Thursday, March 28, 2013

Gas-to-Liquids Potential of the U.S. Uncertain

The U.S. is exploring the potential of monetizing its copious shale gas supplies by converting them to petroleum distillates through the gas-to-liquids (GTL) process. My recent article published with Oilprice examines the promise and challenges of GTL's commercial application in the U.S. in light of an interest from South African energy company Sasol to build the second-largest GTL plant in Louisiana. The article argues that the high cost of the GTL technology, volatile oil and gas prices as well as carbon emissions from GTL plants will meet stronger resistance in the U.S. than compared to Qatar, which is now a leading GTL produer in the world. Here is a link to the full article.