Method of preparing and introducing fuel into the combustors of a gas
turbine in which a hydrocarbon containing feed, oxygen and steam are
introduced into a catalytic partial oxidation reactor to produce a
product stream. The hydrocarbon containing feed contains no less than
about 15 percent by volume on a dry basis of hydrocarbons with at least
two carbon atoms and/or at least about 3 percent by volume of olefins.
The reactant mixture formed of the hydrocarbon containing feed, oxygen
and steam has an oxygen to carbon ratio of between about 0.08 and about
0.25 and a water to carbon ratio of between about 0.05 to about 0.5. The
hydrocarbon containing feed is introduced into the reactor alone or with
a steam at a temperature no greater than 600.degree. C. and the product
stream is produced at a temperature of between about 600.degree. C. and
860.degree. C. and contains less than about 0.5 percent of olefins and
less than 10 percent of hydrocarbons with two or more carbon atoms on a
dry basis. After cooling the product stream the product stream is
introduced into the combustors of the gas turbine to form part or all of
the fuel required to support combustion.