Patent ID: 6242518
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: C07C,C09K,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A composition for preventing or retarding the formation of gas hydrates or for reducing the tendency of gas hydrates to agglomerate, during the transport of a fluid comprising water and a hydrocarbon, through a conduit, where an aqueous phase is inherently present, comprising a solution of a homopolymer of vinyl caprolactam, or copolymer thereof, having a molecular weight in the range of about 500 to about 4000, (GPC., polyethylene glycol standard), which is made by polymerization of the monomer or monomers in a polymerization solvent which is a mixture of (a) a glycol ether containing an alkoxy group having at least 3 carbon atoms, (b) water, at a pH of about 8-12.