Pt/ZrO2, Pt/Al2O3 and Ni/Al2O3 catalysts were found to be active in the temperature range 550-800 degrees C under the conditions for both CO2 reforming and partial oxidation of methane; of those, the Pt/ZrO2 material was found to be least prone to deactivation. Combined CO2 reforming and partial oxidation of methane was used to produce synthesis gas over the Pt/ZrO2 catalyst. Higher yields of synthesis gas were obtained at lower temperatures than would be obtained with CO2 reforming of methane alone. Combining the endothermic carbon dioxide reforming reaction with the exothermic partial oxidation reaction, hot spots in the catalyst bed were reduced significantly. Furthermore, the loss of activity of the catalyst with time on stream decreased with the amount of O-2 added to the feed stream; a small amount of carbon deposition occurred in parts of the catalyst bed which were not exposed to oxygen. The reaction pathway for the partial oxidation and the combined partial oxidation and reforming reactions appeared to be methane combustion followed by reforming of the remainder of the methane by the resultant CO2 and steam.