Air Force Tests Synthetic Fuel in N.D.

Implications: AP reported this morning http://www.nytimes/aponline/us/AP-Bomber-Fuel-Tests.html? the successful cold weather ground testing of GTL fuel produced from natural gas.  The synfuel produced from natural gas performed as well as JP-8 and may have performance advantages.



Analysis: The military, and in particular the Air Force, has to be an energy secure and independent for all unforeseen global conflicts in the future.

While the consumer world will settle on a bundle of alternate energy options based on economics and internal politics, the military is following systematically a sound path of success for the worst case of international fuel supply interruptions: synfuels from natural gas and coal.

DOD, DOE, ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Sasol and Syntroleum are the main players interested to move forward with large scale production plants. Military synfuel contracts are the vehicle for immediate action.

The clean burning synfuels could also improve reliability and performance of aerospace and industrial micro turbines requiring tight clearances and clean surfaces.

It is noteworthy that the synfuel test was conducted in North Dakota where the only successful DEO (ERDA) synfuel plant is in operation since about 1984. The plant belongs now to Great Plains Synfuels. It is a polygeneration plant, economically producing SNG and petrochemicals from coal. It is also delivering CO2 for EOR to Canada.