The use of a bench-scale high pressure apparatus to evaluate the effectiveness of a locally sourced material as gas hydrate inhibitor

Abstract

The effectiveness of a local reagent as gas hydrate inhibitor has been evaluated using a bench scale high pressure apparatus. The effectiveness of methanol (MeOH) a conventional gas hydrate inhibitor was used as a bench mark for the evaluation of the Local Reagent's (LR) effectiveness. Various weight percentages of the local reagent were experimented in a 0.5-inch internal diameter 316 stainless steel pipe bench-scale high pressure apparatus enclosed in a 4-inch PVC pipe and skid mounted on an external metal frame work. Pressure and temperature profiles and inhibition efficiency plots showed that the Local Reagent (LR) performed better than the conventional inhibitor methanol in almost all the weight percentages (except 1 wt.%). The optimum weight percentage for inhibition required was shown to be 2 wt.%. The average inhibition efficiency of the LR is 80%, MeOH is 66% while that of 3 and 4 wt.% is 80.7%. The LR locally sourced, is obtained from plant material (Phyto chemical analysis showed the presence of phenolic compound such as tannins, phenols, saponins, alkaloids and flavonoids that aided its effectiveness) and is less expensive than methanol which is toxic to both the environment and living things. The LR is recommended for further development as gas hydrate inhibitor.