Patent ID: 7968500

Claim:
A method of inhibiting the formation, growth, maintenance, or combinations thereof of gas hydrates in a fluid mixture comprising a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, the method comprising: (a) combining a polyetheramine and an acid with the fluid mixture, the polyetheramine having a formula: RHN—(PO) n -(EO) m —CR′HCH 2 —NH 2 wherein PO=propylene oxide, n=0-10, EO=ethylene oxide, m=0-10, R=—H or H 2 N—(PO) n -(EO) m —CH 2 CH 2 —, R′=H or CH 3 and m+n is greater than or equal to 1; (b) producing a polyetherammonium compound in the fluid mixture from the exothermic reaction of the polyetheramine and the acid; and (c) inhibiting the formation, growth, maintenance or combination thereof of gas hydrates in the fluid mixture from the heat generated during the exothermic reaction and the produced polyetherammonium compound.