Hydrate-phobic Pipe Surfaces
- Technology Benefits
- -Reduce expensive chemical and thermal treatment for flow assurance-Improve subsea system reliability and flow assurance-Extend pipe, valve & other componentsΓÇÖ life-Prevent catastrophic failures, enable ultra-deep water exploration by improving flow assurance
- Technology Application
- Deep-sea oil and gas exploration
- Detailed Technology Description
- None
- *Abstract
-
Problem:Hydrates that form in deep-sea oil and gas exploration cause plugging of flow-lines, valves, etc leading to flow restrictions and catastrophic failures.Technology:This invention proposes to reduce hydrate formation in deep-sea O&G exploration pipes by increasing the pipe hydrophobicity. It is found that hydrate adhesion decreases with surface energy, and tailoring acid base components of surface energy could further optimize surfaces for lower hydrate adhesion. Up to 5 times reduction in adhesion strength with low surface energy coatings was measured.
- Country/Region
- USA
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