It is demonstrated that H-2 removal through Pd foil membranes can enhance the CO2 reforming of CH4. At 550degreesC and low flows over Pt/gamma-Al2O3 pellets, conversions were twice that of a conventional reactor, while H2O formation was suppressed, resulting in H-2/CO effluent ratios of 1.0. Larger sweep flows enhanced the reaction somewhat, and the replacement of Pt/gamma-Al2O3 with Pt/ZrO2 mitigated catalyst deactivation in H-2-poor operating environments. A quantitative correlation was established between reaction enhancement and the overall H-2 removal to production ratio. Based on this correlation, a simple membrane reactor equilibrium model was developed for comparison against experimental data. Subsequently, a unique and useful "on-the-fly" method of gauging membrane limitations, catalyst limitations, and modes of deactivation within a membrane reactor was demonstrated.