Methods and systems are provided for producing hydrocarbons from production fluids that have water as an external phase. An exemplary embodiment provides a method that comprises producing a production fluid having water as the external phase and injecting an amount of a thermodynamic hydrate inhibitor into the production fluid, wherein the amount is adjusted to allow hydrate formation to occur while retaining liquid water as the external phase. The water and thermodynamic hydrate inhibitor may be separated from the production fluid and a purified hydrocarbon stream may be produced.
