Original scientific paper
Published in: Holistic Approach Environ. 4(2014) 2, pp. 54 – 61
Paper reference number: HAE-84
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NATURAL GAS HYDRATE INHIBITION USING METASTABLE STATES BETWEEN COMPETING CLATHRATE PHASES

Viktor Foltin^*, Jan Rajzinger^**

^* Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Mathematics and Physics, Slovakia

^** Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Thermal Power Engineering, Slovakia

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ABSTRACT

This work summarizes the current understanding of formation and stability of natural gas hydrates – clathrates of methane encaged in crystalline lattice of water – with emphasis on their role as a hazard in natural gas pipelines. A novel method of hydrate formation inhibition is proposed that is based on creation of a metastable state between structure I and II clathrates by changing partial pressures of methane and ethane in natural gas flow. The work encourages future experiments that would look at the range of partial pressures of ethane added to methane gas that would lead to clathrate formation suppression.

Keywords: natural gas hydrate, hydrate formation, metastable states, crystallography, flow assurance
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