Clariant Oil Services has successfully deployed HYTREAT™ ECO, an anti-agglomerant low-dosage hydrate inhibitor (LDHI-AA), in offshore fields in Norway and the United Kingdom. The technology is the first of its kind to meet OSPAR’s stringent environmental requirements for North Sea operations while delivering reliable hydrate control in challenging deepwater conditions.
Unlike conventional methanol or monoethylene glycol (MEG)-based treatment programs, HYTREAT™ ECO achieves effective hydrate management at significantly lower dosage rates. As a result, operators can reduce chemical consumption, offshore logistics, and operational complexity.
Tackling a Key Flow Assurance Challenge
Gas hydrate formation remains a major challenge in subsea oil and gas production, where high-pressure and low-temperature conditions can create ice-like blockages that disrupt operations and threaten asset integrity.
To address this issue, HYTREAT™ ECO keeps hydrate particles dispersed and flowing through production systems. During North Sea field trials, the technology delivered effective hydrate control at dosage rates of less than 1% to 2% by volume on water—far lower than traditional treatment methods.
Consequently, operators benefited from reduced chemical usage, lower transportation requirements, and a smaller operational footprint. The solution is also fully compliant with OSPAR, the international framework for protecting the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic.
Proven in Norway and the UK
As per the company press release, HYTREAT™ ECO was developed through years of research and collaboration with major North Sea operators.
In Norway, the technology supported hydrate management in a mature offshore asset and enabled a successful well restart following a 24-hour shut-in within the hydrate stability zone. The performance earned the technology a Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL7), confirming its effectiveness under full-scale operating conditions.
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, HYTREAT™ ECO replaced subsea methanol injection in a gas condensate field operating under extreme subcooling conditions. The technology maintained effective hydrate control during both normal operations and cold restart scenarios.
Supporting More Sustainable Offshore Operations
Beyond flow assurance, HYTREAT™ ECO reduces storage and handling requirements and can help lower emissions associated with chemical transportation and deployment.
As offshore operators seek to improve environmental performance while maximizing production from existing assets, HYTREAT™ ECO sets a new standard for sustainable hydrate management in offshore oil and gas operations.
