Influence of natural gas component changes on hydrate generation temperature and pressure

Abstract

Abstract During the transportation of natural gas through pipelines, there is a potential for the formation of gas hydrates. These hydrates can result in pipeline blockages, causing economic losses and significant safety hazards. Therefore, it holds crucial reference value to understand the conditions under which hydrates are formed and to grasp the laws governing their generation for effective prevention and control. This study employs the P-P hydrate thermodynamic model to compute the temperature and pressure at which natural gas generates hydrates. We also explore the impact of changes in the composition of natural gas on the temperature and pressure required for hydrate formation. This helps us discern the sensitivity of hydrate formation conditions to various components. Our findings indicate that propane, isobutane, and H2S substantially influence hydrate formation under the same percentage of alteration. For instance, a 3% increase in these three components results in a temperature increase of 2.36°C, 2.83°C, and 2.14°C, respectively, for hydrate formation at 100 bar.