Gas hydrate powder formation – Ultimate solution in natural gas flow assurance

• We demonstrate gas hydrate powder formation for the first time.
• Hydrate volume fraction can be as high as 95% with fluidity features.
• The new anti-agglomerant shows kinetic inhibition effect.
• We propose a mechanism for the formation of hydrate powders.

Gas hydrates may plug hydrocarbon flowlines even at low hydrate volume fraction due to agglomeration. Anti-agglomeration is perhaps the most effective approach for flow assurance. An effective anti-agglomerant (AA) can prevent gas hydrate particles from sticking together by lowering of the water–oil interfacial tension and increase of the contact angle of water on hydrate surface. In a recent work, we have introduced a new AA formulation which is effective; it forms hydrate slurry over a broad range of oil to water ratio. In this study, we introduce a modified chemical formulation effective at extreme conditions when hydrate powders are formed from two different gases. The formation of hydrate powders has not been reported in the literature. The powders flow readily in rocking cells. The hydrate fraction can be as high as 95% with fluidity behavior. The AA effectiveness reported in this study is much higher than the past work. A new anti-agglomeration mechanism is also proposed. The gas hydrate powder formation may have applications not only in flow assurance, but also in energy storage.