Title:
A COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR INHIBITING AGGLOMERATION OF HYDRATES IN PIPELINES
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2010/111226
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
The invention is an anti-agglomeration composition for preventing hydrates from binding together and forming plugs in pipelines, particularly from off shore gas wells. The inventive composition contains a combination of a surfactant and an alcohol cosurfactant, both present in low amounts to limit environmental effects as well as to reduce the cost of separation in downstream operations. The inventive composition comprises a surfactant and an alcohol co-surfactant each provided in effective amounts to cause anti-agglomeration of hydrates at high subcooling temperatures and/or at high water-cuts. Preferably, the surfactant is a Rhamnolipid biosurfactant and the alcohol cosurfactant is methanol, the alcohol cosurfactant being present at concentrations low enough such that side effects such as salt deposition are avoided. Generally, the alcohol cosurfactant should be present at from 0.05-5% wt., with the surfactant present at from 0.01 to 10% wt, more preferably 0.01-5% wt.. Using the present invention, agglomeration of hydrates in gas and oil pipelines can be reduced.
Inventors:
FIROOZABADI ABBAS (US)
YORK DALTON
XIAOKAI LI (US)
YORK DALTON
XIAOKAI LI (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2010/028241
Publication Date:
January 20, 2011
Filing Date:
March 23, 2010
Export Citation:
Assignee:
YALE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF COOPERATIVE RES (US)
FIROOZABADI ABBAS (US)
YORK DALTON
XIAOKAI LI (US)
FIROOZABADI ABBAS (US)
YORK DALTON
XIAOKAI LI (US)
International Classes:
C09K8/524; C07C7/20; C10L3/00; E21B37/06
Foreign References:
| US5981816A | 1999-11-09 | |||
| US5936040A | 1999-08-10 | |||
| US6093862A | 2000-07-25 | |||
| US4856593A | 1989-08-15 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
COLEMAN, Henry, D. (714 Colorado AvenueBridgeport, CT, US)
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