Hydrate Inhibitor
HYDRATE INHIBITORS
Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. manufactures a wide variety of hydrate inhibitors whose application is a function of the pressures, temperatures, salinity present in the gas pipelines, and the degree of sub cooling that is required.
SERVICE AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. will analyze your application to help determine the most effective and economical methodology and product.
HYDRATE INHIBITORS GENERAL DISCUSSION
The chemistry developed by Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. for kinetic hydrate inhibition has been shown to be extremely effective in reducing gas production costs.
Natural Gas Hydrates are ice like crystalline solids composed of cages of hydrogen bonded water molecules surrounding hydrocarbon gas molecules.
Experience has shown that the gas composition, water chemistry, pressures, and temperatures are key components in determining the type of inhibitor and dosage to be used in any specific application.
Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. polymers currently can prevent hydrate formation in difficult conditions up to 95 bar and to date, provide up to 14 degrees of sub-cooling. Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. inhibitors are effective in hydrate prevention and replacement of thermodynamic inhibitors such as methanol, monoethylene glycol (glycol), and triethylene glycol. These products are costly to use, generally need to be transported in large volumes and have both health and safety considerations.
In some cases, Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. utilizes methanol as the carrier (solvent) for the polymers for cost reasons only. Where health and safety concerns are an issue, the methanol carrier can be replaced with other solvents such as water, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, etc. In any case, most often the hydrate inhibitor volumes are only 2 to 4% of the original methanol volumes.
Where corrosion is an issue due to either the oxygen being introduced by the methanol or due to the washing action of the methanol on the corrosion inhibitor film, the ability of the Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. Hydrate Inhibitors to reduce methanol volumes to less than 4% of the original methanol volumes may be an important consideration.
In order to recommend the most suitable hydrate inhibition chemistry, a complete system review should be conducted. Ideally, this should include a system review from the wellhead through to the gas plant with a temperature and pressure profile along the way. Based on this data the degrees of sub-cooling can be determined and the appropriate chemistry can be recommended.
Other factors which are used in determining the type of inhibitor and dosage rates include shut-down and start up procedures, length of time for a shut-down, variations either in gas composition or gas chemistry, other chemical treatments which may have a synergistic or dilatory effect on the inhibition properties and/or other chemical treatments.
CONTINUOUS TREATMENT
Pipelines, flowlines and producing wells can be treated continuously by injecting inhibitor directly into the system at volumes predetermined in conjunction with your sales representative. Monitoring of back pressures can be used to help determine optimal injection rates.
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
The information in this bulletin is believed to be accurate but all recommendations are made without warranty, since the conditions of use are beyond Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. control. The listed properties are illustrative only and not product specifications. Westhaven Energy Company Ltd. disclaims any liability connection with the use of the information. The use of these products being beyond the control of the manufacturer, no guarantee, expressed or implied, is made as to the effects of such or the results to be obtained if not used in accordance with directions or established safe practice. The buyer must assume all responsibility, including injury or damage, resulting from its misuse as such, or in combination with other materials.