POLYMERS AND METHOD FOR INHIBITING HYDRATE FORMATION

摘要

Novel copolymers of N-vinyl amides and acrylamides and N-allyl amides and acrylamides are useful for inhibiting the formation of clathrate hydrates in a fluid having hydrate forming constituents. More specifically, the novel copolymers can be used in treating a petroleum fluid stream such as natural gas conveyed in a pipe to inhibit the formation of a hydrate restriction in the pipe. The hydrate inhibitors used for practicing the method of the present invention comprise substantially water soluble polymers having N-vinyl amide or N-allyl amide units. The novel copolymers have at least either an N-vinyl amide monomeric unit or an N-allyl amide monomeric unit in combination with an acrylamide monomeric unit. Some novel copolymers of interest, particularly as hydrate inhibitors, include N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide copolymerized with acryloylpyrrolidine, methacryloylpyrrolidine or N-isopropylmethacrylamide.