Abstract: A method for inhibiting the plugging of a conduit, the conduit containing a flowing mixture comprising an amount of hydrocarbons having from one to eight carbon atoms and an amount of water wherein the amounts of hydrocarbons and water could form hydrates at conduit temperatures and pressures, the method comprising the steps of:adding to the mixture an amount of a hydrate formation inhibitor component of the formula ##STR1## wherein two of R.sub.1 -R.sub.4 are independently normal or branched alkyls having 4 or 5 carbon atoms,two of R.sub.1 -R.sub.4 are independently representing organic moieties having at least 8 carbon atoms,A represents a nitrogen or phosphorus atom, andY represents an anion;the amount of the hydrate formation inhibitor component being effective to inhibit formation of hydrates in the mixture at conduit temperatures and pressures; andflowing the mixture containing the hydrate formation inhibitor component through the conduit.

Abstract: The plugging of conduits containing a mixture of low-boiling hydrocarbons and water in inhibited by adding to the mixture an effective amount of at least one alkylated compound of the general formula formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each are independently chosen from normal or branched alkyls containing a chain of at least 4 carbon atoms,R.sub.5 is an organic moiety containing a chain of at least 4 atoms,X is S, N--R.sub.4 or P--R.sub.4,R.sub.4 is H or an organic substituent, suitably an alkyl or alkenyl group having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms, andY-- is an anion.

Abstract: A method is provided for inhibiting the formation of hydrates in streams containing low-boiling hydrocarbons and water. The method includes adding to the stream a component of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are independently chosen from the group consisting of normal and branched alkyls having at least 4 carbon atoms,and X is N--R.sub.4, wherein R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and organic substituents andY.sup.- is an anion. The amount added is an amount that is effective to inhibit formation of hydrates in the mixture at conduit temperatures and pressures. The preferred R.sub.4 is an alkyl or alkenyl having from eight to twenty carbons, and the preferred R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are alkyls having four to six carbon atoms.