Patent · US Expired

Hydrate inhibition

US6436877B1 · kind B1 · utility

12Cited by
6References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 4, 2000
Grant dateAug 20, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 4, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/0391
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method of inhibiting or retarding formation of hydrates from water and a lower alkane, such as methane or ethane, involves adding additives which comprise (i) a corrosion inhibitor and (ii) a salt which is of formula [R1(R2)XR3]+Y−, wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is bonded directly to X, each of R1 and R2, which may be the same or different is an alkyl group of at least 4 carbons, X is S, NR4 or PR4, wherein each of R3 and R4 which may be the same or different represents hydrogen or an organic group, with the proviso that at least one of R3 and R4 is an organic group of at least 4 carbons, and Y is an anion, the additives being added in an amount effective to inhibit or retard hydrate formation, to a medium susceptible to hydrate formation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.