A method and apparatus for separating mercury and other undesired
constituents from a natural gas stream includes passing the raw gas
stream sequentially through a first separator, an amine treatment unit, a
cooler, a second separator, a dehydrator, a cooler and a third separator.
The first separator receives the natural gas stream and separates
hydrocarbon and water condensates from the stream; the amine treatment
unit removes acid gases; the cooler reduces the temperature of the gas
stream to condense additional hydrocarbons and water that are removed by
the second separator; and the dehydrator removes water vapor. Next, the
temperature of the stream is reduced by the second cooler to condense the
mercury and any remaining hydrocarbon vapors. The third separator
includes a vessel having a gas inlet and outlet for discharging processed
gas, a deflector disposed proximate the inlet for deflecting mercury and
other condensates in the gas stream and a mercury trap disposed at the
bottom of the vessel to collect the mercury.