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.

The invention relates to a system, method and apparatus for removing heavies from natural gas. Natural gas and an external rich reflux gas feed are processed in a single column refluxed absorber. A bottoms stream is routed to a first heat exchanger and then to a stabilizer column where an overhead stream from the stabilizer column is routed through a condenser for partial separation into an overhead stream. A rich solvent may be introduced to the stabilizer column. The overhead stream is routed through a condenser for partial separation into a stabilizer reflux and a second overhead stream lights. The second overhead stream lights is routed to a heat exchanger and then routed to a partial condenser where the stream is separated into a heavies rich reflux stream, a distillate stream and heavies treated natural gas stream. The rich reflux is routed through a heat exchanger and the rich reflux is pumped to the single column refluxed absorber to be introduced into the single column refluxed absorber as the external rich reflux gas feed.

The claimed invention provides a method and an apparatus for separating hydrocarbons, wherein the method and the apparatus are used for separating a hydrocarbon having 3 or more carbon atoms including at least propane (hereinafter sometimes called “C3+ NGL”. NGL: Natural Gas Liquid) from liquefied natural gas (LNG).

A system for processing an LNG feed, the system comprising: a bulk removal stage arranged to remove and release CO.sub.2 liquid from the inflow feed, said bulk removal stage including a first HGMT device, and; a polishing stage arranged to receive a lean CO.sub.2 feed from the first HGMT device, said polishing stage arranged to remove and release residual CO.sub.2, the polishing stage including a second HGMT device; wherein the polishing stage is arranged to release an outflow of CO.sub.2 stripped LNG.

An apparatus and method for generating electrical energy and for vaporising a cryogenically liquefied gas, the device having a conduit for the cryogenically liquefied gas, a pump located in the conduit, a heat engine, and a waste-heat recovery system downstream of the heat engine, wherein a branch conduit branches off from the conduit and the branch conduit leads into the heat engine, and wherein the apparatus also has a fluid circuit with the following components arranged successively in the flow direction of the fluid: a first heat exchanger which is also connected in the flow direction of the cryogenically liquefied gas past the pump into the conduit; a compressor; a second heat exchanger; parallel to one another, a third heat exchanger with a first side, and the waste-heat recovery system; a depressurising machine having a coupled generator; and the third heat exchanger with a second side.

Provided are an apparatus and a method for separation and recovery of propane and heavier hydrocarbons from LNG. The apparatus has, from the upstream side toward the downstream side of LNG supply, first column (3) equipped with first column overhead condenser (2), first column bottom reboiler (4) and side reboiler (5), and second column (14) equipped with second column overhead condenser (11) and second column bottom reboiler (15). The first column (3) separates methane and a part of ethane as an overhead vapor and separates remaining ethane and C3 or higher hydrocarbons as a bottom liquid. The second column (14) separates ethane as an overhead vapor and separates C3 or higher hydrocarbons as a bottom liquid.

A process for the purification of a gas rich in hydrocarbons and comprising at least 10 ppm by volume of hydrocarbons having at least six carbon atoms nitrogen.

Flowing a first buffer fluid and a second buffer fluid through a heat exchanger network thermally coupled to heat sources of a Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) fractionation plant, and transferring heat from the heat sources to the first buffer fluid and the second buffer fluid. Generating power via a first sub-system thermally coupled to the heat exchanger network and generating potable water from brackish water via a second sub-system thermally coupled to the heat exchanger network.

A system and process that are configured to prepare incoming hydrocarbon feedstocks for storage. For incoming ethane gas, the embodiments can utilize a plurality of vessels to distill the incoming feedstock to vapor and liquid ethane that is suitable for storage. The embodiments can direct the vapor to a demethanizer column that is downstream of the vessels and other components. The process can include stages for distilling an incoming feedstock at a plurality of vessels to form a vapor and a liquid for storage; directing the vapor to a demethanizer column; and circulating liquid from the demethanizer column back to the plurality of vessels.

The present invention is directed to a method for removing elemental mercury from liquid natural gas comprising changing the stabilizer column operating conditions to beneficially transfer mercury from the stabilized condensate phase to the overhead gas phase, where it may be compressed and recycled with the gas going to the existing feed gas mercury removal units.