Process for partial liquefaction of a fluid containing hydrocarbons, such as natural gas

Abstract

A process for partial liquefaction of a fluid G at least partially formed from hydrocarbons simultaneously produces: a fraction that is liquid after expansion; a gas fraction representing at least 10% by weight, which can either be re-injected or used to produce electricity; and comprises at least two refrigeration steps during which: in the first step a), the essentially gaseous fluid G is cooled using an external refrigerant M such that at the end of said first step, it is at least partially liquid at the operating pressure; and in the second step b), liquefaction of said fluid G is completed if necessary and said fluid G is sub-cooled, using a portion of the same fluid G, said portion being thus expanded and vaporised to produce the cooling necessary to recover the other portion of said fluid G that is completely liquid at the storage pressure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.