Abstract: A cryogenic process for recovering propane and heavier hydrocarbons from natural gas streams or similar refinery or process streams containing lighter hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane. In the process disclosed, the gas to be separated is cooled which may include some condensation, in which case the condensate is separated from the vapor and fed to a lower region of all the fractionating column. The cooled vapor from the separator is split into two streams. One portion of the split vapor stream is work expanded to a midpoint of the fractionating column, while another portion of the split vapor stream is further cooled causing partial condensation, the condensate being separated and fed to the fractionation column above the feed from the first work expander, and the vapor being work expanded through a second expander and fed to the top of the fractionator as reflux.