PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A CONTAMINANT-DEPLETED HYDROCARBON GAS STREAM WITH IMPROVED HYDROCARBON RECOVERY

摘要

A process for producing a contaminant-depleted gas stream from a contaminated hydrocarbon feed gas stream comprises: (a) expanding the contaminated to obtain an expanded stream; (b) allowing at least part of the contaminants in the expanded stream to liquefy to form a dispersion of a contaminants enriched liquid comprising hydrocarbons and a gaseous phase with lowered contaminant content; (c) separating at least part of the contaminants enriched liquid from the gaseous phase in a first separator, thereby obtaining the contaminant-depleted gas stream and a liquid stream comprising contaminants and hydrocarbons; (d) separating hydrocarbons from the liquid stream in a second separator, thereby obtaining an overhead stream comprising hydrocarbons and a bottom stream depleted in hydrocarbons; and (e) leading the overhead stream to a point prior to step (c); further comprising the step of increasing the pressure of the liquid stream prior to step (d).