Research Progress on Hydrate Blockage in Subsea and Polar Pipelines

As offshore oil and gas exploration ventures into deeper waters and polar regions, subsea pipelines are increasingly exposed to high-pressure and low-temperature conditions. Under these conditions, gas and water can form hydrate particles, which accumulate near the inner walls of pipelines, leading to blockages and potentially catastrophic events such as blowouts. To ensure operational safety and enhance production efficiency, extensive research has been conducted. This paper reviews the progress in hydrate growth prediction, nucleation mechanisms, and stress analysis, and introduces mainstream models for predicting blockage patterns. The findings provide theoretical support for flow assurance in marine and polar oil and gas operations.