A METHOD FOR PREVENTING OR RETARDING THE FORMATION OF GAS HYDRATES

摘要

A composition is provided herein for preventing or retarding the formation of gas hydrates or for reducing the tendency of gas hydrates to agglomerate, during the transport of a fluid comprising water and a hydrocarbon, through a conduit. The composition is a homopolymer of vinyl caprolactam having the low molecular weight in the range of 500 to 2500, or copolymers thereof, in a defined solvent. Such homopolymers and copolymers preferably are made and applied in the defined solvent, which, most preferably, is a glycol ether such as 2-butoxyethanol.