Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for separating and stabilizing a hydrotreater effluent into a stabilized liquid product and a dry gas product. The hydrotreater effluent is expanded in a first expansion drum from a high pressure to an intermediate pressure, evolving both gaseous and liquid phase components. The gaseous phase components are withdrawn as the gas product and the liquid phase components are further processed. The liquid phase components are further expanded in a second expansion drum, evolving further gas products which are compressed, cooled and returned to the first expansion drum. The second expansion drum liquid phase can comprise the liquid product output or can be further treated by an additional expansion stage.