Helium recovery from gaseous streams

A helium removal system for removing helium from a gaseous stream comprising hydrocarbon gas, acid gas, and helium, the helium removal system comprising:

• a first processing zone comprising a first acid gas removal unit configured to separate a gaseous stream into a residual stream and a permeate stream, each comprising a portion of the hydrocarbon gas, a portion of the acid gas, and a portion of the helium, wherein a concentration of the helium in the permeate stream is greater than a concentration of the helium in the residual stream, and wherein a concentration of the acid gas in the permeate stream is greater than a concentration of the acid gas in the residual stream;
• a second processing zone fluidly coupled to the first processing zone and comprising a second acid gas removal unit configured to receive the residual stream from the first processing zone and to remove a majority of the acid gas from the residual stream, thereby yielding a first acid gas rich stream and a helium depleted clean gas stream, wherein a concentration of acid gas in the first acid gas rich stream is greater than concentration of acid gas in the helium depleted clean gas stream;
• and
• a third processing zone fluidly coupled to the first processing zone and comprising:
• a third acid gas removal unit configured to receive the permeate stream from the first processing zone and to remove a majority of the acid gas from the permeate stream, thereby yielding a second acid gas rich stream and a helium rich stream, wherein a concentration of acid gas in the second acid gas rich stream is greater than a concentration of acid gas in the helium rich stream;
• and
• a helium purification unit fluidly coupled to the third acid gas removal unit and configured to receive the helium rich stream and to recover a majority of the helium from the helium rich stream, thereby yielding a helium depleted stream and a helium product stream, wherein a concentration of helium in the helium product stream is greater than a concentration of helium in the helium depleted stream.