PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR TREATING NATURAL GAS FEEDSTOCK

摘要

The present invention provides a process for removing acid gas from a natural gas stream, the process comprising the steps of: (a) passing a feed stream comprising natural gas and acid gas through a feed side of a membrane at a feed pressure (PF); (b) passing an absorbent stream comprising an absorbent fluid on an absorbent side of the membrane, opposite said feed side, wherein the pressure of said absorbent stream is at an absorbent pressure (PA), to remove acid gas from said natural gas stream; (c) controlling at least one of the feed pressure (PF) and absorbent pressure (PA) so that the (PA) is substantially equal to or greater than the (PF) without allowing the absorbent fluid to reside in the pores of the membrane. The present invention further provides a system for performing the process.