Gas hydrate inhibitors

A method for inhibiting the formation of gas hydrates in systems comprising mixtures of hydrocarbons and water, said method comprising adding to the mixture of a quaternary ammonium amide salt of formula I:

• wherein
• R1(CO)— is the residue of a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, aliphatic carboxylic acid containing from 6 to 24carbon atoms;
• R2 and R3 are, independently of each other, a butyl or a pentyl group;
• R4 is linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 5carbon atoms;
• X can be R4OSO3−, R4O(CO)O−, bicarbonate and carbonate;
• a can be 1 or 2;
• with the proviso that at least 50% by weight of the aliphatic carboxylic acid contains less than 16 carbon atoms.