A method and apparatus for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a natural gas stream. Heavy hydrocarbons are removed from the natural gas stream in a separator to generate a bottom stream and a separated natural gas stream, which is used as a coolant in a heat exchanger to generate a pretreated natural gas stream. The pretreated natural gas stream is compressed and cooled to form a chilled pretreated natural gas stream, part of which forms a recycle stream to exchange heat with the separated natural gas stream in the heat exchanger, thereby generating a cooled recycle stream. The temperature and pressure of the cooled recycle stream are reduced. The cooled recycle stream is then separated into an overhead stream and a reflux stream, which is directed to the separator. The chilled pretreated gas stream is liquefied to form LNG.

A method and apparatus for producing liquefied natural gas. A portion of a natural gas stream is cooled in a heat exchanger and combined with the natural gas stream. Heavy hydrocarbons are removed from the combined natural gas stream, and the resulting separated natural gas stream is partially condensed in the first heat exchanger, with a liquid stream separated therefrom. The natural gas stream is warmed in the first heat exchanger and then is compressed and cooled. The resultant cooled compressed natural gas stream is expanded, thereby forming a chilled natural gas stream that is separated into a refrigerant stream and a non-refrigerant stream. The refrigerant stream recycled to the heat exchanger to be warmed through heat exchange with one or more process streams associated with pretreating the natural gas stream, thereby generating a warmed refrigerant stream. The warmed refrigerant stream and the non-refrigerant stream are liquefied.

A method and apparatus for producing liquefied natural gas. A portion of a natural gas stream is cooled in a first heat exchanger and re-combined with the natural gas stream, and heavy hydrocarbons are removed therefrom to generate a separated natural gas stream and a separator bottom stream. Liquids are separated from the separator bottom stream to form an overhead stream, which is cooled and separated to form a recycle gas stream. The recycle gas stream is compressed. A first portion of the compressed recycle gas stream is directed through the first heat exchanger and directed to the separator as a column reflux stream. The separated to natural gas stream is used as a coolant in the first heat exchanger to thereby generate a pretreated natural gas stream, which is compressed and liquefied.

The invention relates to various nonlimiting embodiments that include methods, apparatuses or systems for processing natural gas comprising a heavies removal column processing natural gas and light oil reflux. The overhead stream goes to heavies treated natural gas storage. The heavies removal column reboiler bottoms stream product is input to a debutanizer column. The debutanizer column overhead lights are input to a flash drum where the bottoms is pumped through a heat exchanger as a light oil reflux input to the heavies removal column, while the debutanizer reboiler bottoms product is stored as stabilized condensate. Alternatively, debutanizer column overhead lights are sent to heavies treated gas storage and the bottoms stream product goes to a depentanizer column, the overhead lights are pumped through a heat exchanger as a light oil reflux input to the heavies removal column, while the depentanizer reboiler bottoms product is stabilized condensate.

Integrated systems are provided for the production of higher hydrocarbon compositions, for example liquid hydrocarbon compositions, from methane using an oxidative coupling of methane system to convert methane to ethylene, followed by conversion of ethylene to selectable higher hydrocarbon products. Integrated systems and processes are provided that process methane through to these higher hydrocarbon products.

Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for processing liquefied natural gas (LNG). In one implementation, a feed gas is received and partially condensed into a two-phase stream by expanding the feed gas. A liquid containing fouling components is removed from the two-phase stream. A vapor generated from the two-phase stream is compressed into a compressed feed gas. The compressed feed gas is directed into a feed chiller heat exchanger. The compressed feed gas is free of the fouling components.

An apparatus and process for the compression, expansion, evaporation, and liquefaction of gases or gaseous mixtures consisting of a gas liquefaction column comprising successive chambers made of balloons resembling those used in pneumatic suspensions, and double-piston bases in between the upper and lower end of each chamber. Some of the double-piston bases are fixed while others in between are mobile. The group of mobile double-piston bases is activated in a linear to-and-fro vertical stroke while the other group of double-piston bases remains stationary. This results in consecutive suction and compression of the chambers, creating a Joule-Thomson effect at each of them. This results in the cooling and liquefaction of the gas or gaseous mixture. The apparatus also comprises humidity extractors, and different types of valves and piping.

Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for processing liquefied natural gas (LNG). In one implementation, a solvent is injected into a feed of natural gas at a solvent injection point. A mixed feed is produced from a dispersal of the solvent into the feed of natural gas. The mixed feed contains heavy components. A chilled feed is produced by chilling the mixed feed. The chilled feed includes a vapor and a condensed liquid. The condensed liquid contains a fouling portion of the heavy components condensed by the solvent during chilling. The liquid containing the fouling portion of the heavy components is separated from the vapor. The vapor is directed into a feed chiller heat exchanger following separation of the liquid containing the fouling portion of the heavy components from the vapor, such that the vapor being directed into feed chiller heat exchanger is free of freezing components.

A method comprising the cooling of the feed natural-gas (15) in a first heat exchanger (16) and the introduction of the cooled feed natural-gas (40) in separator flask (18). The method further comprising dynamic expansion of a turbine input flow (46) in a first expansion turbine (22) and the introduction of the expanded flow (102) into a splitter column (26). This method includes sampling at the head of the splitter column (26) a methane-rich head stream (82) and sampling in the compressed methane-rich head stream (86) a first recirculation stream (88). The method comprises the formation of at least one second recirculation stream (96) obtained from the methane-rich head stream (82) downstream from the splitter column (26) and the formation of a dynamic expansion stream (100) from the second recirculation stream (96).

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 into a net gas phase stream and a liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The net gas phase stream is separated for forming an H.sub.2-rich stream and a first liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The H.sub.2-rich stream may be contacted with an adsorbent to form an H.sub.2-ultra rich stream and a gas stream. C.sub.3/C.sub.4 hydrocarbons are absorbed from the gas stream with the liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The gas stream may be contacted with an H.sub.2/hydrocarbon separation membrane to separate the PSA tail gas stream and form an H.sub.2-rich permeate stream and an H.sub.2 depleted non-permeate residue stream.