Method and apparatus for generating, transporting and dissociating gas hydrates

• US 5,473,904 A
• Filed: 11/12/1993
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: New Mexico Tech Reasearch Foundation
• Original Assignee: New Mexico Tech Reasearch Foundation
• Inventors: Lee, Robert L., Guo, Boyun, Bretz, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): KILNER, CHRISTOPHER B
• Application Number:
  US08/152,302
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 62/1, 62/45, 62/46.2, 62/53.2, 62/59, 62/66, 62/69, 62/46.1, 585/15
• US Class Current: 62/46.1
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 3/06 Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by C10G, C10K3/02 or C10K3/04 liquefying by pressure and cold treatment F25J
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 3/108 Production of gas hydrates
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0099 specially adapted for drilling for or production of natural hydrate or clathrate gas reservoirs; Drilling through or monitoring of formations containing gas hydrates or clathrates
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 11/00 Use of gas-solvents or gas-sorbents in vessels absorbing compositions for acetylene C10L3/04; absorbing compositions for hydrogen C01B3/0005

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for generating, transporting and dissociating gas hydrates are disclosed. The preferred apparatus includes a mobile tank initially containing liquid water. Compressed hydrate-forming gas is combined in a pipe with the liquid water under locally supercooled conditions. The formed gas hydrate is blown into the mobile tank for transport and eventual consumption.

Claims

1. A method of forming clathrate hydrate comprising the steps of:

a) pressurizing a hydrate-forming gas;

b) cooling liquid water below the gas-water-hydrate equilibrium curve;

c) combining the hydrate-forming gas and the liquid water while locally supercooling the gas; and

d) thereby forming a clathrate hydrate.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing liquid water from a mobile tank.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of providing liquid water comprises pumping liquid water under a pressure of approximately 300 psi from the mobile tank.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of pressurizing a hydrate-forming gas comprises compressing the hydrate-forming gas to a pressure of at least approximately 400 psi.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of combining the gas and the liquid water while locally supercooling the gas comprises releasing the gas through a nozzle.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of blowing the clathrate hydrate into the mobile tank.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of dissociating the clathrate hydrate into hydrate-forming gas and water by isothermally depressurizing the clathrate hydrate.

8. Apparatus for forming clathrate hydrate comprising:

means for pressurizing a hydrate-forming gas;

means for cooling liquid water below the gas-water-hydrate equilibrium curve; and

means for combining said hydrate-forming gas and said liquid water while locally supercooling said gas;

wherein clathrate hydrate is thereby formed.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising means for providing liquid water from a pressurized mobile tank.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for providing liquid water comprise means for pumping liquid water from the pressurized mobile tank.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for pressurizing said hydrate-forming gas comprises means for compressing said hydrate-forming gas to a pressure of at least 400 psi.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for combining said hydrate-forming gas and said liquid water while locally supercooling said gas comprises means for releasing the gas through a nozzle.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for blowing said clathrate hydrate into said pressurized mobile tank.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising means for dissociating said clathrate hydrate into hydrate-forming gas and water by isothermally depressurizing said clathrate hydrate.

15. Apparatus for forming clathrate hydrates comprising:

means comprising a mobile tank for storing and transporting pressurized liquid water;

means for pumping said liquid water into a chiller;

means for compressing and feeding hydrate-forming gas into said chiller;

means for locally supercooling said hydrate-forming gas;

means for combining said liquid water and said hydrate-forming gas to form clathrate hydrates; and

means for blowing said clathrate hydrates into said mobile tank.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means comprising a mobile tank comprises means for pressurizing said liquid water and said clathrate hydrate at approximately 300 psi at a temperature of approximately 33°

F.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for locally supercooling said hydrate-forming gas comprises a nozzle.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for combining said liquid water and said hydrate-forming gas comprises a pipe.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said chiller comprises means for cooling both said liquid water and said hydrate-forming gas to a temperature of approximately 34°

F.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for selectively connecting said mobile tank to the remainder of said apparatus for forming clathrate hydrates.