Performance of Biodegradable Kinetic Inhibitors on Natural Gas Hydrate Formation

Clathrate hydrates of natural gas are solid crystalline inclusions that form when suitably sized hydrocarbon components into a lattice structures formed by water molecules at adequately high pressures and low temperatures. The formation of gas hydrates is particularly critical in subsea production, transport, and processing facilities where conditions are more suitable. Several alternative strategies exist for managing hydrate formation and growth whereas use of low dosage kinetic inhibitors is one method that has gained attention over the recent two decades as the required active concentration is below 1.0 wt. % . Although kinetic hydrate inhibitors require much lower dosages than thermodynamic inhibitors their use may be restricted due to poor biodegradability. The purpose of this study is to examine and compare the performance of two commercially available synthetic kinetic hydrate inhibitors within the biodegradable class, tested through well-established screening methods.