Comparison of Laboratory Results on Hydrate Induction Rates in a THF Rig, High‐Pressure Rocking Cell, Miniloop, and Large Flowloop

Abstract

A bstract : This paper compares experimental data obtained on three high‐pressure devices and one atmospheric apparatus that measure hydrate formation onset and dissociation temperatures. The high‐pressure devices are rocking sapphire tubes, a 0.5‐inch diameter miniloop, and a 4‐inch diameter flowloop. High‐pressure miniloop results are compared to atmospheric pressure, tetrahydrofuran (THF) rig results in which chemically similar inhibitors ranked in different order. Although high‐pressure, stirred tank apparatus is considered by many to be effective in obtaining data of this kind, this paper does not include any stirred‐tank data. Many kinetics experiments are insensitive to the high‐pressure apparatus used. However, results of kinetic experiments obtained in different types of screening apparatus may not agree if the methods of hydrate detection are different. An example of a gas/condensate/brine system that would be difficult to characterize in a rocking‐cell or stirred‐tank apparatus is discussed.