Process for the production of an intermediate Btu gas

A process for the production of an intermediate Btu product gas from a carbonaceous feed material and steam which comprises:

• (a) reacting said steam with said carbonaceous feed material in a reaction zone at a reaction temperature between about 1000.degree. F. and about 1500.degree. F. and at a reaction pressure in excess of about 100 psia, in the presence of a carbon-alkali metal catalyst and sufficient added hydrogen and carbon monoxide to provide substantially equilibrium quantities of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in said reaction zone at said reaction temperature and said reaction pressure;
• (b) withdrawing from said reaction zone an effluent gas containing substantially equilibrium quantities, at said reaction temperature and pressure, of methane, carbon dioxide, steam, hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
• (c) recovering a portion of said effluent gas as said intermediate Btu product gas;
• (d) contacting at least a portion of the remainder of said effluent gas with steam in a steam reforming zone under conditions such that the methane in said effluent gas reacts with said steam to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
• and
• (e) passing the effluent from said steam reforming zone into said reaction zone without substantial cooling, thereby supplying said added hydrogen and carbon monoxide required in said reaction zone and wherein said reforming zone is operated at conditions such that the heat content of said effluent from said steam reforming zone is sufficient to supply substantially all of the heat needed to preheat said carbonaceous feed material to said reaction temperature.