Process for the catalytic partial oxidation of hydrocarbons

A process for the catalytic partial oxidation of a feedstock selected from the group consisting of methane, natural gas, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof, which process comprises contacting said feedstock and an oxygen-containing gas to prepare a synthesis gas comprising a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen, wherein the feedstock and the oxygen-containing gas are present in amounts to provide an oxygen-to-carbon ratio of from 0.45 to 0.65, with a catalyst comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and mixtures thereof in a reaction zone at a pressure from about 2 to about 100 bar at a temperature in the range from about 1000.degree. C. to about 1200.degree. C. at a gas hourly space velocity in the range of from about 500,000 Nl/l/hr to about 30,000,000 Nl/l/hr, which catalyst is retained in the reaction zone in a fixed arrangement having a tortuosity in the range of from about 1.3 to about 4.0 and having from about 1200 to about 10000 pores per square centimeter.