Polyaromatic hydrocarbon additives for hydrate inhibition
Methods involving anti-agglomerant hydrate inhibitors and polyaromatic hydrocarbons for hydrate inhibition are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include introducing a hydrate inhibitor composition including an anti-agglomerant hydrate inhibitor into a fluid including (i) water and (ii) one of gas, liquid hydrocarbon, and any combination thereof; and introducing a polyaromatic hydrocarbon into the fluid.
1. A method comprising:
introducing a hydrate inhibitor composition comprising an anti-agglomerant hydrate inhibitor into a fluid comprising (i) water and (ii) one of gas, liquid hydrocarbon, and any combination thereof, wherein the anti-agglomerant hydrate inhibitor comprises at least one compound having the structural formula:
where R 1 is C 5 -C 22 , R 2 is C 1 -C 6 and X − is a counter anion; and
introducing a polyaromatic hydrocarbon into the fluid.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein X— is selected from the group consisting of: a carboxylate, a halide, a sulfate, an organic sulfonate, a phosphonate, a hydroxide, and any combination thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid resides within a location selected from the group consisting of: a conduit, a wellbore, a subterranean formation, and a vessel.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrate inhibitor composition is introduced into a conduit through which the fluid is flowing.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyaromatic hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of: benzene, xylene, toluene, naphthalene, anthracene, pyrene, and any combination thereof.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein sufficient anti-agglomerant hydrate inhibitor is introduced into the fluid to reach a concentration of from about 0.1% to about 15% anti-agglomerant hydrate inhibitor by weight of an aqueous phase of the fluid.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises water and has a water cut of up to 80%.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises less than 500,000 ppm total dissolved solids.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein after the step of introducing the polyaromatic hydrocarbon into the fluid, the polyaromatic hydrocarbon and the anti-agglomerant hydrate inhibitor are present in concentrations having a ratio of from about 2:1 to about 10:1 by volume.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises an oil phase and the polyaromatic hydrocarbon is present in an amount of from about 1% to about 30% by weight of the oil phase.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrate inhibitor composition further comprises a nonionic surfactant or an anionic surfactant.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrate inhibitor composition and the polyaromatic hydrocarbon are introduced into the fluid substantially simultaneously.
13. A method comprising:
forming a hydrate inhibitor composition by mixing an anti-agglomerant hydrate inhibitor with a polyaromatic hydrocarbon, wherein the polyaromatic hydrocarbon and the anti-agglomerant hydrate inhibitor are present in concentrations having a ratio of from about 2:1 to about 10:1 by volume; and
injecting the hydrate inhibitor composition into a subsea umbilical.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the polyaromatic hydrocarbon comprises a solvent selected from the group consisting of: cyclohexanone, tetrahydrofuran, and any combination thereof.
15. A method comprising:
introducing a hydrate inhibitor composition comprising an anti-agglomerant hydrate inhibitor and at least one of a nonionic surfactant or an anionic surfactant into a fluid comprising (i) water and (ii) one of gas, liquid hydrocarbon, and any combination thereof; and
introducing a polyaromatic hydrocarbon into the fluid.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the fluid resides within a location selected from the group consisting of: a conduit, a wellbore, a subterranean formation, and a vessel.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the hydrate inhibitor composition is introduced into a conduit through which the fluid is flowing.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the polyaromatic hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of: benzene, xylene, toluene, naphthalene, anthracene, pyrene, and any combination thereof.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein sufficient anti-agglomerant hydrate inhibitor is introduced into the fluid to reach a concentration of from about 0.1% to about 15% anti-agglomerant hydrate inhibitor by weight of an aqueous phase of the fluid.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fluid comprises water and has a water cut of up to 80%.