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Studying Surfactant Effects on Hydrate Crystallization at Oil-Water Interfaces Using a Low-Cost Integrated Modular Peltier Device
Published on: March 18, 2020
Measurement of Adhesion between Hydrate Particles and Solid Surfaces in a Condensed Water System
Wei Wang1, Shidong Zhou1, Xiaoyan Li1
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Storage and Transportation Technology, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213016, People's Republic of China.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|July 13, 2026
Summary
Condensed water significantly increases gas hydrate adhesion to pipeline walls. Epoxy coatings with HKUST-1 loading offer improved antiadhesion performance, crucial for preventing deepwater pipeline blockages.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
Background:
- Gas hydrate formation and deposition in deepwater oil and gas pipelines pose significant flow assurance risks.
- Adhesion between hydrate particles and pipe walls is critical for hydrate deposition and potential blockage.
- The impact of condensed water on hydrate formation and adhesion remains insufficiently understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the adhesion between cyclopentane hydrate particles and various carbon steel surfaces.
- To evaluate the influence of condensed water, surface wettability, and liquid bridges on hydrate adhesion.
- To assess the effectiveness of epoxy coatings and HKUST-1 loading in mitigating hydrate adhesion.
Main Methods:
- Micromechanical adhesion tests were employed to measure the adhesion forces.
- Cyclopentane hydrate particles were tested against bare, corroded, epoxy-coated, and HKUST-1 loaded epoxy-coated carbon steel surfaces.
- Surface wettability and the presence of condensed water were key experimental variables.
Main Results:
- Condensed water increased hydrate-wall adhesion from ~3.6 mN/m to 21.7-29.6 mN/m on corroded surfaces.
- Epoxy coating reduced adhesion to 18.2 mN/m, and HKUST-1 loading further decreased it to 12.7 mN/m.
- Surface corrosion enhanced condensed water retention and liquid-bridge interactions, increasing adhesion; epoxy coatings and HKUST-1 loading counteracted this effect.
Conclusions:
- Condensed water plays a crucial role in enhancing gas hydrate adhesion to carbon steel pipeline surfaces.
- Epoxy coatings, especially when loaded with HKUST-1, significantly reduce hydrate adhesion by modifying surface properties and liquid layer formation.
- Findings provide valuable insights for developing effective surface protection strategies against gas hydrate deposition in deepwater pipelines.
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