Formation of Hydrate Slurries in a Once-Through Operation

Abstract

The major parameters for a hydrate slurry flow model are suggested. A field trial in a once-through pipeline indicated a significantly confined operating region without plugging. The implication of these results is that current versions of hydrate cold flow will need to address hydrate film growth and deposition on pipewalls. Flow loop tests alone do not simulate the extent of plugging because of film growth or deposition. A unique learning in this work is that emulsified droplet distributions were measured as a function of watercut, surfactant concentration, and fluid velocity. Droplet size and droplet size distribution increased with an increasing watercut below the inversion point. Droplet size and droplet size distribution decreased with an increasing surfactant concentration. An increasing surfactant concentration limited wall deposits to some extent. An increasing fluid velocity reduced wall deposits and hydrate slurry viscosity. Wall deposits decreased with a decreasing gas void fraction.