Method and apparatus for producing products from natural gas including helium and liquefied natural gas

A process for producing products from natural gas comprising:

• cooling a pressurized natural gas feed comprising helium in an amount of less than 0.5 volume % and methane to produce a liquefied first fluid comprising helium and methane from at least a portion of the natural gas;
• reducing the pressure of at least a portion of the helium and methane from the first fluid to produce a reduced pressure first fluid and separating the reduced pressure first fluid into a first vapor comprising helium and methane, and a first liquid comprising methane, wherein the molar ratio of the first vapor to the first liquid is 0.001 to 0.03;
• deriving at least a portion of a crude helium from at least a portion of the first vapor;
• reducing the pressure of at least a portion of the methane from the first liquid to produce a reduced pressure fluid and separating said reduced pressure fluid into a second vapor comprising methane, and a second liquid comprising methane, said second liquid having a pressure greater than 0.1516 MPa;
• reducing the pressure of at least a portion of the methane from the second liquid to produce a reduced pressure fluid and separating said reduced pressure fluid into a third vapor comprising methane and a third liquid comprising methane, said third liquid having a pressure less than 0.1516 MPa;
• deriving at least a portion of a liquefied natural gas product from at least a portion of the third liquid;
• and
• reacting at least a portion of the methane from at least one of the second vapor and the third vapor to produce at least a portion of a synthesis gas.

An apparatus for producing products from natural gas comprising:

• a first heat exchanger for at least partially liquefying pressurized natural gas comprising helium in an amount of less than 0.5 volume % and methane to produce a liquefied first fluid, said first heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet;
• a first pressure reducer having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the first heat exchanger and an outlet;
• a first separation device having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the first pressure reducer, a vapor outlet for discharging a first vapor comprising helium and a liquid outlet for discharging a first liquid comprising methane;
• a second pressure reducer having an inlet in fluid communication with the liquid outlet of the first separation device and an outlet;
• a second separation device having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the second pressure reducer, a vapor outlet for discharging a second vapor comprising methane and a liquid outlet for discharging a second liquid comprising methane;
• a liquefied natural gas storage vessel having a first inlet in fluid communication with the liquid outlet of the second separation device;
• a second heat exchanger for forming a first multiphase fluid having an inlet in fluid communication with the vapor outlet of the first separation device, and an outlet;
• a third separation device having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the second heat exchanger, a vapor outlet for discharging a crude helium vapor, and a liquid outlet for discharging a third liquid;
• and
• a synthesis gas generator having an inlet in fluid communication with methane from at least one of the vapor outlet of the second separation device and the liquid outlet of the third separation device.