Preventing Gas Hydrate Agglomeration with Polymer Hydrogels

This study investigates the potential to use hydrogel particles for simultaneously inhibiting the formation of gas hydrates and preventing their agglomeration after they form. The particles were synthesized specifically for this application and swell to a controlled degree in water and remain discrete. A stirred autoclave was used to determine the hydrate onset time, subcooling temperature, initial growth rate, and torque changes during hydrate formation with the water absorbed in the hydrogel particles. The system also included a liquid decane phase which simulates a condensate. In comparison to water (with no particles) + decane mixture, the hydrate onset time was delayed and the subcooling temperature increases. In addition, both the initial growth rate and hydrate fraction were lower for polymer hydrogels. Stable torque is observed for polymer hydrogels while there are sharp increase…