HYTREAT™ ECO: Proven hydrate management solutions, evolved for today's environmental standards

Q&A with José Delgado, Global Innovation Manager of Flow Assurance, and Claudia Mazzeo, Strategic Business Development Manager. Listen to the video podcast, which explores the innovation behind HYTREAT ECO, the industry drivers shaping its development, and its role in advancing offshore flow assurance. The following Q&A builds on this conversation with further insights into the technology, field experience, and key considerations shaping the future of hydrate management.

Gas hydrate management has long been a cornerstone of Clariant's flow assurance expertise. Built on years of research, development, and field validation, Clariant Oil Services is introducing HYTREAT ECO, an anti-agglomerant low dosage hydrate inhibitor (LDHI-AA) technology developed to meet both the demanding performance requirements of offshore hydrate management and OSPAR's stringent environmental standards for the North Sea. To learn more about the solution and its development, we spoke with two of our subject matter experts, José Delgado and Claudia Mazzeo.

Can you explain what gas hydrates are and why they are a major concern for the energy industry?

José: Gas hydrates are ice-like solids that form when water traps small gas molecules under high pressure and low temperature conditions. If they form in pipelines, they can restrict or fully block flow, creating major operational and production challenges for offshore energy operations.

What methods exist to mitigate gas hydrate formation?

José: Operators use both engineering and chemical approaches. Engineering solutions can reduce risk but are often complex and costly in offshore systems.

Chemistry plays a key role. Thermodynamic Hydrate Inhibitors (THIs) like methanol or monoethylene glycol reduce the likelihood of hydrate formation, while Low Dosage Hydrate Inhibitors (LDHIs) work at much lower concentrations to either slow formation (as in the case of kinetic hydrate inhibitors, KHI) or prevent solids from sticking together and forming blockages, which is how anti-agglomerants (AA) work.

Clariant brings decades of experience in this space and a strong legacy in anti-agglomerant technology, supporting reliable production in some of the industry’s most challenging offshore environments.

How are stricter regulations shaping hydrate management?

Claudia: Clariant has long delivered leading anti-agglomerant solutions across global offshore fields. HYTREAT ECO extends that expertise to regions with more stringent environmental requirements, including OSPAR-regulated markets such as the North Sea. OSPAR, the international convention for the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic, sets rigorous standards for the environmental acceptability of offshore chemicals. To meet these requirements, HYTREAT ECO has achieved a CEFAS Silver Rating (without a sub-warning) and a NEMS Yellow Rating. These independent third-party certifications confirm its low marine environmental impact, qualifying it for use in some of the world's most environmentally regulated offshore regions while maintaining strong hydrate control performance.

Can you explain the development process behind HYTREAT ECO?

José: We built on an existing proven platform, then screened new molecules through molecular modeling, chemical synthesis and lab validation. From there, we refined candidates through hydrate performance testing and ultimately validated them under real field conditions.

Claudia: Field testing was essential. In the UK North Sea, HYTREAT DF 19512A ECO replaced subsea methanol injection in a gas condensate field, helping an operator eliminate methanol dependency, debottleneck offshore storage constraints, and restore constrained production capacity. In a Norwegian offshore field, HYTREAT DF 19630A ECO replaced monoethylene glycol as the primary hydrate management strategy, with field results closely matching laboratory performance and confirming the product's technical robustness under high water cut conditions.

Does adopting HYTREAT ECO mean replacing existing hydrate management approaches entirely?

José: Not necessarily. Depending on the field conditions, HYTREAT ECO can often be integrated with existing hydrate management strategies. Over the past two decades, the industry has evolved from simply avoiding hydrates to actively managing them.

Claudia: In some cases, THIs may still be needed, particularly where pipeline conditions also create ice risks. However, anti-agglomerants can dramatically reduce the volume of THIs required. In the North Sea field deployments, HYTREAT ECO was dosed at less than 1% to 2% by volume on produced water, compared to the far higher volumes that conventional methanol or MEG programs demand, representing an order of magnitude reduction in chemical consumption. For new offshore developments, that reduction in chemical volume translates directly into smaller storage infrastructure, fewer logistics and transport requirements, and potentially lower upfront capital investment.

What are the key operational and environmental benefits for operators?

Claudia: HYTREAT ECO represents a significant step forward for the chemical industry. It enables new developments to be designed more cost-effectively, helps existing facilities extend production and field life, and aligns with the growing environmental compliance requirements operators face across many regions. The technology is readily biodegradable in seawater and demonstrates low aquatic toxicity (EC50 > 10 mg/L), supporting compliance with stringent standards including OSPAR requirements for offshore chemical use, CEFAS certification requirements in UK waters, and NEMS ratings in Norway. It also reduces the overall volume and frequency of chemical deliveries to offshore assets. It’s a solution that delivers value across the full field lifecycle.

Any final thoughts?

Claudia: What’s new is that HYTREAT ECO is the first anti-agglomerant hydrate management technology to meet OSPAR's stringent environmental requirements for North Sea operations. Until now, no anti-agglomerant had cleared that bar, leaving operators in OSPAR-regulated regions reliant on conventional methanol and MEG programs. HYTREAT ECO bridges that gap and supports a fundamental shift in how operators manage hydrate risk.

José: Beyond the product itself, we want to emphasize that we are a complete partner in this journey. We provide technical support, help with technology implementation, and work hand-in-hand with our customers through every stage of deployment.

For more information on HYTREAT ECO and to access the full case histories, visit this page.