Abstract

In order to give an optimal design of methane hydrate inhibitors for deep-sea drilling, the most popular thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors (THIs) including NaCl and glycol, kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHIs) including poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) and poly (vinylcaprolactam), and the mixtures of these inhibitors were experimentally tested in drilling fluid under the seabed conditions at different water depths. Moreover, a high performance KHI was developed and was proved to be a better one than the typical KHIs. Based on the performance tests and compatibility tests, the optimal hydrate inhibitors were designed for drilling deep-sea wells located at different water depth.

Keywords:
flow assurance, initial hydrate formation, temperature curve, concentration, deep-sea drilling, pvcap, khis, catastrophic hydrate formation, hydrate inhibition performance test, vva
Subjects:
Flow Assurance, Hydrates
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2015. International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers
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