GENERAL
CORPORATIONS
DOE to Commission Study on IGCC World Market Potential ....1
Syntroleum to Seek Certification of New Synthetic Fuels ....1
Freedonia Sees U.S. Demand for Fuel Additives Growing at 10 Percent Rate ....2
Gasification Council Challenges RCRA Regulation of Syngas ....2
ENERGY POLICY & FORECASTS
GAO Concludes Alternative Fuel Use in 2010 Will Be Only 3.4 Percent ....5
ECONOMICS
Economic and Environmental Benefits Seen for Coproduction Using IGCC ....7
TECHNOLOGY
Proton-Conducting Membranes Being Developed for Hydrogen Separation ....10
Oxygenates Reduce Diesel Particulate Emissions ....11
Dimethoxy Methane Reduces Light-Duty Diesel Particulates Emissions ....13
Hydrocarbon Synthesized From Dimethyl Ether ....13
Route Found for Upgrading Biomass Flash Pyrolysis Liquids to Gasoline ....14
Phase-Change Gasifier for Biomass Developed ....15
INTERNATIONAL
CSIRO Concept for Sustainable Energy Combines Solar/Fossil Systems ....16
ENVIRONMENT
Hybrid Collector Provides New Concept for Air Toxics and Fine-Particle Control ....17
Long-Term Study Under Way on Ocean Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide ....20
COMING EVENTS ....23
OIL SHALE
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Large Power Line Approved for Shell’s In Site Field Experiments ....25
Stuart Project Reaches 60 Percent Completion in October ....25
Stuart Project May Sell Iron Ore as Oil Shale Byproduct ....25
CORPORATIONS
Airport Runway Using Shale Oil Asphalt Proves Faulty ....26
GOVERNMENT
Methane From White River Mine Shaft Deemed Public Hazard ....26
ECONOMICS
Integrated Oil Shale Processing Shows Promise in Israel ....27
TECHNOLOGY
Hydrocracking of Hydrotreated Israeli Shale Oil Gives Full Conversion to Motor Fuels ....31
Oxidation Studies Confirm That Silicate Minerals Catalyze Decomposition of Shale Oil ....37
Increased Temperature and Heating Rate Improves Conversion of U.S. and Turkish Oil Shales ....37
INTERNATIONAL
Petrobras Producing Asphalt Additives From Shale Oil ....39
ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Mitigation Approach Developed for Stuart Project ....39
OIL SANDS
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Shell Canada Commissions Pilot Plant for C$3.4 Billion Muskeg River Project ....42
Suncor Posts Best-Ever Second Quarter ....43
Suncor Celebrates Opening of New Steepbank Mine ....43
Addition to Suncor Upgrader Brings Capacity to 115,000 Barrels per Day ....45
Syncrude Coker Shutdown Interrupts Record-Setting Run ....45
Syncrude Reports Excellent First Half, Moves Forward With Upgrader Expansion ....46
CORPORATIONS
PanCanadian Reorganizes ....47
ENERGY POLICY & FORECASTS
More Bitumen Upgrading Capacity Needed in Canada ....48
TECHNOLOGY
Bitumen Could Be Upgraded On-Site By Reaction With Supercritical Water ....49
Methane Provides Hydrogen for Upgrading of Extra-Heavy Crude ....51
Bitumen Coking Depends on Film Thickness ....52
Alberta Heavy Oils Upgraded By Superacid-Catalyzed Hydrocracking ....53
INTERNATIONAL
Orimulsion-Fueled Plant Wins "1998 Powerplant of the Year" Award ....54
Horizontal Wells Will Aid Thermal Recovery of Heavy Oil In China ....55
RESOURCE
China’s Heavy Oil and Tar Sands Resources are Widespread ....58
COAL
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Sasol Production Up But Profits Down ....60
KFx Makes Product Shipments ....65
Rosebud SynCoal Gets 6-Month Extension ....65
Continuation and Completion of Self-Scrubbing Coal Project Approved ....66
First SAS Reactor Successfully Commissioned ....66
Dakota Gasification Re-Examining Commitment to Sell Carbon Dioxide ....66
CORPORATIONS
SGI Terminates Tek-Kol Agreement, Moves Forward With Mitsubishi ....67
Covol Counts 24 Briquetting Units In Operation ....67
Antaeus Energy Building CTC/CLC Formcoke Plant ....68
KFx Strengthens Management at New Power Solution Subsidiary ....69
GOVERNMENT
DOE Awards Nine Research Grants for Producing Clean Fuels From Coal ....69
OCDO Announces Clean Coal Technology Grants and New Solicitation ....71
ENERGY POLICY & FORECASTS
Lawson Sees Continuing Consolidation of Coal Industry ....73
Coal: Is There a Clean, Safe Future? ....75
TECHNOLOGY
Emissions From Coal-Derived Diesel Fuel No Greater Than From Petroleum ....78
New Carbon Fines Process Developed ....80
Donor Solvent Not Needed for Coliquefaction of Coal and Plastics ....80
Cerium-Based Hot-Gas Sorbent Yields Sulfur Directly ....81
Copper Oxide and Potassium Carbonate Convert Coal to Mostly Benzene ....83
Solvent-Free Liquefaction Accomplished With Catalyst Supported On Carbon Nanoparticles ....84
Hydrogen Atoms Favored for Coal Pyrolysis ....86
INTERNATIONAL
Australia-Japan Joint Project to Develop Ultra-Clean Coal ....88
RESOURCE
U.S. Coal Production Tops 1 Billion Tons for Fourth Year ....88
NATURAL GAS
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Venezuela’s Metor Methanol Plant to Double Capacity ....90
CORPORATIONS
SLH Merged Into Syntroleum ....90
Rentech Announces Agreements With Texaco and Thermal Conversion Corporation ....91
Syntroleum and Marathon Develop Low-BTU Combustion Technology for GTL Plants ....92
ENERGY POLICY & FORECASTS
GRI Baseline Forecast Sees Low Prices, Higher Natural Gas Demand ....92
Decade of High Demand Ahead for Syngas ....93
Return to Synthetic Fuels Report
Return to J.E. Sinor Consultants homepage