US 7,381,689 B2 · Methods for inhibiting hydrate blockage in oil and gas pipelines using amide compounds

Abstract

A method and an amide composition used therein for inhibiting, retarding, mitigating, reducing, controlling and/or delaying formation of hydrocarbon hydrates or agglomerates of hydrates. The method may be applied to prevent or reduce or mitigate plugging of conduits, pipes, transfer lines, valves, and other places or equipment where hydrocarbon hydrate solids may form under the conditions. At least one amide compound is added into the process stream, where the compound may be mixed with another compound selected from amino alcohols, esters, quaternary ammonium, phosphonium or sulphonium salts, betaines, amine oxides, other amides, simple amine salts, and combinations thereof.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for inhibiting formation of gas hydrate plugs in conduits containing a mixture of hydrocarbons and water, the method comprising:

adding at least one compound to the mixture in an effective amount for inhibiting formation of gas hydrates, the at least one compound having a formula selected from:
where:
R1 is an alkyl having from 4 to 5 carbon atoms;
R2 is hydrogen or an alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
R4 is selected from —(CH2)t—, —[CH2—(CHR6)t]—,—(CH2-CHR6O)u —(CH2)t— and combinations thereof, wherein t is an integer 2 to 4, u is 0 or an integer, R6 is hydrogen or an alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms;
R5 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms;
A is N or P;
and
X− is a carboxylate anion.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods for inhibiting hydrate blockage in oil and gas pipelines using amide compounds

Life of this patent

Methods for inhibiting hydrate blockage in oil and gas pipelines using amide compounds

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22