Liquid natural gas processing

A process of recovering hydrocarbons heavier than methane from liquefied natural gas (LNG) comprising,

• a) continuously providing liquid, low pressure LNG to a feed pump;
• b) increasing the pressure of the liquid, low pressure LNG to greater than 100 psia;
• c) splitting the pressurized liquid LNG into first and second portions;
• d) heating the first portion of pressurized liquid LNG from step c) to a temperature of greater than −250° F.;
• e) splitting the second portion of pressurized liquid LNG into a first external reflux and a second external reflux;
• f) separating the heated first portion of pressurized liquid LNG from step d) into a first methane rich stream and a first heavier hydrocarbon liquid stream;
• g) using the first external reflux without heating during the separation of the first methane rich stream from the first heavier hydrocarbon liquid stream;
• h) separating the first heavier hydrocarbon liquid stream into a second methane rich stream and a second heavier hydrocarbon liquid stream;
• i) using the second external reflux without heating during the separation of the second methane rich stream from the second heavier hydrocarbon liquid stream;
• j) removing the second heavier hydrocarbon liquid stream from the process for storage or pipeline transportation;
• k) combining and compressing the first and second methane rich streams to form methane rich LNG;
• l) cooling and liquefying all of the methane rich LNG by heat exchange with the first portion of the liquid pressurized LNG;
• and
• m) removing the compressed and cooled methane rich LNG from the process for ultimate routing to LNG vaporizers.