A detailed kinetic model of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) product distribution based on the CO-insertion mechanism has been derived. The model was developed using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson approach. The intrinsic kinetic parameters were estimated using a set of data obtained in a stirred tank slurry reactor with a rhenium promoted cobalt catalyst over a range of operating conditions (T=478, 493, 503K; P=1.5, 2.5 MPa; H-2/CO= 1.4, 2.1; WHSV= 1.0-22.5 NL/g(cat)/h). Physical meaningfulness of the model and its parameters was verified. Consistent with reported measurements, model predicts that adsorbed CO is the most abundant surface species. The observed increase in the chain growth probability factor and decrease in olefin-to-paraffin ratio with increase in carbon number is explained utilizing the chain length dependent desorption of 1-olefins concept. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.