Abstract
This paper presents complex permittivity measurements obtained with open-ended coaxial probes during formation of gas hydrates in oil-continuous systems. Gas hydrates are water solids, where gas molecules are captured in cages in the crystal structure. Gas hydrates are stable at low temperatures and high pressures. They may therefore form in petroleum production pipelines and subsequently form plugs that obstruct the flow. This paper shows how dielectric spectroscopy can be used to study hydrate formation and plug formation in oil-continuous systems. Dielectric mixing formulas are used to quantify hydrate formation. Moreover, it is showed how hydrate agglomeration, which is a key step in hydrate plug formation, can be detected from the measured complex permittivity spectra. Agglomeration of hydrate particles and hydrate covered water droplets due to liquid bridging causes an additional dielectric dispersion due to cluster polarization to appear in the measured spectra. Eventually, the clusters form a continuous path through the mixture (percolation), and the measured spectra indicate a water-continuous or bi-continuous system.
Published Version
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