Fischer-Tropsch was invented in Germany in 1925 and has constantly seen improvement since the first uses in that day. While gasification units typically power the systems today, plasma reformers are a great fit towards a more modular and possibly even semi-mobile state.
Imagine a military convoy transporting in a mobile unit and hooking up to a secure wellhead to run through the reformer and generating valuable diesel fuel - at the theater site. Fewer transports of diesel fuel means less opportunity for roadside improvised explosive devices to cause damage and resulting in fewer casualties to our troops.
The economic value of taking wellhead flare gas which is wasted fuel and processing it into a synthetic fuel is incredibly attractive. With a defined budget, one could logistically find a 12-24 month return on investment. With so much emphasis on the reduction of flaring - especially in North Dakota, one could imagine there is opportunity to eliminate flare, produce a usable fuel and transport it to market by truck and rail.
Copyright CMXI 2019.