Laboratory of Hydrate Technologies of Utilization and Storage of Greenhouse Gases

Development of domestic hydrate technology for capturing, storing and transporting greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, associated petroleum gas);

development of special chemical reagents for controlling the processes of hydrate formation (promoters, inhibitors, anti-agglomerants), including those based on domestic raw materials, for the extraction and transportation of hydrocarbons in difficult climatic conditions.

Types of research:

• Development and research of hydrate technologies for utilization, storage and transportation of carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon gases (natural gas, associated petroleum gas);
• Study of the formation and decomposition of hydrates in combined systems by various physicochemical methods, including dielectric spectroscopy and the preparation of hydrates in an autoclave with intensive stirring and in shaking cells;
• Determination of the effect of the type and composition of the hydrate-forming gas on the kinetic characteristics of the hydrate formation process in the presence of promoters; influence of promoters and impurities in gas on the selectivity of binding carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon gases;
• Establishing the qualitative and quantitative composition of the present phases, estimating the correlation times and activation parameters of dielectric relaxation in them depending on temperature, pressure, concentration and composition of hydrate formation promoters; determination of the kinetic characteristics of phase transitions with the formation and decomposition of gas hydrates depending on temperature, pressure, concentration and composition of hydrate formation promoters;
• Optimization of parameters for accelerated production of gas hydrates for their technological use for gas storage and transportation.

Achievements

A line of reagents has been developed – promoters of hydrate formation – based on sulfonated fatty alcohols, complexones and natural oils, as well as other reagents that determine the rate and conversion of gas into hydrate. In terms of their effectiveness, they are not inferior to the developments of the leading international groups from Singapore, the USA, and China working in this area. According to the results of work in 2021 and 2022, two applications for a patent of the Russian Federation were prepared (“Promoters of hydrate formation based on alcohol sulfosuccinates”, “Hydrate promoters based on amino acid amides and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid”) and published a number of articles in leading peer-reviewed scientific journals. The obtained scientific and technical groundwork during the work of the laboratory was used to solve practical problems. In 2022, a project was implemented with Gazpromneft STC on the topic “Selection of a chemical reagent and its dosage to prevent the formation of hydrate plugs in a well during gas injection based on a study of a series of kinetic inhibitors and anti-agglomerants”. The results obtained within the framework of this project will make it possible to effectively implement the injection of gas into the reservoir, thereby contributing, on the one hand, to an increase in oil recovery, and, on the other hand, the utilization of greenhouse gas. Also, together with Gazpromneft STC, the project “Study of the possibility of obtaining solid granular forms of gas hydrates for the transportation and storage of natural and associated petroleum gas” is being implemented. The goals of this project are fully consistent with the goals of the laboratory, and its implementation will contribute in the future to the implementation in Russia of the hydrate technology for gas storage and transportation, including the disposal of greenhouse gases. The reagents developed as part of the work of the laboratory will be used in this project to test their effectiveness for storing and transporting associated petroleum gas at one of the company’s facilities, where there are technological difficulties due to the high gas content in oil. It is also planned to implement the results obtained jointly with other companies and divisions of Gazpromneft.