Method for preventing or retarding the formation of gas hydrates
AssigneeISP Investments Inc.
InventorsKirill N. Bakeev, Jui-Chang Chuang, Thomas Winkler, Michael A. Drzewinski, David E. Graham
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Abstract
A composition for preventing or retarding the formation of gas hydrates during the transport of a fluid comprising water and a hydrocarbon through a conduit. The composition is a copolymer of vinyl caprolactam and vinyl pyridine, and terpolymers thereof, with vinyl pyrrolidone, preferably including 70-97% by weight vinyl caprolactam. Suitably such polymers have a molecular weight in the range of 500 to 2500, and are made in a polymerization solvent, preferably a glycol ether, most preferably, 2-butoxyethanol; and also including a carrier solvent, preferably monoethylene glycol.
Claims15
A composition for preventing or retarding the formation of gas hydrates or for reducing the tendency of gas hydrates to agglomerate during the transport of a fluid comprising water and a hydrocarbon, through a conduit, consisting essentially of a copolymer of (a) vinyl caprolactam and (b) vinyl pyridine, and, optionally, a terpolymer thereof with (c) vinyl pyrrolidone.
A single phase composition for preventing or retarding the formation of gas hydrates or for reducing the tendency of gas hydrates to agglomerate, during the transport of a fluid comprising water and a hydrocarbon, through a conduit containing water, consisting essentially of, (a) a solution of a copolymer of vinyl caprolactam and a vinyl pyridine, optionally, a terpolymer with vinyl pyrrolidone, having a molecular weight in the range of about 500 to about 2500, (GPC, polyethylene glycol standard), made in (b) a polymerization solvent which is a glycol ether containing an alkoxy group having at least 3 carbon atoms, and including (c) a carrier solvent, and, optionally, (d) water or methanol, or mixtures thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.