EFFECT OF POLYETHYLENE OXIDE ON GAS HYDRATE PHASE-EQUILIBRIA

Incipient phase equilibrium data for methane, ethane and propane hydrate formation in aqueous solutions of polyethylene oxide (PEG) were measured. The experiments were performed in the temperature range of 273.55-285.3 K. The range of measured incipient equilibrium hydrate formation pressures was 0.187-9.961 MPa. Aqueous polyethylene oxide solutions at 5, 15 and 25 wt.% were used. The results indicate a very weak inhibiting effect compared with the effect of electrolytes and alcohols on the equilibrium hydrate formation conditions. The measured equilibrium hydrate formation pressures were compared with the predictions from the existing gas hydrate equilibria prediction method. The data were found to be in good agreement with the predicted values.