I predict that GTL will become a reality when the catalysts are developed and the new processes come along (like the one developed at Texas A&M) to make small scale GTL profitable.

Then, stranded natural gas wells, coal gas wells, methane from old dumps and even hog lagoon waste will be converted into clean desiel.

To the author: you misunderstand the point of business in the free market. its got nothing to do with “common good.” The point is to protect the investment of the shareholders and further to provide them a return on same.

It’s the job of governments to protect the common good, and it should be common knowledge that the last thing governments are qualified to preserve is an idea of “common good.”

The most efficient and prosperous entities in the world are the independent oil companies, Shell included (no, i dont work for shell).

To regulate and infringe on their ability conduct business would be to bring them down to the same level of inefficiency and under-achievement that governments consider normal.

Lets be honest here…what you really mean by “lets regulate them” is to raise taxes and create more red tape. Your denunciation of “well-paid fat cats” blatantly shows us that you are bitter towards those who have achieved strong financial independence.

Instead of throwing stones at the one industry that has the financial strength to carry the world out of its current economic depression, it might be more constructive to propose ideas for cooperation that are consistent with your idea of what the words energy future should be.