Method for controlling gas hydrates in fluid mixtures

• US 5,741,758 A
• Filed: 10/13/1995
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BJ Services Company
• Original Assignee: BJ Services Co. USA (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Pakulski, Marek K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Sharon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fee, Valerie
• Application Number:
  US08/543,014
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 507/90, 507/246, 166/304, 166/311, 208/48 AA, 208/48 R, 137/15, 585/950
• US Class Current: 507/90
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2208/22 Hydrates inhibition by using well treatment fluids containing inhibitors of hydrate formers
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/52 Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 3/003 Additives for gaseous fuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 585/95 Prevention or removal of corrosion or solid deposits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 Cleaning, repairing, or assembling

Abstract

A method for controlling the formation of gas hydrate crystals in a fluid mixture by admixing with said fluid mixture a polyoxyalkylenediamine in an amount effective to prevent and/or inhibit crystal growth.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the formation of gas hydrate crystals in a gaseous fluid mixture susceptible to gas hydrate formation, comprising:

admixing with said fluid mixture an effective for controlling the formation of gas hydrates of at least one additive having the general formula;

##STR6## wherein x=1-4, R₁ is an alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and wherein b+f+g is 3 to 30 and n is 2 to 3.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said additive is present in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 5% by weight of the water present in said fluid mixture.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said additive is present in an amount of from about 0.03 to about 0.75% by weight of the water present in said fluid mixture.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid mixture comprises a gaseous phase and an aqueous phase.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid mixture comprises a gaseous phase, an aqueous phase, and an organic liquid phase.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid mixture contains a low boiling hydrocarbon.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said low boiling hydrocarbon contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.