Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the recovery, individually, of natural gas liquids methane and nitrogen from a gaseous feed stream such as natural gas without the need for auxiliary refrigeration and without or with only minimal need for supplemental compressor or pumping equipment. The gaseous feed stream is separated in multiple steps utilizing process-derived streams and minimal pressure reductions to achieve and provide the refrigeration requirements necessary to effect the separation.

Abstract: An improved process for cryogenically separating a helium-bearing natural gas stream comprising subjecting the natural gas stream to a sequence of alternating cooling and separating steps wherein one or more process-derived streams are utilized to effect cooling of the natural gas streams to temperatures in the cryogenic range. The process provides for the separation and recovery of a natural gas liquids product stream consisting substantially of condensed C.sub.2 and higher hydrocarbons and a gaseous product stream consisting of at least 50 volume percent of helium with the balance being substantially nitrogen.