Patent ID: 7377127

Claim:
A plant comprising: a column comprising a rectification section and an absorption section, wherein the column is fluidly coupled to a first separator that is configured to separate a feed into a lean oil liquid and a vapor; a turbo-expander configured to expand a first portion of the vapor and fluidly coupled to the column to provide the expanded first portion to the absorption section, and an exchanger fluidly coupled to the separator and configured to cool a second portion of the vapor wherein the exchanger is fluidly coupled to the column to provide the cooled second portion as a reflux to the rectification section; a second separator that is configured to receive a cooled natural gas feed and to separate the cooled natural gas feed into a vapor portion of the natural gas, a liquid portion of the natural gas, and water, and wherein the feed of the first separator comprises at least some of the vapor portion of the natural gas; a feed stripping column that is configured to receive the liquid portion of the natural gas, that is configured to form a bottom product comprising natural gas liquids, and that is configured to produce a stripping column overhead product that is optionally dried, and introduced into the column; and wherein the exchanger is further configured to subcool the lean oil liquid to a temperature sufficient to condense and absorb carbon dioxide and C2 components in the column and to provide the subcooled lean oil liquid to the absorption section.