| abstract |
A method is described for reducing the tendency for agglomeration of hydrates within a fluid comprising at least water and hydrocarbons, capable of forming hydrates, under conditions where these hydrates can form, characterized in that incorporating into said fluid a water-soluble polymer or copolymer based on alkylene oxide containing at least one sequence - (OR) - n in which R represents a hydrocarbon group of 2 or 3 carbon atoms and n represents the average degree for the polymerization of said sequence, at least one of the sequences - (OR) - n being a polyethylene oxide sequence, in combination with a thermodynamic hydrate formation inhibitor, for example an alcohol or a glycol. This process is particularly suitable for the case where the fluid to be treated contains a high proportion of water, for example more than 30% by mass. The presence of salts in water can at least partially dispense with the addition of alcohols or glycols. |