NPRA '11: Gas to liquids may rise in US on cheap natgas, high oil

29 March 2011 19:21  [Source: ICIS news]

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ICIS)--Gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology may become more popular in the US if a large spread persists between prices for natural gas and crude oil, a consultant said on Tuesday.

The consultant was Brain Habacivch, senior vice president of Fellon-McCord, an energy consultancy.

Habacivch was speaking at the Petrochemical Forum at the International Petrochemical Conference (IPC), which was held by the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA).

The advent of shale gas has increased natural-gas supplies in the US, causing prices to remain relatively low. Crude oil prices, meanwhile, have remained relatively high.

Under GTL technology, methane is used to produce synthetic fuels and other longer-chained hydrocarbons.

Such a process could be competitive if natural gas prices are much lower than crude-oil prices.

Hosted by the NPRA, the IPC continues through Tuesday.

By: Al Greenwood
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