Removing natural gas liquids from a gaseous natural gas stream

A method of removing natural gas liquids from a gaseous natural gas stream at elevated pressure to produce a gaseous product stream having a reduced content of natural gas liquids, which method comprises the steps of:

• (a) cooling the natural gas stream;
• (b) introducing said cooled natural gas stream into the bottom of a scrub column that has a lower stripping section and an upper absorption section, each section containing at least one theoretical stage;
• (c) allowing natural gas to rise through the scrub column, and removing from the top of the scrub column an overhead stream;
• (d) partly condensing the overhead stream, and separating said partly condensed overhead stream into a gaseous stream having a reduced content of natural gas liquids and a liquid reflux stream, and removing the gaseous stream as the gaseous product stream having a reduced content of natural gas liquids;
• (e) splitting the liquid reflux stream into a first reflux stream and a second reflux stream;
• (f) introducing the first reflux stream into the top of the absorption section of the scrub column;
• (g) introducing the second reflux stream into the top of the stripping section to strip the desired light gaseous components;
• and
• (h) removing from the bottom of the scrub column a liquid bottom stream rich in heavier components.