Scientists at Perm Polytechnic University have developed a method for predicting hydrate plugs in Arctic gas pipelines with an accuracy of 99.5%. The problem is particularly relevant for pipes carrying gas with hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) impurities. Up to 40% of explored Arctic gas reserves contain this impurity, which neutralizes the effect of standard chemical reagents that slow down the formation of plugs. As a result, hydrates begin to appear even in conditions where they did not before, making old prediction methods unsuitable.
Russia holds almost three-quarters of the world's Arctic natural gas reserves. However, the harsh climate creates serious problems during transportation: solid crystalline compounds called hydrates, resembling ice, form in the pipes due to high pressure and low temperatures. They accumulate on the walls, narrow the passage, and eventually completely block the pipe, leading to production shutdowns, accidents, and billion-dollar losses.
Researchers experimentally determined safe modes for transporting gas with hydrogen sulfide at pressures from 56 to 122 atmospheres and temperatures from +9°C to +15°C. The created mathematical models predict the formation of hydrates with an error of no more than 0.5% — for comparison, currently used methods err by 7–8%. The development will help prevent accidents and billion-dollar losses. The work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia.
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