Process and apparatus for separation of hydrocarbons from liquefied natural gas

1. A process for separating a feed liquefied natural gas containing at least methane and a hydrocarbon less volatile than methane, into a product natural gas enriched with methane and lean in the hydrocarbon less volatile than methane and a heavier fraction lean in methane and enriched with the hydrocarbon less volatile than methane, using a distillation column, comprising the steps of:

(a) heating the feed liquefied natural gas in a heat exchanger;

(b) passing the fluid heated in step (a) into a distillation column;

(c) withdrawing the heavier fraction from a bottom part of the distillation column;

(d) withdrawing a residue gas from a top part of the distillation column;

(e) liquefying a part of the residue gas in the heat exchanger;

(f) refluxing a part of the liquid portion of the fluid obtained in step (e) into the distillation column;

(g) withdrawing, as the product natural gas, the remainder of the liquid portion of the fluid obtained in step (e), which has not been fed into the distillation column in step (f);

(h) heating the fluid heated in step (a), in a heat exchanger different from the heat exchanger used in step (a), prior to step (b);

(i) separating a gas portion from the fluid obtained in step (e) and then pressurizing the gas portion;

(j) liquefying the whole portion of the fluid obtained in step (i), in the heat exchanger used in step (h); and

(k) withdrawing the fluid obtained in step (j) as a product natural gas.

2. A process for separating a feed liquefied natural gas containing at least methane, ethane and a hydrocarbon less volatile than ethane, into a product natural gas enriched with methane and ethane and lean in the hydrocarbon less volatile than ethane and a heavier fraction lean in methane and ethane and enriched with the hydrocarbon less volatile than ethane, using a distillation column, comprising the steps of:

(a) heating the feed liquefied natural gas in a heat exchanger;

(b) passing the fluid heated in step (a) into a distillation column;

(c) withdrawing the heavier fraction from a bottom part of the distillation column;

(d) withdrawing a residue gas from a top part of the distillation column;

(e) liquefying a part of the residue gas in the heat exchanger;

(f) refluxing a part of the liquid portion of the fluid obtained in step (e) into the distillation column;

(g) withdrawing, as the product natural gas, the remainder of the liquid portion of the fluid obtained in step (e), which has not been fed into the distillation column in step (f);

(h) heating the fluid heated in step (a), in a heat exchanger different from the heat exchanger used in step (a), prior to step (b);

(i) separating a gas portion from the fluid obtained in step (e) and then pressurizing the gas portion;

(j) liquefying the whole portion of the fluid obtained in step (i), in the heat exchanger used in step (h); and

(k) withdrawing the fluid obtained in step (j) as a product natural gas.

3. An apparatus for separating a feed liquefied natural gas containing at least methane and a hydrocarbon less volatile than methane, into a product natural gas enriched with methane and lean in the hydrocarbon less volatile than methane and a heavier fraction lean in methane and enriched with the hydrocarbon less volatile than methane, using a distillation column, comprising:

a distillation column to which a heated feed liquefied natural gas is fed, from a bottom part of which the heavier fraction is withdrawn, and from a top part of which a residue gas is withdrawn;

a first heat exchanger in which the feed liquefied natural gas and the residue gas are heat exchanged to heat the feed liquefied natural gas and to cool the residue gas and liquefy a part of the residue gas;

a gas-liquid separation means for separating the partially liquefied fluid obtained in the first heat exchanger into a liquid portion and a gas portion;

a refluxing means for refluxing a part of the liquid portion of the residue gas which has been liquefied in the first heat exchanger, into the distillation column;

a line for withdrawing the remainder of the liquid portion of the residue gas which has been liquefied in the first heat exchanger, as a product natural gas;

a pressurization means for pressurizing the gas portion;

at least one second heat exchanger provided between the first heat exchanger and the distillation column, for further heating the liquefied natural gas, wherein said second heat exchanger liquefies the whole portion of the pressurized gas portion; and

a line for withdrawing the fluid liquefied in the second heat exchanger, as a product natural gas.

4. An apparatus for separating a feed liquefied natural gas containing at least methane, ethane and a hydrocarbon less volatile than ethane, into a product natural gas enriched with methane and ethane and lean in the hydrocarbon less volatile than ethane and a heavier fraction lean in methane and ethane and enriched with the hydrocarbon less volatile than ethane, using a distillation column, comprising:

a distillation column to which a heated feed liquefied natural gas is fed, from a bottom part of which the heavier fraction is withdrawn, and from a top part of which a residue gas is withdrawn;

a first heat exchanger in which the feed liquefied natural gas and the residue gas are heat exchanged to heat the feed liquefied natural gas and to cool the residue gas and liquefy a part of the residue gas;

a gas-liquid separation means for separating the partially liquefied fluid obtained in the first heat exchanger into a liquid portion and a gas portion;

a refluxing means for refluxing a part of the liquid portion of the residue gas which has been liquefied in the first heat exchanger, into the distillation column;

a line for withdrawing the remainder of the liquid portion of the residue gas which has been liquefied in the first heat exchanger, as a product natural gas;

a pressurization means for pressurizing the gas portion;

at least one second heat exchanger provided between the first heat exchanger and the distillation column, for further heating the liquefied natural gas, wherein said second heat exchanger liquefies the whole portion of the pressurized gas portion; and

a line for withdrawing the fluid liquefied in the second heat exchanger, as a product natural gas.