An apparatus and process for removal of heavy hydrocarbons (e.g., hydrocarbons that include five or more carbons such as pentane and hexane, etc.) from a feed (e.g., a feed comprised of methane and impurities) can include a scrub column and a stabilizer column arranged so that a portion of a first stream output from the stabilizer column is fed to the scrubber column to function as a reflux stream. Embodiments are provided in which the scrub column produces a stream comprising mostly methane (e.g. over 85 mole percent methane) and reduced heavy hydrocarbons so that reduced operational costs and improved operational flexibility can be realized in downstream natural gas liquefaction operations.

Method and system for removing high freeze point components from natural gas. Feed gas is cooled in a heat exchanger and separated into a first vapor portion and a first liquid portion. The first liquid portion is reheated using the heat exchanger and separated into a high freeze point components stream and a non-freezing components stream. A portion of the non-freezing components stream may be at least partially liquefied and received by an absorber tower. The first vapor portion may be cooled and received by the absorber tower. An overhead vapor product which is substantially free of high freeze point freeze components and a bottoms product liquid stream including freeze components and non-freeze components are produced using the absorber tower.

Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for reforming of hydrocarbons including recovery of products are provided. In one example, a method comprises separating a reforming-zone effluent to form a net gas phase stream and a liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The net gas phase stream is compressed, partially condensed and cooled to form a partially condensed, compressed net gas phase stream. The partially condensed, compressed net gas phase stream is separated to form an intermediate gas phase stream. The intermediate gas phase stream is cooled to form a cooled intermediate gas phase stream. The liquid phase hydrocarbon stream is cooled to form a cooled liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The cooled intermediate gas phase stream is contacted with the cooled liquid phase hydrocarbon stream to form an H.sub.2-rich stream and a cooled second intermediate liquid phase hydrocarbon stream that is enriched with C.sub.3/C.sub.4 hydrocarbons.

Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for reforming of hydrocarbons including recovery of products are provided. In one example, a method comprises separating a reforming-zone effluent to form a net gas phase stream and a liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The net gas phase stream is compressed, partially condensed and cooled to form a partially condensed, compressed net gas phase stream. The partially condensed, compressed net gas phase stream is separated to form an intermediate gas phase stream. The intermediate gas phase stream is cooled to form a cooled intermediate gas phase stream. The liquid phase hydrocarbon stream is cooled to form a cooled liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The cooled intermediate gas phase stream is contacted with the cooled liquid phase hydrocarbon stream to form an H.sub.2-rich stream and a cooled second intermediate liquid phase hydrocarbon stream that is enriched with C.sub.3/C.sub.4 hydrocarbons.

A mixed phase unstabilized hydrocarbon stream is created by partially evaporating an unstabilized hydrocarbon condensate stream, including indirectly heat exchanging the unstabilized hydrocarbon condensate stream against an effluent stream in a feed-effluent heat exchanger. The mixed phase unstabilized hydrocarbon stream is fed into a stabilizer column. A liquid phase of stabilized hydrocarbon condensate is discharged from a bottom end, while an overhead vapour stream consisting of a vapour phase comprising volatile components from the unstabilized hydrocarbon condensate stream is discharged from a top end of the stabilizer column. The overhead vapour stream is passed through an overhead condenser. The resulting partially condensed overhead stream is separated in an overhead separator into a vapour effluent stream and an overhead liquid stream. The effluent stream against which the unstabilized hydrocarbon condensate stream is heat exchanged in the feed-effluent heat exchanger comprises the vapour effluent stream.

A process for separating a mixed or raw gas feed to produce a dry gas product and a hydrocarbon liquid product is provided. The process comprises scrubbing heavier hydrocarbon components from the gas feed to produce a lighter ends gas stream and a heavier ends liquid stream; cooling the lighter ends gas stream and separating the cooled lighter ends gas stream into a cold liquid stream and the dry gas product; and using the cold liquid stream to assist in scrubbing the heavier hydrocarbon components from the gas feed.

A mixed phase pressurized unstabilized hydrocarbon stream is fed into a stabilizer column at a feed pressure. A liquid phase of stabilized hydrocarbon condensate is discharged from a bottom end of the stabilizer column, while a vapour phase of volatile components from the pressurized unstabilized hydrocarbon condensate stream is discharged from a top end of the stabilizer column. The vapour phase being discharged from the top end of the stabilizer column is compressed and subsequently passed through an ambient heat exchanger wherein partial condensation takes place. The resulting partially condensed overhead stream is separated in an overhead separator into a vapour effluent stream and an overhead liquid stream. After discharging the overhead liquid stream from the overhead separator, it is selectively divided into a liquid reflux stream and a liquid effluent stream. The liquid reflux stream is expanded to the feed pressure and fed into the stabilizer column.

Methods and systems for separating hydrocarbons using one or more dividing wall columns are provided. The method can include introducing a hydrocarbon fluid to a first dividing wall column. A first overhead comprising methane, ethane, or a combination thereof, a first intermediate comprising ethane, a second intermediate comprising ethane, and a first bottoms comprising one or more hydrocarbons having three or more carbon atoms per molecule can be recovered from the first dividing wall column. The first overhead can be introduced to a process for producing a liquefied natural gas. The first bottoms can be introduced to a second dividing wall column. A second overhead comprising propane, a third intermediate comprising butane, and a second bottoms comprising one or more hydrocarbons having five or more carbon atoms per molecule can be recovered from the second dividing wall column. The second overhead can be introduced to the process for producing a liquefied natural gas.

A method for treating a gas stream comprising hydrogen and propane, where a combination of membrane separation and elevated pressure distillation is used to separate the hydrogen gas from the propane gas.

Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for reforming of hydrocarbons including recovery of products are provided. In one example, a method comprises separating a reforming-zone effluent to form a net gas phase stream and a liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The net gas phase stream is compressed, partially condensed and cooled to form a partially condensed, compressed net gas phase stream. The partially condensed, compressed net gas phase stream is separated to form an intermediate gas phase stream. The intermediate gas phase stream is cooled to form a cooled intermediate gas phase stream. The liquid phase hydrocarbon stream is cooled to form a cooled liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The cooled intermediate gas phase stream is contacted with the cooled liquid phase hydrocarbon stream to form an H.sub.2-rich stream and a cooled second intermediate liquid phase hydrocarbon stream that is enriched with C.sub.3/C.sub.4 hydrocarbons.