Effects of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and surfactants on methane hydrate formation for natural gas storage were investigated. THF with different concentrations of 1 mol%, 3 mol%, and 5.56 mol%, was used to enhance the methane hydrate formation rates. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), methyl ester fulfonates (MES), and alkyl propoxylate sulfate (APS) were used to investiage effects of differnt chain lengths on the hydrate formation. The experiments were conducted at 6 MPa and 8 MPa and 4 and 7 °C in a fixed volume crystallizer closed system without any disturbance. The preliminary results showed the enhancement of methane hydrate formation rates with the presence of THF. Surprisingly, not all tested surfactants enhanced the hydrate formation. It was postulated that the surface tension reduction with the presence of the surfactants may not be the only factor that affected the formation. Moreover, the hydrate phase equilibria of the system with different THF concentrations were present.

Enhancement of methane hydrate formation with the presence of tetrahydrofuran and surfactants

249th National Meeting (2015)

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