Patent ID: 7264653

Claim:
A method for inhibiting formation of gas hydrate plugs in conduits containing a mixture of hydrocarbons and water, the method comprising: adding to the mixture an effective amount of at least one compound having the formula: where: R 1 is selected from hydrogen and normal or branched alkyls having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R 2 is selected from normal or branched alkyls having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R 3 is an organic moiew having 4 or 5 carbon atoms; R 4 is an organic moiety having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms; A is N; and X 31 is an anion, wherein the at least one compound is the product of a reaction between butyl bromide having one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 and an N,N-dimethyl-alkylamine having between 10 and 20 carbon atoms that provide the other three of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 .