Abstract: An ethane recovery process utilizing multiple reflux streams is provided. Feed gas is cooled, partially condensed, and separated into a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream. First liquid stream is expanded and sent to a demethanizer. First vapor stream is split into a first and a second separator vapor streams. First separator vapor stream is expanded and sent to demethanizer. Second separator vapor stream is partially condensed and is separated into a reflux separator liquid stream, which is sent to demethanizer, and a reflux separator vapor stream, which is condensed and sent to demethanizer. Demethanizer produces a tower bottom stream containing a substantial amount of ethane and heavier components, and a tower overhead stream containing a substantial amount of remaining lighter components and forms a residue gas stream. A portion of residue gas stream is cooled, condensed, and sent to the demethanizer tower as top reflux stream.

Abstract: An ethane recovery process utilizing multiple reflux streams is provided. Feed gas is cooled, partially condensed, and separated into a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream. First liquid stream is expanded and sent to a demethanizer. First vapor stream is split into a first and a second separator vapor streams. First separator vapor stream is expanded and sent to demethanizer. Second separator vapor stream is partially condensed and is separated into a reflux separator liquid stream, which is sent to demethanizer, and a reflux separator vapor stream, which is condensed and sent to demethanizer. Demethanizer produces a tower bottom stream containing a substantial amount of ethane and heavier components, and a tower overhead stream containing a substantial amount of remaining lighter components and forms a residue gas stream. A portion of residue gas stream is cooled, condensed, and sent to the demethanizer tower as top reflux stream.

Abstract: An ethane recovery process utilizing multiple reflux streams is provided. Feed gas is cooled, partially condensed, and separated into a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream. First liquid stream is expanded and sent to a demethanizer. First vapor stream is split into a first and a second separator vapor streams. First separator vapor stream is expanded and sent to demethanizer. Second separator vapor stream is partially condensed and is separated into a reflux separator liquid stream, which is sent to demethanizer, and a reflux separator vapor stream, which is condensed and sent to demethanizer. Demethanizer produces a tower bottom stream containing a substantial amount of ethane and heavier components, and a tower overhead stream containing a substantial amount of remaining lighter components and forms a residue gas stream. A portion of residue gas stream is cooled, condensed, and sent to the demethanizer tower as top reflux stream.

Abstract: An ethane recovery process utilizing multiple reflux streams is provided. Feed gas is cooled, partially condensed, and separated into a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream. First liquid stream is expanded and sent to a demethanizer. First vapor stream is split into a first and a second separator vapor streams. First separator vapor stream is expanded and sent to demethanizer. Second separator vapor stream is partially condensed and is separated into a reflux separator liquid stream, which is sent to demethanizer, and a reflux separator vapor stream, which is condensed and sent to demethanizer. Demethanizer produces a tower bottom stream containing a substantial amount of ethane and heavier components, and a tower overhead stream containing a substantial amount of remaining lighter components and forms a residue gas stream. A portion of residue gas stream is cooled, condensed, and sent to the demethanizer tower as top reflux stream.

Abstract: An ethane recovery process utilizing multiple reflux streams is provided. Feed gas is cooled, partially condensed, and separated into a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream. First liquid stream is expanded and sent to a demethanizer. First vapor stream is split into a first and a second separator vapor streams. First separator vapor stream is expanded and sent to demethanizer. Second separator vapor stream is partially condensed and is separated into a reflux separator liquid stream, which is sent to demethanizer, and a reflux separator vapor stream, which is condensed and sent to demethanizer. Demethanizer produces a tower bottom stream containing a substantial amount of ethane and heavier components, and a tower overhead stream containing a substantial amount of remaining lighter components and forms a residue gas stream. A portion of residue gas stream is cooled, condensed, and sent to the demethanizer tower as top reflux stream.

Abstract: An ethane recovery process utilizing multiple reflux streams is provided. Feed gas is cooled, partially condensed, and separated into a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream. First liquid stream is expanded and sent to a demethanizer. First vapor stream is split into a first and a second separator vapor streams. First separator vapor stream is expanded and sent to demethanizer. Second separator vapor stream is partially condensed and is separated into a reflux separator liquid stream, which is sent to demethanizer, and a reflux separator vapor stream, which is condensed and sent to demethanizer. Demethanizer produces a tower bottom stream containing a substantial amount of ethane and heavier components, and a tower overhead stream containing a substantial amount of remaining lighter components and forms a residue gas stream. A portion of residue gas stream is cooled, condensed, and sent to the demethanizer tower as top reflux stream.

Abstract: An ethane recovery process utilizing multiple reflux streams is provided. Feed gas is cooled, partially condensed, and separated into a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream. First liquid stream is expanded and sent to a demethanizer. First vapor stream is split into a first and a second separator vapor streams. First separator vapor stream is expanded and sent to demethanizer. Second separator vapor stream is partially condensed and is separated into a reflux separator liquid stream, which is sent to demethanizer, and a reflux separator vapor stream, which is condensed and sent to demethanizer. Demethanizer produces a tower bottom stream containing a substantial amount ethane and heavier components, and a tower overhead stream containing a substantial amount remaining lighter components and forms a residue gas stream. A portion of residue gas stream is cooled, condensed, and sent to the demethanizer tower as top reflux stream.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of ethane and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon feed gas stream. Feed gas stream is cooled into a first and second cooled streams. First and second cooled streams are sent to a cold absorber and separated into a first gas stream and a first liquid stream. First gas stream is expanded and sent to a fractionation tower. At least a part of the first liquid stream is sent to a pre-demethanizer stripper tower. Stripper tower produces a stripper overhead stream and a stripper bottoms stream. Stripper overhead vapor stream is cooled and sent to the fractionation tower as second reflux stream. Stripper bottoms stream is supplied to the fractionation tower. Temperatures and pressures of the streams and columns are maintained to recover a major portion of ethane and heavier hydrocarbon components as a bottoms product stream, and produce a residue gas stream at the fractionation tower overhead.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the recovery of ethane and heavier components from a hydrocarbon feed gas stream. Feed gas stream is cooled and separated into a vapor stream and a condensed stream. Vapor stream is divided into a first and a second gas streams. First gas stream is expanded and sent to a fractionation tower. Second gas stream is supplied to an absorber tower. At least a part of the first liquid stream is cooled and sent to the absorber. Absorber column produces a lean vapor stream and a second condensed stream. Lean vapor stream is cooled and sent to the fractionation tower. Second condensed stream is subcooled and supplied to the fractionation tower. Temperatures and pressures of the streams and columns are maintained to recover a major portion of ethane and heavier hydrocarbon components as bottom product, and produce at the fractionation tower overhead, a residue gas stream.

Abstract: A process and apparatus to increase the recovery of ethane, propane, and heavier compounds from a hydrocarbon gas stream is provided. The process can be configured to recover ethane and heavier compounds or propane and heavier compounds, depending upon the market conditions. The process utilizes an additional reflux stream to the absorber column that is lean in ethane and propane compared to the deethanizer overhead. The additional reflux stream is taken as a side stream of the residue gas stream that is cooled, condensed, and then fed at the top of the absorber to enhanced C3+ recovery. The additional lean reflux stream can also be taken as a side stream of the first vapor stream from the cold separator.

Abstract: A two-tower scheme process for the recovery of propane and heavier components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is provided. Feed gas is cooled, partially condensed, and then separated to give a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream. First liquid stream is sent to a distillation tower that recovers at the bottoms a major portion of propane and heavier components and produces an overhead gas stream. First vapor stream is expanded and sent as bottom feed to the absorber. Absorber produces an absorber overhead stream containing essentially all the ethane and lighter components and an absorber bottoms stream. Absorber bottoms stream is heated and sent to the distillation tower as middle feed. Absorber overhead stream is warmed and optionally compressed. A part of the compressed stream is substantially condensed and sent to absorber as top feed. The process and apparatus can be used to recover ethane and heavier hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for controlling or reducing the heating value or BTU content of NGL recovered from LNG streams. LNG pipelines have a maximum allowable heating value that LNG must be within prior to entering the pipeline. If the LNG heating value is too high, the components contributing to the high heating value must be removed prior to being introduced in the pipeline. The process controls the heating value of the residue LNG gas stream by splitting a feed stream and warming at least a portion of the feed stream. Substantial differences in enthalpy content and temperature between the two portions of the feed stream exist prior to being sent to a fractionation tower.

Abstract: A cryogenic process and apparatus to recover hydrogen from a fuel gas stream. The process can be stand alone or can be combined with existing processes, such as recovery of LPG from a fuel gas stream. In the stand-alone process, the fuel gas is cooled in one or more stages and sent to a cold separator that is used to separate the feed into a liquid and vapor stream. The liquid stream, is then warmed, compressed and then cooled and sent for further processing. The vapor stream, which contains hydrogen, is compressed, cooled when needed, and then returned for use in the existing facility or exported. The stand-alone process can be integrated within an LPG recovery process. The result of this cryogenic process is recovery of hydrogen from a fuel gas stream with only a slight decrease in hydrogen purity.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for exploitation and liquefaction of natural gas in offshore stranded gas reserves. Two ordinary nautical vessels are used to produce, store and unload LPG and LNG. Typical front end processing is performed on the first vessel. The treated inlet gas is transported to the second vessel where the stream goes through liquefaction and storage until it is offloaded to a transport vessel for shipment. The liquefaction process utilizes two refrigerant cycles that utilize two expanded refrigerants, at least one of which is circulated in a gas phase refrigeration cycle. The refrigerants and the inlet gas stream are transported between the two vessels by the use of piping. Electricity can be generated to provide power for the compression sections of the refrigeration cycles. Turbines, engines, or boilers from the vessels can be used for generating electricity since they are no longer needed for locomotion purposes.

Abstract: A process and apparatus to increase the recovery of ethane, propane, and heavier compounds from a hydrocarbon gas stream is provided. The process can be configured to recover ethane and heavier compounds or propane and heavier compounds, depending upon the market conditions. The process utilizes an additional reflux stream to the absorber column that is lean in ethane and propane compared to the deethanizer overhead. The additional reflux stream is taken as a side stream of the residue gas stream that is cooled, condensed, and then fed at the top of the absorber to enhanced C3+ recovery. The additional lean reflux stream can also be taken as a side stream of the first vapor stream from the cold separator.

Abstract: An ethane recovery process utilizing multiple reflux streams is provided. Feed gas is cooled, partially condensed, and separated into a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream. First liquid stream is expanded and sent to a demethanizer. First vapor stream is split into a first and a second separator vapor streams. First separator vapor stream is expanded and sent to demethanizer. Second separator vapor stream is partially condensed and is separated into a reflux separator liquid stream, which is sent to demethanizer, and a reflux separator vapor stream, which is condensed and sent to demethanizer. Demethanizer produces a tower bottom stream containing a substantial amount ethane and heavier components, and a tower overhead stream containing a substantial amount remaining lighter components and forms a residue gas stream. A portion of residue gas stream is cooled, condensed, and sent to the demethanizer tower as top reflux stream.

Abstract: A two-tower scheme process for the recovery of propane and heavier components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is provided. Feed gas is cooled, partially condensed, and then separated to give a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream. First liquid stream is sent to a distillation tower that recovers at the bottoms a major portion of propane and heavier components and produces an overhead gas stream. First vapor stream is expanded and sent as bottom feed to the absorber. Absorber produces an absorber overhead stream containing essentially all the ethane and lighter components and an absorber bottoms stream. Absorber bottoms stream is heated and sent to the distillation tower as middle feed. Absorber overhead stream is warmed and optionally compressed. A part of the compressed stream is substantially condensed and sent to absorber as top feed. The process and apparatus can be used to recover ethane and heavier hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A cryogenic process and apparatus for separating multi-component gaseous hydrocarbon streams to recover both gaseous and liquid compounds. More particularly, the cryogenic processes and apparatus of this invention utilize a high pressure absorber to improve the energy efficiency of processing natural gas for pipeline gas sales and recovering natural gas liquids (NGL) gas from gaseous hydrocarbon streams.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for exploitation and liquefaction of natural gas in offshore stranded gas reserves. Two ordinary nautical vessels are used to produce, store and unload LPG and LNG. Typical front end processing is performed on the first vessel. The treated inlet gas is transported to the second vessel where the stream goes through liquefaction and storage until it is offloaded to a transport vessel for shipment. The liquefaction process utilizes two refrigerant cycles that utilize two expanded refrigerants, at least one of which is circulated in a gas phase refrigeration cycle. The refrigerants and the inlet gas stream are transported between the two vessels by the use of piping. Electricity can be generated to provide power for the compression sections of the refrigeration cycles. Turbines, engines, or boilers from the vessels can be used for generating electricity since they are no longer needed for locomotion purposes.

Abstract: A cryogenic process and apparatus for separating multi-component gaseous hydrocarbon streams to recover both gaseous and liquid compounds. More particularly, the cryogenic processes and apparatus of this invention utilize a high pressure absorber to improve the energy efficiency of processing natural gas for pipeline gas sales and recovering natural gas liquids (NGL) gas from gaseous hydrocarbon streams.