The chemical structure of polyether amines (PEA), mainly electron donating multiple oxygen and
nitrogen atoms as well as active hydrogen atoms, make such compounds actively participating in
the formation of hydrogen bonds with surrounding molecules. Hydrophobic polypropylene
glycol functionality gives PEA's properties of multi-headed surfactants having hydrophilic amine
groups. These groups have a strong affinity for water molecules, ice and hydrate crystals. Such
PEA compounds have been known for several years. However, the hydrate inhibition properties
of PEA’s were only discovered about twelve years ago. The first discovery stimulated more
research in laboratories and led to practical applications for hydrate inhibition in gas fields. An
interesting property of PEAs is their synergistic effect on hydrate inhibition when applied
concurrently with polymeric kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHI) or thermodynamic inhibitors (THI).
The combination inhibitors are better inhibitors than a single component one. Quaternized
polyether diamines are efficient antiagglomerant (AA) hydrate inhibitors while different
derivatization can produce dual functionality compounds, i.e. corrosion inhibitors/gas hydrate
inhibitors (CI/GHI). With all of this versatility, PEAs found application for hydrate inhibition in
oil and gas fields onshore and offshore in production, flowlines and completion. The PEAs have
an excellent record in protecting gas-producing wells from plugging with hydrates. (Final corrected copy of ICGH paper 5347)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/1085 |
| Date | 07 1900 |
| Creators | Pakulski, Marek, Szymczak, Steve |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
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