Composition and method for reducing hydrate agglomeration
View Patent ↗Disclosed and claimed is a composition and method of inhibiting the formation of hydrate agglomerates in a fluid comprising water, gas, and optionally liquid hydrocarbon comprising adding to the fluid an effective anti-agglomerant amount of the following formula and optionally salts thereof: wherein each R 1 is independently absent, C 1 -C 10 alkyl, benzyl, or H; wherein R 2 is C 1 -C 10 alkyl; wherein R 3 C 1 -C 10 alkyl; and wherein R 4 is C 4 -C 22 alkyl or alkenyl.
1. A composition comprising the following formula and optionally salts thereof:
wherein each R 1 is independently C 1 -C 10 alkyl, benzyl, or H;
wherein R 2 is C 1 -C 10 alkyl;
wherein R 3 C 1 -C 10 alkyl; and
wherein R 4 is C 4 -C 22 alkyl or alkenyl.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein each alkyl is independently selected from the group consisting of: a straight chain alkyl, a branched chain alkyl, a cyclic alkyl, a saturated version of the foregoing, an unsaturated version of the foregoing, and combinations thereof.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl for each of R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of: methyl; ethyl; propyl; butyl; pentyl; hexyl; heptyl; octyl; nonyl; decyl; and combinations thereof.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl for R4 is selected from the group consisting of: butyl; pentyl; hexyl; heptyl; octyl; nonyl; decyl; and combinations thereof.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are methyl.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are butyl or n-butyl.
7. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising counterion X— as shown in the general formula below
8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the counterion is a halide.
9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the halide is selected from the group consisting of: fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, and any combination thereof.
10. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the counterion is a carboxylate selected from: reaction with mineral acid; acrylic acid; acetic acid; methacrylic acid; glycolic acid; thioglycolic acid; propionic acid; butyric acid; and combinations thereof.
11. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of: thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors, one or more kinetic hydrate inhibitors, one or more additional anti-agglomerants, and combinations thereof.
12. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of: asphaltene inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, emulsifiers, water clarifiers, dispersants, emulsion breakers, and combinations thereof.
13. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one polar or nonpolar solvent or a mixture thereof.
14. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of isopropanol, methanol, ethanol, 2-ethylhexanol, heavy aromatic naptha, toluene, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGMBE), diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, xylene, and combinations thereof.
15. A method of inhibiting the formation of hydrate agglomerates in a fluid comprising water, gas, and optionally liquid hydrocarbon comprising adding to the fluid an effective anti-agglomerant amount of the composition of claim 1 .
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said fluid has a salinity of 1% to 25% w/w percent total dissolved solids.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said fluid has a water cut from 1 to 80% v/v total dissolved solids.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fluid is contained in an oil or gas pipeline or refinery.
19. A composition comprising at least one or any combination of the formulas and optionally salts thereof:
20. The composition of claim 1 , comprising at least one or any combination of the following formulas: