Experimental data on the kinetics of formation of structure H gas hydrate obtained in a
semibatch stirred vessel at pressures of 0.63−1.5 MPa above equilibrium are reported. Methane
was used as a guest substance and neohexane, tert-butyl methyl ether, and methylcyclohexane
were used as the large molecule guest substance (LMGS). The results indicate that the rates of
hydrate formation and the induction times are dependent on the magnitude of the driving force
and the type of LMGS. When tert-butyl methyl ether is used as the LMGS, rapid hydrate formation
and a much smaller induction time can be achieved. Furthermore, the methane consumption
rate for hydrate formation in the presence of tert-butyl methyl ether is 3 times greater than that
for a pure methane−water system. It was also observed that, although the induction period was
greatly shortened by the memory effect, the rate of gas consumption rate was not affected. Hydrate
decompositions were also conducted at a pressure 20% below equilibrium. The system with tert-butyl methyl ether as LMGS exhibited the fastest decomposition rate.