Process for producing sweet CO2 and hydrocarbon streams

In a preferred embodiment, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide are removed from a gaseous stream also containing a recoverable hydrocarbon product by CO2 sweetening, bulk CO2 removal, and hydrocarbon sweetening absorption steps, each absorption utilizing the same alkanolamine as absorbent. According to another aspect, each amine can be selected from the group consisting of tertiary amines and sterically hindered amines. According to yet another aspect, a feed gas comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide can be introduced successively into a carbon dioxide sweetening absorption zone, then into a bulk CO2 removal absorption zone, then into a hydrocarbon sweetening absorption zone. Alternatively, a feed gas comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide can be introduced first into a bulk CO2 removal absorption zone and then streams from the bulk CO2 removal zone can be provided respectively to the hydrocarbon sweetening absorption zone and the CO2 sweetening absorption zone.