Use of portable analytical methods to determine the stoichiometry of reaction for hexahydrotriazine-based hydrogen sulfide scavenger operations.

Abstract

During the reaction between 1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)hexahydro-s-triazine and hydrogen sulphide, the principle by-product is the organic sulphide 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)dithiazine. It can be determined by a novel, portable, field-capable ion mobility spectrometry method described herein and enables the "degree spent" to be determined. Dependant upon the level of carbon dioxide in the produced gas, a mixture of ethanolaminium bicarbonate and ethanolamine bisulphide is also produced. Using a field capable spectrophotometric method the level of inorganic sulphide can be determined, thus allowing the ethanolaminium bisulphide concentration to be calculated. Provided the fluid is only partially spent, and there is some unreacted 1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)hexahydro-s-triazine remaining; the only source of inorganic sulphide is the amine salt. From a knowledge of the original fluid concentration, the combination of these two methods allows the effective stoichiometry, or observed molar reaction proportions between 1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)hexahydro-s-triazine and hydrogen sulphide, to be measured for a specific field location.