Utilization of low BTU natural gas

Claim 1

A process for economic utilization of natural gas having low heating value by reason of containing carbon dioxide in admixture with the methane content thereof, which process comprises subjecting a natural gas having substantial methane content in admixture with at least fifty volume percent of carbon dioxide based on total volume of said gas to the following steps in the sequence recited: (a) mixing said gas with water and reacting the mixture in contact with a catalyst to promote the reforming reaction of methane and water to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen under temperature and pressure conditions conducive of said reforming reaction; (b) reacting the product of step (a) in contact with a catalyst to promote the water gas shift reaction of a portion of the carbon monoxide with water to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen under temperature and pressure conditions conducive of said shift reaction; and (c) reacting the product of step (b), in contact with a carbon monoxide reduction catalyst for promotion of synthesis reaction between carbon dioxide, the unreacted carbon monoxide and hydrogen, to produce methanol or hydrocarbons, which are liquid at normal temperature of 70° F and atmospheric pressure, under conditions of temperature and pressure conducive of said synthesis reaction thereby producing as the product of said synthesis reaction a mixture comprising: (1) said methanol or hydrocarbons which are liquid at normal temperature of 70° F and atmospheric pressure, and (2) a gaseous by-product enriched in carbon dioxide as compared with said natural gas.