Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) fuels can be produced from natural gas, coal, and biomass using a Fischer-Tropsch chemical reaction process. The liquids produced include naphtha, diesel, and chemical feedstocks.

For decades, western economies have supported Middle Eastern states that essentially have one product to offer in trade - oil. The world's dependence on Middle Eastern oil is so complete that U.S. foreign policy and our national security are held hostage by the knowledge that if the region becomes unstable to the degree that oil no longer flows, western economies collapse, energy prices skyrocket, and the standard of living of the industrial world plummets. No other common energy source exists in enough quantity or form to replace oil.

The GTL industry can be viewed as an alternative to oil refining. The basic technology of the industry dates back to 1923 when two German scientists, Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch (FT), invented a process that could convert natural gas to a hydrocarbon mixture which could then be upgraded into petroleum products. The FT technology provides an alternative to traditional crude oil refining, as liquid petroleum products, most notably diesel fuel, can be produced from a non-liquid input, natural gas.

The GTL process needs low-cost natural gas, less than $1 per million BTUs, to compete with traditional diesel fuel. Some remote natural gas sources, called "stranded gas," that are not otherwise economically available may be ideally suited to this process, like Alaska.

GTL diesel can be used neat or blended with today's diesel fuel and used in existing diesel engines and infrastructure. These fuels provide an opportunity to reduce dependence on petroleum based fuels and reduce tailpipe emissions. GTL fuel has virtually no sulfur, aromatics, or toxics. It can be blended with non-complying diesel fuel to make the fuel cleaner so it will comply with new diesel fuel standards.

The report looks at the growth factors, challenges and barriers, the concept of using GTL fuel for transportation, the economic feasibility of GTL technologies and GTL projects, the effect of GTL on the energy market, and of course, the basics of Gas to Liquid technologies. A lot more awaits you inside this comprehensive intelligent analysis of GTL technology and market.

The engineering process involved in GTL is a value enhancer to this edition, along with a look at how GTL can reduce emissions in the atmosphere.

An in-depth analysis of all major companies participating actively in GTL developments is also included in the report. Companies included in the report are:

• Cosmo Oil
• Chiyoda Corporation
• GE Energy
• Qatar Petroleum
• Statoil
• Syntroleum
• Shell
• Rentech
• PetroSA
• ExxonMobil
• ConocoPhillips
• Sasol Limited
• Chevron
• BP plc

Company profiles, financial analysis, GTL activities, business segments, and SWOT analyses are all part of this new and updated version of Analyzing Gas to Liquids Market.