Conversion of a lower alkane

A method for converting at least one feedstock alkane containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms to more valuable, heavier hydrocarbons, comprising:

• (a) contacting the feedstock alkane containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms with an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor in the presence of an oxidative coupling catalyst at a temperature in the range of from about 600.degree. C. to about 1,000.degree. C., to thereby produce a gaseous mixture comprising any remaining unreacted feedstock alkane and oxygen and saturated and unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon products having higher molecular weights than the feedstock alkane from which they were formed, wherein the oxidative coupling catalyst comprises silica free of a reducible metal compound and having a surface area of from about 5 m.sup.2 /gm to about 175 m.sup.2 /gm and
• (b) contacting the resulting gaseous mixture with an oligomerization catalyst under aromatization conditions to thereby produce a gaseous mixture comprising any remaining unreacted feedstock alkane and oxygen and an aromatic product and a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon product having a higher molecular weight than the feedstock alkane from which it was produced, wherein the oligomerization catalyst comprises a solid having acidic sites and comprising a molecular sieve, a pillared smectite or vermiculite clay or a combination thereof, or a combination thereof with an amorphous refractory inorganic oxide.