Gas to Liquids Production

Currently, the major gas-to-liquids production methods are the Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process and similar processes. The natural gas F-T process can result in lower, but still substantial, greenhouse gas emissions compared with producing liquid fuels from coal; carbon sequestration technologies can mitigate the greenhouse gas impact.

In the F-T process, natural gas is converted into "synthesis gas" and then into liquid fuels. See The Fischer-Tropsch Process to learn how it works.

For decades, the South African company Sasol has supplied much of that country's diesel demand with natural gas- and coal-derived F-T diesel. Sasol and Chevron have formed a joint venture to further advance natural gas F-T fuels. Shell produces F-T diesel from natural gas and markets it as a premium diesel blend in Europe and Thailand. Since the late 1990s, nearly every major oil company announced plans to investigate producing diesel through a gas-to-liquids process.

In the United States, Syntroleum has produced more than 400,000 gallons of natural gas-derived F-T diesel, jet fuel, and naphtha at a demonstration plant. The U.S. Department of energy sponsors research, development, and demonstration of natural gas F-T production and use in vehicles.

For gas-to-liquids production news, see the Green Car Congress Gas-to-Liquids page.