Abstract: Process for producing purified hydrocarbon gas from a gas stream comprising hydrocarbons and acidic contaminants, which process comprises the steps: (a) cooling the gas stream to a temperature to form a mixture comprising solid and optionally liquid acidic contaminants and a vapour containing gaseous hydrocarbons; (b) separating the solid and optionally liquid acidic contaminants from the mixture in a vessel, yielding the purified hydrocarbon gas; (c) providing heat to at least a part of the solid and optionally liquid acidic contaminants to melt at least part of the solid acidic contaminants, yielding a heated contaminant-rich stream; (d) withdrawing the heated contaminant-rich stream from the vessel; wherein the process further comprises: (e) reheating at least a part of the heated contaminant-rich stream to form a reheated recycle stream; and (f) recycling at least a part of the reheated recycle stream to the vessel.

Abstract: Process for producing purified hydrocarbon gas from a gas stream comprising methane and acidic contaminants, which process comprises the steps of cooling the gas stream in a first cooling stage to a first temperature to form a first mixture of solid and/or liquid acidic contaminants and a vapour containing gaseous hydrocarbons and a reduced amount of acidic contaminants; separating the solid and/or liquid acidic contaminants from the first mixture, yielding partly purified gas; cooling the partly purified gas in a second cooling step to a second temperature to form a second mixture comprising purified hydrocarbon gas and further solid and/or liquid acidic contaminants; and separating the further solid and/or liquid acidic contaminants from the second mixture, yielding the purified hydrocarbon gas.