Method for inhibiting the plugging of conduits by gas hydrates

Abstract

A method for inhibiting the plugging of a conduit, the conduit containing a flowing mixture comprising an amount of hydrocarbons having from one to eight carbon atoms and an amount of water wherein the amounts of hydrocarbons and water could form hydrates at conduit temperatures and pressures, the method comprising the steps of: adding to the mixture an amount of a hydrate formation inhibitor component of the formula ##STR1## wherein two of R.sub.1 -R.sub.4 are independently normal or branched alkyls having 4 or 5 carbon atoms, two of R.sub.1 -R.sub.4 are independently representing organic moieties having at least 8 carbon atoms, A represents a nitrogen or phosphorus atom, and Y represents an anion; the amount of the hydrate formation inhibitor component being effective to inhibit formation of hydrates in the mixture at conduit temperatures and pressures; and flowing the mixture containing the hydrate formation inhibitor component through the conduit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.