Effect of Surfactants on Hydrate Formation Kinetics

Abstract

In this paper we investigate experimentally the effect of surfactants on the formation kinetics of methane hydrate. The compounds tested include: anionic, cationic and nonionic surfactants. Experimental results indicate that surfactants (at concentrations levels near their CMC) do not influence the thermodynamics, however, they have a strong influence on the kinetics of gas dissolution in the water phase as well as on the overall rate of hydrate formation. In addition, the formed hydrate particles in the presence of the various surfactants exhibit diverse agglomeration characteristics. This work is part of an overall effort to develop the technology required for the safe operation of offshore oil and gas transportation pipelines without inhibitors.

Enhanced growth of methane–propane clathrate hydrate crystals with sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium tetradecyl sulfate, and sodium hexadecyl sulfate surfactants

“…The addition of surface active agents (surfactants) to water is known to enhance the rate of gas uptake during clathrate hydrate crystallization without affecting the equilibrium formation conditions [1]. The fact that one may enhance the hydrate crystallization rate based on the use of chemical additives has potential practical applications including conversion of natural gas into solid hydrate for storage and transport as a solid natural gas hydrate (NGH) [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

Influence of Hydrate Formation and Concentration of Salts on the Corrosion of Steel 20 Pipelines

“…development of corrosion [5,9,15]. At different stages of formation, the liquid is transformed from a liquid state into a semi-solid hydrate, finally into a solid hydrate [16,25]. During each of these steps, constant and continuous interaction between the hydrate phase and the pipe wall can cause cavitation, erosion, spot corrosion, corrosion cracking [11,12,15].…”

Roles of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate on Tetrahydrofuran-Assisted Methane Hydrate Formation

“…As for stainless steel crystallizers, the hydrates could form as snowflakes 27 29 or an open porous hydrate structure 30 suspended at the liquid interface 27 30 . The hydrate particles tended to move to the crystallizer wall because of the colder metal surface resulting in the hydrate growth upward along the wall 23,27 . Gayet et al 30 and Yoslim et al 31 stated that the capillary suction of the liquid from the bulk upward to the free wall can renew the gas-liquid interface of the hydrate growth front.…”