FACTS

SINTEF Petroleum Research

Plug Index February 2011

The Plug Index (or Wetting Index) is a crude oil

(or condensate) parameter. It is a quantitative
measure of the tendency of an oil to form
agglomerating / plugging gas hydrates. Thus
the PI parameter can be used for evaluation
of the anti-agglomerating properties of oils,
either as an indigenous oil property or as a
result of chemical additives.

Background
It has been found that the formation of hydrate
dispersions can be related to hydrate wettability , , i.e.
the tendency of water or oil to spread on or adhere to the
hydrate surface. Oil-wet behaviour generally promotes
dispersions that can easily be transported within the fluid
flow, while water-wet behaviour promotes agglomerating
and plugging hydrate systems. For oil/brine/hydrate
systems, the hydrate wettability, and by thus the hydrate
plugging tendency of the oil, can be quantitatively
determined by the Plugging Index PI (sometimes referred
to as the Wetting Index).
Methodology
The Plug Index is determined from observations of
emulsion behaviour in oil/brine/hydrate systems. Oil-wet
hydrates stabilise water-in-oil emulsions, while water-
wet hydrates stabilise oil-in-water emulsions. Freon R11
is used as hydrate forming compound. (A HP system
applicable for natural gas hydrates is currently under
development with SINTEF).
Cost
Estimated cost for PI of 1 oil/brine system 50 kNOK
Per additional oil/brine system 30 kNOK

Plug Index of a selection of crude oils; High positive values are associated with oil-wet hydrates, which correspond
to good anti-agglomerating properties of the oil.

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