Suppression Performance of an Unmodified Bio-Extract for Simulated Offshore Gas Hydrate Mitigation

Abstract

Abstract Gas hydrate inhibition through the use of chemicals has been ongoing over the years and these chemicals are toxic, synthetic and expensive, adding to the cost of doing oil and gas business, and also leads to environmental degradation. The call for greener environment has necessitated the search for more eco-friendly gas hydrate inhibitors. This paper takes a look at the use of a bio-extract in its unmodified state to inhibit gas hydrate using a locally made mini flow loop for gas hydrate studies. The bio extract was compared to a conventional gas hydrate inhibitor 2-Di(methylaminoethyl)methacrylate (2-DMAEM). For all the weight percentages considered (0.01-0.05wt%), the bio-extract had better pressure profiles. At the end of the experiment which lasted for 120 minutes, this is attributed to the fact that the pressures in the system were more regulated which prevented rapid gas dissolution in water. The Bio-extract is plant based, locally available in the commercial quantity and is eco-friendly so it should be harnessed as gas hydrate inhibitors in lieu of the expensive and imported conventional hydrate inhibitor 2-DMAEM which non-eco-friendly.