Natural gas hydrates

Journal Article · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/23562-PA· OSTI ID:5892553

Sloan, Jr, E D ^[1]

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1. Colorado School of Mines (US)

This paper reports on gas clathrates (commonly called hydrates), which are crystalline compounds that occur when water form a cage-like structure around smaller guest molecules. Gas hydrates of interest to the natural gas hydrocarbon industry are composed of water and eight molecules: methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, normal butane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide. Hydrate formation is possible in any place where water exists with such molecules - in natural or artificial environments and at temperatures above and below 32{degrees} F when the pressure is elevated. Hydrates are considered a nuisance because they block transmission lines, plug blowout preventers, jeopardize the foundations of deepwater platforms and pipelines, cause tubing and casing collapse, and foul process heat exchangers, valves, and expanders. Common examples of preventive measures are the regulation of pipeline water content, unusual drilling-mud compositions, and large quantities of methanol injection into pipelines. We encounter conditions that encourage hydrate formation as we explore more unusual environments for gas and oil, including deepwater frontiers and permafrost regions.

• OSTI ID: 5892553
• Journal Information: Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States) Vol. 43:12; ISSN JPTJA; ISSN 0022-3522
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ALKANES
BUTANE
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHANE
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FOULING
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GAS HYDRATES
GASES
HYDRATES
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PLUGGING
PROPANE
SYNTHESIS
WELLS