Method for inhibiting hydrate formation

Abstract

A method for inhibiting the formation of clathrate hydrates in a fluid having hydrate forming constituents is disclosed. More specifically, the method can be used in treating a petroleum fluid stream such as natural gas conveyed in a pipe to inhibit the formation of a hydrate restriction in the pipe. The hydrate inhibitors used for practicing the method are substantially water soluble polymers formed from a cyclic imino ether. Some examples of such inhibitors include various N-acyl polyalkyleneimines, such as N-acyl substituted polyethyleneimine, N-acyl substituted polypropyleneimine, N-acyl substituted polybutyleneimine, N-acyl substituted polypentyleneimine and copolymers thereof. Also, such N-acyl substituted polyalkyleneimines can be used in various ratios with other substantially water soluble polymers and copolymers. Preferably, a solvent such as water, brine, alcohol, or mixtures thereof is used to produce an inhibitor solution or mixture to facilitate treatment of the petroleum fluid stream.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.