Patent ID: 7087652

Claim:
A process for the production of hydrocarbons by the Fischer-Tropsch reaction comprising a. subjecting a mixture of a gaseous desulphurised hydrocarbon feedstock and steam to steam reforming by: i. passing the mixture over a catalyst disposed in heated tubes in a heat exchange reformer, ii. subjecting the resultant primary reformed gas to secondary reforming by partially combusting the primary reformed gas with oxygen provided by an oxygen-rich gas comprising >90% oxygen and bringing the resultant partially combusted gas towards equilibrium over a secondary reforming catalyst, and iii. using the resultant secondary reformed gas to heat the tubes of the heat exchange reformer, thereby producing a partially cooled reformed gas, b. further cooling the partially cooled reformed gas to below the dew point of the steam therein to condense water and separating condensed water to give a de-watered synthesis gas, c. passing said de-watered synthesis gas through a hydrocarbon synthesis reaction to form a reaction products stream, d. separating at least a part of said reaction products stream into a hydrocarbons product stream and a tail gas stream, e. combusting at least a part of said tail gas to produce a combustion gas, and f. using said combustion gas to drive a turbine, thereby to produce power from said turbine.