This paper presents the first offshore commercial application of a proprietary kinetic hydrate inhibitor (KHI) developed by Exxon. KHIs are water-soluble, non-toxic polymers that inhibit hydrate formation in pipelines at much lower dose rates than methanol or glycol by greatly slowing the rate of hydrate crystal formation. The KHI first underwent laboratory testing in Exxon's 4-in diameter, 275-foot-long hydrate flowloop at pressures up to 1800 psi. It was then field-tested in a 2-in diameter, 1.5-mi-long buried gas flowline in Alberta, Canada in 1996-1997. Tests were conducted over a range of salinities and in the presence of methanol and glycol. The offshore KHI application took place in 1998 in an Exxon-operated gas pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico. Before KHI was introduced, the 8-in diameter, 28-mi pipeline required 300 L/day methanol injection to avoid hydrates. KHI injected at 5 L/day inhibited hydrate formation for over six months at approximately 6 degree F subcooling. Results will be presented for subcooling performance, start-up procedures, operability data, shut-in performance achieved, and cost comparisons to methanol inhibition. The major conclusion of this work is that kinetic hydrate inhibitors are more cost-effective than methanol in many applications. Successful shut-ins and restarts are achievable with kinetic inhibitors. Operability of kinetic inhibitors is similar to methanol.
Application of proprietary kinetic hydrate inhibitors in gas flowlines
1999
9 Seiten, 9 Quellen
Conference paper
English
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