, Exxon said last fall that it has put more than $250 million into its technology, Advanced Gas Conversion for the 21st Century. Shell has invested more than $1 billion in developing what it calls Middle Distillates Synthesis and building a 12,500 b/d plant at Bintulu, Malaysia. The plant is no longer operating following a Christmas Day explosion. The GTL project marks Conoco's return to upstream technology development, Grimmer noted. In recent years, the company has been a user of technology supplied by others. He cited another significant achievement from a corporate perspective. The joint GTL project represents the first time since their 1981 merger that Conoco and DuPont have combined their research and development efforts.