Detailed kinetic calculations of chemical reactions using GRI-Mech 3.0 are carried out to characterize the combustion of CH4/O-2/N-2 mixture in a well-stirred reactor (WSR). Very wide ranges of the inlet temperature Tie (300 K-2700 K), nitrogen dilution concentration (0%-99%) and global equivalence ratio (0.5-4.0) are considered. The extinction and self-ignition temperatures (T-ex and T-si) of the CH4/O-2/N-2 mixture are identified by the ignition-extinction S-curve. Based on T-ex, T-si T-WSR, and the operative conditions (T-in, and the mixture composition), the WSR combustion of CH4/O-2/N-2 can be quantitatively classified into several particular regimes. Moreover, the product composition and elementary chemical pathways of the CH4 oxidation are also examined. Results demonstrate that the WSR working temperature determines the chemical characteristics of the CH4 oxidation rather than the combustion regime. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.