Patent ID: 8034748

Claim:
A process for inhibiting gas hydrates comprising the steps of: a) providing a system which forms gas hydrates and is composed of water and hydrocarbons; b) providing a compound of the formula 1 where R 1 , R 2 are each independently radicals of formula (3) -(A-O) n —(C)—CO—O—R 5 (3) R 3 is C 1 - to C 30 -alkyl or C 2 - to C 30 -alkenyl; R 4 is an organic radical which optionally contains heteroatoms and has from 1 to 100 carbon atoms; R 5 is C 1 - to C 30 -alkyl or C 2 - to C 30 -alkenyl; n is a number from 1 to 20; A is a C 2 - to C 4 -alkylene group; B is a C 1 - to C 10 -alkylene group; C is a C 1 - to C 6 -alkylene group; X is an anion; and adding the compound of formula (1) to a drilling fluid, gas conduit or subterranean formation so that the formation of gas hydrates is inhibited.