Despite the relative success of Qatar’s two gas-to-liquids (GTL) plants, large-scale GTL isn’t making significant inroads on a global scale.

At the end of 2013, Shell abandoned plans to build a 140,000 b/d, $20bn GTL facility in Louisiana on the US Gulf Coast. “GTL is not a viable option for Shell in North America, at this time, due to the likely development cost of such a project, uncertainties on long-term oil and gas prices and differentials, and Shell’s strict capital discipline,” the company said at the time. (CONTINUED - 965 WORDS)