Abstract: A process for the production of methane from feed gas comprising H.sub.2 and CO wherein prior to methanation of feed gas fractions in a series of at least two primary, fixed bed, adiabatic, catalytic reactors, the ratio of H.sub.2 to CO in the feed gas is over-shifted to greater than about 4 to 1 and then the ratio of H.sub.2 and carbon oxides in the over-shifted feed gas is adjusted by removing a predetermined amount of CO.sub.2 from the feed gas in order to moderate the temperature rise in the first methanation reactor in conjunction with steam. In addition, after the effluent gas from each primary reactor is cooled, by controlling the ratio of adjusted feed gas fraction to cooled effluent gas from the preceding primary reactor, the temperature rise in each succeeding primary reactor is moderated.