Assessing the feasibility of hydrate deposition on pipeline walls—Adhesion force measurements of clathrate hydrate particles on carbon steel

Adhesive forces between cyclopentane (CyC5) hydrates and carbon steel (CS) were measured. These forces were found to be substantially lower than CyC5 hydrate–CyC5 hydrate particle measurements and were also lower than ice–CS measurements. The measured adhesive forces were used in a force balance to predict particle removal from the pipeline wall, assuming no free water was present. The force balance predicted entrained hydrate particles of 3 microns and larger diameter would be removed at typical operating flow rates in offshore oil and gas pipelines. These predictions also suggest that hydrate deposition will not occur in stabilized (cold) flow practices.

Adhesion force measurements of a hydrate particle and steel surface (a–d).Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide