The analysis of methane oxidation in a wide range of pressures (0.05-10 atm) demonstrates that the efficiency of CH3 radicals recombination is of great importance for high selectivity of C-2 hydrocarbons formation. The relative efficiency of different "colliders" assisting the stabilization of exited C2H6* molecules increases in the series : solid surface > Ar > He. The increase of the overall reaction rate upon increasing pressure of the inert gases in the case of catalysts having a higher surface area and more developed pore structure is likely due to the contribution of the surface-induced chain reaction in the volume of pores.