Navigating pH Influence: A Detailed Study on the Performance of Vitamin E-TS, Span-60, DTAB, and Monoethylene Glycol in Controlling Gas Hydrate Formation

This research addresses the challenges of gas hydrate formation in subsea flowlines, focusing on the investigation of antiagglomerants (AAs): Vitamin E derivative (d-alpha tocopherol succinate, Vitamin E-TS), sorbitan monostearate (Span-60), and dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), and their synergistic interactions with monoethylene glycol (MEG). Through an in-depth examination of hydrate onset time, growth rate, and torque change under varying pH values, this study offers comprehensive insights into the performance of the selected AAs and their combined efficacy with MEG in hydrate inhibition. The experimental results reveal notable variations in hydrate formation and inhibition characteristics, highlighting the influence of different AAs and their interactions with MEG. The study demonstrates the potential of Vitamin E-TS in altering hydrate formation kinetics, Span-60 in maintaining hydrate particle dispersion, and DTAB in mitigating hydrate agglomeration. These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of hydrate dynamics and provide valuable insights for the development of more effective and cost-efficient hydrate management strategies in the industry. The research enriches the ongoing dialogue on hydrate inhibition and presents a thorough exploration of methodologies, results, and their implications in this critical field of study.