GAS HYDRATE FORMATION AND

PREVENTION
Presented By
AMADI JOHNSON
DE: 2008/1125
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING, FACULTY OF
ENGINEERING, RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY NKPOLU-OROWORUKWO, PORT HARCOURT.
COURSE TITLE:
SEMINAR/RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
IN PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
COURSE CODE
PTE 511
SEMINAR CO-ORDIANTOR
ENGR. NMEGBU

MARCH, 2014

TABLE OF CONTENT
Abstract
Introduction
Definition of Gas Hydrate
Condition Necessary for the Formation of gas Hydrate
Major effect of gas hydrate
Importance of gas hydrate to the energy industry and
society
Removing Gas Hydrate Blockage in a System
Preventing Gas Hydrate Formation
Conclusion

ABSTRACT
Gas hydrate is a solid substances composed of water
and gas molecules (mainly methane) and is also know
as clathrate it occur worldwide in the oceanic and polar
sediments where temperate is low enough and pressure
is sufficiently high to crystallize the methane into gashydrates. Since it discovery, gas hydrate have attracted
interest as a potential energy resources

INTRODUCTION
Gas hydrate deposits along ocean margin are estimated to
exceed known petroleum reserves by a factor of three.
These hydrate bed leak gases into the water forming cold
see page which is common on continental margins
around the world. hydrate influence ocean carbon cycling,
climate change, and coastal sediment stability.
Localized melt down can caused geological hazard for
shelf oil and gas production facilities.

Fig. 1: Show Hydrate Blockage in Natural Gas

Production Facilities

WHAT ARE GAS HYDRATE

Gas hydrate is a solid ice-like form of water that
contain gas molecules in its molecular cavities in
nature, this gas is mostly methane,
They are formed as a result of physical
combination of water and gas molecules.
Unlike inorganic Hydrate (e.g CUS04. 5H20) the
ratio between water and gas is not constant.

Fig 2 Shows the Gas Hydrate Structure of Different Gas

CONDITION NECESSARY FOR THE

FORMATION OF GAS HYDRATE
Four condition for the hydrate formation
Adequate gas molecules to stabilize most of the
hydrate cavities
Sufficient water molecule to form the cavity
A temperature within the hydrate phase
equilibrium region.
A pressure within the hydrate phase equilibrium
region.

GEOLOGICAL SETTING WHERE GAS

HYDRATE OCCUR

Gas hydrate occur in two discrete geological

situation
Marine shelf sediment
Permafrost region
Hydrate occur in these types of setting
because the pressure, temperature condition
are within the hydrate stability field.

Fig 3 Shows Gas Hydrate in Marine Sediment

Fig 4 Shows Gas Hydrate in Permafrost Zone.

MAJOR EFFECT OF GAS HYDRATE IN THE OIL

AND GAS SECTOR.
Gas hydrate cause lot of damage to the oil and
gas sector and also to our environment which
include:

Pipeline blockage
Global climate change
Subsea land slides
Deep water drilling and production

Fig 5: Shows the Damage on Deep water production.

Fig 6: Show the sub sea Landslides

Fig 7: Shows the Pipe Line Blockage of Gas

hydrate.

IMPORTANCE OF GAS HYDRATE TO THE

ENERGY INDUSTRY AND SOCIETY
1) Gas
Hydrate
Resources.

Are

Potential

Energy

the quantity of natural gas in sedimentary gas hydrate

exceeds the conventional natural gas resources. As a
result numerous studies have discussed the energy
potential of gas hydrate (Collett, 1993, 2002, Sassen
and Milkov, 2003), Utilization of gas hydrate as an
energy resource has been hinder by lack of economic
method for producing the hydrate

2) Gas Hydrate also Play a Role in Past and Future

Climate Change

If these marine gas hydrate begin to rapidly dissociate

into gas + water, then the methane trapped in the
gas hydrate can be released to the atmosphere. If
the influx of methane to the atmosphere from
dissociating hydrate is sufficient in quantity, this
methane can cause global, warming. This process is
believed to have influence past climate changes.

REMOVING GAS HYDRATE BLOCKAGE IN A

SYSTEM
Through Heating: Heat must be supplied with caution
beginning from the end and progressing toward the
middle of the plug. If hydrate plug is dissociated in the
middle, the pressure might increase suddenly
Through inhibitor Injection: Inhibitor injection will
shift the hydrate phase boundary to the left, which
could result in gas hydrate dissociation.

PREVENTING GAS HYDRATE

FOUR METHODS OF HYDRATE PREVENTION

Reducing the pressure below that of the hydrate

formation for the given temperature;
Maintaining the temperature of the gas flow above the
hydrate formation temperature for the given pressure;
Reducing the dew point of water vapor in the gas flow
below the operating temperature (drying the gas)
Introducing various substance (alcohols, electrolytes)
into gas flow, which lower the hydrate formation
pressure.

CONCLUSION
Gas hydrates are formed as a result of physical
combination of water and suitably sized
molecules.
There are huge amount of methane hydrates in
subsea sediments and permafrost regions.
They have very interesting properties, with many
potential industrial applications.
They had significant impact on the past climate

THANK YOU