MEASUREMENT AND PREDICTION OF CONDENSATE GAS HYDRATES

FORMATION CONDITIONS. A CASE STUDY

SAMER Said
Laboratory of Materials Chemistry
Department of Chemistry
Faculty of Science
University Hadj Lakhdar, 05 avenue chahid
boukhlouf 05000 Batna, Algeria
Email: saidpg2006@gmail.com

BELLOUM Mohamed
Laboratory of Materials Chemistry
Department of Chemistry
Faculty of Science
University of Batna, 05 avenue chahid boukhlouf
05000 Batna, Algeria
Email: mbelloum@voila.fr

OTMANINE Ghazi
Laboratory of Hydrocarbons technology
Department of Chemistry
Faculty of Hydrocarbons & Chemistry
University of Boumerdes, Avenue of
independence, 35000 Boumerdes, Algeria
Email: oth_gha@yahoo.fr

ABSTRACT
NOMENCLATURE
During field exploitation or in the expedition lines or even
during its handling process, natural gas is in permanent contact
with an aqueous phase. Under certain pressure and temperature
conditions, crystal deposits like ice are formed. These deposits,
commonly called hydrates, are considered as a nuisance which
can generate plugs, or even damage gas processing equipments
causing total shutdowns sometimes with fatalities.
A new field of gas condensate recently discovered in south
of Algeria caused a lot of difficulties and even accidents during
its operation due to hydrates formation. This is why identifying
the conditions of gas hydrates formation in this field and
possible solutions to prevent their formation have become
imperative. For this purpose, we took this real case which is
within the framework of a laboratory concrete study to identify
the hydrate formation and stability conditions (P,T)
experimentally, and identify curves which by identifying
integrity zones for operators to work outside these conditions,
and the influence of inhibitors on the prevention of hydrates.
Our approach is to reconstitute reservoir fluid by mean of
recombination of two validated separator liquid and gas
samples, by carrying out a PVT study of both fluids and
measuring the conditions of hydrate formation. In addition, a
numerical study was performed using PVTsim commercial
software, used to predict hydrate formation conditions and the
impact of inhibitors.
KEY WORDS
Hydrates, condensate gas, plug, PVT, safety

CME: Constant Mass Expansion

GOR: Gas Oil Ratio
GORcor : Corrected Gas Oil Ratio;

GORcha : Measured Gas Oil Ratio in field

d ch : Determined gas density in field

Z ch : Gas compressibility factor determined in field

d lab : Gas density determined in laboratory
Z lab : Gas compressibility factor determined in laboratory
Fc : Separator liquid contraction factor (cm3/cm3)
M m : Average molar mass of separator gas
M i : Molar mass of component i in the gas mixture

Yi : Molar fraction of component i in the gas mixture

n: Number of component of gas mixture
M m : Average molar mass of separator gas
M air : Molar mass of air
: Separator liquid mass density (g/cm3)

m pr : Filled Pycnometer mass (g)

m pv : Empty Pycnometer mass (g)

Vlt : Volume of the transferred liquid (cm3)

M l : Liquid mass molar

l

: Liquid mass density

Vl : Liquid volume
M i : Mass molar of component i in the gas mixture
INTRODUCTION
Hydrates belong to the class of clathrates, which are
inclusion compounds. The "clathrate" word was used the first
time by Powell in 1948, and derived from the Latin word
"clathratus" which means "in capping". Clathrates are solid
crystallized in which some atoms or molecules are trapped in
cages provided by the assembly of another type of molecules.
When the crystal lattice is formed by water molecules linked
together by hydrogen bonds and the cavities are occupied by
gaseous molecules, the formed clathrates are called hydrates.
[1].
The most common gas hydrates morphology is methane
hydrate (Fig.1). There are other gas molecules including ethane,
propane, butane, isobutane, pentane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide
and hydrogen sulfide.

show an accident during the well flow back test). This is why
identifying the conditions of gas hydrates formation in this field
and possible solutions to prevent their formation have become
imperative.
To clearly define the hydrates, predict their equilibrium
conditions and determine the relationship between pressure and
temperature under which those hydrates form and dissociate,
equilibrium curves were used. These curves can be generated
by a series of laboratory experiments, or are more commonly
conducted using thermodynamic software such as PVTsim
based on the hydrocarbons composition and aqueous phases in
the system [9, 10].

.
Picture-1: hydrate plug
formed in the pipeline

Picture-3: destroyed
pipeline

Fig.1: Clathrate structure of methane hydrate.

Three different crystal lattice structures have been
identified: cubic structure sI, cubic structure sII and hexagonal
structure sH. Their stability depends on pressure, temperature
and gas composition [2, 3, 4, 5].
Hydrates are considered as a nuisance because they block
transmission lines, plug blowout preventers, endanger the
foundations of deepwater platforms and pipelines, cause tubing
and casing collapse, and foul process heat exchangers, valves,
and expanders [6].
In 1934, Hammerschmidt [7, 8] recognized first that
natural gas transport lines failure is due to the formation of
hydrate plugs. Since that time, the gas industry has invested
significant human and material resources for further research to
determine the conditions of hydrate formation then took a
number of preventive measures.
A new field of gas condensate recently discovered in south
of Algeria caused a lot of difficulties and even accidents during
its operation due to hydrates formation (pictures -1, 2, 3 and 4

Picture-2: hydrate plug

dissociation in the pipeline

Picture-4: damaged
pipeline

SAMPLING METHODS
Two sampling methods are applied today; downhole
sampling and surface sampling [11, 12, 13, 14]. The first
method is applied in the case of a single-phase effluent. The
second one is much applied in the case of natural gas. In the
case of gas with condensate leading to the production of a twophase effluent, sampling is performed at high pressure separator
by taking gas sample (separator gas) and liquid sample
(separator liquid).
SAMPLES VALIDATION
For the separator liquid, we should first determine bottles
opening pressure and saturation pressure at the separation
temperature, which must be identical to the separation pressure.
Since our gas is a condensate gas, we should determine the
saturation pressure of the separator liquid which is performed

by a CME test. It should be noted that the CME is a

conventional study conducted at separation temperature to
determine the saturation pressure of the separator liquid [11].
Validation of separator gas is performed by
chromatographic analysis and the opening pressure should be
equal or close to the separation pressure [11].

Fluid Contraction Factor "Fc" ;

Gas Oil Ratio "GOR" ;
Liquid Volume Factor "Bo" ;
Separation Effluents Composition.
Separator liquid mass density is calculated as:
m pr

RESERVOIR FLUID RECONSTITUTION

m pv

. (1.4)

V lt

The properties of field fluids can be known by a

recombination which requires precise rates measurement of
gaseous phase and liquid phase. The recombination can be
either physical or mathematical [11].
The physical recombination is a mixing operation
performed between the separator liquid and the separator gas to
obtain a fluid representing reservoir fluid. The volumes of
separator gas and separator liquid to be mixed are calculated so
that their ratio is equal to the GOR value measured after their
platform separation [11].
For mathematical recombination, the overall mixture
composition is calculated from the composition of each phase
and their respective proportions [13].
Obtaining a representative reservoir fluid requires a PVT
study of separator gas and separator liquid [15]. The physical
parameters provided by the PVT study of separator gas and
separator liquid will be used to correct the field GOR to obtain
the reservoir gas.
The corrected GOR is calculated from the field and
laboratory data with the following formula:
GOR cor

( d .Z ) ch
( d .Z ) lab

GOR cha Fc

Yi M i

Determined Gas Oil Ratio in laboratory

15
15 )

The molar composition is obtained by carrying out a

material balance:

nl

ng

zi

nl xi

nl xi

n g yi

xi

n g yi

nl

(1.5)

nt

(nt ) z i

ng

ng

1 (

nl
ng

.. (1.6)

) yi

nl

.. (1.7)

Supposing
that a liquid volume V generates a gas volume Vg and a liquid
mass, we will get:

ng

Vg M l

nl

V mol

.. (1.8)

Vl

. (1.2)
ng

i 1

Mm
M air

xi

1 (

. (1.9)

GOR

zi

The parameters are as follows:

15
15 "

xi M i

V mol

. (1.3)

The PVT study of separator liquid is used to calculate the

following parameters and mathematical recombination of liquid
flash and gas flash.

Storage Liquid Mass Density "

GOR

nl

The separator gas density, given by the following

formula:
d

GORlab

Mass Density of storage liquid at 15C (

Molar Volume at 15C

. (1.1)

The PVT study of the separator gas includes the

determination of the separator gas chemical composition that
used to determine:
The average molar mass of separator gas, calculated
by its composition.
Mm

The purpose of the mathematical recombination of flash

liquid and flash gas is to reconstitute the separator liquid. The
parameters of this recombination are:

V mol
GOR
V mol

xi M i

) yi
.. (1.10)

xi M i
l

EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP

1. SAMPLES VALIDATION

The PVT apparatus was used to validate samples,

reconstitute of reservoir fluid and measure the hydrate
formation conditions. This apparatus has several elements and
the most important are the volumetric pump, the visual high
pressure cell, the displacement and volume measurement
system, the air bath and the sampling cylinder (Fig.2)
The visual high-pressure cell had been connected to a
volumetric pump and therefore the pressure of the cell could be
controlled by injecting and withdrawing the hydraulic fluid to
the hydraulic fluid side. On the other hand, the high pressure
cell temperature was very precisely stabilized by a digital
controller. The cell internal volume was divided into two parts,
separated from each other by a sealed piston. One side of the
piston was connected to a volumetric pump and the other side
had been filled with the fluid sample and water.

The reservoir samples are two bottles containing 20 liters

of separator gas, two cylinders containing 700 ml of separator
liquid and one cylinder containing 700 ml of separator water.
The samples were heated to the separator temperature
(39C), stirred and stabilized. The opening pressure was
determined using pump pressure indicator.
The obtained results for the samples of separator gas and
separator liquid are respectively shown in Table-1 and Table-2.
Table-1: Opening pressure of separator gas samples bottles

Sample N

Cylinder N

Separator
Pressure
(psig)

Separator
Temperature
(C)

Lab Opening
Pressure
(psig)

Lab Opening
Temperature
(C)

Separator Gas

1
2

CGS1
CGS2

270
270

39
39

268
260

39
39

Table-2: Opening pressure of separator liquid samples

Cylinders

Sample N

Cylinder N

Separator
Pressure
(psig)

Separator
Temperature
(C)

Lab Opening
Pressure
(psig)

Lab Opening
Temperature
(C)

Separator Liquid

1
2

CLS1
CLS1

270
270

39
39

270
260

39
39

CME TEST

Fig.2: PVT Apparatus (Jefri)

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
O

RESERVOIR FLUID RECONSTITUTION

The reconstitution of the reservoir fluid involves the following

steps:
Samples validation;
PVT study of separator gas;
PVT study of separator liquid;
Recombination of separator liquid and separator gas.

A constant mass expansion test (CME) was performed on

both separator liquid samples at separator temperature to
determine the saturation pressure which would normally
correspond to the separation pressure. For this, we introduced a
volume of 40 cm at 3000 psig in the PVT visual cell heated to
the separator temperature (39C) in an air bath, set up at
0.2C and after stabilizing in temperature and pressure by
propeller magnetic stirring, we decreased pressure and noted
corresponding fluid volume every time. The temperature of the
PVT cell is measured using a thermocouple connected to a
platinum RTD digital display with an accuracy of 0.01C. The
pressure in the PVT cell is measured using a Heise type
digital gauge with an accuracy of 0.1%. The volumes are
determined using a cathetometer with a resolution of 0.01mm.
The kink point on the graph of the pressure-volume
relationship is the saturation pressure Pb .

1,800

Table-3: Composition, average mass molar and separator gas

density

Relative volume (cm3/cm3)

1,650

1,350

1,200

1,050

0,900
1000

2000

3000

Pressure (psig)

Fig-5: Pressure-volume relationship of the first

separator liquid sample during the CME at separator
temperature (39 C).
1,650

1,500

Relative volume (cm3/cm3)

Separator Gas Molar Composition

"Yi" (%)

28.014
44.010
16.043
30.070
44.097
58.124
58.124
72.151
72.151
86.178
96.000
107.00
121.00
134.00
147.00
161.00
175.00
190.00
206.00
222.00
237.00
251.00
263.00
275.00
291.00
305.00
318.00
331.00
345.00
359.00
374.00
388.00
402.00
580.00

1.17
1.59
81.35
10.31
3.54
0.49
0.86
0.27
0.23
0.13
0.06
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

N2
CO2
C1
C2
C3
iC4
nC4
iC5
nC5
C6
C7
C8
C9
C10
C11
C12
C13
C14
C15
C16
C17
C18
C19
C20
C21
C22
C23
C24
C25
C26
C27
C28
C29
C30+

1,500

Molar Mass "Mi "(g/mole)

Total
Average Molar Mass "Mm" (g/mole)
Density "d" (air = 1)

1,350

100.00
20.05
0.692

3. PVT STUDY OF SEPARATOR LIQUID

1,200

1,050

0,900
400

900

1400

1900

2400

2900

3400

Pressure (psig)

Fig-6: Pressure-volume relationship of the second

separator liquid sample during the CME at separator
temperature (39C).
The representative sample (validated) is the first sample
and it can be used for recombination to obtain reservoir fluid.

We have transferred a volume of 40 cm of validated

separator liquid sample in the visual high pressure cell raised to
the separator temperature (39C) in an air bath, set up at
0.2C and to a pressure higher than the separation pressure
(3000 psig) to ensure a single-phase transfer of the sample.
After stabilization of temperature and pressure by the
magnetic stirring, we measure the mass of the empty
pycnometer and then we transfer a volume of 14.9 cm of
separator liquid of the PVT cell towards the pycnometer at a
pressure of 3000 psig and at the separation temperature (39C).
We measure the mass of the pycnometer after the transfer. The
obtained results are shown in Table-4.

1
2
average

848.93
848.63

(c

m pv

10.68
10.38

Vlt

14.90
14.50

(g/c

838.25
838.25

m pr

m3)

m pr

m pv

m)

(g)
Test N

The validated separator gas sample was analyzed using gas

phase chromatography.
The obtained results concerning the composition in molar
percentage, mass molar and density are shown in Table-3.

(g)

Table-4: Separator Liquid Mass Density

2. PVT STUDY OF SEPARATOR GAS

0.717
0.716
0.7165

The density of separator liquid at the saturation point is

deduced from that measured at 3000 psig and at the separation
temperature (39C).

C17
C18
C19
C20
C21
C22
C23
C24
C25
C26
C27
C28
C29
C30+

The separator liquid sample had a flash from the separation

conditions to ambient conditions, the gas effluents and obtained
liquid (gas flash and liquid flash) are analyzed by gas
chromatography. The flash separation is performed in the Jefri
GOR Apparatus (DPR Company).
The obtained results are shown in table Table-5.
Table-5: Composition of Liquid flash and Gas flash
Components
N2
CO2
C1
C2
C3
iC4
nC4
iC5
nC5
C6
C7
C8
C9
C10
C11
C12
C13
C14
C15
C16
C17
C18
C19
C20
C21
C22
C23
C24
C25
C26
C27
C28
C29
C30+

Molar Mass "Mi

"(g/mole)

Flash Gas Molar

Composition (%)

Flash Liquid Molar

Composition (%)

28.014
44.010
16.043
30.070
44.097
58.124
58.124
72.151
72.151
86.178
96.000
107.00
121.00
134.00
147.00
161.00
175.00
190.00
206.00
222.00
237.00
251.00
263.00
275.00
291.00
305.00
318.00
331.00
345.00
359.00
374.00
388.00
402.00
580.00

4.25
1.39
31.56
27.90
20.37
3.33
6.55
1.86
1.45
0.88
0.36
0.07
0.02
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.01
0.05
0.36
1.96
5.59
2.49
7.02
5.38
5.74
12.32
17.33
11.76
10.00
6.09
3.84
2.58
1.99
1.40
1.05
0.77
0.58
0.44
0.34
0.25
0.19
0.14
0.10
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0.01
0.01
0.01

Total

100.00

N2
CO2
C1
C2
C3
iC4
nC4
iC5
nC5
C6
C7
C8
C9
C10
C11
C12
C13
C14
C15
C16

Liquid
flash
"xiMi"

Separator Liquid Molar

Composition (%)

28.014
44.010
16.043
30.070
44.097
58.124
58.124
72.151
72.151
86.178
96.000
107.00
121.00
134.00
147.00
161.00
175.00
190.00
206.00
222.00

0.18
0.02
9.96
7.79
4.15
0.11
0.43
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.02
0.06
0.59
2.47
1.44
4.08
3.88
4.14
10.62
16.63
12.58
12.10
8.16
5.65
4.15
3.48
2.67
2.16
1.72

0.69
0.26
5.33
6.09
7.95
2.62
6.95
4.82
5.06
10.50
14.63
9.90
8.41
5.12
3.23
2.17
1.67
1.18
0.88
0.65

0.49
0.37
0.29
0.21
0.16
0.12
0.08
0.07
0.05
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.01
0.01

Total

100.00

Average Mass Molar "Mm" (g/mole)

91.74

Components

N2
CO2
C1
C2
C3
iC4
nC4
iC5
nC5
C6
C7
C8
C9
C10
C11
C12
C13
C14
C15
C16
C17
C18
C19
C20
C21
C22
C23
C24
C25
C26
C27
C28
C29
C30+

Table-6: Molar Composition of obtained Separator Liquid by

Mathematical Recombination of gas flash and Liquid flash
Gas flash
"yi.Mi"

1.38
1.10
0.91
0.69
0.55
0.44
0.30
0.28
0.21
0.13
0.09
0.05
0.05
0.07

The molar composition of the reservoir fluid obtained by

mathematical recombination is shown in Table-7.

100.00

Molar Mass "Mi

"(g/mole)

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

4. RECOMBINATION OF SEPARATOR LIQUID AND

SEPARATOR GAS

The purpose of the mathematical recombination of liquid

flash and gas flash is to reconstitute the separator liquid. The
composition of the separator liquid obtained by mathematical
recombination is shown in the Table-6.

Components

237.00
251.00
263.00
275.00
291.00
305.00
318.00
331.00
345.00
359.00
374.00
388.00
402.00
580.00

Mass Molar "Mi

"(g/mole)

Separator Gas
Molar
Composition
(%)

Separator
Liquid
Molar
Composition
(%)

Reservoir fluid
Molar
Composition (%)

28.014
44.010
16.043
30.070
44.097
58.124
58.124
72.151
72.151
86.178
96.000
107.00
121.00
134.00
147.00
161.00
175.00
190.00
206.00
222.00
237.00
251.00
263.00
275.00
291.00
305.00
318.00
331.00
345.00
359.00
374.00
388.00
402.00
580.00

1.17
1.59
81.35
10.31
3.54
0.49
0.86
0.27
0.23
0.13
0.06
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.69
0.26
5.33
6.09
7.95
2.62
6.95
4.82
5.06
10.50
14.63
9.90
8.41
5.12
3.23
2.17
1.67
1.18
0.88
0.65
0.49
0.37
0.29
0.21
0.16
0.12
0.08
0.07
0.05
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.01
0.01

1.16
1.55
79.07
10.18
3.67
0.55
1.04
0.41
0.38
0.44
0.50
0.30
0.25
0.15
0.10
0.07
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

20.05

91.74

22.21

Total
Average Molar Mass "Mm"
(g/mole)

MESURMENT OF GAS HYDRATE FORMATION

CONDITIONS
This step consists of the following:
Measurement of gas hydrate formation temperature
Measurement of gas hydrate formation temperature
with increasing of produced water amount
Measurement of gas hydrate formation temperature
with addition of different inhibitors

5000

1- MESUREMENT OF GAS HYDRATE FORMATION

TEMPERATURE

4500
4000
3500

(a)

(c)

(b)

(d)

Fig.7: Hydrates formation process in the visual high

pressure cell at a pressure of 3000 psig and a temperature
of 24C. (a) Initiation, (b) after 7 minutes, (c) after 12
minutes and (d) after 13 minutes.

Pressure (psig)

We introduce a volume of 60cm of reservoir fluid (gas) at

a pressure of 5000 psig in the visual high pressure cell to the
reservoir temperature (104C) in an air bath, set up to 0.2C,
then we inject a volume of 3cm of separator water at the base
of the PVT cell using the volumetric pump and after stabilizing
on temperature and pressure by a magnetic stirrer; we reduce
the pressure.
The increase in pressure is done by the positive
displacement pump driving back special oil (its freezing
temperature is less than -40 C).
For each pressure level, we reduce the temperature of the fluid
with agitating the high pressure cell fluid (gas + separator
water) until the hydrate formation (Fig.7).

Unsafe region
(hydrate zone)

3000
2500
2000
1500

Safe region
(no hydrate)

1000
500
0
10

15

25

30

Fig.8: Hydrate phase equilibrium curve of reservoir

fluid (gas condensate)
2- MESUREMENT OF GAS HYDRATE FORMATION
TEMPERATURE WITH INCREASING OF
PRODUCED WATER AMOUNT
It should be noted that during the field exploitation, the
produced water amount increases with the time.
We transfer into the visual high pressure cell at a pressure
of 5000 psig and at reservoir temperature (104C) a volume of
60 cm of reservoir gas, then we inject at the bottom of the cell
using the volumetric pump a volume of 3 cm (5% vol), 6 cm
(10% vol), 9 cm (15% vol) and 12 cm (20% vol) of produced
water for the last test. After temperature stabilization by a
magnetic stirring, we noticed a decrease in pressure. Then, we
cool the fluid of the cell with agitation until formation of
hydrates. The obtained results are shown in Fig.9.
5000

5% vol separator water

4500

10% vol separator water

15% vol separator water

4000

20% vol separator water

3500

Pressure (psig)

Hydrate formation causes a rapid decrease in pressure in

the visual high pressure cell.
For each pressure level and after the formation of hydrates,
we proceed with dissociation of formed hydrates by increasing
temperature in the high pressure cell.

20

Temperature (C)

3000
2500

Unsafe region
(hydrate zone)

2000
1500

The obtained results are shown on Fig.8.

1000

Safe region
(no hydrate)

500
0
-10

-5

10

15

20

25

30

Temperature (C)

Fig.9: Hydrate phase equilibrium curves of reservoir

fluid (gas condensate) with increasing of produced
water amount

3- MESUREMENT OF GAS HYDRATE FORMATION

TEMPERATURE WITH ADDITION OF DIFFERENT
INHIBITORS

5000

0% vol de DEG
4500

25% vol de DEG

50% vol de DEG

4000

75% vol de DEG

3500

Pressure (psig)

Hydrate formation is generally stopped by several

methods: temperature control, pressure reduction, dehydration
and use of chemical inhibitors such as alcohols, glycols etc.
The influence of some inhibitors on reducing the hydrate
formation temperature has been studied. The obtained results
are shown in Fig.10, Fig.11 and Fig.12.

3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0

5000

0% vol methanol
4500

10

15

50% vol methanol

25

30

Fig.12: Hydrate phase equilibrium curves of reservoir

fluid (gas condensate) in presence of DEG as inhibitor

75% vol methanol

3500

20

Temperature (C)

25% vol methanol

4000

Pressure (psig)

3000
2500

COMPARATIVE STUDY

2000
1500
1000
500
0
-10

-5

10

15

20

25

30

Temperature (C)

Fig.10: Hydrate phase equilibrium curves of reservoir fluid

(gas condensate) in presence of methanol as inhibitor
5000

25% vol TEG

4000

50% vol TEG

75% vol TEG

Pressure (psig)

3500

F ( P,V , T , X )

Using hydrates models exist in the PVTsim, it is possible to

simulate and predict the hydrate formation conditions in
mixtures of gas and oil. The decrease in temperature of hydrate
formation due to the addition of inhibitors (MeOH, EtOH,
MEG, DEG and TEG) can be simulated.

0% vol TEG

4500

In order to confirm the experimental results of temperature

measurements of hydrate formation of fluid reservoir (gas
condensate), we used the numerical simulation tool
(commercial software PVTsim du Laboratoire PVT CRD
Sonatrach).
The PVTsim software is a tool used to model the
volumetric properties of petroleum fluids using a mathematical
expression:

3000

To perform these computations, PVTsim software requires

the following data:

2500
2000
1500

The temperature and/or pressure.

The composition of mixture (fluid) to study
The water content and composition
The type and content of added inhibitor.

1000
500
0
0

10

15

20

25

30

Temperature (C)

Fig.11: Hydrate phase equilibrium curves of reservoir

fluid (gas condensate) in presence of TEG as inhibitor

5000
Model (PVT sim)

4500

Experiment

4000

2 5% vo l M eOH_ PVTs im

50 % vo lM eOH_ PVTs im

75% vo l M eOH_ PVTs im

0 % vo l M eOH_ Exp eriment

2 5% vo l M eOH_ Exp eriment l

50 % vo l M eOH_ Exp eriment l

75% vo l M eOH_ Exp eriment l

5000
4500

3500

4000
3000

3500
Pressure (psig)

Pressure (psig)

0 % vo l M eOH_ PVTs im

2500
2000
1500
1000

3000
2500
2000
1500
1000

500

500
0

0
10

15

20

25

-15

30

-5

15

25

35

Temprature (C)

Temperature (C)

Fig.13: Comparison between the experimental and

simulation results for gas hydrate formation temperature

Fig.15: Comparison between the experimental and

simulation results for gas hydrate formation
temperature in presence of methanol as inhibitor

5% vo l wa te r s e p_P VTs im

5000

5% vo l s e p wa te r_Expe rime nt

2 5% vo l TEG_ PVTs im

50 % vo l TEG_ PVTs im

75% vo l TEG_ PVTs im

0 % vo l TEG_ Exp eriment

2 5% vo l TEG_ Exp eriment

50 % vo l TEG_ Exp eriment

75% vo l TEG_ Exp eriment

10% vo l s e p wa te r_P VTs im

4500

5000

10% vo l s e p wa te r_Expe rim e nt

4000

15% vo l s e p wa te r_P VTs im

4500

3500

15% vo l s e p wa te r_Expe rim e nt

3000

20% vo ls e p wa te r_P VTs im

4000

20% vo l s e p wa te r_Expe rim e ntl

2500

3500

Pressure (psig)

Pressure (psig)

0 % vo l TEG_ PVTs im

2000
1500
1000
500

3000
2500
2000
1500

0
10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

1000

30

Temprature (C)

500
0

Fig.14: Comparison between the experimental and

simulation results for gas hydrate formation temperature
with increasing of produced water amount

-10

-5

10

15

20

25

30

Temp rature (C)

Fig.16: Comparison between the experimental and

simulation results for gas hydrate formation temperature
in presence of TEG as inhibitor

0 % vo l DEG_ PVTs im

2 5% vo l DEG_ PVTs im

50 % vo l DEG_ PVTs im

75% vo l DEG_ PVTs im

0 % vo l DEG_ Exp eriment

2 5% vo l DEG_ Exp eriment

50 % vo l DEG_ Exp eriment

75% vo l DEG_ Exp eriment

5000
4500
4000

Pressure (psig)

3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
-10

10

20

30

Temp erature (C)

Fig.17: Comparison between the experimental and

simulation results for gas hydrate formation temperature
in presence of DEG as inhibitor
CONCLUSIONS
The problems posed by the presence of hydrates in the
pipes during the operation of a natural gas field have currently
taken a large scale worldwide. Several studies and techniques
have been developed to explain the process of hydrates
formation on the one hand and on the other hand proposed
appropriate solutions to stop this formation.
Our work was carried on a real case of condensate gas field
located in southern Algeria. For this purpose, we studied
experimentally in laboratory in a visual high pressure cell the
formation and stability conditions of gas hydrates and
established hydrate formation curves identifying safety zones
allowing operators to work outside of these conditions as well
as the influence of inhibitors on this formation.
To confirm these experimental results, we performed a
numerical study using PVTsim commercial software. The
experimental results are reasonable and are in line with those
obtained by simulation.

[5] E. Dendy Sloan, C. A. Koh, Clathrate hydrates of Natural

Gases, Third Edition, Taylor and Francis Group (2008).
[6] E.D, Sloan, Natural gas hydrates, Colorado of Mines, SPE
paper 2356, (1953).
[7] E.G. Hammerschmidt, Formation of Gas Hydrates in
Natural Gas Transmission Lines, Ind. Eng. Chem, 26;
8,851 (1934)
[8] B.Tohidi, A.Danesh, A.C.Todd, R.W. Burgass, Gas
Hydrate, Problem or Source of Energy, Tehran, Congress
Proceeding, December 20-30 (1993).
[9] S. Cochran, and R. Gudimetla, Hydrate management: Its
importance to deepwater gas development success, Word
Oil, Vol. 225, pp.55-61 (2004).
[10] P. F. Pickering, B. Edmonds, R. A. S. Moorwood, R.
Szczepanski and M. J. Watson, Evaluating new chemicals
and alternatives for mitigating hydrates in oil and gas
production, Ultradeep Engineering Supplement to offshore
Magazine, p. 7-10, March 2001.
[11] J.F. Gravier, Proprits des Fluides de Gisements, Edition
Technip, Paris, France (1986).
[12] N.R. Nagarajan, M.M. Honarpour, and K. Sampath,
Reservoir-Fluid Sampling and Characterization, Society of
Petroleum Engineers (August 2007).
[13] P. Donnez, Essentials of Reservoir Engineering, Edition
Technip, Paris, France (2007).
[14] J. M. Williams, Fluid sampling, Revue de l institut
Franais du Ptrole, Vol. 53, N 3, Mai-Juin 1998.
[15] A. Danesh, PVT and Phase Behavior of Petroleum
Reservoir Fluids, Developments in Petroleum Science
series, volume 47 (1998)

REFERENCES
[1] M. M Mooijer van den Heave, Phase Behaviour and
Structural Aspects of Ternary Casthrate Hydrates Systems,
these of doctorat: Technische Universiteit Delft (2004).
[2] E. Berecz, M. Bella-achs, Gas Hydrates, Edition Elsevier
(1983).
[3] A. Rojey, Le Gaz Naturel, Production, Traitement et
Transport, Editions Technip, Paris, France (1994).
[4] Y. H. Jeaon, N. J. Kim, W. G. Chum, S.H. Lim, C. B. Kim,
and B. K. Hur, A Study of the Kinetic Characteristics of
Natural Gas Hydrate, Ind. Eng. Chem, Vol. 12, N. 5, p.
733-738 (2006).

10

11