HIGH CARBON DIOXIDE CONTENT E.G. 1-10% CARBON DIOXIDE BY VOLUME, HIGH PRESSURE HYDROCARBON FEED GASES ARE PROCESSED TO LIQUID ETHANE ESSENTIALLY FREE OF BOTH METHANE AND CARBON DIOXIDE WITH SIMULTANEOUS PRODUCTION OF LOW PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION GAS COMPRISING METHANE AND CARBON DIOXIDE WITHOUT CARBON DIOXIDE ICING TO TO FOUL EQUIPMENT BY TURBO-EXPANSION OF THE PRECOOLED FEED GAS AND STRIPPING THEREOF WHILE MAINTAINING PRESSURES THEREON AT WHICH NONGASEOUS CARBON DIOXIDE REMAINS DISSOLVED IN LIQUID HYDROCARBON. LIQUEFACTION OF THE ETHANE GAS IS ACHIEVED BY HEAT EXCHANGE WITH STRIPPER BOTTOMS. THE PROCESS THUS ACHIEVES MAXIMUM CONSERVATION OF HEAT AND POWER.