Case 14446

Hydrate-phobic Pipe Surfaces

Keywords:
Hydrophobicity, surface energy, adhesion strength

Applications:
Deep-sea oil and gas exploration

Problem:
Hydrates that form in deep-sea oil and gas exploration cause plugging of flow-lines, valves, etc leading to flow restrictions and catastrophic failures.

Technology:
This invention proposes to reduce hydrate formation in deep-sea O&G exploration pipes by increasing the pipe hydrophobicity. It is found that hydrate adhesion decreases with surface energy, and tailoring acid base components of surface energy could further optimize surfaces for lower hydrate adhesion. Up to 5 times reduction in adhesion strength with low surface energy coatings was measured.

Advantages:

Reduce expensive chemical and thermal treatment for flow assurance

Improve subsea system reliability and flow assurance

Extend pipe, valve & other components’ life

Prevent catastrophic failures, enable ultra-deep water exploration by improving flow assurance

Inventors:

Professor Kripa K. Varanasi (Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT)

Professor Robert Cohen (Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT)

Professor Gareth McKinley (Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT)

Adam Meuler (Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT)

J. David Smith (Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT)

Intellectual Property:

PCT Patent Application PCT/US2011/049187 filed on August 25, 2011

US Patent Application 13/218104 filed on August 25, 2011

US Patent Application 13/218095 filed on August 25, 2011

Publications:
MIT News (4/12/2012): “New method to prevent undersea ice clogs: Surface coatings developed by MIT researchers could inhibit buildup of methane hydrates that can block deep-sea oil and gas wells”

Last revised: October 20, 2011

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