PROCEDE DE PRODUCTION DU METHANE

Process for the production of a methane-rich gas stream from a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock with all steps being carried out at or slightly above the desired pressure of delivery. Effluent gas from a free-flow partial-oxidation synthesis-gas generator, and preferably containing from about 10-26 volume percent methane on a dry basis is reacted with steam and without a catalyst at a temperature in the range of 2,800 to 1,500 DEG F. to produce a stream of shifted gases having a mole ratio H2/CO in the range of 1.5 to 4 and preferably about 3. The shifted gases are then processed by the steps of scrubbing with a liquid hydrocarbon to recover particulate carbon, cooling to condense out water and volatile hydrocarbons, purifying by eliminating H2S and CO2 in a separation zone, and catalytically reacting the remaining H2 and CO in the process gas stream to produce a process gas stream comprising at least 45 volume percent methane on a dry basis.