Natural gas hydrates: A review of various inhibitors and respective mechanisms

Natural gas hydrates (NGH) have garnered significant attention in the petroleum industry due to their propensity to cause pipeline blockages, posing challenges to flow assurance. Changes in temperature and pressure conditions can prompt hydrates to solidify, consequently obstructing the flow of hydrocarbons. This study offers a thorough examination of gas hydrates as a flow assurance challenge, encompassing an in-depth review of their dissociation mechanics and kinetics. A hydrate inhibitor serves as a solution in flow assurance by effectively dissolving hydrates and preventing blockages in the system. The article primarily delves into the fundamental aspects of hydrate formation, the application of preventive measures, and the mechanisms governing hydrate dissociation. It includes an in-depth analysis to assess the inhibition mechanism of NGH and the associated advantages of employing inhibition strategies. The main goal of exploring inhibitors is to perform a comparative analysis of their effectiveness in inhibiting hydrate formation. Further, this review proposes exploring additional advancements to enhance hydrate dissociation, specifically by investigating the use of ionic liquids and nanomaterials as inhibitors. The purpose of the study is to attract the attention of researchers toward the development and experimentation of innovative ionic liquids (ILs) & nanomaterials-based hydrate inhibitors that possess the qualities of being biodegradable, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and economically viable.