Detecting gas hydrate behavior in crude oil using NMR

Because of the associated experimental difficulties, natural gas hydrate behavior in black oil is poorly understood despite its grave importance in deep-water flow assurance. Since the hydrate cannot be visually observed in black oil, traditional methods often rely on gas pressure changes to monitor hydrate formation and dissociation. Because gases have to diffuse through the liquid phase for hydrate behavior to create pressure responses, the complication of gas mass transfer is involved and hydrate behavior is only indirectly observed. This pressure monitoring technique encounters difficulties when the oil phase is too viscous, the amount of water is too small, or the gas phase is absent. In this work we employ proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to observe directly the liquid-to-solid conversion of the water component in black oil emulsions. The technique relies on two facts. The first, well-known, is that water becomes essentially invisible to liquid state NMR as it becomes immobile, as in hydrate or ice formation. The second, our recent finding, is that in high magnetic fields of sufficient homogeneity, it is possible to distinguish water from black oil spectrally by their chemical shifts. By following changes in the area of the water peak, the process of hydrate conversion can be measured, and, at lower temperatures, the formation of ice. Taking only seconds to accomplish, this measurement is nearly direct in contrast to conventional techniques that measure the pressure changes of the whole system and assume these changes represent formation or dissociation of hydrates - rather than simply changes in solubility. This new technique clearly can provide accurate hydrate thermodynamic data in black oils. Because the technique measures the total mobile water with rapidity, extensions should prove valuable in studying the dynamics of phase transitions in emulsions.     

Thermal analysis at the evaluation of concrete damage by high temperatures

Summary Concrete damage by high temperatures includes mass loss, strength and modulus reductions and the formation of cracks and large pores. Thermal treatment reduces the amount of chemically bound water in the hydrate phase. With a rise in temperature, the spatial distribution of Ca(OH)₂ crystals becomes more compact; smaller crystals occur in a unit volume of the cement paste. A rise in temperature affects the pore structure by reducing the specific surface of hydration products. Cement paste becomes more heterogeneous in microstructure and coarser in pore structure. Compressive strength is not only significant parameter showing structural integrity of concrete; permeability influences concrete durability as well. To demonstrate this, permeability coefficients at various high temperatures are presented. The key quantitative insight into the hydrate phase behavior is based on thermal analysis results. Thermogravimetric (TG) mass losses are related to the phase changes represented either by DTA or DTG. Based on these, the tests employing TG mass losses and related DTA and DTG curves answer the question if the hydrate phase is present at individual high-temperature levels and what its quantitative state is. Method of thermal analysis is suitable for the interpretation of concrete behavior when subjected to high-temperature attack. Conclusions are drawn about thermal stability and residual properties of concrete specimens made at the construction site of Mochovce nuclear power plant (Slovakia); and subjected to temperatures up to 800°C. Relations among mechanical properties, permeability, pore median radius and bound water content in concrete are discussed and evaluated.     

The conversion process of hydrocarbon hydrates into CO2 hydrates and vice versa: thermodynamic considerations

Microscopy, confocal Raman spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) were used for in situ investigations of the CO(2)-hydrocarbon exchange process in gas hydrates and its driving forces. The study comprises the exposure of simple structure I CH(4) hydrate and mixed structure II CH(4)-C(2)H(6) and CH(4)-C(3)H(8) hydrates to gaseous CO(2) as well as the reverse reaction, i.e., the conversion of CO(2)-rich structure I hydrate into structure II mixed hydrate. In the case of CH(4)-C(3)H(8) hydrates, a conversion in the presence of gaseous CO(2) from a supposedly more stable structure II hydrate to a less stable structure I CO(2)-rich hydrate was observed. PXRD data show that the reverse process requires longer initiation times, and structural changes seem to be less complete. Generally, the exchange process can be described as a decomposition and reformation process, in terms of a rearrangement of molecules, and is primarily induced by the chemical potential gradient between hydrate phase and the provided gas phase. The results show furthermore the dependency of the conversion rate on the surface area of the hydrate phase, the thermodynamic stability of the original and resulting hydrate phase, as well as the mobility of guest molecules and formation kinetics of the resulting hydrate phase.     

Phase field modeling of CH4 hydrate conversion into CO2 hydrate in the presence of liquid CO2

We present phase field simulations to estimate the conversion rate of CH(4) hydrate to CO(2) hydrate in the presence of liquid CO(2) under conditions typical for underwater gas hydrate reservoirs. In the computations, all model parameters are evaluated from physical properties taken from experiment or molecular dynamics simulations. It has been found that hydrate conversion is a diffusion controlled process, as after a short transient, the displacement of the conversion front scales with t(1/2). Assuming a diffusion coefficient of D(s) = 1.1 x 10(-11) m(2) s(-1) in the hydrate phase, the predicted time dependent conversion rate is in reasonable agreement with results from magnetic resonance imaging experiments. This value of the diffusion coefficient is higher than expected for the bulk hydrate phase, probably due to liquid inclusions remaining in the porous sample used in the experiment.     

Thermal analysis of light-curing composites

The aim of this study has been to evaluate light-curing composites polymerization quality (monomer/polymer) with an halogen and diode lamp through the thermal analysis (TG-DTA). Samples have been polymerized at 20, 40 and 50 s through a constant and a soft start polymerization and, subsequently, analyzed by TG-DTA. The TG/DTA analysis shows that different light-curing times affect the degree of conversion of the composite, since by increasing the curing time the quantity of the monomer that has not reacted (residual) decreases. The halogen lamp, compared to the diode lamp, produces a lower mass loss at 20 s, while for 40 and 50 s the results are overlapping. The soft start polymerization (20 s) initially produces a higher mass loss, if compared to the constant intensity, but, by performing a polymerization for at least 40 s, the results can be overlapped.     

Thermal investigation of strontium acetate hemihydrate in nitrogen gas

The thermal decomposition of strontium acetate hemihydrate has been studied by TG-DTA/DSC and TG coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) under non-isothermal conditions in nitrogen gas from ambient temperature to 600°C. The TG-DTA/DSC experiments indicate the decomposition goes mainly through two steps: the dehydration and the subsequent decomposition of anhydrous strontium acetate into strontium carbonate. TG-FTIR analysis of the evolved products from the non-oxidative thermal degradation indicates mainly the release of water, acetone and carbon dioxide. The model-free isoconversional methods are employed to calculate the E _a of both steps at different conversion α from 0.1 to 0.9 with increment of 0.05. The relative constant apparent E _a values during dehydration (0.5<α<0.9) of strontium acetate hemihydrate and decomposition of anhydrous strontium acetate (0.5<α<0.9) suggest that the simplex reactions involved in the corresponding thermal events. The most probable kinetic models during dehydration and decomposition have been estimated by means of the master plots method.     

On the pressure-induced phase transformation in the structure II clathrate hydrate of tetrahydrofuran

A high-pressure phase of the clathrate hydrate of tetrahydrofuran was prepared by freezing a liquid phase of overall composition THF · 7 H₂O under a pressure of 3.0 kbar, or by pressurizing the solid structure II THF hydrate of 255K to 3.4 kbar. Unfortunately, the products recovered at 77K were always mixed phase materials as shown by X-ray powder diffraction. A number of diffraction lines could be indexed in terms of the cubic structure I hydrate with a slightly expanded lattice parameter, 12.08 Å, giving some support to Dyadin's idea that the high pressure phase transition involves a conversion of Structure II to Structure I. Other phases observed in the recovered product include Ice IX and amorphous materials. The reversion of the high pressure sample to the structure II hydrate was followed by differential scanning calorimetry. At ambient pressure, the high pressure sample converts slowly back to Structure II hydrate event at 77K.NRCC No. 35786.     

Evaluation of composites light-curing at different times and distances of irradiation

The aim of this study is to evaluate light-curing composites polymerization quality (monomer/polymer) carried out at different times and distances of irradiation through the thermal analysis (TG-DTA). Samples have been polymerized at 20, 40 and 60 s (0-2-4-6-8 mm) through a constant polymerization and subsequently analysed by TG-DTA. The TG/DTA analysis shows that different light-curing times and different distance of irradiation affect the quality of polymerization; it is necessary to increase the curing time when the irradiation distance is longer than 2 mm.     

Influence of Gas Supply Changes on the Formation Process of Complex Mixed Gas Hydrates

Natural gas hydrate occurrences contain predominantly methane; however, there are increasing reports of complex mixed gas hydrates and coexisting hydrate phases. Changes in the feed gas composition due to the preferred incorporation of certain components into the hydrate phase and an inadequate gas supply is often assumed to be the cause of coexisting hydrate phases. This could also be the case for the gas hydrate system in Qilian Mountain permafrost (QMP), which is mainly controlled by pores and fractures with complex gas compositions. This study is dedicated to the experimental investigations on the formation process of mixed gas hydrates based on the reservoir conditions in QMP. Hydrates were synthesized from water and a gas mixture under different gas supply conditions to study the effects on the hydrate formation process. In situ Raman spectroscopic measurements and microscopic observations were applied to record changes in both gas and hydrate phase over the whole formation process. The results demonstrated the effects of gas flow on the composition of the resulting hydrate phase, indicating a competitive enclathration of guest molecules into the hydrate lattice depending on their properties. Another observation was that despite significant changes in the gas composition, no coexisting hydrate phases were formed.     

The use of the temperature signal and its derivative in a TG-DTA simultaneous unit

Simultaneous TG-DTA units have a work station which allows plots to be made of temperature against time, as well as the conventional TG and DTA plots. These time-temperature plots and their derivatives can be used to show details of both exothermic and endothermic events. The melting behavior of zinc is used as illustrative of endothermic phase changes. Solid-solid transitions are exemplified by noting the transitions in quartz. Examples of chemical reactions being treated to temperature-time plots are the decomposition's of zinc oxalate in nitrogen (an endothermic event) and the oxidation of carbon black in air (a sustained exothermic event). This wide selection of exothermic and endothermic events serves to illustrate the details which can be drawn from any thermogravimetric plot irrespective of the other associated equipment present, which serves to reinforce the data presented in the present study.     

Self-cooling effect on the kinetics of nonisothermal dehydration of lithium sulfate monohydrate

The effects of self cooling on the apparent kinetics of the nonisothermal dehydration of crushed crystals of lithium sulfate monohydrate were investigated using TG accompanied by DTA and power-compensation type DSC. Linearity of the sample heating rate on the TG-DSC system is much better than that on the TG-DTA. Kinetic obedience and Arrhenius parameters obtained from the TG-DTA deviate considerably from those obtained from the TG-DSC; the latter are the more accurate due to the better linearity of the sample heating rate.

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Zusammenfassung Mittels TG, ergänzt durch DTA und DSC mit Leistungskompensation wurde der Einfluß des Self-cooling-Effektes auf die scheinbare Kinetik der nichtisothermen Dehydratation von zerkleinerten Kristallen aus Lithiumsulfat-Monohydrat geschätzt. Die mittels TG-DTA erhaltene Kinetik und die Arrheniusschen Parameter weichen erheblich von denen ab, die mittels TG-DSC ermittelt wurden. DSC mit Leistungskompensation und TG-DSC haben gegenüber TG oder TG-DTA den großen Vorteil, das nichtisotherme kinetische Verhalten von Feststoffzersetzungen zu charakterisieren. Mittels Thermoanalyse nichtisotherm ermittelte kinetische Parameter sind ohne Anwendung von DSC eher unreell, besonders wenn sie bei größeren Aufheizgeschwindigkeiten und Probengrößen bestimmt wurden.

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We thank Dr. A. K. Galwey for reading the text and for valuable comments.     

Studies on coordination compounds: V. A chromatographic,mass spectrometric and infrared spectroscopic investigation of the thermal decomposition products of some nickel(II) aniline chloride,bromide, iodide,nitrate and sulphate compounds

Using chromatographic, infrared and mass spectrometric methods. 44 different organic compounds, besides water and ammonia have been separated and identified from the pyrolysis products of nickel(II) aniline nitrate hydrate. The nickel(II) aniline chloride, bromide, iodide and sulphate complexes, however, showed only aniline, formed by dissociation as an organic pyrolysis product; this is in accordance with previous conclusions drawn from thermogravimetric (TG) curves.On the basis of these results it is advisable to proceed with a certain caution when drawing conclusions from TG curves on pyrolysis processes without specification analyses of the process products. This should be specially noted when the reaction is abrupt and not calculable from the corresponding part of the TG curve, that is not smooth, preferably of S-shape.The formation of the main pyrolysis products through radical reactions is duscussed.     

Thermal behavior of Cd<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript> phenyl-vinyl-phosphonates under non-isothermal condition

The thermal behavior of Cd²⁺ and Co²⁺ phenyl-vinyl-phosphonates was studied using two different experimental strategies: the coupled TG-EGA (FTIR) technique by decomposition in nitrogen respectively air, and the kinetic analysis of TG data obtained in dynamic air atmosphere at four heating rates. In nitrogen two decomposition steps were observed: the loss of crystallization water, respectively the decomposition of the phenyl-vinyl radical. In air, the same dehydration was observed as the first step, but the second one is a thermooxidation of the organic radical with formation of the pyrophosphoric anion. The kinetic analysis of the TG non-isothermal data was performed by the isoconversional methods suggested by Friedman and Flynn, Wall and Ozawa, as well as by the non-parametric (Sempere-Nomen) method. All processes put in evidence in TG curves exhibit strong changes of the activation energy values with the conversion degree, which mean that these processes are complex ones. Assuming that each of these processes consists in two steps, the application of non-parametric method leads to average values of the activation energy close to the average values of this parameter obtained by isoconversional methods.     

The influence of SO2 and NO2 impurities on CO2 gas hydrate formation and stability

The sequestration of industrially emitted CO(2) in gas hydrate reservoirs has been recently discussed as an option to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas. This CO(2) contains, despite much effort to clean it, traces of impurities such as SO(2) and NO(2) . Here, we present results of a pilot study on CO(2) hydrates contaminated with 1% SO(2) or 1% NO(2) and show the impact on hydrate formation and stability. Microscopic observations show similar hydrate formation rates, but an increase in hydrate stability in the presence of SO(2). Laser Raman spectroscopy indicates a strong enrichment of SO(2) in the liquid and hydrate phase and its incorporation in both large and small cages of the hydrate lattice. NO(2) is not verifiable by laser Raman spectroscopy, only the presence of nitrate ions could be confirmed. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses show that hydrate stability and dissociation enthalpy of mixed CO(2)-SO(2) hydrates increase, but that only negligible changes arise in the presence of NO(2) impurities. X-ray diffraction data reveal the formation of sI hydrate in all experiments. The conversion rates of ice+gas to hydrate increase in the presence of SO(2), but decrease in the presence of NO(2). After hydrate dissociation, SO(2) and NO(2) dissolved in water and form strong acids.     

Effect of cooling rate on methane hydrate formation in media

In order to study gas hydrate in media, formation of methane hydrate in three different media including loess, fine and coarse sands were studied. Five cooling rates were applied to form the methane hydrate. The nucleation time of the formation of methane hydrate with each cooling rate were measured for comparison. The experimental results show that the cooling rate is a significant factor affecting nucleation of methane hydrate and gas conversion. Under the same initial conditions, the faster the cooling rate, the shorter the nucleation time and the lower the methane gas conversion rate. The media also affect the formation process of methane hydrate within it. In loess, the gas conversion rate is lowest; in coarse sand, the gas conversion rate is the greatest; and in fine sand, it is in between. According to the study, it is found that the smaller the particle size of the media, the harder the methane hydrate forms within it.     

Hydrate kinetics study in the presence of nonaqueous liquid by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging

The dynamics of methane hydrate growth and decomposition were studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and imaging (MRI). Three well-known large molecule guest substances (LMGS) were used as structure H hydrate formers: 2,2-dimethylbutane (NH), methylcyclohexane (MCH), tert-butyl methyl ether (TBME). In addition, the impact of a non-hydrate former (n-heptane/nC7) was studied. The methane diffusion and hydrate growth were monitored by recording the 2H NMR spectra at 253 K and approximately 4.5 MPa for 20 h. The results revealed that methane diffuses faster in TBME and NH, slower in nC7, and slowest in MCH. The TBME system gives the fastest hydrate formation kinetics followed by NH, MCH, and nC7. The conversion of water into hydrate was also observed. The imaging study showed that TBME has a strong affinity toward ice, which is not the case for the NH and MCH systems. The degree of ice packing was also found to affect the LMGS distribution between ice particles. Highly packed ice increases the mass transfer resistance and hence limits the contact between LMGS and ice. It was also found that "temperature ramping" above the ice point improves the conversion significantly. Finally, hydrates were found to dissociate quickly within the first hour at atmospheric pressure and subsequently at a much slower rate. Methane dissolved in LMGS was also seen. The residual methane in hydrate phase and dissolved in LMGS phase explain the faster kinetics during hydrate re-formation.     

Time-resolved in situ neutron diffraction studies of gas hydrate: transformation of structure II (sII) to structure I (sI).

We report the in situ observation from diffraction data of the conversion of a gas hydrate with the structure II (sII) lattice to one with the structure I (sI) lattice. Initially, the in situ formation, dissociation, and reactivity of argon gas clathrate hydrate was investigated by time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction at temperatures ranging from 230 to 263 K and pressures up to 5000 psi (34.5 MPa). These samples were prepared from deuterated ice crystals and transformed to hydrate by pressurizing the system with argon gas. Complete transformation from D(2)O ice to sII Ar hydrate was observed as the sample temperature was slowly increased through the D(2)O ice melting point. The transformation of sII argon hydrate to sI hydrate was achieved by removing excess Ar gas and exposing the hydrate to liquid CO(2) by pressurizing the Ar hydrate with CO(2). Results suggest the sI hydrate formed from CO(2) exchange in argon sII hydrate is a mixed Ar/CO(2) hydrate. The proposed exchange mechanism is consistent with clathrate hydrate being an equilibrium system in which guest molecules are exchanging between encapsulated molecules in the solid hydrate and free molecules in the surrounding gas or liquid phase.     

Thermal Stability and Properties of New NPS-Fertilisers

New NPS-fertilisers are investigated using TG-DTA systems and other techniques to determine their thermal stability and properties. The main component is ammonium sulphate by-product from clean-up technologies. Acidic reaction of ammonium sulphate (AS) is compensated by adding treated or untreated phosphates. Some samples are additionally mechanochemically activated. Tribochemical effects are confirmed. Distribution and conversion of harmful impurities are also studied. The results clearly show that the histories of components, additional treatment and the initial content of impurities affect the thermal properties of the new fertilisers. The mass component's ratio influences the thermal fertiliser's stability and their solubility. It is shown that the by-product from electron beam technology is the most suitable component, because of high-activity. The results obtained confirmed that TG and DTA techniques could be successfully used for products quality control. Most of the simultaneous TG, DTG and DTA curves may have a practical application for future studies and comparative analysis. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Predicting hydrate stability zones of petroleum fluids using sound velocity data of salt aqueous solutions

Predicting hydrate stability zones of petroleum fluids from the aqueous phase properties can have a practical application as measuring these properties is normally easier than hydrate phase equilibrium measurement and can reduce experimental costs and efforts. In this work, the possibility of estimating hydrate stability zone from sound velocity data of salt aqueous solutions is investigated using a feed-forward artificial neural network method with a modified Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm. The method considers the changes of sound velocity in salt (NaCl, KCl, NaBr, KBr, BaCl₂, MgCl₂, Na₂SO₄, HCOONa) aqueous solution with respect to sound velocity in pure water and therefore there is no need to have a quantitative analysis of the aqueous solution. Independent data (not used in training and developing of the method) are used to examine the reliability of this tool. The predictions of this method are in acceptable agreement with independent experimental data, demonstrating the reliability of this tool for estimating the hydrate stability zone in the presence of salt aqueous solutions.     

Microstructure development in mixes of calcium aluminate cement with silica fume or fly ash

The most widely identified degradation process suffered by calcium aluminate cement (CAC) is the so-called conversion of hexagonal calcium aluminate hydrate to cubic form. This conversion is usually followed by an increase in porosity determined by the different densities of these hydrates and the subsequent loss of strength. Mixes of calcium aluminate cement (CAC) and silica fume (SF) or fly ash (FA) represent an interesting alternative for the stabilization of CAC hydrates, which might be attributed to a microstructure based mainly on aluminosilicates. This paper deals with the microstructure of cement pastes fabricated with mixtures CAC-SF and CAC-FA and its evolution over time. Thermal analysis (DTA/TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and mid-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) have been used to assess the microstructure of these formulations.