In this work, the waste red mud (RM) was investigated as catalyst in a new two steps process designed to store, transport and use the associated petroleum gas (APG) lost in petroleum exploration in offshore platforms. In this process the APG is catalytically converted into carbon which can be stored, transported and then converted to syngas by oxidation with H2O. TPCVD and W-TPO experiments combined with Mossabuer, XRD, Raman, SEM, TEM, TG showed that the Fe oxides highly dispersed in the RM waste are reduced and decomposes CH4 decomposition to produce H-2 fuel and 27 wt% of carbon deposits. The carbon in the composite can be safely stored, transported and then oxidized to produce H-2/CO mixtures leading to the regeneration of the Fe oxides which allows the reuse of the catalyst for a new cycle. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.