Abstract: The present invention is a separation unit process in which a high pressure section of a separation unit operates at a relatively high pressure to initially process and separate a high pressure feed stream and a low pressure section of the separation unit to initially process and separate a low pressure feed stream, where the high pressure section and the low pressure section are integral with and exchange streams to accomplish a desired separation of a wellhead fluid feed which typically includes a heavier portion of pentanes and heavier components

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon stream such as a natural gas stream, the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a partially condensed feed stream (10) to a first gas/liquid separator (2), the feed stream (10) having a pressure >50 bar; (b) separating the feed stream (10) in the first gas/liquid separator (2) into a first vaporous stream (20) and a first liquid stream (70); (c) expanding the first vaporous stream (20), thereby obtaining an at least partially condensed first vaporous stream (30); (d) supplying the at least partially condensed first vaporous stream (30) to a second gas/liquid separator (4); (e) separating the stream (30) as supplied in step (d) in the second gas/liquid separator (4) into a second vaporous stream (60) and a second liquid stream (40); (f) increasing the pressure of the second liquid stream (40) to a pressure of at least 50 bar, thereby obtaining a pressurized second liquid stream (50); and (g) returning the pressurized second

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for separating and recovering ethane, propane and heavier components from a feed gas, e.g. raw natural gas or a refinery or petroleum plant gas stream or a petrochemical plant gas stream. These methods employ a common new concept which is the use of the turbo-expander shaft compressor to generate the reflux requirement for the cryogenic absorber or distillation columns. The power of the turbo-expander which is absorbed by the shaft compressor is always high enough so that reflux generation by a specific gas compression through the expander shaft compressor and subsequent cooling, condensation and sub-cooling can always be easily maintained. The present invention allows for higher cryogenic absorber pressure and a lower demethanizer/de-ethanizer column pressure thus eliminating the common cryogenic pump at absorber bottom. The present invention ultimately results in a lower residue compression and utilities consumption.