Process for the production of synthesis gas

A process for producing an oxygenated hydrocarbon or mixtures thereof from a hydrocarbon containing feedstock, which comprises:

• (a) dividing said feedstock into two fractions,
• (b) subjecting the first fraction from (a) to a primary steam reforming reaction, by mixing said fraction with steam and heating the mixture thereof by indirect heat exchange, in the presence of a reforming catalyst, to form a gaseous effluent including hydrogen at a temperature between 650.degree. and 850.degree. C.,
• (c) mixing the gas effluent from (b) with the second fraction from (a),
• (d) reacting in a single stage the gas mixture from (c) with a free oxygen-rich gas, in a secondary reforming reactor operating under essentially adiabatic conditions, and containing a single bed of catalyst, thus producing a synthesis gas at a temperature between 850.degree. and 1250.degree. C., containing a percent methane equivalent of less than one-tenth of that of the gas mixture from (c), and having a Z ratio of between 0.80 and 1.00, where Z is defined as:
• Z=moles H.sub.2 [2(moles CO)+3(moles CO.sub.2)]
• (e) mixing the gas effluent from (d) with a hydrogen-rich stream free from carbon oxides to form a final synthesis gas stream,
• (f) injecting said final synthesis gas into a synthesis loop, forming said oxygenated hydrocarbon or mixtures thereof in said loop, and extracting from said loop a purge gas stream,
• (g) separating said purge gas stream in a physical separation to form a hydrogen-rich gas stream free from carbon oxides and a residual gas stream, and
• (h) recycling at least a portion of said hydrogen-rich gas stream to step (e).