HOUSTON, TX -- (Marketwire) -- 03/13/13 -- From its 2013 natural gas conversion survey, Houston-based Zeus Development Corporation has identified 24 projects in North America where developers have announced plans to convert gas chemically into one of six slates of products: methanol and gasoline (8 projects), nitrogenous fertilizers (6 projects), Fischer-Tropsch premium fuels (6 projects), direct-reduced iron (2 projects), syncrude (1 project), and ethanol (1 project).

The combined capital cost of the projects is estimated to approach US$60 billion. A summary inventory can be downloaded from http://www.zeusintel.com/Research/GTLNA.aspx.

"These are just the projects that have been announced publicly," said Chris Cothran, energy analyst at Zeus Development Corporation. "Many more are under evaluation, but remain confidential."

An abundance of shale gas in North America, estimated to exceed four quadrillion cubic feet of reserves, is attracting gas-conversion industries back to the U.S. and Canada. Developers such as Agrium Inc., Nucor and Royal Dutch Shell intend to bring processes that they have perfected overseas to gas-rich, industrial locations like Alberta, Louisiana and Texas. Some, like Methanex, the world's largest methanol manufacturer, even intend to relocate established plants to North America. See http://goo.gl/xMm3i.

"The most investment capital we believe will be spent to build plants to convert natural gas into premium liquid fuels," Cothran said. "Two processes: one known as Fischer-Tropsch and the other from ExxonMobil, which converts natural gas to gasoline via methanol, represent 75% of the total US$60 billion investment."

To examine this trend, Zeus will host the GTL North America conference at the Houston Magnolia Hotel, June 5-6. Speakers will profile key projects, technologies and processes. Among the organizations scheduled to present are Air Liquide, Apache, CompactGTL, Emberclear, ExxonMobil, Gas-2 Ltd., Hatch, Johnson Matthey, KiOR Inc., LanzaTech, Midrex, Potash Corp, the State of Louisiana, Velocys, and XTL & DME Institute.

A one-day seminar on June 4 will discuss investment opportunities for North American gas conversion opportunities. Presentations from a number of public and private enterprises will be included: American Power Group, Inc., Dougherty & Company, GTL Solutions, Hoopes Transport, McKinsey & Company, and Prometheus Energy, among others. More information can be obtained online at www.zeusintel.com/gtlna2013 or by calling FehYee Siow at 713-952-9500.