Abstract: A method of cooling natural gas in a system in which the natural gas contains components other than methane which are separable by dewpoint condensation and the natural gas is available from a source, e.g. a well, at an elevated pressure. In accordance with the present invention, the natural gas is initially expanded in a work-producing expansion turbine to cool the natural gas to a temperature below the dew point of the components to be separated and the portion of the natural gas remaining after separating these components is compressed in a compressor which can in part be driven by the turbine so that at least a portion of the work output of the turbine is at least in some cases utilized for compressing the methane-containing portion which can be forced under pressure into a pipeline.