Experimental Investigation of Methane Hydrate Formation in the Presence of Two-Phase Aqueous-Hydrocarbon Fluid

It is probable to take into account the presence of liquid hydrocarbon in case studies related to hydrate formation risk. Hydrate formation kinetic may be influenced by liquid hydrocarbon in result of mass and heat transfer resistance of phases. In this fundamental research, the effect of liquid hydrocarbon presence on nucleation and growth  steps of methane hydrate formation has been investigated. For this purpose, the experiments have been carried out considering two different cooling rates and volume ratios of liquid hrydrocarbon to water, and then parameters like induction time, induction temperature, percent conversion of water to hydrate and growth  time of hydrate completion have been measured and/or calculated. Regardless of different cooling rate, it is observed that the presence of liquid hydrocarbon has lowered induction time and induction temperature, that is moderating the nucleation step. Moreover, the presence of liquid hydrocarbon has shown a significant effect on the percent conversion of water to hydrate and the growth  time of hydrate completion. Generally, dispersion of water droplet through liquid hydrocarbon has increased water interface followed by a layered hydrate formation mechanism around the water droplets, this led to a decrease in percent conversion of water to hydrate and the growth  time of hydrate completion in comparison with blank experiments. Finally, hydrate formation kinetic and water to hydrate conversion have been more limited by increasing the volume ratios of liquid hydrocarbon to water.