The effect of introducing small amounts of Pt, Pd and Ir (<0.3% by weight) into Ni/gammaAl(2)O(3) catalysts (15% Ni w/w) for the autothermal reforming of methane (ATR) was investigated. While the unpromoted catalyst took the partial oxidation of methane to equilibrium, the promoted ones increased the methane conversion in ATR. No electronic modifications of nickel sites were observed with the addition of noble metals, but they did cause an increase in metal surface area. The effect of noble metals on this reaction, under these conditions, was assigned to this expansion of the metal surface. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.