We report a novel method using laser induced fluorescence (LIF) for observing cyclopentane hydrate formation in an oscillatory baffled column (OBC). In LIF, a dye fluoresces in a hydrate system when induced by a laser; this highlights the areas in which hydrates are present, allowing the hydrate formation regimes to be identified and rates evaluated. Using temperature measurements of the system, the rates of hydrate formation are also determined by a thermal method. The work shows that there is a high correlation between the LIF and the thermal techniques in obtaining kinetic information on cyclopentane hydrate. The results indicate that there are possibly three mechanisms governing hydrate growth. With the absence of mixing, a film formation is observed. At high mixing intensities uniform droplet dispersion is resulted, where fluid mechanics is the controlling parameter. At low mixing conditions a combination of the two mechanisms co-exists, interfacial mechanics is thought to be the dominant factor. The trends in the rates of hydrate formation are different in each of these regimes. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.