Gas to Liquids (2011)

Alex Forbes - Chairmans opening remarks "For the gas-to-liquids (GTL) industry, the past decade was one of significant achievements but also one of disappointments. The coming decade, in contrast, looks very promising. Two proprietary technologies have been proven at world scale, and other technology providers are on the threshold of proving their technologies at commercial scale. Market fundamentals look more supportive than ever, with oil prices expected to remain strong and natural gas prices, in some markets at least, looking soft for the foreseeable future. Little wonder, for example, that attention has turned to North America as a potential location for new world-scale GTL plants. As Shell’s Pearl GTL plant ramps up to full production in Qatar, the profitability of GTL will be amply demonstrated. This single project will materially impact the financial and production profiles of one of the world’s largest energy companies. To find out more about the potential of GTL technology, join us later this month at SMi’s GTL conference – one of the industry’s biggest regular gatherings – and experience for yourself the buzz of excitement spreading through the industry."

As the industry looks to the coming decade, the fundamentals are lining up in favour of GTL as never before. Several technologies are now proven at scale, and new small-scale technologies are on their way to fruition. Natural gas is more plentiful – and thus cheaper – than previously expected, thanks to the unconventional-gas revolution, while markets for oil products are expected to tighten. Finally, construction and finance costs have eased from their highs in 2008. For GTL, the future has never looked brighter

Drawing on the previous thirteen years of this conference, this year’s aim is to continue to provide an informative and topical 2 day conference and workshop. Punctuated with GTL plant case studies providing practical examples from industry leaders, as the construction process and technology have developed and extraction begun over the last year.

The conference will focus on the key industry drivers that have arisen over the last year and examine the future energy forecast. Leading industry experts will highlight the key influences in the GTL market such as the price of crude oil and gas price ratio, the current economic climate, plant construction costs, plant operating costs, scale and the resource reservoir. This conference will give an overview of the energy market and the differentials over the next five years, allowing informed decisions to be made on the future of the GTL.

The main focus of 2011’s conference is to examine how GTL plants that are extracting (or close to) and those pioneering new technology are fairing in the current market place, allowing a commercial insight into the market leaders based on their experience and current activities. This will then be complemented by examining the future drivers and challenges expected in the energy market, the economic and commercial angle of GTL, and applications of GTL as a fuel.

The conference gives a complete overview of the supply chain from research and construction through to GTL final application and the future of GTL in the energy market.

Join the discussion with other delegates and industry professionals on the GTL Linkedin group at

CompactGTL's demonstration plant commisioned in Brazil