Abstract: A safe, environmentally sound method for transporting energy-containing hydrocarbons from a remote natural gas source of hydrocarbons to a local site for further processing or refining. The natural gas is converted at the remote site, using a modified Fischer-Tropsch process, to produce non-volatile, long chain hydrocarbons, i.e., paraffins (C.sub.20 -C.sub.36) at the remote site, transporting the paraffins via rail, ship, or cargo air plane to a local site, and then further processing and/or refining the paraffins via distillation, cracking, or combining with other hydrocarbon feedstocks to produce fuel products at the local site for use.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pacing the application of a manual weld along the weld line generates beeps or light flashes at a rate which can be correlated by the welder with markings along the weld line. As each beep or flash is perceived, the welder should reach the next marking. Spacing between the markings determines the desired rate at which the weld is being applied. Alternatively, sequentially lightable areas are distributed along the weld line and sequentially lit a desired rate. The welder chases the sequence along the weld line to achieve the optimum rate of welding.