Method for predetermining a polymer for inhibiting hydrate formation

摘要

A method for inhibiting the formation and/or agglomeration of clathrate hydrates in a petroleum fluid stream containing water is disclosed. The disclosed method uses predetermined inhibitors having a guest group, a polymer backbone, and an anchor group positioned between the guest group and the polymer backbone. The inhibitor predetermination method comprises selection of the polymer backbone, anchor group and guest group using several types of criteria. The polymer backbone should produce a substantially water soluble polymer in combination with the anchor group and the guest group. The anchor group should be a hydrophilic moiety with between one and four hydrogen bonding atoms. The guest group should be either a hydrophobic or amphiphilic moiety with a carbon atom to heteroatom ratio greater than or equal to about two to one and an average van der Waals diameter between about 3.8 angstroms and about 8.6 angstroms. Some inhibitors selected using the disclosed predetermination method have produced a subcooling temperature of about 30.0 DEG F. Of 56 predetermined inhibitors, 18 have produced a subcooling temperature >/=24.0 DEG F., 22 have produced a subcooling temperature <24.0 DEG F. but >/=15.0 DEG F., and 16 have produced a subcooling temperature <15.0 DEG F. but >10.0 DEG F.