Dual-Function Synergists Based on Glucose and Sucrose for Gas Hydrate and Corrosion Inhibition

The increasing demand in the modern world for energy resources leads to the recovery of oil and gas fields in remote northern and Arctic regions. The development of additives that effectively prevent complications such as gas hydrate formation and corrosion is a relevant issue. In this work, a method for the modification of simple carbohydrates was proposed, which allows one to obtain reagents that are effective both in hydrate inhibition (in the form of synergistic additives to commercial hydrate inhibitors) and prevention of corrosion. Modification of glucose and sucrose was carried out by incorporation of two sulfonate and carboxyl groups into their structures. Synergists were used as bisodium salts. PVCap-based inhibitors (Luvicap EG and Luvicap 55W) were utilized as commercial kinetic hydrate inhibitors. This study has revealed that mixtures of the proposed reagents with PVCap-based polymers showed a significant synergistic effect. The temperature of hydrate onset decreased by 3.5 °C with the addition of 0.1 wt % of synergist to 0.5 wt % of PVCap-based KHI. Moreover, these reagents also effectively inhibited the corrosion of pipeline steel in 2 M HCl solution. Thus, the proposed synergists will reduce the harmful effects on the environment, risks of accidents, and operating costs due to their biocompatibility and gas hydrate and corrosion inhibition.