A process for the preparation of hydrogen and carbon monoxide containing
gas from a gaseous hydrocarbon feedstock by performing the following
steps: (a) partial oxidation of part of the feedstock thereby obtaining a
first gaseous mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide; and, (b) catalytic
steam reforming of part of the gaseous feedstock in a Convective Steam
Reformer having a tubular reactor provided with one or more tubes
containing a reforming catalyst, wherein the exterior of the tubes of the
tubular reactor is used to cool the hot gas as obtained in step (a) and
wherein the exterior of the tubes is a metal alloy surface having between
0 wt % and 20 wt % iron.