Resumen del autor, extraído del trabajo. Most of the world's Natural Gas resources are remote from the market and their exploitation is constrained by factors such as transportation costs and market outlets. To increase the economic utilisation of Natural Gas, techniques other than pipeline transmission or LNG shipment have been developed. Chemical conversion (liquefaction) of gas to make gas transportable as a liquid and add value to the products is now a proven technology. The Shell Middle Distillate Synthesis (SMDS) process is well known as Shell's contribution to this novel way of gas utilisation and is applied in the Malaysian SMDS plant at Bintulu. Lessons learned and further advances in R&D will be reported, highlighting our breakthrough in multitubular GtL reactor technology and catalysis. A considerable reduction in investment level resulted from these efforts for large scale, green field projects. Thorough product marketing and a financially strong alliance are further requisites for the success of a new large scale GtL project. It is the unique combination of proven commercial GtL technology, extensive operational experience and product know how in GtL, together with financial strength, which puts Shell right at the leading front of commercial GtL.