Abstract: Feed gas (1) in an improved NGL processing plant is cooled below ambient temperature and above hydrate point of the feed gas to condense heavy components (6) and a significant portion of water (4) contained in the feed gas. The water (4) is removed in a feed gas separator (101) and the condensed liquids are fed into an integrated refluxed stripper (104) that operates as a drier/demethanizer for the condensed liquids, and the uncondensed portion (5) containing light components is further dried (106) and cooled prior to turboexpansion (23) and demethanization (112). Consequently, processing of heavy components in the cold section is eliminated, and feed gas with a wide range of compositions can be efficiently processed for high NGL recovery at substantially the same operating conditions and optimum expander efficiency.

Abstract: A two-column NGL recovery plant includes an absorber (110) and a distillation column (140) in which the absorber (110) receives two cooled reflux streams, wherein one reflux stream (107) comprises a vapor portion of the NGL and wherein the other reflux stream (146) comprises a lean reflux provided by the overhead (144) of the distillation column (140). Contemplat configurations are especially advantageous in a upgrade of an existing NGL plant and typically exhibit C3 recovery of at least 99% and C2 recovery of at least 90%.