Title: An experimental study of the hydrate formation and blockage in the partially dispersed system

Authors: Shuyu Song; Guozheng Zhao; Zhiming Liu; Liyan Shang; Zhenbo Lv

Addresses: College of Petroleum Engineering, Liaoning Petrochemical University, Fushun Liaoning, China ' College of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering, Liaoning Shihua University, Fushun Liaoning, China ' Shandong Key Laboratory of Oil-Gas Storage and Transportation Safety, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao Shandong, China ' College of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering, Liaoning Shihua University, Fushun Liaoning, China ' Engineering Training Centre, Liaoning Shihua University, Fushun Liaoning, China

Abstract: Hydrates in partially dispersed system can easily form in pipelines and cause blockages. Therefore, the formation and blockage characteristics of hydrates under different pressures and temperatures were studied through a high-pressure circulation pipeline. The results showed that the induction time and plugging time decrease as the initial pressure increases. An increase in the flow rate will prolong the induction period and plugging time. A free water layer appears at the bottom of the pipeline before hydrate formation, and water films are formed on the inner wall of pipeline. When hydrate formation conditions are reached, the water films will transform into hydrate films, and hydrate particles will also generate inside the fluid. The initially formed hydrate will cause the free water layer to disappear. With the aggregation of hydrate particles and the thickening of the hydrate film, the circulation area of the pipeline decreases, which eventually cause plugging. [Received: October 14, 2020; Accepted: March 14, 2021]

Keywords: hydrate; initial pressure; flow rate; induction time; flow loop.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2022.121267

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2022 Vol.29 No.4, pp.343 - 358

Received: 13 Oct 2020
Accepted: 14 Mar 2021

Published online: 03 Mar 2022 *

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