Natural gas hydrates from different types and concentrations of surfactant solutions were
produced in a high-pressure cell. An anionic, a cationic, and a nonionic surfactant were used to
prepare different concentration of surfactant solutions from deionized water. Although the
thermodynamics of hydrate formation from a gas mixture is not affected with the existence of
surfactants in the environment, there is an appreciable effect of type and concentration of
surfactant on hydrate formation rate. The hydrate formation rate is increased with the use of
anionic surfactant for all concentrations tested. Hydrate formation rate is also increased at low
concentrations of cationic surfactant. The effect of nonionic surfactant is less pronounced compared
to anionic and cationic ones.
The promotion effect of two polymers and three surfactants on methane hydrate formation
was investigated in a high-pressure system. For all of the tested chemicals, 1 wt % aqueous
solutions were prepared and methane hydrate was formed in those media to detect their effect
on hydrate formation rate. It was determined that Igepal-520 is the most effective promoter on
methane hydrate formation rate with respect to a reference test carried out by using only pure
water.
The hydrate inhibition potential of four different polymers has been tested in a high-pressure apparatus at high pressures and low temperatures. Aqueous polymer solutions were prepared at 1 wt % concentration. Methane (99.5% purity) was used as hydrate former gas. Hydrate formation rates of the tests were calculated to decide the best inhibitors. A known hydrate inhibitor, poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and a water-soluble thermoplastic polymer (PEO) were determined the best kinetic inhibitors among them.
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