# US 10,870,789 B2 · Composition for limiting the formation and/or agglomeration of gas hydrates > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,789 B2 - Document ID: US10870789B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/778,926 - Filed: 2016-11-25 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-27 - Assignees: Arkema France - Applicants: Arkema France - Inventors: Tong Eak Pou; Frédéric Moser; Gilles Barreto; Jean-Philippe Gillet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870789B2 ## CPC - C09K 8/524: organic depositions, e.g. paraffins or asphaltenes - C09K 8/52: Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning - C09K 2208/22: Hydrates inhibition by using well treatment fluids containing inhibitors of hydrate formers - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract Provided is a composition that includes (i) at least one compound represented by formula (I) as defined herein or a salt thereof and (ii) a nonionic surfactant. The composition is useful for limiting or preventing the formation and/or agglomeration of gas hydrates, by combining the composition and a production fluid that includes an aqueous phase and one or more gases. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A composition, comprising: (i) at least one compound represented by formula (I) or a salt thereof: wherein R1 represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C6 to C30 alkyl chain, wherein the alkyl chain is optionally interrupted with one or more hydrocarbon-based rings, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a group —(CHRa—CHRb)—COOR5, wherein Ra and Rb, which may be identical or different, represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a group —(CHRa—CHRb)—COOR6, wherein Ra and Rb, which may be identical or different, represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R4 represents a hydrogen atom or a group —(CHRa—CHRb)—COOR7, wherein Ra and Rb, which may be identical or different, represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R5, R6 and R7, which may be identical or different, represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C1 to C12 alkyl chain, wherein at least one of the radicals R2, R3 or R4 comprises a carboxylic acid function (—COOH), m represents an integer ranging from 1 to 6, n represents an integer ranging from 0 to 10, and p is 0 or 1; and (ii) at least one nonionic surfactant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein p is 0, R2 represents a group —(CH2)2—COOR5, R3 represents a group —(CH2)2—COOR6, and R4 represents a group —(CH2)2—COOR7, wherein R5, R6 and R7, which may be identical or different, represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C1 to C12 alkyl chain, wherein at least one of the radicals R5, R6 and R7 represents a hydrogen atom. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The composition of claim 2, wherein R5, R6 and R7 each represent a hydrogen atom. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein n is an integer ranging from 0 to 4. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein n is 0, p is 0, R1 represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C8 to C18 chain, R2 represents a hydrogen atom, and R3 represents a group —(CHRa—CHRb)—COOR6, wherein Ra and Rb, which may be identical or different, represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and wherein R6 represents a hydrogen atom. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the nonionic surfactant is chosen from esters formed from alcohols and/or alkoxylated alcohols and from linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C8 to C30 acids, alkoxylated fatty acids, and alkoxylated fatty alcohols. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan isostearate, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the total amount of the nonionic surfactant ranges from 0.5% to 15% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the total amount of the nonionic surfactant ranges from 1% to 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises at least one of sorbitan monolaurate and sorbitan monostearate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the compound represented by formula (I) is in the form of a salt. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the nonionic surfactant is an ester, alkoxylated fatty acid or an alkoxylated fatty alcohol. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one additive. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of anticorrosion agents, anti-paraffins, mineral deposit inhibitors, anti-asphaltenes, de-emulsifiers, and surfactants. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method of preparing the composition of claim 1, comprising combining (i) and (ii). ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A process for limiting or preventing the formation and/or agglomeration of gas hydrates, comprising combining (1) the composition of claim 1 and (2) a production fluid comprising an aqueous phase and one or more gases. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, wherein the composition is combined with the production fluid in an amount ranging from 0.1% to 10% by weight, relative to the weight of the aqueous phase of the production fluid.