Shell Oil Comapny

Ulfert Cornelis Klomp

Rene Reijnhart

Vitold R Kruka

Anton Jacobus Weisenborn

Thomas Alexander Pasfield

Douwe Johannes Runia

Michalakis Efthymiou

Floor Andre Hartog

Kjeld Aaby Sorensen

Yves Veran

Kjeld Aaby Sørensen

Jean Eric Negre

A method for inhibiting the plugging of a conduit containing a flowable mixture comprising at least an amount of hydrocarbons capable of forming hydrates in the presence of water and an amount of water, which method comprises adding to the mixture an amount of a functionalized dendrimer effective to inhibit formation and/or accumulation of hydrates in the mixture at conduit temperatures and pressures; and flowing the mixture containing the functionalized dendrimer and any hydrates through the conduit wherein the functionalized dendrimer comprises two or more functional end groups selected from the group consisting of non-cyclic tertiary amine functional end groups, quaternary ammonium functional end groups, polyalkylene glycol functional end groups, quaternary ammonium zwitterionic end groups and phosphate or sulfate end groups.

Method for inhibiting the plugging of conduits by gas hydrates

A method for inhibiting the plugging of a conduit containing a flowable mixture comprising at least an amount of hydrocarbons capable of forming hydrates in the presence of water and an amount of water, which method comprises adding to the mixture an amount of a functionalized dendrimer effective to inhibit formation and/or accumulation of hydrates in the mixture at conduit temperatures and pressures; and flowing the mixture containing the functionalized dendrimer and any hydrates through the conduit wherein the functionalized dendrimer comprises at least one ammonium functional end group.

A methane content of a bottom sample comprising methane hydrate crystals is determined by:&#x2014;taking a core sample () from a bottom sediment () in a deepwater area;&#x2014;storing the core sample () in a storage chamber ();&#x2014;lifting the storage chamber () to a predetermined waterdepth (BGHZ=Base of Gas Hydrate stability Zone) at which any methane hydrate crystals in the core sample () dissociate into water and methane; and&#x2014;measuring an amount of methane released by the lifted core sample ().

Determining methane content of a bottom sample

A method for producing hydrocarbons wherein hydrates are excavated from the sea bottom and mixed into a transportable slurry, the slurry being pumped to a support vessel, using near sea bottom positive displacement hydraulic pumps, where the hydrates are converted into a hydrocarbon containing stream, with excavation tailings being pumped down to hydraulic motors to drive the hydraulic pumps.

Method for converting hydrates buried in the waterbottom into a marketable hydrocarbon composition

A method for inhibiting hydrate formation in a hydrocarbon flow by adding an amount of a dendrimeric compound effective to inhibit formation of hydrates at conduit temperatures and pressures, and flowing the mixture containing the dendrimeric compound and any hydrates through the conduit. Preferably, a hyperbranched polyester amide is used as hydrate formation inhibitor compound.

A tracer release method for monitoring fluid flow in a well utilizes a deformable container having a liquid tracer material which container has an outlet which debouches into the neck portion of a venturi in a well conduit. The container has a wall which is at least partly exposed to the fluid pressure at the relatively wide in- or outlet of the venturi, so that an amount of tracer is injected continuously or discontinuously into the well effluents which is proportional to the pressure difference p across the venturi, which pressure difference p is indicative of the fluid density &rgr; and squared fluid velocity &ugr;.

Tracer release method for monitoring fluid flow in a well

Method and compound for inhibiting the plugging of conduits by gas hydrates

A method is disclosed for inhibiting the plugging of a conduit for the transport of hydrocarbon fluids by gas hydrates, wherein use is made of a hydrate formation inhibitor component of formula

A method for inhibiting the plugging of a conduit, the conduit containing a flowing mixture comprising an amount of hydrocarbons having from one to eight carbon atoms and an amount of water wherein the amounts of hydrocarbons and water could form hydrates at conduit temperatures and pressures, the method comprising the steps of:

The plugging of conduits containing a mixture of low-boiling hydrocarbons and water in inhibited by adding to the mixture an effective amount of at least one alkylated compound of the general formula formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each are independently chosen from normal or branched alkyls containing a chain of at least 4 carbon atoms, R.sub.5 is an organic moiety containing a chain of at least 4 atoms, X is S, N--R.sub.4 or P--R.sub.4, R.sub.4 is H or an organic substituent, suitably an alkyl or alkenyl group having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms, and Y-- is an anion.

A method is provided for inhibiting the formation of hydrates in streams containing low-boiling hydrocarbons and water. The method includes adding to the stream a component of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are independently chosen from the group consisting of normal and branched alkyls having at least 4 carbon atoms,

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

Ulfert Cornelis Klomp