We’re proud to announce that SPL scientists Ahmad A. A. Majid, Ph.D., Jonathan J. Wylde, Ph.D., and Colton Asheim have been published in the peer-reviewed journal Energy & Fuels by the American Chemical Society.
Their article, titled “Natural Gas Hydrate Transportability: Laboratory Testing Methods and Their Translation to a Field Flow Assurance Strategy,” explores how different laboratory methods evaluate hydrate transportability and how these insights can inform practical field strategies in hydrate-prone systems, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico (also referred to as the “Gulf of America” in certain U.S. federal documents as of 2025).
We’re also proud to have designed the cover art for this issue of Energy & Fuels, visually capturing the core themes of our hydrate transportability research.
About the Research
This study provides a comprehensive comparison of three industry recognized hydrate testing methods: rocking cells, autoclaves, and rheometers. Each test offers different perspectives on hydrate formation, deposition risk, and effectiveness of anti-agglomerant (AA) chemicals.
Key findings include:
- Rocking cell tests showed hydrate transport failures at water cuts as low as 10 vol%, with limited success from AA application.
- Autoclave testing demonstrated hydrate control with 1 vol% AA at 15 vol% water cut.
- High pressure rheometer testing revealed solid hydrate plugs at 50 vol% water cut and introduced a new protocol that better correlate lab results with field behavior.
These insights offer a more nuanced understanding of how lab data can guide hydrate risk mitigation in real-world operations.
Why It Matters
As operators push the boundaries of hydrate management in deepwater production, having reliable, field-method(s) test data is critical. This paper highlights the importance of choosing the correct testing method for the correct field scenario and how new approaches can support more accurate hydrate transport models and improved flow assurance strategies.
This research represents SPL’s commitment to advancing scientific understanding and supporting the energy industry with practical, data-driven solutions.
🔗 Read the full article in Energy & Fuels: https://pubs.acs.org/toc/enfuem/39/21