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

摘要

The invention provides a process for producing a contaminant - depleted gas stream from a contaminated hydrocarbon feed gas stream (1) containing at least 10 vol.% of acidic contaminants, in particular H2S and CO2, the method comprising the steps of: (a) expanding the contaminated hydrocarbon feed gas stream in an expander (6) to obtain an expanded contaminated hydrocarbon feed gas stream; (b) allowing at least part of the contaminants in the expanded contaminated hydrocarbon feed gas stream to liquefy; (c) separating at least part of the contaminants enriched liquid phase comprising hydrocarbons from the gaseous phase with lowered contaminant content in a first separator (8), thereby obtaining the contaminant - depleted gas stream (17) and a liquid stream (19 ) mainly comprising contaminants and further comprising remaining hydrocarbons; (d) separating remaining hydrocarbons from the liquid stream in a second separator (13), thereby obtaining an overhead stream (14) comprising remaining hydrocarbons and a bottom stream (22) depleted in hydrocarbons; (e) leading the overhead stream comprising remaining hydrocarbons to a point prior step(c); wherein step (d) prior to separating remaining hydrocarbons, further comprises the step of: (d1) increasing the pressure (23) of the liquid stream.