Focused-beam reflectance method aids hydrate blockage prediction

Examining the variance of hydrate particle size with focused-beam reflectance measurements (FBRM) yields a clearer understanding of the microscopic mechanisms guiding hydrate formation and plugging, with the square-weighted chord length method emerging as capable of predicting hydrate plugging fairly well. Reducing pressure or raising temperature in a subsea natural gas pipeline can inhibit hydrate formation. If the flow rate is low enough, however, a natural gas pipeline with a low water cut may still risk hydrate blockage. Researchers used a high-pressure hydrate experimental loop devoted to flow assurance studies to investigate the hydrate's formation further. The loop separately injects gas and liquid by a plunger compressor and uses a custom-made magnetic centrifugal pump to maintain a flow rate of up to 12 cu m/hr. Assignment of a chord-length distribution (CLD) and a mean chord length followed every measurement duration equal to 10 seconds.