Anti-agglomerant hydrate inhibitors and method of use

1. A method comprising:

contacting a fluid with a hydrate inhibitor composition, wherein the hydrate inhibitor composition comprises at least one compound having the structural formula:

wherein R 1 is hydrogen or any C 1 to C 8 hydrocarbon chain,

wherein each of R 2 and R 3 is independently a C 1 to C 88 hydrocarbon chain,

wherein R 4 is hydrogen, a C 1 to C 20 hydrocarbon chain, or —CH 2 —CH(OH)—R 5 ,

wherein R 5 is a C 1 to C 50 alkyl chain or a C 1 to C 50 alkenyl chain,

wherein X − is a counter anion,

wherein n is an integer from 1 to 8, and

wherein: (i) the hydrate inhibitor composition is introduced into the fluid through a conduit or an injection point in fluid communication with a wellbore in which the fluid resides or (ii) the hydrate inhibitor composition is introduced into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation through which the fluid is flowing.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein X − is selected from the group consisting of: a carboxylate, a halide, a sulfate, a sulfonate, a hydroxide, a phosphonate, and any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of: water, a gas, a liquid hydrocarbon, and any combination thereof.

4. A method comprising:

contacting a fluid with a hydrate inhibitor composition, wherein the hydrate inhibitor composition comprises at least one compound having the structural formula:

wherein R 1 is hydrogen or any C 1 to C 8 hydrocarbon chain,

wherein each of R 2 and R 3 is independently a C 1 to C 8 hydrocarbon chain,

wherein R 4 is hydrogen, a C 1 to C 20 hydrocarbon chain, or —CH 2 —CH(OH)—R 5 ,

wherein R 5 is a C 1 to C 50 alkyl chain or a C 1 to C 50 alkenyl chain,

wherein X − is a counter anion,

wherein n is an integer from 1 to 8, and

wherein the hydrate inhibitor composition is introduced into a conduit through which the fluid is flowing.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises water and has a water cut of about 0.1% or more.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises water and the hydrate inhibitor composition is provided in an amount such that the compound is present in the fluid in an amount from about 0.1% to about 10% by volume based on the water cut of the fluid.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein R 5 is any C 1 to C 50 alkyl chain resulting from a reaction between an 1,2-epoxyalkane and a dialkylaminoalkylamine.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the dialkylaminoalkylamine comprises one or more hetero-atoms.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is a reaction product of a reaction between (i) an alkylating agent and (ii) a second intermediate resulting from a reaction between a dialkylaminoalkylamine and a first intermediate, wherein the first intermediate comprises a 1,2-epoxyalkane.

10. A method comprising:

introducing a hydrate inhibitor composition into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein the hydrate inhibitor composition comprises at least one compound having the structural formula:

wherein R 1 is hydrogen or any C 1 to C 8 hydrocarbon chain,

wherein each of R 2 and R 3 is independently a C 1 to C 8 hydrocarbon chain,

wherein R 4 is hydrogen, a C 1 to C 20 hydrocarbon chain, or —CH 2 —CH(OH)—R 5 ,

wherein R 5 is a C 1 to C 50 alkyl chain or a C 1 to C 50 alkenyl chain,

wherein X − is a counter anion, and

wherein n is an integer from 1 to 8.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the hydrate inhibitor composition is introduced into the wellbore through a conduit or an injection point in fluid communication with the wellbore.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein X − is selected from the group consisting of: a carboxylate, a halide, a sulfate, a sulfonate, a hydroxide, a phosphonate, and any combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising allowing the hydrate inhibitor composition to contact a fluid residing in the wellbore.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the fluid comprises water and has a water cut of about 0.1% or more.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the fluid comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of: water, a gas, a liquid hydrocarbon, and any combination thereof.

16. A method comprising:

contacting a fluid with a hydrate inhibitor composition, wherein the hydrate inhibitor composition comprises at least one compound having the structural formula:

wherein R 1 is hydrogen or any C 1 to C 8 hydrocarbon chain,

wherein each of R 2 and R 3 is independently a C 1 to C 8 hydrocarbon chain,

wherein R 4 is hydrogen, a C 1 to C 20 hydrocarbon chain, or —CH 2 —CH(OH)—R 5 ,

wherein R 5 is a C 1 to C 50 alkyl chain or a C 1 to C 50 alkenyl chain,

wherein X − is a counter anion,

wherein n is an integer from 1 to 8, and

wherein the fluid comprises water and (i) has a water cut of about 0.1% or more or (ii) the hydrate inhibitor composition is provided in an amount such that the compound is present in the fluid in an amount from about 0.1% to about 10% by volume based on the water cut of the fluid.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein X − is selected from the group consisting of: a carboxylate, a halide, a sulfate, a sulfonate, a hydroxide, a phosphonate, and any combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein R 5 is any C 1 to C 50 alkyl chain resulting from a reaction between an 1,2-epoxyalkane and a dialkylaminoalkylamine.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the dialkylaminoalkylamine comprises one or more hetero-atoms.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein the compound is a reaction product of a reaction between (i) an alkylating agent and (ii) a second intermediate resulting from a reaction between a dialkylaminoalkylamine and a first intermediate, wherein the first intermediate comprises a 1,2-epoxyalkane.