Alkenyl succinimides and use as natural gas hydrate inhibitors
Disclosed are succinimide-based compounds used in compositions and methods for inhibiting natural gas hydrate agglomerates. The succinimide-based compounds are reaction products of an alkenyl succinic anhydride and an amine or amine alcohol.
1. A composition comprising succinimide-based compounds having the general formula:
wherein R 1 is a ring structure linking to R 2 ,
wherein R 2 is a ring structure linking to R 1 , and
wherein, R 3 is an alkyl or alkenyl chain or ring, saturated or unsaturated.
2. A method of inhibiting formation of agglomerates of natural gas hydrates comprising:
introducing into a fluid a composition comprising the succinimide-based compounds of claim 1 to inhibit formation of agglomerates of natural gas hydrates.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein introducing is by injecting or pumping.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein introducing is into a downhole.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fluid is contained in an oil or natural gas production operation or pipeline.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fluid comprises water, natural gas, and liquid hydrocarbon.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fluid comprises water of about 1% to about 80% weight/weight with respect to a hydrocarbon phase.
8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the composition further comprises corrosion inhibitors, thermodynamic gas hydrate inhibitors, kinetic gas hydrate inhibitors, anti-agglomerants, asphaltene inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, scale inhibitors, emulsifiers, water clarifiers, dispersants, emulsion breakers, or any combination thereof.
9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein R1 and R2 are each selected from an aminopropyl pyrrolidine or aminopropyl azepine.
10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the succinimide-based compounds are from about 1 wt/v % to about 80 wt/v % based on the composition.
11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises corrosion inhibitors, thermodynamic gas hydrate inhibitors, kinetic gas hydrate inhibitors, anti-agglomerants, asphaltene inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, scale inhibitors, emulsifiers, water clarifiers, dispersants, emulsion breakers, or any combination thereof.
12. A composition comprising:
a fluid; and
the succinimide-based compounds of claim 1 .
13. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the succinimide-based compounds are about 1000 ppm to 50,000 ppm.
14. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the fluid comprises water, natural gas, and liquid hydrocarbon.