A method for producing a synthesis gas in an oxygen transport membrane based reforming system, the method comprising the steps of: reforming a combined feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon containing feed stream and steam in the presence of heat in a reforming reactor to produce a reformed synthesis gas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and unreformed hydrocarbon gas; feeding the reformed synthesis gas stream to a reactant side of a reactively driven and catalyst containing oxygen transport membrane reactor, wherein the oxygen transport membrane reactor includes at least one oxygen transport membrane element configured to separate oxygen from an oxygen containing stream through oxygen ion transport when subjected to an elevated operational temperature and a difference in oxygen partial pressure across the at least one oxygen transport membrane element; reacting a portion of the reformed synthesis gas stream with oxygen permeated through the at least one oxygen transport membrane element to produce the difference in oxygen partial pressure across the at least one oxygen transport membrane element and generate a steam containing heated reaction product stream and heat; transferring some of the heat generated as a result of the reaction: (i) to the gas in the catalyst containing oxygen transport membrane reactor; (ii) by radiation to the reforming reactor; and (iii) by convection to the oxygen depleted stream; and reforming of the unreformed hydrocarbon gas in the partially reformed synthesis gas stream in the presence of one or more catalysts contained in the oxygen transport membrane reactor and the heat to produce a synthesis gas product stream. reforming a combined feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon containing feed stream and steam in the presence of heat in a reforming reactor to produce a reformed synthesis gas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and unreformed hydrocarbon gas; feeding the reformed synthesis gas stream to a reactant side of a reactively driven and catalyst containing oxygen transport membrane reactor, wherein the oxygen transport membrane reactor includes at least one oxygen transport membrane element configured to separate oxygen from an oxygen containing stream through oxygen ion transport when subjected to an elevated operational temperature and a difference in oxygen partial pressure across the at least one oxygen transport membrane element; reacting a portion of the reformed synthesis gas stream with oxygen permeated through the at least one oxygen transport membrane element to produce the difference in oxygen partial pressure across the at least one oxygen transport membrane element and generate a steam containing heated reaction product stream and heat; transferring some of the heat generated as a result of the reaction: (i) to the gas in the catalyst containing oxygen transport membrane reactor; (ii) by radiation to the reforming reactor; and (iii) by convection to the oxygen depleted stream; and reforming of the unreformed hydrocarbon gas in the partially reformed synthesis gas stream in the presence of one or more catalysts contained in the oxygen transport membrane reactor and the heat to produce a synthesis gas product stream.