ENGINEERING

EXPLORATION
PROJECT

“GAS HYDRATES IN FLOW ASSURANCE

 A PROJECT REPORT ON

“GAS HYDRATES IN FLOW ASSURANCE”

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
For the award of the degree of
BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
IN
PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
Submitted by
MUHAMMAD SAHAL K
21551A2710
M. PAVAN K. NAGESWARA RAO
22555A2709 22555A2707

M.S.S. SATYANARAYANA
22555A2713
Under the Supervision of
Dr .A.V. RAMANA
Associate Professor

DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

GODAVARI INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (A)
CHAITANYA KNOWLEDGE CITY, NH-16, RAJAHMUNDRY, AP, INDIA
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM, A.P - INDIA

MAY 2023

1
 GODAVARI INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

(Autonomous)

NH-16 Chaitanya Knowledge City, Rajahmundry-533296.

DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this project report “GAS HYDRATES IN FLOW ASSURANCE” is the bonafide
work of “ MUHAMMAD SAHAL K (21551A2710), M. PAVAN (22555A09), K.
NAGESWARA RAO (22555A2707), M.S.S. SATYANARAYANA (22555A2713)”, who
carried out the project work under my supervision during the year 2022 to 2023, towards
partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Bachelor of Technology in Petroleum
Engineering as administered under the Regulations of Godavari Institute of Engineering &
Technology (A), Rajamahendravaram, AP, India and award of the Degree from Jawaharlal Nehru
Technological University, Kakinada. The results embodied in this report have not been submitted
to any other University for the award of any degree.

Signature of the Supervisor Signature of the Head of the Department

Dr.A.V. RAMANA Md. AHAMMAD SHARIF

Associated professor Head of the Department

Department of Petroleum Engineering Department of Petroleum Engineering

External Viva-Voice conducted on ________

Internal Examiner External Examiner

2
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It gives us a great sense of pleasure to present the report of the B. Tech Project undertaken
during [Link] Second year. We owe special debt of gratitude to our guide Dr. A.V. RAMANA,
Department of Petroleum Engineering, for his constant support and guidance throughout the
course of our work. His sincerity, thoroughness and perseverance have been a constant source of
inspiration for us.

We also take the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of Professor Mr. Md.
AHAMMAD SHARIF, HOD, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Godavari Institute of
Engineering and Technology, Rajahmundry for his full support and assistance during the
development of the project.

We would like to express our deep sense of gratitude to Dr. P.M.M.S. SARMA
Principal, for providing me a chance to undergo the course in the prestigious institute.
We also do not like to miss the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of all faculty
members of the department for their kind assistance and cooperation during the development of
our project.
We owe our special thanks to the Management of our college for providing necessary
arrangements to carry out this project.

Submitted by

MUHAMMAD SAHAL K - 21551A2709

M. PAVAN - 2255512709

K. NAGESWARA RAO – 22555A2707

M.S.S. SATYANARAYANA – 22555A2713

3
 Table of Contents

TASK NO TOPIC NAME PAGE NO.

➢ TASK 01 OBJECTIVE 06-08

➢ TASK 02 INTRODUCTION 09-13

➢ TASK 03 CHALLENGES FACED BY OUR TEAM 14-15

DURING DESIGNING

➢ TASK 04 LEARNING TECHNIQUES 16-18

➢ TASK 05 CHALLENGES FACED BY OUR TEAM 19-21

WHILE MAKING PROJECT

➢ TASK 06 PROTOTYPE OF GAS HYDRATES ON FLOW 22-23

LINES

➢ TASK 07 TESTING OF HYDRATE FLOW LINES 24

4
 TASK 01

OBJECTIVES
[Link] OF GAS HYDRATES IN FLOW LINES
The change in physical properties of sediment due to presence of hydrates and underlying free
gas enable detection of hydrates. In this respect two primary properties are seismic velocity and
electrical resistivity. These properties have been used in seismic survey and down hole logs,
respectively. Because hydrates have high seismic velocity, sediment velocity is increased by
inclusion of a hydrate layer. On the other hand, partial replacement of pore fluid by hydrates does
not much alter the density of the layer. Hence, impedance contrast across a hydrated layer is
mainly due to velocity contrast.
For marine occurrences Bottom Simulating Reflector (BSR) is the most common indicator of gas
hydrates. It occurs at the base of hydrate stability zone i.e., top of underlying free gas layer. BSR
runs parallel to the sea bottom and cuts across flat or dipping stratigraphic reflectors. BSR is
produced due to strong negative impedance contrast between the high velocity sediment
containing hydrates and underlying low velocity sediment containing free gas. This always gives
a negative reflection with respect to seafloor which is shown in figures 5 and 6.

5
Fig. 5 A synthetic seismogram showing a seafloor reflection resulting mainly from the density
contrast and BSR arising mainly due to velocity contrast between the hydrate layer and free gas
underneath it. (Source: Hyndman and Dallimore, 2001).

Fig. 6 An example of a strong BSR on a seismic section showing a negative reflection waveform, opposite to that of the seafloor
(Source: Hyndman and Dallimore, 2001).

BSR also can form where there is only a small volume of the hydrates and only small quantity of free gas
in the underlying layer because even a small amount of gas reduces velocity significantly. On the other
hand, as we shall see presently, in some cases, BSRs are not visible even where there are proven gas
hydrate deposits.

[Link] OF GAS HYDRATES IN FLOW LINES

Apart from being used to prevent hydrate formation, chemical thermodynamic inhibitors such as
MeOH or glycol can also be used to dissociate hydrate plugs. The major problem associated with
using chemicals for remediation is to get the inhibitor to reach the blockage and ensure good
contact between the two. In a typical subsea system, these inhibitors are usually injected either
from the subsea end or through the host. Hence, chemical injection-based remediation is
6
generally more suited for plugs that occur close to these injection points. Hydrate blockages in
subsea trees, jumpers, manifolds, risers or close to the riser base will be more successful in
being remediated through chemical injection compared to a hydrate blockage in the middle of a
flowline. To overcome distance constraints, delivery of the chemical inhibitor through coiled
tubing can be considered, although that option also has a finite reach. Some other factors to keep
in mind while using inhibitors to dissociate hydrates include:

• Density differences - both MeOH and MEG have been shown to be successful in
dissociating hydrates, but MeOH, in general, can be lighter than the hydrocarbon liquid
phase, whereas MEG is usually heavier. As such, these density differences should be
noted while choosing the right inhibitor. For example, if a hydrate blockage in a wellbore or
near the riser base is being remediated with a chemical inhibitor, MEG will have a much
better chance at reaching the blockage due to its higher density. On the other hand, MeOH
might just float on top of any oil phase present and not contact the blockage at all. This
problem will obviously depend on the local geometry surrounding the blockage, but for
vertical systems, MEG is usually the inhibitor of choice over MeOH when it comes to
remediation.

• Dilution - given both MeOH and MEG are miscible in water, any water phase present
around the blockage will result in dilution of the inhibitor at the contact area. Moreover,
dissociation of hydrate releases water, which will further dilute any injected inhibitor. In
practice, multiple batches of inhibitor are often injected to counter the effect of continuous
dilution because of dissociation.
• Remove the free and dissolved water from the system with separators, glycol dehydrators,
molecular sieves, or other methods
• Maintain high temperatures so that hydrates do not form
• Maintain low pressures to keep all phases fluid
• Inject an inhibitor to prevent hydrate formation

The first of these methods of prevention is the most reliable. It may not be viable, however, to
remove water because of remote locations, submersion, or other factors. For these reasons, flow
channels are frequently operated with inhibitor injection at the well, followed by dehydration at a
downstream point. The prediction accuracy of hydrate formation (for the second and third
prevention techniques) is acceptable for the energy industry, within 10% pressure for well-defined
fluids at temperatures greater than 32°F and pressures below 5,000 psig. In the fourth method,
predictions can also indicate the free-water concentration of thermodynamic inhibitors, such as
methanol (MeOH), monoethylene glycol (MEG), or salts (in drilling fluids), which are injected to
compete with the hydrate structure for water molecules.

A hand calculation method for inhibitor concentration in the free-water phase is discussed later in
the chapter. Remember that inhibitors are also in small, but significant, concentrations in vapor
and liquid hydrocarbon phases. Because the total-flow fractions of these latter two phases are so
large, much of the injected inhibitor is consumed in the vapor and liquid hydrocarbon phases.
Inhibitor partitioning is also summarized with hydrate inhibition

7
 TASK 02

INTRODUCTION TO HYDRATES
Gas hydrates are formed where water and suitable size 'guest' gas molecules are present
under high pressure
Gas Hydrates are solid petroleum, formed under low temperature and high-pressure
condition, which has great amount of potential energy store inside it. Building blocks of gas
hydrates consist of gas molecules surrounded by a cage of water molecules. Structurally this
situation is similar to ice clathrates except that the crystalline structure of gas hydrates is
stabilized by the guest gas molecule.

Fig.1 Structure of gas hydrate molecules

8
And low temperature conditions. They are mostly found in deep sediments of an ocean,
under permafrost regions and in deep glacial ice. Gas hydrates are also found near to land
surface in permafrost region because of its low temperature. The gas hydrate occurrence
map is shown in figure 2.
The main controlling factors of gas hydrates stability are temperature and pressure as shown
in a simple phase diagram in figures 3 and 4.
Stability of gas hydrates require low temperatures and high pressures which are found at a
water depth of 200 to 300m or more. However, in the example shown in figure 4, it is found
around 1200 to 1300m depth depending on sediment
Gas hydrates are crystalline solids with molecular structure similar to that of ice, also
known as clathrates and are formed under high pressure and low temperature condition. Gas
Hydrates contain immense amount of energy - almost twice of energy contained in fossil
fuels. Large reserves of hydrates have been found all over the world. Normally, gas
hydrates can be identified by a Basement Simulating Reflector (BSR) in a seismic section.
Well logging also plays an important role in characterizing gas hydrate deposits. Data
collected from Mount Elbert in North Slope of Alaska shows occurrences of hydrates under
permafrost region. In this place almost 100ft of gas hydrate deposits have been found. In
another case study of Keathley Canyon, site 151 in the northern Gulf of Mexico, it is seen
that open mode fractures control the presence of natural gas hydrates in water saturated
clays. High-angle hydrate-filled fractures are the most common mode for gas hydrate
occurrence at this site. This paper reviews the use of well logs for study of gas hydrates.

GAS HYDRATES TYPES

For naturally-occurring hydrates, the gases originate either from biogenic or thermogenic
sources. Biogenic gases are microbial transformation products which consist mainly of
methane. Thermogenic gases usually come from deep petroleum reservoirs and although the
methane is overwhelmingly represented in those gases, the fraction of C2 - C5
hydrocarbons is very significant. In the case of hydrates from thermogenic gases, the
change in the vapor phase composition during that process of formation is particularly
interesting because it provides valuable insight into the mechanism of the reaction.
The different classes of hydrates are formed when methane gas is trapped. They are
classified according to the structures of the cages which are characterized by the
arrangement of water molecules in the crystals. When the gas (CH4) is trapped, it
rearranges the host molecules (H2O) and a cage that traps the gas is formed. Not every
water molecule attracts a gas molecule; some remain empty even when a cage appears. But
immediately the gas hydrate melts, methane gas is released. The properties of the cages
formed by the three structures of gas hydrate crystals are shown .

9
[Link] STRUCTURE TYPE 1(Sl)
These are body-centered cubic structures formed from small gas molecules and are usually
found in deep ocean environments. They are formed from two different sizes and shapes of
cage; small cages and large cages. The compositions of the two cages are:

[Link] STRUCTURE TYPE 2 (SII)

These hydrates have diamond lattices within cubic frameworks and are formed when natural
gas or oil containing molecules larger than ethane but smaller than pentane. The structure II
hydrates are usually found in oil and gas production and processing systems. They are also
formed from two different shapes and sizes of cages. These are:
10
I. Small Cages
The small cages comprise 16 dodecahedrons which are formed from 12 pentagons (512).

II. Large Cages

The large cages consist of 8 hexadecahedrons which are formed from 12 pentagons and 4
hexagons (51264).

[Link] STRUCTURE (SH)

This is the newest structure of gas hydrates discovered and was also found to occur in the
Gulf of Mexico. The structure H hydrates have hexagonal framework and also possess
cavities large enough to hold molecules as big as naphtha and gasoline.
Table 1 shows the properties of the different structures of gas hydrates. The variation in
distance of oxygen atoms from center of cage is the cavity radius and the number of oxygen
molecules at the periphery of each cavity signifies the variation in radius. The estimation of
structure H cavities was based on geometric models. The three different crystal structures of
gas hydrates are cubic structure type I (sI), cubic structure type II (sII) and hexagonal
structure (sH) as shown in Figure 5. The unit cell of the cubic structure type I requires 46
water molecules as host to form small and large cages.

Figure 5. The structures of the classes of gas hydrate

There are two small cages and six large cages in the unit cell. The small cage has the shape
of a pentagonal dodecahedron and the large cage has hexagonal truncated trapezohedron
shape. Typical guests’ molecules that form the type I hydrates are carbon dioxide and
methane gas. The cubic structure type II requires 136 molecules of water to form small and
large cages. There are sixteen small cages and eight large cages in a unit cell. The small
cage has the shape of pentagonal dodecahedron while the large one has hexadecahedron
shape. The structure type II hydrates are formed by oxygen and nitrogen gases. The
hexagonal structure (sH) requires 34 molecules of water to form two small cages of
different types and a huge cage. The formation of structure type H hydrate requires the
guest molecules to be stable.
11
The size of the large cavity allows large molecules (i.e., butane) to fit into the structure type
H hydrates in the presence of other small gases to support the remaining cavities.

GAS HYDRATES FORMATION

When water molecules come in contact with gas molecules at low temperature and high
pressure, different geometric structures contrary to that of a hexagonal ice are formed. The
water molecules serve as host molecules and create cage lattices that can hold gas molecules
as guest molecules. These cage-like crystalline structures are less dense than crystalline
water structure because of the presence of the gas molecules. The gas hydrate formed is
held together by the hydrogen bonds of the water molecules and also stabilized by Vander
Waals forces holding the gas and water molecules together. The Vander Waals force is
responsible for the stable nature of the gas hydrate and even makes the hydrate more stable
than normal ice formed by water. There are different structures of gas hydrate and they are
characterized by the shape of their cages. Natural gas composed mainly of methane gas and
the complete combustion of methane gas gives water, carbon dioxide, and energy, as shown
in the Equation (1.0).

The energy liberated from this process can serve different purposes. This makes natural gas
more environmentally friendly than other fossil fuels because more energy is liberated and
less CO2 produced. The pictorial view of the lattice structure of gas hydrate is shown in
Figure 3. Methane gas is the guest in the middle (Green) while water molecule is the host
(Pink).
Gas hydrate can be stored or transported at equilibrium conditions with either its saturation
temperature or pressure as shown in Figure 4. At the saturation temperature and pressure,
hydrates are usually stable. Some factors affect the saturation pressure and temperature of
the hydrate.
Factors such as cost and weight of material for hydrate storage vessel as well as the
environment of the sediments containing the hydrate deposits. Hydrates are usually stable at
moderate temperatures and pressures when compared to the conditions required for L.

12
 TASK 03

CHALLENGES FACED DURING DESIGNING

[Link] BLOCKAGE INSIDE PIPELINES

Gas hydrate blockage is a major challenge to the oil and gas industry. As gas hydrates form, they
can deposit on the pipe walls or agglomerate into larger solid masses and eventually impede
hydrocarbon production. The traditional gas hydrate flow assurance methods (e.g., injecting
thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors, dehydration, thermal isolation/heating) rely on the idea of
avoiding hydrate formation while the new methods are based on delaying hydrate formation
(using kinetic hydrate inhibitors) and/or preventing hydrate agglomeration by controlling solid
hydrate particle sizes (using anti-agglomerants).

The removal of hydrate plugs is generally difficult to achieve. A shutdown of several days or
weeks may follow and/or pipeline abandonment may occur in the worst-case scenario. In
addition, hydrate plug removal could also cause considerable damage to production facilities
such as line rupture and could create serious safety and environmental hazards. For these
reasons, hydrate plug formation needs to be prevented effectively and economically to guarantee
that pipelines operate normally. Recently, the Centre for Gas Hydrate Research at Heriot-Watt
University has suggested new techniques for detecting early signs of hydrate formation in order
to give operators time to take proper action and stop massive hydrate formation and/or starts
remedial procedures (Zain, et al., 2005) [6]. They have investigated the possibility of using
physical property measurements such as dielectric properties and ultrasonic wave signal as an
early warning system for hydrate formation. According to their results dielectric constants at a
given microwave frequencies is lower in the aqueous phase which has experienced hydrate
formation. They have also studied the effect of hydrate formation on ultrasonic signal and
concluded that this signal is sensitive for hydrate nucleation and growth and could detect
presence of very small hydrate crystals and even nuclei. In this communication, one of these
early warning methods has been presented. This method is based on changes in the composition
of the gas phase due to hydrate formation.

Natural gas hydrates are ice-like crystalline structures formed by hydrogen bonded water
molecules and stabilized by the presence of guest molecules within the lattice cavities. The
molecules commonly found in natural gas that occupy the cavities are light alkanes (C1-C4),
carbon dioxide, nitrogen and hydrogen sulphide. Three main structural types of gas hydrates,
named sI, sII, and sH, have been characterized using neutron or X-ray diffraction techniques. The
type of structure formed depends primarily on the size of the guest molecules. Small and round
molecules like methane and carbon dioxide form structure I, while typical natural gas mixture
containing C3-C4 components will preferentially form structure II hydrates. For inclusion of larger
molecules such as n-butane which can go into the large cavities of sII, the presence of a smaller
‘help’ gas such as methane is required to fill small cavities and stabilise the structure. sH is
capable of trapping much larger molecules, such as ethylcyclohexane (Sloan and Koh, 2008) [4].
Structure H was determined more recently by Ripmeester (Ripmeester, et al., 1987) [2]

13
2. PIPELINE SELECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE
HYDRATES INSIDE THE PIPELINE
Pipeline selection and identification of hydrates inside the pipeline are both important aspects of
pipeline management, particularly in the oil and gas industry.

When it comes to pipeline selection, there are several factors to consider, including the type of
fluid being transported, the distance and terrain of the pipeline route, and the required flow rate
and pressure. Different types of pipelines may be used depending on the specific requirements of
the project, such as gathering pipelines, transmission pipelines, and distribution pipelines.

Once a pipeline has been selected and installed, it is important to monitor for the formation of
hydrates inside the pipeline. Hydrates are solid crystals that can form when water and natural gas
or other hydrocarbons are present at high pressures and low temperatures. These crystals can
cause blockages and reduce the efficiency of the pipeline, which can be costly to fix.

To identify the presence of hydrates inside the pipeline, various techniques can be used. One
common method is to measure the temperature and pressure of the pipeline, as hydrate
formation is favored at low temperatures and high pressures. Additionally, sensors can be
installed inside the pipeline to monitor for changes in pressure or flow rate, which can be
indicators of hydrate formation.

If hydrates are detected inside the pipeline, there are several methods that can be used to
mitigate their formation and remove any blockages. One method is to inject methanol or other
chemical inhibitors into the pipeline, which can prevent the formation of hydrates. Another method
is to heat the pipeline using hot water or steam, which can melt any existing hydrate crystals and
prevent further formation.

Overall, pipeline selection and the identification of hydrates inside the pipeline are both critical
aspects of pipeline management that require careful consideration and monitoring to ensure the
safe and efficient transportation of fluids.

14
 TASK 04

LEARNING TECHNIQUES

➢ ACTIVITY CARD/ PLAN OF ACTION 01:

The following activities allowed to our team members:

S. NO DATE NAME OF THE WORK ASSIGNED

PERSON

MUHAMMAD Met with ONGC employees and

01 SAHAL K discussed about the project.

M. PAVAN Data collected about hydrate

02 prevention methods

Discussed about the hydrate

03 K. NAGESWARA RAO formation.

04 M.S.S.
SATYANARAYANA Asked about the hydrate formatted
locations.

• To solve the problems of our demo model, we have visited ONGC ODALAREVU and met some
employees who are working there.
• we met ONGC employees who are working nearby areas and asked our questions.

15
Prevention methods
There are four techniques to prevent hydrate formation:

• Remove the free and dissolved water from the system with separators, glycol
dehydrators, molecular sieves, or other methods
• Maintain high temperatures so that hydrates do not form
• Maintain low pressures to keep all phases fluid
• Inject an inhibitor to prevent hydrate formation
The first of these methods of prevention is the most reliable. It may not be viable, however, to
remove water because of remote locations, submersion, or other factors. For these reasons,
flow channels are frequently operated with inhibitor injection at the well, followed by
dehydration at a downstream point. The prediction accuracy of hydrate formation (for the
second and third prevention techniques) is acceptable for the energy industry, within 10%
pressure for well-defined fluids at temperatures greater than 32°F and pressures below 5,000
psig. In the fourth method, predictions can also indicate the free-water concentration of
thermodynamic inhibitors, such as methanol (MeOH), monoethylene glycol (MEG), or salts
(in drilling fluids), which are injected to compete with the hydrate structure for water
molecules.

A hand calculation method for inhibitor concentration in the free-water phase is discussed
later in the chapter. Remember that inhibitors are also in small, but significant, concentrations
in vapor and liquid hydrocarbon phases. Because the total-flow fractions of these latter two
phases are so large, much of the injected inhibitor is consumed in the vapor and liquid
hydrocarbon phases. Inhibitor partitioning is also summarized with hydrate inhibition.

Conditions required for hydrate formation

Hydrate formation refers to the process in which solid hydrates are formed when certain
gases or vapors are trapped within the lattice structure of a solid. The most common example
of hydrate formation is the formation of methane hydrates in natural gas pipelines or
underwater sediments. The conditions required for hydrate formation typically include:

• Suitable gas or vapor: Certain gases or vapors have a higher tendency to form
hydrates. The most common gas involved in hydrate formation is methane, but other
gases like ethane, propane, and carbon dioxide can also form hydrates under specific
conditions.

16
 • High pressure: Hydrate formation usually occurs at high pressures, typically above
the vapor pressure of the gas or vapor involved. The pressure helps stabilize the
hydrate
structure and keeps the gas molecules trapped within the lattice.

• Low temperature: Low temperatures are essential for hydrate formation. The
temperature must be below the freezing point of water or the particular substance
forming the hydrate. Generally, temperatures close to or below 0 degrees Celsius (32
degrees Fahrenheit) are necessary, but the exact temperature depends on the gas or
vapor involved.
• Presence of water: Hydrates are formed through the interaction between water
molecules and gas or vapor molecules. Sufficient water must be present for hydrate
formation to occur. In most cases, water molecules are provided by the surrounding
environment or can be added intentionally to facilitate hydrate formation.
• Appropriate mixing or contact: The gas or vapor and water need to come into close
proximity or mix adequately to facilitate hydrate formation. This is typically achieved
by physical agitation, such as through stirring, shaking, or turbulent flow in pipelines.

It's important to note that hydrate formation can be influenced by various factors, such as the
specific gas or vapor involved, the composition of the gas mixture, the presence of impurities,
and the nature of the solid materials present. These conditions may vary depending on the
specific hydrate system being considered.

17
 TASK 05

CHALLENGES FACED BY OUR TEAM WHILE MAKING

PROJECT

➢ ACTIVITY CARD/ PLAN OF ACTION 02:

The following activities allowed to our team members:

S. NO DATE NAME OF THE WORK ASSIGNED

PERSON

01 MUHAMMAD SAHAL
K
Prediction of hydrates
formation in pipelines by
02 M. PAVAN
using phase equilibrium
curve.
03 K. NAGESWARA RAO

M.S.S.
04
SATYANARAYANA

Phase equilibrium curve

The phase equilibrium curve of gas hydrates represents the conditions under which gas
hydrates can form or dissociate. Gas hydrates are crystalline structures formed when water
molecules form cages or lattice structures around gas molecules, typically methane or other
hydrocarbon gases. The phase equilibrium curve illustrates the relationship between
temperature, pressure, and the formation or dissociation of gas hydrates.
On the phase equilibrium curve, the x-axis represents temperature, and the y-axis represents

18
pressure. The curve shows the boundary between the gas hydrate stability region and the
regions where gas hydrates are either not stable or have dissociated. The curve typically
slopes downward from left to right because higher pressures and lower temperatures favor
gas hydrate formation.

At conditions below the curve, gas hydrates can form and remain stable. Above the curve, the
conditions are not favorable for gas hydrate formation, and the hydrates tend to dissociate,
releasing the trapped gas. The point where the curve ends is the hydrate formation
temperature and pressure, which represents the lowest temperature and highest pressure at
which hydrates can form.

The phase equilibrium curve of gas hydrates can vary depending on the composition of the
gas and the specific conditions. Different gases and gas mixtures can have different phase
equilibrium curves. Understanding the phase equilibrium curve is essential for predicting and
controlling gas hydrate formation and dissociation in various applications, including energy
production, climate change studies, and gas transportation.

19
20
 TASK 06

PROTOTYPE OF GAS HYDRATES ON FLOW LINES

➢ ACTIVITY CARD/ PLAN OF ACTION 03:

The following activities allowed to our team members:

S. NO DATE NAME OF THE WORK ASSIGNED

PERSON

GATHERED ALL THE APPARATUS

01 TOGETHER.
MUHAMMAD SAHAL
K
FIX THE APPARATUS FOR WORKING
02 M. PAVAN MODEL

CONVERTS AND CHECKING OF

K. NAGESWARA RAO MODEL
03

RUN THE APPARATUS

04 M.S.S. SATYANARAYANA

Apparatus
• ice
• water
• pipes
• connectors
• electrical facilities

21
Procedure
• Make a pipeline model using pipes and connectors.
• Cool the pipeline from the temperature 25℃ to -4℃
• Maintain the pipeline pressure of different pressure like 4mPa /3mPa /2mPa /1mPa.
• Observed hydrate formation in pipeline at -4℃ or 0℃ at 1mPa

Diagram

22
 TASK 07

TESTING OF HYDRATES ON FLOW LINES

➢ ACTIVITY CARD/ PLAN OF ACTION 04:

The following activities allowed to our team members:

S. NO DATE NAME OF THE WORK ASSIGNED

PERSON

TESTED HYDRATE FORMATION IN

01 FLOWLINE.
MUHAMMAD SAHAL
K
CHECKED THE PROBLEMS DURING
02 M. PAVAN OPERATION OF HYDRATE FLOWLINE.

IDENTIFIED / NOTED THE HYDRATE

K. NAGESWARA RAO FORMATION CONDITIONS.
03

CHECKED / MONITORED OVERALL

04 M.S.S. SATYANARAYANA
OPERATION OF HYDRATE FLOWLINE.

• We tested hydrate flowline and identified methane hydrate formation at -4℃, 3mPa.
• during the operation, the pipelines is cooled from 25℃ to -4℃.
• We operated at high pressures like 1mPa / 2mPa / 3mPa.
• Carefully we observed the apparatus and no problems were found.

23