NZ237020A - Prevention of hydrate formation in fluids flowing through a pipe by addition of alkyl aryl sulphonic acids - Google Patents
Prevention of hydrate formation in fluids flowing through a pipe by addition of alkyl aryl sulphonic acidsInfo
- Publication number
- NZ237020A NZ237020A NZ237020A NZ23702091A NZ237020A NZ 237020 A NZ237020 A NZ 237020A NZ 237020 A NZ237020 A NZ 237020A NZ 23702091 A NZ23702091 A NZ 23702091A NZ 237020 A NZ237020 A NZ 237020A
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- fluid
- water
- cell
- alkyl aryl
- hydrates
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L1/00—Liquid carbonaceous fuels
- C10L1/32—Liquid carbonaceous fuels consisting of coal-oil suspensions or aqueous emulsions or oil emulsions
- C10L1/328—Oil emulsions containing water or any other hydrophilic phase
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
Description
New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number £37020
237 020
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NEW ZEALAND
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No.: Date:
PATENTS ACT, 1953
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
A MCTBOD FOR PRKVBVTIBS BTMATBS
SHELL IBTRK8AIIONALE RKSKARCH MUTSCHAPFIJ BV, of Carel van Bylandtlaan 30, 2596 HR The Hague, the Netherlands, a Netherlands company,
hereby declare the invention for which I / we pray that a patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: -
(Followed by Page la)
237 020
- 1 a-
T 5398
A METHOD FOR PREVENTING HYDRATES
The invention relates to a method for preventing or retarding the formation of hydrates or for reducing the tendency of hydrates to agglomerate during the transport of a fluid through a conduit.
It is well known in the art that the formation of hydrates in 5 a conduit, e.g. a pipeline, during the transport of oil and gas can be a serious problem, especially in areas with a low temperature in the winter season or in the sea. Generally the temperatures are so low that hydrate formation, due to the inevitable presence of coproduced water in the wells, takes place if no special steps are 10 taken. It is possible to insulate a pipeline when during transport from the well, the temperature of the fluid in the pipeline decreases. Insulation decreases the chance of hydrate formation, but on the other hand it is expensive. If the field is relatively small and at long distance from the production platform the costs 15 of insulation may be too high to make the field economically attractive.
It is also known to control the hydrate formation by addition of chemical compounds in the fluid which is transported, e.g. by the use of glycols, e.g. ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol. A 20 disadvantage thereof is that large amounts of glycol are needed (in the order of 30% by weight calculated on the amount of water).
In the U.S.S.R. Inventor's Certificate 697696 is disclosed a composition suitable for the prevention of hydrate formation, which composition comprises diethylene glycol with a minor amount of 25 alkyl aryl sulphonate (in a quantity of 0.3-0.5% based on the weight of the diethylene glycol).
Surprisingly it has been found that alkyl aryl sulphonic acids or alkali metal- or ammonium salts thereof can be used without glycols, to control hydrate formation.
I*
23 7 o
2
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The invention relates to a method for preventing or retarding the formation of hydrates or for reducing the tendency of hydrates to agglomerate in a stream of fluid comprising water and hydrocarbon during transport of the fluid through a conduit, which method comprises adding to the fluid an alkyl aryl sulphonic acid or an alkali metal- or ammonium salt thereof substantially in the absence of glycol flowing in the stream.
The hydrocarbon may be a liquid or a gas, but is preferably a gas such as methane, ethane, propane, isopropane, butane or isobutane. The fluid may be produced from oil wells as veil as from gas wells. The fluid may also include natural gas.
Depending upon the pressure hydrates may be formed at temperatures well above the freezing point of water. Ethane hydrates, for example, are formed at pressures between 10 and 30 bar (1 and 3 MPa) and temperatures between 4 'C and 14 °C.
Formation and agglomeration of hydrate crystals will thus easily occur in pipelines surrounded by a cold atmosphere.
The problem of formation and agglomeration of gas hydrates is not limited to gas wells, but also occurs in oil wells, if water and gas are present in the fluid.
The alkyl aryl sulphonic acids or their salts preferably have an aryl group derived from benzene, toluene, ortho-, meta- or para-xylene. The alkyl group is preferably a long chain alkyl group, which may be branched or straight. The alkyl group may be e.g. a Cg-C22-alkyl group.
Preferred compounds are those of the chemical formula wherein X is H, Na or K and R is a cg~c22 a^cy^ group-
More preferred compounds are those wherein R is a end/or alkyl or a -alkyl group, such as those known under the trade name DOBANAX-320, DOBANAX-313 and DQBANAX-205.
R
237020
Other groups of preferred compounds are dialkyl benzene sulphonaces of the chemical structure or wherein X is an alkali metal and and R^ are the same or different Cj-C^Q-alkyl groups, preferably Cg-C^-alkyl groups.
The alkyl aryl sulphonates are added In quantities from 0.1 per cent to 3 per cent by weight, calculated on the weight of the water present in the fluid. A preferred range is from 0.2 to 1 percent, more preferred in the range of from 0.3 to 0.6 per cent.
To study the influence of a small quantity of alkyl aryl sulphonates on the nucleation temperature, kinetics of the crystal growth and morphology of the crystals, a high pressure, jacketed visual cell was built. The cell was made of stainless steel and had a cooling jacket to allow a good and easy temperature control of the cell. Two sapphire windows allowed visual observation of the 15 cell content. The cell was provided with two valves one for the introduction of liquid and one for gas. At the bottom of the cell a stirring bar cared for good mixing of the cell content. The inner volume of the cell was 66.4 ml and dead volumes were reduced to a minimum. The cell was further tested together with its loading 20 system at a pressure of 100 bar over a period of 80 hours without any pressure drop being observed. The cell usually worked at a pressure of below 30 bar. The cell was located in a plexiglass cage.
A personal computer based data acquisition system allowed the 25 measurement of the temperature and pressure inside the cell once per minute. The set point of a thermoscated bach, connected to the cooling jacket, could be set automatically by the computer. A steel well went deeply inside the cell in which a platinum resistance thermometer was introduced. On the cell was mounted a pressure
237 0
transducer, wich a very small temperature hysteresis and a high accuracy.
Before a run was made, the cell was rinsed with demineralized water, rinsed with ethanol and vacuum dried, all without 5 dismounting the cell.
To carry out the experiment demineralized water and decane were introduced as liquid into the cell. The water contained 0.3% per cent by weight of alkyl aryl sulphonic acid or salt thereof, if desired. Ethane was introduced as a gas into the cell. The run 10 started at 20 *C and the temperature in the cell was dropped, via the jacket connected to the thermostatic bath by lowering its temperature. The amounts of water, decane and ethane were 25, 5.8 and 4.7 grams respectively. The pressure was 25 bar at 20 *C, and no ethane hydrates were formed.
The thermometer sent a digital signal, the pressure meter an analog signal, to the computer. The computer could also send a set point command to the thermostatic bath. During each experiment the temperature and the pressure of the cell were recorded, together with the time, at every minute. Of a given composition, comprising 20 water, decane and ethane and if desired the alkyl aryl sulphonic acid or salt thereof, a temperature-time and a pressure-cime curve could be made.
By lowering the temperature, which was accompanied by a pressure drop, to below the equilibrium temperature point at which 25 hydrates and liquid were in equilibrium, ethane hydrates were formed. The rather sudden formation of hydrates was read from che temperature- and pressure-time curve. A relatively steep rise in temperature (about 0.5 *C) and a pressure drop (about 1 to 5 bar) occurred.
At the same time the formation of hydrates was seen through a sapphire window. The formation of hydrate crystals consumes the free ethane molecules. Ihe progressive drop of the cell pressure that occurs after nucleation has started is a good indication of the quanciey of hydrate formed as a funccion of cime.
Claims (9)
1. A method for preventing or retarding the formation of hydrates or for reducing the tendency of hydrates to agglomerate in a stream of fluid comprising water and hydrocarbon during transport of the fluid through a conduit, which method comprises adding Co the fluid an alkyl aryl sulphonic acid or an alkali metal- or ammonium salt thereof substantially in the absence of glycol flowing in the stream.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises one or more hydrocarbons from the group consisting of: methane, ethane, propane, isopropane, butane and isobutane.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the fluid comprises natural gas.
4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 wherein a Cg-C22~alkyl aryl sulphonic acid or an alkali metal- or ammonium salt thereof is added to the fluid.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein a compound of the chemical structure R wherein X is H, Ma or K and R is a Cg-Cjj alkyl group, is added to the fluid. 6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a compound of the chemical structure CH
A X03S CH 3 so,x and/or \ wherein X is an alkali metal and and R2 are the same or ^37 020 • 7 - different C2-C2Q-alkyl groups, is added to the fluid.
7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1-6 wherein the quantity of alkyl aryl sulphonate ranges from 0.1 per cent to 3 per cent by weight, calculated on the weight of the water present in the fluid.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the quantity of alkyl aryl sulphonate lies in the range of from 0.2 to 1 per cent.
9. A method for preventing or retarding the formation of hydrates or for reducing the tendency of hydrates to agglomerate as claimed in claim 1 as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples 1-3. DATED THIS AY OF XJU, 19^ , N f V O* /<* * oV, ^2 \ JUL19«7 *
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB909003617A GB9003617D0 (en) | 1990-02-16 | 1990-02-16 | A method for preventing hydrates |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ237020A true NZ237020A (en) | 1992-11-25 |
Family
ID=10671171
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
NZ237020A NZ237020A (en) | 1990-02-16 | 1991-02-05 | Prevention of hydrate formation in fluids flowing through a pipe by addition of alkyl aryl sulphonic acids |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0457375B1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2036084A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69100197T2 (en) |
DK (1) | DK0457375T3 (en) |
GB (1) | GB9003617D0 (en) |
NO (1) | NO180783C (en) |
NZ (1) | NZ237020A (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2016133470A1 (en) | 2015-02-16 | 2016-08-25 | Göksel Osman Zühtü | A system and a method for exploitation of gas from gas-hydrate formations |
Families Citing this family (21)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DK0607426T3 (en) * | 1992-07-06 | 1998-08-24 | Eniricerche Spa | Process for producing and visually pumping high viscous petroleum products |
US5420370A (en) * | 1992-11-20 | 1995-05-30 | Colorado School Of Mines | Method for controlling clathrate hydrates in fluid systems |
US5432292A (en) * | 1992-11-20 | 1995-07-11 | Colorado School Of Mines | Method for controlling clathrate hydrates in fluid systems |
USH1749H (en) * | 1994-09-15 | 1998-09-01 | Exxon Production Research Company | Method for inhibiting hydrate formation |
US5600044A (en) * | 1994-09-15 | 1997-02-04 | Exxon Production Research Company | Method for inhibiting hydrate formation |
US5491269A (en) * | 1994-09-15 | 1996-02-13 | Exxon Production Research Company | Method for inhibiting hydrate formation |
US5583273A (en) * | 1994-09-15 | 1996-12-10 | Exxon Production Research Company | Method for inhibiting hydrate formation |
US6015929A (en) * | 1994-09-15 | 2000-01-18 | Exxon Research And Engineering Co. | Gas hydrate anti-agglomerates |
US5841010A (en) * | 1994-09-15 | 1998-11-24 | Exxon Production Research Company | Surface active agents as gas hydrate inhibitors |
US5744665A (en) * | 1995-06-08 | 1998-04-28 | Exxon Production Research Company | Maleimide copolymers and method for inhibiting hydrate formation |
US5936040A (en) * | 1995-06-08 | 1999-08-10 | Exxon Production Research Company | Method for inhibiting hydrate formation using maleimide copolymers |
US6194622B1 (en) | 1998-06-10 | 2001-02-27 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Method for inhibiting hydrate formation |
US6359047B1 (en) | 2001-03-20 | 2002-03-19 | Isp Investments Inc. | Gas hydrate inhibitor |
NO316295B1 (en) | 2002-05-07 | 2004-01-05 | Agr Group As | Method and apparatus for removing a hydrate plug |
US7585816B2 (en) | 2003-07-02 | 2009-09-08 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Method for inhibiting hydrate formation |
FR2879189B1 (en) * | 2004-12-13 | 2007-03-30 | Inst Francais Du Petrole | METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING SUSPENDED HYDRATES INTO PRODUCTION EFFLUENTS USING A NON-POLLUTANT ADDITIVE |
WO2007095399A2 (en) | 2006-03-15 | 2007-08-23 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Method of generating a non-plugging hydrate slurry |
CA2645828A1 (en) | 2006-03-24 | 2007-10-04 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Composition and method for producing a pumpable hydrocarbon hydrate slurry at high water-cut |
CN101802347B (en) | 2007-09-25 | 2013-07-03 | 埃克森美孚上游研究公司 | Method for managing hydrates in subsea production line |
US9988568B2 (en) | 2015-01-30 | 2018-06-05 | Ecolab Usa Inc. | Use of anti-agglomerants in high gas to oil ratio formations |
FR3092331A1 (en) | 2019-02-06 | 2020-08-07 | Arkema France | COMPOSITION TO PREVENT AGGLOMERATION OF GAS HYDRATES |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
SU697696A1 (en) * | 1977-12-01 | 1979-11-15 | Всесоюзный Научно-Исследовательский И Проектный Институт По Подготовке К Транспортировке И Переработки Природного Газа | Composition for inhibiting paraffin-hydrate deposition |
JPS5935960B2 (en) * | 1982-02-25 | 1984-08-31 | 株式会社 柏化学工業 | Cleaning agent for piping |
FR2625548B1 (en) * | 1987-12-30 | 1990-06-22 | Inst Francais Du Petrole | PROCESS FOR DELAYING FORMATION AND / OR REDUCING THE TENDENCY TO AGGLOMERATION OF HYDRATES |
-
1990
- 1990-02-16 GB GB909003617A patent/GB9003617D0/en active Pending
-
1991
- 1991-02-05 NZ NZ237020A patent/NZ237020A/en unknown
- 1991-02-08 DE DE91200272T patent/DE69100197T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-02-08 DK DK91200272.2T patent/DK0457375T3/en active
- 1991-02-08 EP EP91200272A patent/EP0457375B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-02-11 CA CA002036084A patent/CA2036084A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-02-15 NO NO910619A patent/NO180783C/en unknown
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2016133470A1 (en) | 2015-02-16 | 2016-08-25 | Göksel Osman Zühtü | A system and a method for exploitation of gas from gas-hydrate formations |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
NO180783C (en) | 1997-06-18 |
DE69100197T2 (en) | 1993-12-02 |
NO180783B (en) | 1997-03-10 |
GB9003617D0 (en) | 1990-04-11 |
NO910619D0 (en) | 1991-02-15 |
DK0457375T3 (en) | 1993-12-27 |
EP0457375A1 (en) | 1991-11-21 |
NO910619L (en) | 1991-08-19 |
CA2036084A1 (en) | 1991-08-17 |
DE69100197D1 (en) | 1993-09-02 |
EP0457375B1 (en) | 1993-07-28 |
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