Linear alpha olefins having from four to twenty carbon atoms and low
amounts of oxygenates are synthesized, by producing a synthesis gas
containing H.sub.2 and CO from natural gas and passing it over a
non-shifting cobalt catalyst at reaction conditions of temperature, % CO
conversion, and gas feed H.sub.2 :CO mole ratio land water vapor pressure,
effective for the mathematical expression 200-0.6T+0.03P.sub.H2O
-0.6X.sub.CO -8(H.sub.2 :CO) to have a numerical value greater than or
equal to 50. This process can be integrated into a conventional
Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis process producing fuels and
lubricant oils.
