Patent ID: 6941771

Claim:
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) warming the first portion of pressurized liquid LNG from step c) to a temperature of greater than −250° F.; e) separating the heated first portion of pressurized liquid LNG from step d) into a methane rich stream and a heavier hydrocarbon liquid stream; f) using the second portion of the pressurized liquid LNG without heating as an external reflux during the separation of the methane rich stream from the heavier hydrocarbon liquid stream; g) removing the heavier hydrocarbon liquid stream from the process for storage or pipeline transportation; h) compressing the separated methane rich stream; and i) cooling and liquefying all of the compressed methane rich stream by heat exchange with the first portion of the liquid pressurized LNG.