| 摘要 |
A method for treating a crude natural gas feed stream comprising methane (CH4) and a first carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration. The method comprises a number of steps including subjecting the crude natural gas feed stream to a separation process such as a membrane separator (61, Fig 6) to provide a purified natural gas stream (62, Fig 6) having a second carbon dioxide content which is lower than the first carbon dioxide concentration and a carbon dioxide stream (cds) comprising a major carbon dioxide component and methane. The method includes recovering the purified natural gas steam and passing the carbon dioxide stream (cds) through a heat exchanger 26 to raise the temperature of the stream to the desired inlet temperature of an oxidation reactor 28. The heated stream is passed to the oxidation reactor containing an oxidation catalyst, where the methane is oxidised. The products of the oxidation reaction are removed from the reactor as a gas stream being at an outlet temperature which is higher than the inlet temperature and then passing the gas stream through the heat exchanger 26 against the carbon dioxide stream (cds). The method may be used when treating natural gas to minimise the methane flared and/or vented. |
