Patent ID: 6544932
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: C08F,C09K,C10L,F17D,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for inhibiting the formation of gas hydrates in pipes containing water and gas or oil, comprising incorporating from 0.05 to 5% by weight based on the amount of said water present, an additive in said pipes, said additive comprising a water-soluble polymer or copolymer comprising structural units of the formula whereineach R is independently H or C1-C5-alkyl; X is H, an alkaline or earth alkaline metal or a quaternary ammonium group; R1 is H or C1-C18-alkyl; and R2 is C1-C18-alkyl; and wherein the alkyl groups represented by R1 and R2 optionally carry a hydroxy or amino substituent; and optionally said polymer contains a minor proportion of structural units of the formula (II) â€ƒwherein said polymer comprising (I) and optionally (I) has a molecular weight of from 500 to 2,000,000, R, R1, R2 and X have the meaning as above, and Alk is a C1-C5-alkylene chain.