Advances in hydrate equipment

Gas hydrate blockage in pipelines during offshore production is a major problem with increasing water depth. In deep water environment, low temperature and high-pressure conditions are favourable for formation of gas hydrate in the presence of water and gas molecules. It is a serious flow assurance issue that can lead to plugging of production facilities. To safely implement hydrate management strategies, it is important to study and understand mechanisms and behaviours connected to hydrate formation in different multiphase systems involving gas, oil and water. Several laboratory flow loops have been fabricated to conduct and study hydrate formation, agglomeration and dissociation. Various stages of hydrate formation have been measured and observed under continuous mixing, as a factor of different variables (temperature, pressure, presence of kinetic, thermodynamic inhibitors and anti-agglomerants). This article reviews the recent development of hydrate flow loops for industrial and academic study. Data obtained from experimental hydrate studies in literature can be used to develop predictive models applicable for oil and gas transportation in deep water operations.