GENERAL
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Schwarz Pumpe Plant to Add BGL Gasifier ....1-1
Startup of Shell Pernis Residue Gasification Plant Described ....1-5
CORPORATIONS
General Motors and British Petroleum Sign Up for Action Against Global Warming ....1-8
ENERGY POLICY & FORECASTS
"Optimist" Predicts World Oil Demand Will Outstrip Production in 2020 ....1-9
Shell Outlook for 2050 Sees Big Contribution From Renewables ....1-11
New Forecasting Methodology Predicts High Growth Rate for Energy in Developing Countries ....1-14
ECONOMICS
Bechtel Observes That Technology is Lowering the Cost of Synthetic Fuels ....1-16
Gas de France Study Finds Natural Gas Best for Stationary Fuel Cells ....1-17
Gasification in Molten Metal Yields Power From Wood Wastes ....1-21
Gasification-Based Direct Iron Reduction Looks Competitive at High Gas Prices ....1-25
Are Solid Oxide Fuel Cells the Key to Profitable Renewable Energy? ....1-28
TECHNOLOGY
Gasification Seen as Most Important Technology for Limiting CO2 Emissions ....1-29
Biogas-Fueled Fuel Cell Powerplant Demonstrated ....1-31
Atmospheric Fluidized-Bed Gasification of Switchgrass Yields 85 Percent Conversion ....1-32
Dimethoxy Methane as Diesel Fuel Additive Reduces Mass PM Emissions ....1-34
F-T Technology Seen as Key to Transport Fuels From Coal, Gas and Other Feedstocks ....1-37
Brightstar Synfuels Gasifier Ready for Biomass Fuel and Power Projects ....1-39
Progress in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Noted at Jet Propulsion Laboratory ....1-41
Maximum Benefit of F-T Diesel Fuels May Require Engine Modifications ....1-43
Edison Technology Solutions Announces Development of Small-Scale Hybrid Powerplant ....1-45
INTERNATIONAL
Gasification of Refinery Residues to Lead the Way for IGCC in India ....1-46
Fluidized-Bed Gasifier Tested on Pelletized Sugarcane Bagasse in Brazil ....1-49
ENVIRONMENT
Health Canada Reviews Toxicology of Synthetic Fuels ....1-51
GAO Questions Results of Five-Lab Study on Controlling Carbon Emissions ....1-53
Health Effects Institute Launches New Particulate Matter Studies ....1-56
COMING EVENTS ....1-58
OIL SHALE
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
SPP/CPM and Suncor Take Preliminary Steps on Stuart Stage 2 ....2-1
CORPORATIONS
New Paraho Again Facing Possible Liquidation ....2-1
Ramex Synfuels Continues In Situ Shale Gasification Efforts ....2-2
GOVERNMENT
Privatization of Estonian Oil Shale Industry Draws Closer ....2-4
TECHNOLOGY
Molecular Motion of Polymethylene Detected in Kerogen From Stuart Oil Shale ....2-5
Can Shale Oil be Denitrogenated by Removing Pyrroles? ....2-6
INTERNATIONAL
High-Sulfur Oil Shale of Russia Could be Economical Source of Non-Fuel Products ....2-7
ENVIRONMENT
Stuart Project Addresses Global Climate Change ....2-11
STATUS OF OIL SHALE PROJECTS ....2-14
INDEX OF COMPANY INTERESTS ....2-28
OIL SANDS
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Crown Energy Expects Asphalt Ridge Project to Run at 100,000 Tons per Year in 1999 ....3-1
Petrozuata, First Orinoco Joint Venture, Starts Up With Big Cost Overrun ....3-1
Petrolera Ameriven to Produce 215,000 Barrels per Day of Heavy Crude ....3-3
Sincor’s Orinoco Tar Belt Facility Under Construction ....3-4
Cerro Negro Project in Venezuela’s Orinoco Tar Belt Coming in On Budget ....3-4
Suncor, Syncrude Production Records Updated ....3-5
CORPORATIONS
Florida Power and Light Abandons Effort to Burn Orimulsion ....3-6
GOVERNMENT
Oil Sands Orders and Approvals Listed ....3-7
Oil Sands Supplied 34 Percent of Alberta Crude Oil in 1997 ....3-7
ENERGY POLICY & FORECASTS
U.S. Leads in Heavy Crude Processing ....3-7
ECONOMICS
Separation and Gasification of Asphaltenes Economically Attractive to Upgrading Heavy Oils ....3-11
TECHNOLOGY
Emissions From Oil Sands Diesel Fuel Compared to Petroleum Diesel ....3-15
Hydrogen Generated In Situ Upgrades Heavy Oil/Bitumen Emulsions ....3-16
Additives Reduce Viscosity of Extra-Heavy Crudes ....3-17
INTERNATIONAL
Venezuela Will Rely on Orinoco Belt to Double Hydrocarbon Output By 2007 ....3-19
Tatarstan Bitumen Deposits Promising for the Future ....3-20
Orimulsion Continues to Draw International Interest ....3-23
ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Concerns Driving Technology Development for Orinoco Products ....3-24
RESOURCE
Status of U.S. Heavy Oil and Tar Sand Resources Updated ....3-27
STATUS OF OIL SANDS PROJECTS ....3-30
INDEX OF COMPANY INTERESTS ....3-48
COAL
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
New 100-TPD Flash Pyrolysis Pilot Plant to Start Up This Year in Japan ....4-1
KFx Reports Most Problems Solved at K-Fuel Plant ....4-2
Duke Energy Considering Coal Gasification Repowering Project Near St. Louis ....4-3
Puertollano IGCC in Full Startup Phase ....4-3
Liquid Phase Methanol Plant Achieving 99 Percent Availability ....4-5
Wabash River Gasifier Could Be Shut Down ....4-7
CORPORATIONS
Sasol Approves $255 Million Chemicals Expansion at Secunda ....4-7
Twenty-Four Briquetting Facilities are Based on Technology From Covol Technologies ....4-8
GOVERNMENT
DOE Will Fund Coproduction Studies ....4-9
DOE Seeks Innovative Options in 20th University Coal Research Competition ....4-9
ECONOMICS
Parsons Sees IGCC Capital Cost Nearing $1,000/Kilowatt for Advanced Gasifier Design ....4-10
Economic Simulation Shows Advantage for Advanced Hot-Gas Desulfurization Process ....4-13
Shenhua Liquefaction Plant Could Yield 23 Percent Return ....4-16
TECHNOLOGY
New Design Developed for Koppers Totzek Gasifiers in South Africa ....4-18
Calderon Cokemaking Process Makes Coke Plus Syngas ....4-21
Methanol/DME Seen as Best Chemicals for Peak Shaving in IGCC Powerplants ....4-24
Tars From Subcritical Extraction of Coal Catalytically Desulfurized ....4-28
EERC High-Temperature, High-Pressure Transport Gasifier to Test Other Fuels ....4-30
INTERNATIONAL
Air Blown Gasification Cycle Slated for Commercialization in the UK ....4-32
Feasibility Study Shows Underground Gasification Could Be Economic in Thailand ....4-37
Texaco Gasifier Studied for 400-MW IGCC Plant in the UK ....4-40
Spanish UCG Trial Demonstrates 60 Percent Conversion ....4-40
STATUS OF COAL PROJECTS ....4-46
INDEX OF COMPANY INTERESTS ....4-86
NATURAL GAS
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Mossgas Extends Plant Life With Deal for New Gas Supply ....5-1
CORPORATIONS
Rentech Moves GTL Test Facility to Denver ....5-1
ECONOMICS
Amoco Computes Gas-To-Liquids Will Be Attractive at $18 Oil Prices ....5-1
TECHNOLOGY
Shell F-T Synthetic Diesel Fuel Reduces All Truck Emissions ....5-5
Russian Pyrolysis Process Converts Gas to Liquids ....5-8
DME-Diesel Blend Achieves 30 Percent PM Reduction ....5-10
Ignition System Redesign Improves Performance of DME in Diesel Engine ....5-12
DME-Propane Blends Yield Low PM Emissions ....5-13
STATUS OF NATURAL GAS PROJECTS ....5-17
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