JOGMEC develops gas-to-liquid technology

Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp. (JOGMEC) and Nippon GTL Technology Research Association announced their success in establishing a Japanese gas-to-liquids (GTL) process. Through chemical reactions, the GTL process allows production of petroleum products like naphtha, kerosene and diesel fuel from natural gas. JOGMEC’s GTL process is different from the technologies developed by Shell and the South African firm Sasol because it uses carbon dioxide as a raw material. GTL also allows natural gas, shale gas and coal bed methane (CBM) to be converted into petroleum products. (January 27, 2012)