Patent ID: 6028233
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: C08F,C09K,C10G,C10L,E21B,F17D,Y02E,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for inhibiting the formation of clathrate hydrates in a fluid having hydrate forming constituents, said method comprising treating said fluid with an effective amount of an inhibitor comprising a substantially water soluble copolymer of N-vinyl amide and a comonomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamides, methacrylamides, acrylates, vinyl carboxylates and alkenylcyclic imino ethers, wherein the copolymer has an average molecular weight between about 1000 and 6,000,000 and wherein the N-vinyl amide unit is represented by the following formula: ##STR15## where, R.sub.1 is a hydrogen or hydrocarbon group having one to six carbon atoms, and zero to two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, and combinations thereof,R.sub.2 is a hydrocarbon group having one to six carbon atoms, and zero to two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, and combinations thereof, andR.sub.1 and R.sub.2 have a sum total of carbon atoms greater than or equal to one, but less than eight.