The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 04, 2000
Simon Neil Duncum, Berkshire, GB;
Christopher George Osborne, Surrey, GB;
Antony Roland Edwards, Surrey, GB;
BP Exploration Operating Co., Ltd., London, GB;
Abstract
A method of inhibiting or retarding formation of hydrates from water and a lower alkane, such as methane or ethane, involves adding additives which comprise (i) a corrosion inhibitor and (ii) a salt which is of formula [R (R )XR ] Y , wherein each of R , R and R is bonded directly to X, each of R and R , which may be the same or different is an alkyl group of at least 4 carbons, X is S, NR or PR , wherein each of R and R which may be the same or different represents hydrogen or an organic group, with the proviso that at least one of R and R is an organic group of at least 4 carbons, and Y is an anion, the additives being added in an amount effective to inhibit or retard hydrate formation, to a medium susceptible to hydrate formation.