Coal gasification has been studied for the production of synthesis gas by use of a laboratory-scale, two-stage, jet-spouted bed reactor. Tests were conducted in the dry ash mode with oxygen-steam mixtures. The effects of operating conditions on the gasification performance were investigated at atmospheric pressure and temperatures up to 1150-degrees-C. Carbon conversions of 75% to 97% and cold gas thermal efficiencies of 62 to 78% were obtained for Taiheiyo coal. Both the carbon conversion and thermal efficiency were mainly affected by the oxygen/coal ratio. The product gases contained 36-41% hydrogen and 30-43% carbon monoxide.