Process for removing a volatile component from natural gas

A process for producing pressurized liquefied natural gas that is lean in a component more volatile than methane from a natural gas feed stream containing the more volatile component, comprising the steps of:

• (a) cooling one part of the natural gas feed stream by indirect heat exchange with a process-derived vapor stream from a fractionation system;
• (b) cooling a second part of the natural gas feed stream by indirect heat exchange with a process-derived liquid stream from the fractionation system;
• (c) combining the cooled feed streams of steps (a) and (b);
• (d) expanding the combined feed stream to reduce its temperature and pressure;
• (e) passing the expanded feed stream to the fractionation system to produce a first liquid stream lean in the volatile component and a first vapor stream of enhanced volatile component content;
• (f) cooling the first vapor stream to produce a vapor phase and a liquid phase;
• (g) phase separating the vapor phase and liquid phase of step (f) to produce a second vapor stream and a second liquid stream;
• (h) returning the second liquid stream to the fractionation system as reflux;
• (i) using the second vapor stream to cool the feed stream in step (a);
• and
• (j) removing from the fractionation system the first liquid as a product stream lean in the volatile component and having a temperature above about −112° C. (−170° F.) and a pressure sufficient for the liquid product to be at or below its bubble point.