Elcor Corporation

C L Rambo

John D Wilkinson

Hank M Hudson

Michael C Pierce

A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is divided into first and second streams, and the second stream is cooled and expanded to a lower pressure and supplied to a contacting device. The first stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it, expanded to the lower pressure, and then used to cool a warmer distillation stream from a distillation column to at least partially condense the distillation stream. At least a portion of the partially condensed distillation stream is directed to the contacting device to intimately contact the expanded second stream, the resulting vapors and liquids are separated from the contacting device, and these liquids are supplied to the distillation column. The quantities and temperatures of the feeds to the contacting device and the distillation column are effective to maintain the overhead temperatures of the contacting device and the distillation column at temperatures whereby the major portion of the desired components is recovered.

Hydrocarbon gas processing

A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbons from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream is disclosed. At least a portion of the LNG feed stream is directed in heat exchange relation with a compressed recycle portion of the fractionation tower overhead, with the warmed LNG stream thereafter supplied to the fractionation tower at a mid-column feed position. The recycle stream is cooled by the LNG stream sufficiently to substantially condense it, and the substantially condensed recycle stream is then supplied to the column at a top column feed position to serve as reflux for the tower. The pressure of the recycle stream and the quantities and temperatures of the feeds to the column are effective to maintain the column overhead temperature at a temperature whereby the major portion of said desired components is recovered in the bottom liquid product from the column.

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Midland, TX, United States of America

C L Rambo