NOVELTY - A volatile fraction containing methane is separated into inlet-port gas flow (12) containing methane, 2C component, 3C component, and a heavier hydrocarbon, and a volatile hydrocarbon fraction containing most 2C or more components. The inlet-port gas flow is divided into supply flows (12a,12b) and the flows are cooled. Flow (12a) with temperature lower than that of flow (12b) is supplied to a packed-bed cooling absorption tower (28) which includes packed beds (I,II) in the top portion. The flows are then processed in a fractionating column (34).    USE - Residue-recycle high-ethane recovery.    ADVANTAGE - The method enables efficient residue-recycle high-ethane recovery with reduced compression requirement.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A volatile fraction containing methane is separated into inlet-port gas flow containing methane, 2C component, 3C component, and a heavier hydrocarbon, and a volatile hydrocarbon fraction containing most 2C or more components. The inlet-port gas flow is divided into supply flows (12a,12b) and the flows are cooled. Flow (12a) with temperature lower than that of flow (12b) is supplied to a packed-bed cooling absorption tower which includes packed beds (I,II) in the top portion. Flow (12b) is supplied to the tower bottom, and tower top flow (30), tower bottom flow (32), and tower side lead-out flow (16) are formed. The side lead-out flow is taken out from the absorption tower and cooled, and at least one portion is condensed to form fractionating column supply flow (40). The top flow is expanded and supplied as fractionating column supply flow (46) to the fractionating column. The bottom flow is supplied as fractionating column supply flow (III). Fractionating column supply flows (40,46,III) and fractionating column reflux flow are separated. The fractionating column top flow containing a more volatile component than methane, and bottom flow (48) containing all 2C or more components are produced. The fractionating column tower top flow (20) is warmed and compressed, and residue gas flow (52) is formed. At least one portion of the residue gas flow is taken out as fractionating column reflux flow. The reflux flow is cooled and supplied as residue-recycle flow (18). Fractionating column supply flow (I) is supplied to the fractionating column, and the amount of residue recycle gas sent to the fractionating column is decreased. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for residue-recycle high-ethane recovery apparatus consisting of an apparatus for separating volatile fraction containing methane, cooler (14) for cooling supply flows (12a,12b), a packed-bed cooling absorption tower, expander (38) for expanding absorption tower top flow, a fractionating column, a heater for warming fractionating column tower top flow, compressor (42) for compressing fractionating column tower top flow and producing residual gas flow, cooler (II) for cooling at least one portion of residual gas flow, and cooler (III) for cooling absorption tower side lead-out flow.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a simplified flow diagram of the 2C or more compound recovery process. (Drawing includes non-English language text)    Inlet-port gas flow (12)    Supply flows (12a,12b)    Cooler (14)    Absorption tower side lead-out flow (16)    Residue-recycle flow (18)    Fractionating column tower top flow (20)    Reboiler bottom flows (24,26)    Packed-bed cooling absorption tower (28)    Absorption tower top flow (30)    Absorption tower bottom flow (32)    Fractionating column (34)    Expander (38)    Fractionating column supply flows I and III (40,46)    Compressor (42)    Fractionating column bottom flow (48)    Residue gas flow (52)