NOVELTY - Continuous process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into higher hydrocarbons, comprises: (a) forming alkyl halides by reacting molecular halogen with a hydrocarbon feedstock under process conditions to form alkyl halides and hydrogen halide; (b) forming higher hydrocarbons and hydrogen halide by contacting the alkyl halides with a first catalyst; (c) separating the higher hydrocarbons from hydrogen halide; (d) converting the hydrogen halide into hydrogen and molecular halogen electrolytically; and (e) repeating steps (a)-(d), a desired number of times.    USE - The process is useful for converting hydrocarbon feedstocks into higher hydrocarbons, methanol, aromatics, amines, coke, and polyols (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The method provides: higher value products, including fuels and higher value chemicals; lower operating pressure (e.g. 1-5 atm versus 80 atm), peak operating temperature (e.g. 50 degrees C versus 1000 degrees C); hydrogen on a separate electrode as a pure product; fewer by-products and thus simpler methanol purification operations. The process does not require: pure oxygen; fired reformer; catalyst; and steam supply, thus provides greater safety when used on offshore platforms. The process is carried out by a simple reactor design versus complex syngas-to-methanol converter.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Continuous process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into higher hydrocarbons, comprises: (a) forming alkyl halides by reacting molecular halogen with a hydrocarbon feedstock under process conditions to form alkyl halides and hydrogen halide, optionally with substantially complete consumption of the molecular halogen; (b) forming higher hydrocarbons and hydrogen halide by contacting the alkyl halides with a first catalyst under process conditions; (c) separating the higher hydrocarbons from hydrogen halide; (d) converting the hydrogen halide into hydrogen and molecular halogen electrolytically, thus allowing the halogen to be reused; and (e) repeating steps (a)-(d), a desired number of times. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) a production facility, where oil or gas is pumped from a well and thus extracted from the earth, and having an electrical generator or electrical power supply, the improvement comprising: (a) forming alkyl halides by reacting molecular halogen with oil or gas pumped from the well; (b); (c); and (d) converting the hydrogen halide into hydrogen and molecular halogen electrolytically, using electricity provided by the electrical generator or electrical power supply;    (2) an electrolytic cell for converting a halide into molecular halogen comprising: a gas supply manifold through which oxygen gas, air, or oxygen-enriched air can be introduced; a gas diffusion cathode, which is permeable to oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas; a cation exchange membrane; a cathode electrolyte chamber disposed between the cation exchange membrane and the gas diffusion cathode; an anode electrolyte chamber; and an anode extending into the anode electrolyte chamber; and    (3) a method for converting a halide into molecular halogen comprising: providing an electrolytic cell; introducing water into the cathode electrolyte chamber; introducing oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas into the gas supply manifold; introducing aqueous alkaline halide into the anode electrolyte chamber; supplying electrical power to the cell; forming bromine gas by reducing alkaline bromide at the anode; forming alkaline hydroxide by reducing oxygen at the cathode; removing aqueous alkaline hydroxide from the cathode electrolyte chamber; and removing molecular bromine from the anode electrolyte chamber.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into higher hydrocarbons.    Separate lines (1, 2)    Bromination reactor (3)    Coupling reactor (5)    Separation unit (7)    Electrolytic cell. (16)