US 5,536,893 A · Method for production of gas hydrates for transportation and storage

Abstract

Method for the production of gas hydrates for storage and transportation of hydrate forming gases. The gas is pressurized and cooled, whereupon the gas (1b) is supplied to a vessel (6), to which water (7) is added simultaneously to the vessel (6) to form fine water droplets that are dispersed in the gas (1b) supplied. The temperature and pressure in the vessel (6) are adjusted to produce hydrate from water and gas. The gas (1b) supplied and the water droplets (7) react to form hydrate (8a); then the hydrate is then withdrawn from the reactor (6), optionally cooled in a cooling apparatus (11), and then passed to an agglomeration step (12) to agglomerate the hydrate (8a), thus increasing the density of the hydrate (8a) and to embed more gas in the interstices between the hydrate particles (8a). The agglomerated hydrate particles (8a) are transported to a suitable transportation unit or storage container to transport/store the hydrate at adiabatic conditions at atmosphere pressure or at a slight gauge pressure at a temperature below 0.degree. C., preferably at minus 10.degree. C. to minus 15.degree. C.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for transportation or storage of a gas selected from the group consisting of natural gas, associated natural gas, methane, ethane, propane, carbon dioxide, combinations thereof with hydrogen sulfide and mixtures thereof by conversion to a gas hydrate, comprising the steps of:

a) supplying a gas to a reactor maintained at a temperature and pressure sufficient for formation of a hydrate of the gas, and simultaneously supplying to the reactor water in the form of droplets which disperse in the gas, the gas and water droplets reacting to form particles of the gas hydrate;
b) withdrawing the hydrate from the reactor, removing any unreacted gas or water therefrom, and recirculating any unreacted gas or water back to the reactor;
c) agglomerating the particles of gas hydrate to increase particle weight and to embed further gas in interstices between particles of gas hydrate;
and
d) transporting or storing said agglomerated gas hydrate particles at a pressure of about atmospheric pressure under substantially adiabatic conditions obtained by insulation, refrigeration or insulation and refrigeration sufficient to maintain said particles at a temperature of about 0.degree. to -15.degree. C., said agglomerated gas hydrate particles being in metastable form at said pressure and said temperature.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for production of gas hydrates for transportation and storage

Life of this patent

Method for production of gas hydrates for transportation and storage

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20