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Inhibex Series
Low dose Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors

Low Dose Hydrate Inhibitors (LDHIs) based on Poly Vinyl Pyrrolidone (VP) and Poly Vinyl Caprolactam (VCap) retard gas hydrates by functioning as anti-nucleates. Specifically, as kinetic hydrate inhibitors, these technologies interact with crystal growth sites to delay hydrate nucleation. ISP offers the Inhibex series of low dose gas hydrate inhibitor technologies to delay gas hydrates in offshore production systems. These products are typically 25 to 50 times more efficient than thermodynamic inhibitors. Most Inhibex gas hydrate inhibitors require less than 1% (wt.%) to prevent gas hydrates from forming, even in fields with high water cut. Formulations containing Inhibex products may be used as a stand-alone option or as technologies to enhance the efficiency of standard thermodynamic gas hydrate inhibitor methods.

Benefits
Lower dose rate vs. standard THIs Subcooling performance up to 11.5C in ISP lab tests Salt and temperature tolerance at certain conditions Moderate viscosity for consistent formulation Comparable subcooling vs. 25% dose rate methanol Methanol compatible Lower environmental impact than methanol

Deploying LDHIs in demanding field applications

Today, oil and gas operators work within a larger spectrum of temperature and pressure conditions. ISP has responded to these changing operational conditions with novel polymer based chemistries designed to withstand variables such as high injection temperatures, high salt conditions and high sub-cooling conditions, North Sea biodegradability requirements and even remain functional in the presence of condensate. Now more than ever, ISP is expanding the application of low dose KHI chemistry for formulators of hydrate inhibitor products.

The Inhibex product range

Most oil & gas production systems are subject to conditions favorable to gas hydrate formation. ISP, a major supplier of kinetic gas hydrate inhibitor technology (KHI), specializes in both Poly Vinyl Pyrrolidone (VP) based KHIs developed in the 1990s and new, novel Poly Vinyl Caprolactam (VCap) copolymers and terpolymers. Included here are commercially available Inhibex products based on innovative ISP chemistry: 301 Chemistry Poly VCap/ DEAEMA BGE 501 Poly VP/VCap 505 Poly VCap Co-Polymer EG/Water 510 Poly VCap Co-Polymer BGE BIO 800 Poly VCap Co-Polymer BGE

Solvent Induction time at 10.5C subcooling (60 bar, 7C) Max subcooling (C) with 2 day induction time Fresh water cloud point (C)

BGE

4-5 d

3-5 d

>4d

13 d

13 d

10.5

10.5

11.5

11.5

11.5

37

72

89

28

29

Fresh water precip point (C)

~100

98

~100

33.5

~100

Salt tolerant

No Performs in presence of condensate

Yes General purpose KHI with high cloud point

Yes High temp, High salt tolerant

No High subcooling KHI

No Biodegradable, High subcooling KHI

Notes

Inhibex 301 multipurpose gas hydrate and corrosion inhibitor

Inhibex 501 gas hydrate inhibitor

A copolymer of Vinyl caprolactam and N,NDiethylaminoethylmethacrylate in Butyl Cellosolve, Inhibex 301 offers gas hydrate inhibition along with the added benefit of corrosion inhibition properties. At a dose rate of 0.6 wt.%, Inhibex 301 performs well in the presence of condensate at 10.5C subcooling in autoclave cells containing green canyon gas. Tests conducted alongside standard poly VCap polymers show Inhibex 301 yields benchmark subcooling performance at 10.5C in autoclave cells containing green canyon gas.

Setting the high cloud point benchmark Operating wells with high injection temperatures require gas hydrate inhibitors designed for cloud points above 50C. At the same time, commercially viable KHI technologies must exhibit industry standard subcooling performance. ISP offers both with Inhibex 501. Based on poly VCap copolymer, Inhibex 501exhibits a cloud point at 72C, well above other commercially available Inhibex gas hydrate inhibitors. In many injection applications, cloudiness is acceptable while the critical temperature is the precipitation temperature of the polymer. Inhibex 501 offers a precipitation temperature of 98C in fresh water and a 45C precipitation temperature in brine.

Temperature/Salt tolerance of Inhibex 501 Inhibex 501 offers high cloud point and moderate salt tolerance benefit. With an induction time of 3-5 days at 10.5C subcooling, Inhibex 501 exhibits good performance and high temperature compatibility.
100 90

1600

25

wt% methanol 15

No inhibitor

1400

Inhibex 510 0.6 wt%

1200

Temperature (C)

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 2 4 6 8 10

Pressure (psi)

80

1000

Precipitate Region Haze Region

800

11.5C SubCooling
600

Clear
400

12

14

16

18

20

200

% Brine (NaCl)
0 0 5 10 15 20 25

Given these capabilities, Inhibex 501 is considered ideal for use in operations with high injection temperatures and moderate subcooling requirements.

Temperature (C)

Inhibex 510 gas hydrate inhibitor

Matching sub-cooling benchmarks with co-polymers Prior to the introduction of Inhibex 510, a poly Vcap co-polymer, few alternatives existed for high sub-cooling performance. Standard poly VCap, used successfully in the field for decades, is the industry standard for KHI performance. Tests conducted alongside standard poly VCap polymer, however, show Inhibex 510 co-polymers yield subcooling performance of 11.5C in autoclave cells containing Green Canyon Gas. At a dose rate of 0.6 wt%, Inhibex 510 is comparable to 25 wt% methanol as well as industry standard Poly VCap. This high degree of efficiency suggests a potentially lower cost solution than thermal technologies. Highly compatible with methanol, Inhibex 510 may also be used to enhance the efficiency of standard thermodynamic gas hydrate inhibitor methods.

Subcooling induction time of Inhibex 510 Induction times vary with subcooling as shown below. Excellent subcooling results are seen with Green Canyon Gas in autoclave cells at 0.3 wt%. ISP considers the neat polymer to pass our testing at 11.5C max.
350 300

Induction Time (hours)

250 200 150 100 50 0 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Degrees of Subcooling (C)

Temperature/Salt tolerance of Inhibex 510 Temperature vs. % brine plot below indicates the operating window where Inhibex 510 is clear, hazy and precipitates. While the temperature, salt tolerance window is narrow, Inhibex 510 offers excellent subcooling under certain conditions.
50

40

Temperature (C)

30

20

Precipitate Region Haze Region

10

Clear
0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

% Brine (NaCl)

Inhibex products from ISP

ISP offers an expanding list of Inhibex gas hydrate inhibitors to better support a range of offshore operating conditions. Products like Inhibex BIO 800 engineered for high subcooling performance: Offer>20% biodegradability as defined by OECD 306 guidelines Better support of regulatory requirements in regions such as the North Sea Excellent sub cooling performance at low dosage rates The potential to lower overall hydrate inhibitor costs

In high injection temperatures and high salinity conditions, ISP offers Inhibex 505: For very high temperature/salt tolerance Excellent sub cooling performance at low dosage rates Does not precipitate out at 100C up to 10% brine

For more information about these and other products made possible with ISPs broad portfolio of innovative chemistry, visit ispenergy.com or contact your ISP representative.

For questions about any ISP Oilfield products, visit ispenergy.com Or to find a sales office within your country visit ispcorp.com
info@ispcorp.com Tel: +33 (0) 1 49 93 21-58/59 Tel: +49 (0) 2236 9649-260
Product Code: ISP-PCH5718 08/2010
The information contained in this document and the various products described are intended for use only by persons having technical skill and at their own discretion and risk after they have performed necessary technical investigations, tests and evaluations of the products and their uses. While the information herein is believed to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and a purchaser must make its own determination of a products suitability for purchasers use, for the protection of the environment, and for the health and safety of its employees and the purchasers of its products. Neither ISP nor its a liates shall be responsible for the use of this information, or of any product, method or apparatus described in this document. Nothing herein waives any of ISPs or its a liates conditions of sale, and WE MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS OF ANY PRODUCT FOR A PARTICULAR USE OR PURPOSE. We also make no warranty against infringement of any patents by reason of purchasers use of any information, product, method or apparatus described in this document.

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