Controlling the formation of crystalline hydrates in fluid systems
OwnerDavid Grahaminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Controlling the formation of crystalline hydrates in various fluid systems, most notably, gas and oil transmission pipeline systems by contacting the systems with certain polymers or polymers associated with solid particles. The polymers useful are chelating polymers capable of interacting with charged gaseous molecules such as carbon dioxide, by removing the carbon dioxide, or more practically by scavenging for the carbon dioxide, to prevent the methane or ethane hydrate structures from forming since they require carbon dioxide to stabilize their structures.
Claims32
A method of controlling the formation of crystalline hydrates in a fluid system, said method comprising
- scavenging and capturing charged gaseous molecules in the fluid using a polymer;
- seeding the charged gaseous molecules to grow micro hydrate crystals in voids within the polymer;
- thereby preventing the agglomeration of the micro hydrate crystals outside the polymer.
A method as claimed in claim wherein the polymer is associated with a solid particle.
In combination, a mixture of a fluid and a chelating polymer capable of interacting with charged gaseous molecules in the fluid, said polymer scavenging for the gaseous molecules thereby encouraging hydrate structures to form within the embodiment of the polymer substrate structure.
In combination, a mixture of a fluid and a polymer capable of interacting with charged gaseous molecules in the fluid wherein the polymer is associated with a solid particle, said polymer scavenging for the gaseous molecules thereby encouraging hydrate structures to form within the embodiment of the polymer substrate structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.