Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

Gas hydrate blockage is a serious safety and security problem for all Canadians. Gas hydrates are made of ice-like lattices that enclose gases (such as methane or propane) when temperature and pressure conditions are favorable for formation. Dangers arise when these 'fire ices' form in drilling or transportation pipes used by the gas and oil industry. When gas hydrate growth cannot be controlled, there can be disasters such as explosions, which can cause loss of life, and also the interruption of gas supplies to consumers. As well, there can be substantial environmental damage. Many such accidents are avoided, thanks to the use of chemical inhibitors. Currently, the most popular chemical hydrate inhibitors are the alcohols, methanol and ethylene glycol. They are required in very high volumes and therefore are costly to industry and to customers. In addition, these toxic alcohols have themselves the potential to be environmentally damaging. Thus in some sectors, restrictions have been placed on their use. What is urgently required are environmentally-friendly, 'green' gas hydrate inhibitors. We have shown that antifreeze proteins, which enable certain organisms to survive freezing winters, can bind to gas hydrates in addition to ice. This binding, or adsorption, stops the growth of both types of crystals. It is now important to discover "the best" of the ice-associating proteins or cells that can be used as green inhibitors and test them in larger scale experiments, which mimic their use in the field. This research requires the close collaboration of expertise from biology, chemistry and engineering and resources from universities and a government laboratory. It will also provide training for students so that they will have the opportunity for future employment in target areas. Not only will this research bring enormous potential benefits to our industries, including our collaborators Shell Canada Ltd. and Tolga Ltd., but to other sectors of our resource-based economy. Above all, this research will contribute to environmental and personal safety and security in the energy sector.