A method of conditioning natural gas in preparation for storage, comprising the steps of: splitting a stream of continuously flowing natural gas that is flowing through a gas line for processing at a pressure letdown station on its way to end users, the stream of continuously flowing natural gas being split into two streams comprising a slipstream portion and a main flow portion; diverting the slipstream portion of the stream of continuously flowing natural gas through a storage diversion line; lowering the pressure of the main flow portion of the stream of continuously flowing natural gas through the use of at least one turbo expander; passing the main flow portion of the stream of continuously flowing natural gas in a single pass through a series of heat exchangers (28, 30, 32) to effect a staged heat exchange to increase the temperature of the main flow portion of the continuously flowing natural gas prior to entering a distribution pipeline at a lowered pressure; and liquefying the slipstream portion of the natural gas in the storage diversion line in preparation for storage in a storage facility through the staged heat exchange in the series of heat exchangers (28, 30, 32) between the main flow portion of the stream of continuously flowing natural gas in the gas line and the slipstream portion of the natural gas in the storage diversion line; wherein the storage diversion line is arranged as a counter-current flow to the continuously flowing natural gas in the gas line through the series of heat exchangers (28, 30, 32); wherein a liquid knockout is provided immediately downstream of the at least one turbo expander to remove liquefied gases from the main flow portion of the continuously flowing natural gas in the gas line; and wherein a liquid knockout (34, 36, 38) from the storage diversion line is provided immediately downstream of each heat exchanger of the series of heat exchangers (28, 30, 32) to remove liquefied gases heavier than methane from the slipstream portion of the natural gas in the storage diversion line that fall out as the temperature of the natural gas is lowered. splitting a stream of continuously flowing natural gas that is flowing through a gas line for processing at a pressure letdown station on its way to end users, the stream of continuously flowing natural gas being split into two streams comprising a slipstream portion and a main flow portion; diverting the slipstream portion of the stream of continuously flowing natural gas through a storage diversion line; lowering the pressure of the main flow portion of the stream of continuously flowing natural gas through the use of at least one turbo expander; passing the main flow portion of the stream of continuously flowing natural gas in a single pass through a series of heat exchangers (28, 30, 32) to effect a staged heat exchange to increase the temperature of the main flow portion of the continuously flowing natural gas prior to entering a distribution pipeline at a lowered pressure; and liquefying the slipstream portion of the natural gas in the storage diversion line in preparation for storage in a storage facility through the staged heat exchange in the series of heat exchangers (28, 30, 32) between the main flow portion of the stream of continuously flowing natural gas in the gas line and the slipstream portion of the natural gas in the storage diversion line; wherein the storage diversion line is arranged as a counter-current flow to the continuously flowing natural gas in the gas line through the series of heat exchangers (28, 30, 32); wherein a liquid knockout is provided immediately downstream of the at least one turbo expander to remove liquefied gases from the main flow portion of the continuously flowing natural gas in the gas line; and wherein a liquid knockout (34, 36, 38) from the storage diversion line is provided immediately downstream of each heat exchanger of the series of heat exchangers (28, 30, 32) to remove liquefied gases heavier than methane from the slipstream portion of the natural gas in the storage diversion line that fall out as the temperature of the natural gas is lowered.