Patent ID: 8414683

Claim:
A process for removal of acid gases from an untreated natural gas stream comprising first sending said untreated natural gas stream to an ocean vessel and then sending said from 1 to 100% of said untreated natural gas stream through a membrane unit containing a membrane for selective separation of acid gases from natural gas and thereby forming a partially purified natural gas stream having an acid gas content lower than said untreated natural gas stream and then passing said partially purified natural gas stream and from 0 to 99% of said untreated natural gas stream to an amine column wherein said natural gas stream is placed in contact with an aqueous amine absorbent contained within the amine column, wherein said aqueous amine absorbent removes acid gases from said natural gas stream thereby forming a natural gas product effluent having an acid gas content less than said partially purified natural gas stream wherein as said ocean vessel is subjected to greater forces by wind and waves, less of said untreated natural gas stream passes directly to said amine column without first passing through said membrane unit.