The present disclosure provides a poly(vinyl caprolactam) polymer obtained by polymerizing a vinyl lactam compound in a polymerization solvent system comprising an alkylene carbonate and/or an alkyl lactate and a polymerization initiator. The poly(vinyl caprolactam) polymer, in admixture with the polymerization solvent system, may be used as a kinetic gas hydrate inhibitor to prevent or inhibit formation of natural gas and/or liquid hydrocarbon hydrates in a system.