Patent ID: 7008967

Claim:
A process for producing synthesis gas, the process including in a gasification stage, gasifying a carbonaceous feedstock in the presence of steam and oxygen and at a temperature below an ash fusion temperature of the carbonaceous feedstock to provide a raw synthesis gas which includes at least H 2 , CO, CH 4 , higher hydrocarbons, tars and solids; feeding the raw synthesis gas, including higher hydrocarbons, tars and solids, to a partial oxidation stage; and in the partial oxidation stage, partially oxidising the CH 4 to produce CO and H 2 and cracking and combusting the tars and higher hydrocarbons by subjecting the raw synthesis gas to partial oxidation in the presence of oxygen thereby to provide an upgraded synthesis gas which is substantially free of heavier hydrocarbons and which includes less CH 4 than the raw synthesis gas.