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Adhesion Force between Cyclopentane Hydrate and Mineral Surfaces
Clathrate hydrate adhesion forces
play a critical role in describing
aggregation and deposition behavior in conventional energy production
and transportation. This manuscript uses a unique micromechanical
force apparatus to measure the adhesion force between cyclopentane
hydrate and heterogeneous quartz and calcite substrates. The latter
substrates represent models for coproduced sand and scale often present
during conventional energy production and transportation. Micromechanical
adhesion force data indicate that clathrate hydrate adhesive forces
are 5–10× larger for calcite and quartz minerals than
stainless steel. Adhesive forces further increased by 3–15×
when increasing surface contact time from 10 to 30 s. In some cases,
liquid water from within the hydrate shell contacted the mineral surface
and rapidly converted to clathrate hydrate. Further measurements on
mineral surfaces with physical control of surface roughness showed
a nonlinear dependence of water wetting angle on surface roughness.
Existing adhesive force theory correctly predicted the dependence
of clathrate hydrate adhesive force on calcite wettability, but did
not accurately capture the dependence on quartz wettability. This
comparison suggests that the substrate surface may not be inert, and
may contribute positively to the strength of the capillary bridge
formed between hydrate particles and solid surfaces