Offshore Oil Rigs Vulnerable to Catastrophic Hydrate Blockages, Threatening Energy Supply
Offshore pipes carrying oil and gas can get blocked by ice-like substances called gas hydrates. To prevent this, scientists tested chemicals called Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors (KHIs) in a three-stage experiment. They found that KHIs can help stop gas hydrates from forming again after being removed. When KHIs were used before transporting the fluid, the temperature needed for gas hydrates to form increased. This means KHIs could be useful in preventing hydrate issues in well fluids. Also, the type of gas in the fluid can affect how well KHIs work. Overall, using KHIs carefully can help prevent re-formation of gas hydrates in well fluid systems.