bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of molecular structure on the infrared signatures of astronomically relevant PAHs
Authors: Bouwman J. , Castellanos P. , Bulak M. , Terwisscha van Scheltinga J. , Cami J. , Linnartz H. , Tielens A. G. G. M.
Published: November 2018

Emission bands from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) dominate the mid-infrared spectra of a wide variety of astronomical sources, encompassing nearly all stages of stellar evolution. Despite their similarities, details in band positions and shapes have allowed a classification of PAH emission to be developed. It has been suggested that this classification is in turn associated with the degree of photoprocessing of PAHs. Over the past decade, a more complete picture of the PAH interstellar life-cycle has emerged, in which a wide range of PAH species are formed during the later stages of stellar evolution. After this they are photoprocessed, increasing the relative abundance of the more stable (typically larger and compact) PAHs. For this work we have tested the effect of the symmetry, size, and structure of PAHs on their fragmentation pattern and infrared spectra by combining experiments at the free electron laser for infrared experiments (FELIX) and quantum chemical computations. Applying this approach to the cations of four molecular species, perylene (C20H12), peropyrene (C26H14), ovalene (C32H14) and isoviolanthrene (C34H18), we find that a reduction of molecular symmetry causes the activation of vibrational modes in the 7–9 μm range. We show that the IR characteristics of less symmetric PAHs can help explain the broad band observed in the class D spectra, which are typically associated with a low degree of photoprocessing. Such large, nonsymmetrical irregular PAHs are currently largely missing from the NASA Ames PAH database. The band positions and shapes of the largest more symmetric PAH measured here, show the best resemblance with class A and B sources, representative of regions with high radiation fields and thus heavier photoprocessing. Furthermore, the dissociation patterns observed in the mass spectra hint to an enhanced stability of the carbon skeleton in more symmetric PAHs with respect to the irregular and less symmetric species, which tend to loose carbon containing units. Although not a direct proof, these findings are fully in line with the grandPAH hypothesis, which claims that symmetric large PAHs can survive as the radiation field increases, while their less symmetric counterparts are destroyed or converted to symmetric PAHs.
Optimal relaxed control of stochastic hereditary evolution equations with Lévy noise
Authors: Manna Utpal , Mukherjee Debopriya
Published: November 2018

Existence theory of optimal relaxed control problem for a class of stochastic hereditary evolution equations driven by Lévy noise has been studied. We formulate the problem in the martingale sense of Stroock and Varadhan to establish existence of optimal controls. The construction of the solution is based on the classical Faedo–Galerkin approximation, the compactness method and the Jakubowski version of the Skorokhod theorem for nonmetric spaces, and certain compactness properties of the class of Young measures on Suslin metrizable control sets. As application of the abstract theory, Oldroyd and Jeffreys fluids have been studied and existence of optimal relaxed control is established. Existence and uniqueness of a strong solution and uniqueness in law for the two-dimensional Oldroyd and Jeffreys fluids are also shown.
Technology for NbN HEB based multipixel matrix of THz range
Authors: Tretyakov Ivan , Kaurova N. , Raybchun S. , Goltsman G.N.
Published: November 2018

—The influence of homogeneity disorder degree of the thin superconducting NbN film across of Si wafer on characteristics of the Hot Electron Bolometers (HEB) has been investigated. Our experiments have been carried out near the superconducting transition and far below it. The high homogeneity disorder degree of the NbN film has been achieved by preparing the Si substrate surface. The fabricated HEBs all have almost identical R (T) characteristics with a dispersion of Tc and the normal resistance R300 of not more than 0.15K and 2 Ω, respectively. The quality of the devises allows us to demonstrate clearly the influence of non-equilibrium processes in the S’SS’ system on the device performance. Our fabrication technology also allows creating multiplex heterodyne and direct detector matrices based the HEB devices.
Littoral chironomids of a large Alpine lake: spatial variation and variables supporting diversity
Authors: Frossard Victor , Marchand Philippe
Published: November 2018

Chironomidae are a major group of littoral secondary producers whose spatial changes in assemblage structures are shaped by diverse variables. Using their subfossil remains, we aimed at disentangling the relative impact of environmental, topographic, littoral occupation and hydrodynamic variables on the littoral assemblages as well as identifying taxa and sites of primary importance for the β-diversity in a large lake (Lake Bourget). A redundancy analysis coupled with a variance partitioning indicated that 22 % of the assemblage variability was explained by slope, carbonate concentration and littoral occupation. A non-negligible fraction of non-separable variance among these variables likely highlights the topographic constraint on anthropogenic development and environmental conditions. Taxonomic turnover overwhelmingly (93.2 %) dominated the assemblage changes indicating site-specific taxonomic composition. The taxa contribution to β-diversity was positively correlated with their mean abundances. The local abundances were either positively or negatively correlated with local contribution of sites to β-diversity (LCBD) providing evidence for different contributions of taxa to β-diversity. A couple of taxa (i.e.Cricotopusspp.,Microtendipessp. andCladotanytarsussp.) and sites (i.e.LB57, LB31, LB2) clearly supported the major variations of β-diversity and are therefore identified as being of primary importance regarding conservation programs. Both LCBD variations and taxa spatial autocorrelations suggest that chironomid assemblages were the most variable at a spatial-scale ranging from 500 m to 1 km, characterizing the spatial successions of littoral contexts. These results illustrate the need for considering short spatial scales to reveal the extent of the benthic diversity in the littoral areas of large lakes.
Endogenous natural and radiation-induced DNA lesions: differences and similarities and possible implications for human health and radiological protection
Authors: Ravanat J.-L.
Published: November 2018

During the last few decades, a considerable amount of work has been done to better assess the effects of ionizing radiation on living organisms. In particular a lot of attention has been focused on the consequences of modifications of the DNA macromolecule, the support of the genetic information. Detailed information is now available on the formation of radiation-induced DNA lesions at the physical, chemical and biological levels. Emphasis will be placed in this review article on the differences and similarities, in term of DNA lesions formation and outcome, between endogenous oxidative stress and ionizing radiation, both stresses that could produce oxidative DNA lesions through similar mechanistic pathways involving mostly reactive oxygen species. If the chemical nature of the generated lesions is similar, the differences in term of biological consequences could be attributed to their spatial distribution in genomic DNA, since ionizing radiations produce lesions in cluster. These clusters of lesions represent a challenge for the DNA repair machinery. In contrast, endogenous oxidative stress generates scattered lesions that could be repaired with a much higher efficacy and fidelity. Possible implication of the use of DNA damage and repair for human health purposes and radiological protection will be discussed.
Mainzer Forschungsprojekt fokussiert sich auf frühzeitige Aktivität – Mission: Aktives Krankenhaus
Authors: Bonno Isabelle
Published: November 2018

Rund 400.000-mal jährlich werden in Deutschland Knie- oder Hüftgelenkendoprothesen implantiert. Der Behandlungsprozess ist mit einer durchschnittlichen Verweildauer von 13 Tagen aufwendig und nur selten risikofrei. Wie gut, dass es PROMISE gibt. Das Projekt setzt sich für eine bessere Behandlung, aktivere Patienten und weniger Komplikationen nach der OP ein. Redakteurin Isabelle Bonno erlebte vor Ort, wie gut die Zusammenarbeit zwischen allen Projektbeteiligten ist.
Computer-assisted diagnosis of early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma using narrow-band imaging magnifying endoscopy
Authors: Zhao Yuan-Yuan , Xue Di-Xiu , Wang Ya-Lei , Zhang Rong , Sun Bin , Cai Yong-Ping , Feng Hui , Cai Yi , Xu Jian-Ming
Published: November 2018

Background We developed a computer-assisted diagnosis model to evaluate the feasibility of automated classification of intrapapillary capillary loops (IPCLs) to improve the detection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods We recruited patients who underwent magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging for evaluation of a suspicious esophageal condition. Case images were evaluated to establish a gold standard IPCL classification according to the endoscopic diagnosis and histological findings. A double-labeling fully convolutional network (FCN) was developed for image segmentation. Diagnostic performance of the model was compared with that of endoscopists grouped according to years of experience (senior > 15 years; mid level 10 – 15 years; junior 5 – 10 years).

Results Of the 1383 lesions in the study, the mean accuracies of IPCL classification were 92.0 %, 82.0 %, and 73.3 %, for the senior, mid level, and junior groups, respectively. The mean diagnostic accuracy of the model was 89.2 % and 93.0 % at the lesion and pixel levels, respectively. The interobserver agreement between the model and the gold standard was substantial (kappa value, 0.719). The accuracy of the model for inflammatory lesions (92.5 %) was superior to that of the mid level (88.1 %) and junior (86.3 %) groups (P < 0.001). For malignant lesions, the accuracy of the model (B1, 87.6 %; B2, 93.9 %) was significantly higher than that of the mid level (B1, 79.1 %; B2, 90.0 %) and junior (B1, 69.2 %; B2, 79.3 %) groups (P < 0.001).

Conclusions Double-labeling FCN automated IPCL recognition was feasible and could facilitate early detection of ESCC.
Implication of yoga in noncommunicable diseases
Authors: Pandey Anil , Das Asim
Published: November 2018

The significance of yoga in health and disease is so extensive and of such a general nature that it has become a necessity for doctors who will be practicing in the current and the coming centuries. A positive attitude and a peaceful mind are conductive to healing and happiness, whatever may be the nature of disease or illness. The evidence generated has made modern medicine accept the love, peace, joy, positive thinking, relaxation, hope, etc., as therapeutic tools. This is how yoga becomes a potent instrument for influencing the mind positively. Based on the above traditional as well as scientific thinking, some of the noncommunicable diseases are mentioned in this article, for which yoga may be used with a favorable effect in modern medicine. The need of the current time is to have an integrated approach toward complete therapy and to utilize yoga therapy in harmonization, cooperation, and collaboration with other systems of medicine such as modern medicine, Ayurveda, and naturopathy. The main aims of the therapeutic implications of yoga should be to increase parasympathetic and decrease sympathetic activities. This enables us to move from a state of ill health and sickness to one of fitness and well-being.
Periodontal characteristics of diabetic patients with tooth mobility
Authors: Ojehanon Patrick , Azodo Clement , Erhabor Paul , Orhue Vera
Published: November 2018

Objective: To determine the periodontal characteristics of diabetic patients with tooth mobility attending the Periodontology Clinic of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted among diabetic patients with tooth mobility in the Periodontology Clinic in UBTH, Benin City, Nigeria. The indices recorded for the participants were gingival index, community periodontal index of treatment need, and Miller'sindex for tooth mobility.

Results: A total of 54 participants who met the inclusion criteria were approached, but only 49 of them consented and participated in this study giving a 90.7% recruitment rate. The age range and mean age of the participants were 42–84 years and 63.84 ± 1.31 years, respectively. The self-reported age of diagnosis was between 41 and 70 years with a mean age of 56.22 ± 6.88 years. About two-thirds (67.3%) of the participants were males. Less than half (38.8%) of patients were visiting the dentist for the first time. Mandibular arch housed about two-thirds (64.9%) of the mobile teeth and mandibular left quadrant housed about one-third of (34.5%) the mobile teeth. Central incisor (42.3%) constituted the most mobile teeth followed by the first molar (28.9%). A total of 17.0% of the mobile teeth were Miller's Grade 3 mobility. More than one-third (28.5%) (code 3 = 26.5%, code 4 = 2.0%) of the participants had periodontal pockets. More than half (52.7%) of participants had probing pocket depth of 5 mm and above. The gingival score which had mean as 1.60 ± 0.08 was significantly associated with age of the participants. The mean probing depth was 4.86 ± 0.21 mm. The probing depth was significant with age and duration of diabetes mellitus (DM) of the participants.

Conclusion: Data from this study revealed that age of diagnosis of diabetes with tooth mobility was higher than previously reported. The most mobile teeth and earliest teeth to become mobile were the mandibular incisors, and Grade 1 severity constituted the majority. DM with tooth mobility exhibited gingival score and probing depth that had a variable significant association with demographic characteristics.
Die Rechtsfrage: Reinigungsmittel verursacht berufsbedingte Erkrankung – was tun?
Authors: Karsten Bossow
Published: November 2018

„Das Reinigungspersonal unserer Klinik setzte Putzmittel unsachgemäß ein. In der Folge entwickelte ich heftige Symptome und eine berufsbedingte Erkrankung. Der Arbeitgeber hat bereits Maßnahmen ergriffen, aber weiterhin sind Patienten, Kollegen und Besucher dem Mittel ausgesetzt. Wie kann ich mich verhalten, ohne meinen Arbeitsplatz aufs Spiel zu setzen?“

Therapeutin aus Norddeutschland
Understanding the public temper through an evaluation of rumours: an ethnographical method using educational technology
Authors: Al Lily Abdulrahman Essa , Elayyan Shaher R. , Alhazmi Ahmed Ali , Alzahrani Saleh
Published: November 2018

The power of rumours is that they can be broadly exchanged, generating a ‘public temper’ (which is everybody’s temper without being anybody’s temper in particular). This article, therefore, describes an approach to measuring the public temper, examining particularly the public temper of an Arab society, namely Saudi Arabia. It addresses the following research question: is it possible to analyse existing (scholarly) rumours to see if they can be used as informants of the public temper of the culture in which they exist? This question is answered ethnographically by analysing 579 Arabic online rumours collected by students as part of their critical engagement with educational technology. Having analysed the data, four categories emerged: theconcerns,interests,attitudesandvaluesof Saudi Arabia. According to the literature, these four categories, taken together, constitute theemotionaldomain (i.e., the public temper) of a society. Thus, a theoretical proposition (and contribution to the existing literature regarding sociology) is that rumours mirror the public temper of a culture, reflecting a range of emotions from simple to complex (from concerns, interests and attitudes to values). Simpler emotions (e.g., concerns) appear to be more easily affected by rumours than more complex emotions (e.g., values). An implication of this study is that rumours have ‘biographies’, which detail public tempers across space and time. Rumours are ‘records’ of public tempers that should be read in the same way archaeologists read landscapes and remains. Although rumours entailill-definedinformation, it is feasible towell definesociety through such ill-defined information, meaning that something can come out of its opposite. This study offers ethnographers a new method of understanding public tempers through rumours, alongside conventional meaning-making symbols (e.g., poems).
‘We get so task orientated at times that we forget the people’: staff communication experiences when caring for Aboriginal cardiac patients
Authors: Kelly Janet , Dowling Anna , McBride Katharine , Keech Wendy , Brown Alex
Published: November 2018

Objective
The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of communication for staff providing cardiac care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients in hospital and discuss potential improvements.

Methods
Focus group discussions were performed with 58 multidisciplinary staff who provide care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cardiac patients in two metropolitan and two regional hospitals in South Australia and Northern Territory. Inductive thematic analysis was undertaken to identify staff perceptions of communication challenges and strategies for improvement.

Results
There were five key themes: (1) communication is central to good care; (2) communication within busy clinical environments; (3) supporting a strong Aboriginal workforce; (4) a cultural as well as clinical focus; and (5) particular challenges working with patients from remote areas.

Conclusions
Providing effective communication that is both clinically and culturally appropriate is often challenging within a busy and non-adaptive hospital environment. Moving beyond clinical tasks, increased Aboriginal and Torres Strat Islander health workforce and cultural competency, supporting coordinated care and improved skills are required to meet the communication needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

What is known about this topic?
Communication between patients, their families and hospital staff is crucial for health care quality and safety. There is little understanding of the challenges and opportunities for staff to meet the communication needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cardiac patients to address disparities in acute care settings.

What does this paper add?
This paper discusses the barriers and potential improvements, as identified by hospital staff providing care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cardiac patients in both metropolitan and regional settings.

What are the implications for practitioners?
Practitioners should be trained and supported in providing both clinically and culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. This requires adequate time, two-way communication and resources to support and facilitate effective communication.
The Ichthys LNG Project: big, bold and beautiful
Authors: Serceau Antoine
Published: November 2018

The Ichthys LNG Project is one of the most complex oil and gas developments attempted. It is three mega-projects in one: an onshore project, an offshore project, and a pipeline project.
The onshore project is being developed in Darwin and involves two processing trains rated to produce a total of 8.4 million tonnes of LNG per year.
Offshore, the central processing facility (CPF) will feature the world's largest semi-submersible platform. A substantial floating, production storage and offtake (FPSO) vessel, designed to hold more than one million barrels of condensate, will be stationed nearby. Both the CPF and FPSO will be permanently moored in an area notorious for cyclonic weather conditions and will be designed to withstand even the most extreme weather conditions for more than four decades.
An 889 km subsea pipeline will link the Ichthys Field, 200 km off the Western Australian coast, to the onshore facilities in Darwin. This represents the longest subsea pipeline in the southern hemisphere and fifth longest in the world.
A final investment decision for the project was announced in January 2012. This triggered intense construction activity and created hundreds of new construction jobs in Darwin and more globally. More than 4,000 direct jobs will be created at the peak of construction. An approved capital expenditure of $US34 billion by INPEX and the Ichthys Project joint venture participants shows a tremendous commitment to Australia.
Since the discovery of the gas-condensate field in 2000, the Ichthys road has been one of identifying and overcoming geographical, political, technical, physical, financial, and commercial challenges.
The Ichthys Project is a global effort, drawing on worldwide expertise to overcome these challenges and work towards first gas in late 2016.
Introducing the Kerogen LNG Project Success Index
Authors: Chandra Vivek
Published: November 2018

As the number of future LNG projects-from those being constructed to speculative projects in early stages-grows globally, potential LNG buyers, project financiers, investors, partners, host governments, and contractors are struggling to evaluate which projects are more likely to be successful and thus deserving of their attention. Not all projects promoted by a particular company are of equal quality.
The author has developed an easy-to-use and easy-to-understand scoring system that is neutral, objective (as much as possible), quantitative, and adaptable based on about 30 criteria, grouped into four categories:

Upstream: including criteria such as 1P/3P reserves, NGL%, CO2 %, access to reserves, distance to field.
Above ground: including host government support, terrorist/violent activity, native rights, taxation stability, political support, government reputation, labor productivity/availability, environmental sensitivity.
Technical: technology risk, contractor experience, infrastructure, and engineering stage.
Company and market: operator/partner experience, type of off-taker, buyer experience, partner alignment

The scores can be weighted according to the audience priorities. Scoring represents a particular time and its score will change accordingly as a project progresses.
Most Australian LNG projects being constructed, designed, and proposed will be evaluated and ranked according to the scoring system above, with up-to-date scores at the time of APPEA 2013. In addition, it is expected that key projects in other countries (in East Africa, North America, East Mediterranean) will also be evaluated to compare their rankings with Australian projects.
Discovery to development: a subsurface case history of the Kitan Oil Field, Timor Sea, Joint Petroleum Development Area, Timor-Leste and Australia
Authors: Wheller Dave , Ellis Grant , Suhardiman Yohan , Yokote Ryosuke , Selvaggi Doani , Maniscalco Giuseppe , Derrij Joseph
Published: November 2018

The Kitan oil field is located in the northern Bonaparte Basin in the Joint Petroleum Development Area, an area jointly administered by Timor-Leste and Australia. The Kitan structure is a Jurassic east-west trending tilted fault block.
The Kitan–1 exploration well was drilled and successfully tested in early 2008. Kitan–2 appraisal well was drilled immediately after Kitan–1 and intersected the reservoir up-dip from Kitan–1 and confirmed the extension of the oil accumulation.
The main oil-bearing section is in the shallow marine sandstone of the Middle Jurassic Laminaria Formation. It is divided into two reservoir zones: a blocky channelised sandstone (Unit–2) overlain by a dominantly finer-grained succession composed of coarsening-upwards para-sequences (Unit–1).
Kitan oil field was declared a commercial discovery in April 2008 and a field development plan was submitted in May 2009 and approved in April 2010. Four development wells were drilled of which three were completed as producers, each employing an intelligent completion design to enable independent control and monitoring of the two reservoirunits. The three wells were tied back subsea via flexible flowlines and risers to the Glas Dowr FPSO.
Oil production from the Kitan started in October 2011, about 3.5 years after the discovery of the field. The fast-track development of Kitan was achieved due to accelerated appraisal, prompt completion of studies, early commitment to long lead items, and excellent support from joint-venture partners and government.
Walkabove VSP with seismic-while-drilling technology: flawless operation in a highly deviated well
Authors: Rodriguez Adrian Cristian Sanchez , Dahlhaus Leon , Galybin Konstantin , Vigor Andrew , Skinner Grant , Noordervliet Ton
Published: November 2018

SWD was recently used in the North West Shelf of Australia to acquire time-depth measurements and to obtain a vertical seismic profile (VSP) while pulling out of hole. The use of SWD technology greatly enhanced the understanding of geology by acquiring a more precise geophysical picture of the subsurface, leading to better understanding of the subsurface and placement of wells in the future.
A vertical incidence VSP was acquired in an offshore deviated well for a client on the Australian North West Shelf. The data was acquired using a moving-surface source, suspended from a boat, and a four-component downhole sensor in the bottom hole assembly (BHA). The downhole data was acquired using three orthogonal geophones and a single hydrophone measurement at each VSP level. This was recorded while pulling out of hole, and processed once the tool was on surface. Time picking accuracy of the downhole data is ±0.5 ms with the frequency range 6–90Hz, both comparable to Wireline. The repeatability of the hydrophone and geophone time picks was also excellent with the average difference being 0.2 ms and maximum 0.8 ms. High resolution VSP images beneath the well in addition to corridor stacks were derived from the geophone and hydrophone data, showing the geological structure of the reservoir.
The quality of the data acquired allowed the client to remove the need for a wireline VSP run; it, therefore, saved significant rig time and costs associated with it, reduced the chances of getting stuck, and significantly reduced the seismic uncertainty.
Innovative subsea configurations for the development of long gas-condensate subsea tie-backs
Authors: Anres Stephane , Hansen Eric
Published: November 2018

Several subsea tie-backs to the shore of gas-condensate fields operate today (Ormen Lange, Snohvit), but they are associated to large reserves and suffer from several weaknesses: the sensitivity to liquid accumulation in the lines, which can lead to an early shutdown of production, in particular in case of water breakthrough; and, the disadvantage of continuous injection of hydrate inhibitors, generally MEG, supplied from shore by a dedicated line.
Saipem has recently performed several studies to evaluate the technical feasibility of cases with moderate to large reserves (1-10 Tcf), longer step-outs, and deeper waters, while optimising the recovery factor.
There have been investigations of new subsea configurations combined with new operating philosophies, such as: conventional dual production lines, single lines, and subsea gas/liquid separation, possibly combined with subsea wet or dry gas compression. The work performed clearly shows, in some cases, the potential benefit of the subsea gas/liquid separation in reducing the liquid accumulation, leading to an increase of the recovery factor.
This extended abstract presents the various solutions with their advantages, limitations, and drawbacks. The first part is dedicated to production considerations, such as the management of the liquid hold-up for low flowrates (end-of-life), turndown conditions, pigging, restart, and impact on the receiving terminal (slug catcher). The interest of using low-dosage hydrate inhibitors is also discussed.
The second part focuses on pipeline design from the deepwater field to the shore, as well as on the installation constraints corresponding to the capabilities of the present installation vessels.
Exploring and appraising the oldest gas accumulations in Australia
Authors: Johnson Ray , Bluett Josh , Titus Luke , Warner David
Published: November 2018

In early 2012, Armour Energy set out to evaluate the Middle-Proterozoic formations in the Batten Trough, McArthur Basin, NT. The Batten Trough holds a massive potential shale gas play in the Barney Creek Formation, and recent gas discoveries in the overlying Lynott and Reward formations, and underlying Coxco Dolomite. The Lawn Supersequence, Isa Superbasin, Queensland, is another Middle-Proterozoic shale gas play with overlying and underlying conventional and unconventional oil and gas accumulations. Exploratory drilling between the 1980s and 1990s showed gas and oil shows across the Isa Superbasin, Queensland. Egilabria–1, ATP 1087, exhibited 390 gas units while drilling with mud, highlighting the prospectivity of this area.
In both areas, the Barney Creek and Lawn Hill formations are proven source rocks and are significantly older than North American shale reservoirs. In 2012, an innovative exploration program was designed and implemented in the NT to maximise the capture of drilling data while integrating data from previous mineral and petroleum exploration programs. This resulted in gas discoveries at Cow Lagoon–1, EP 176, and in the Glyde–1 and Glyde–1 ST lateral wells in the Glyde Sub-basin in EP171. In both cases, air drilling was instrumental in aiding drilling penetration rates, gauging gas influx while drilling, and allowing geologists to rapidly obtain and assess drill cuttings.
The authors first discuss the details of the formation evaluation methods used in Armour’s successful 2012 program and how these methods are extended to Armour’s 2013 program in the Isa Superbasin, northern Queensland. Next, an outline of the strategy for further delineation of the Batten Trough is provided. Finally, the authors summarise the exciting potential of the Lawn Supersequence in Queensland.
Unconventional hydrocarbons: Australia's old rocks prove their worth
Authors: Bradshaw Marita , Boreham Chris , Carr Lidena , Laurie John , Hall Lisa , Edwards Dianne , Smith Tegan , Stacey Andrew
Published: November 2018

Australia’s search for petroleum began in the onshore basins where extensive areas of Paleozoic marine sequences, with some high-quality source rock intervals and spectacular outcrop, encouraged sporadic exploration for many decades. For these efforts, there were some rewards, including the discovery of the Mereenie oil field in Ordovician rocks, the Amadeus Basin in 1960s, and the Blina discovery in Devonian carbonates in the Canning Basin during the early 1980s. Since the late 1980s, however, the focus of exploration has shifted offshore where more and larger discoveries were made in the Mesozoic marginal basins, which today contain about 90% or more of Australia’s conventional oil and gas. Now, however, the focus has shifted back to the onshore, recognising the potential for shale and tight gas and oil in these older rocks. The onshore basin area under exploration license has nearly doubled from 2010–12; several major international companies have joined local explorers in testing the worth of Australia’s lower Paleozoic and Proterozoic petroleum systems, and new discoveries have been made in several basins. Geoscience Australia and its partners in the state and NT surveys are undertaking new assessments and studies across a number of these basins.
Applying Rate Transient Analysis (RTA) to integrate geological and engineering data
Authors: Kwok Nicholas
Published: November 2018

The Blasingame typecurve in Fekete’s Rate Transient Analysis (RTA) software has been used at Santos to increase the understanding and integration of well and reservoir data; however, the authors have discovered that in some cases the tool produced anomalous results, such as permeability being too low. The potential consequence of this was incorrectly writing off reserves or making projects (in particular compression projects) fail economic tests.
After testing various hypotheses, a simple yet unorthodox solution was only discovered in a field where the anomaly was more profound, and required integrating geology and geophysics to explain it. This solution has since been applied in RTA models across numerous other fields, and it has improved the quality and confidence of these models.
The solution was the realisation that in many cases the accessed gas in place (GIP) increased over time, but the underlying model in RTA assumes a single tank, linear P/z. Matching the RTA model with the initial reservoir pressure and final accessed GIP results in over-predicting the reservoir pressures, resulting in an artificially low permeability. The authors discovered that the appropriate well and reservoir parameters could be obtained by matching the late time data using a lower initial reservoir pressure value corresponding to when the well had accessed the final GIP volume but not the initial reservoir pressure. This step was initially regarded to be counter-intuitive as the initial pressure is a measured property. Numerous reviews have endorsed this methodology, which is now being used as a standard at Santos.
An updated stratigraphic framework for the Georgina Basin, NT and Queensland
Authors: Smith Tegan , Kelman Andrew P , Nicoll Robert , Edwards Dianne , Hall Lisa , Laurie John , Carr Lidena
Published: November 2018

The Georgina Basin is a Neoproterozoic to Lower Devonian sedimentary basin covering 325,000 km2 of western Queensland and the NT. It is a northwest-southeast-trending extensional basin, with prospective conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon targets in Cambrian and Ordovician carbonate and siliciclastic rock units. The unconventional gas and oil potential of the basin has led to recent exploration interest, although the basin has been relatively less explored in the past.
At the southern end of the basin, depocentres contain up to 2.2 km of Cambrian to Devonian sedimentary rocks, overlying Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks more than 1.5 km thick. The basin succession thins toward the north, where Cambrian sediments overlie the McArthur Basin sediments in the Beetaloo Sub-basin. Biostratigraphic interpretations of the prospective southern, central and eastern regions of the basin have been revised to reflect the 2012 Geological Time Scale (Gradstein, Ogg, Schmitz, and Ogg, 2012), resulting in an updated chronostratigraphic framework for the basin.
The revised biostratigraphic interpretations have implications for important hydrocarbon source rocks. For example, the limestone unit in the southern parts of the basin, generally regarded as the Thorntonia Limestone, is of a different age to the type section for this unit, located in the Undilla Sub-basin. Additionally, the basal hot shale of the Arthur Creek Formation is diachronous across the Dulcie and Toko synclines, which may have ramifications for hydrocarbon exploration.
This revised chronostratigraphic framework (by Geoscience Australia) for the Georgina Basin provides a baseline for the first basin-wide assessment of the unconventional hydrocarbon potential of the basin.
Oil and gas business risk and opportunities: a report from the 2013 global Ernst & Young survey
Authors: Hayward Mark
Published: November 2018

This extended abstract discusses the top 10 risks and opportunities for oil and gas companies in 2013, which have been identified in our biannual global survey.
It has been said that the difference between a business risk and an opportunity is the organisational speed of recognition and response. In this biannual update to the Ernst & Young oil and gas risk and opportunities report, we provide the latest views about the key risks and opportunities facing the oil and gas sector.
Our three-phase approach provides a unique insight into the sectors, leading risks, and opportunities.

We interview a panel of industry executives and experts, and ask them to identify the top risks and opportunities, as well as those below the radar that could rise into the top 10 in the years ahead. They are then grouped and aggregated to form a strategic challenge list for the oil and gas sector.
The second phase of our research is to conduct a large-sample survey of companies and governments to rank the strategic challenges, obtain forecasts on whether these challenges would be more or less important in the future and discover how leading organisations are responding to them.
The third phase of our research is to conduct interviews with leading industry executives to gain insights on how the risks and opportunities impact their organisations and how these executives are managing or preparing for them.

The latest edition of the Ernst & Young Oil and Gas Risk and Opportunities Report was released in March 2013.
THE IMPACT OF TAXATION LEGISLATION DEVELOPMENTS ON NON- RESIDENTS INVESTING IN AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PROJECTS
Authors: Thomas Colin G. , Hayne Catherine A.
Published: November 2018

Australian legislation has recently undergone further developments which affect non- residents investing in Australian petroleum projects. The comments in this paper reflect our understanding of the law at November 1988.These legislative developments have occurred in foreign investment rules and primary tax areas such as the thin capitalisation and debt creation rules for nonresident investors, Australian capital gains tax including the new involuntary roll- over provisions, the Australian dividend imputation system, and secondary taxes such as state royalties and excises and petroleum resource rent tax.The purpose of this paper is to analyse some of the recent legislative developments from the viewpoint of a non- resident investing in Australian petroleum projects. Changes in most cases are incorporated in complex legislation, and full and proper consideration of the changes is warranted for taxpayers both to comply with the law and maximise shareholders' financial returns.
OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION: WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND DO THEY JUSTIFY LIMITATIONS ON ACCESS TO COASTAL WATERS?
Authors: Warren R.P.
Published: November 2018

A proposal to undertake exploration in the coastal waters adjacent to Sydney/Newcastle/Wollongong has brought strong protests on environmental grounds. This opposition is committed and the basis for it should be considered in the wider context of offshore exploration around Australia. Of the various activities involved in oil and gas exploration the potential impacts of marine seismic surveys and the likelihood of a blowout- related oil spill are those of greatest concern to the media and public.A review of the available literature shows the environmental effects of seismic surveys to be of little consequence provided non- explosive energy sources are used. The effects of an oil spill are heavily dependent on site conditions and the type of oil spilled.The literature shows that direct exposure to spilled oil is fatal to many marine species. However, the potential lethal effects are largely dependent on direct exposure and this declines with the weathering and degradation of the spill. Moreover, the risks of an oil spill occurring as a result of current transportation and handling of oil in coastal waters and points around Australia are much greater than would be presented by drilling an exploratory well.In considering the role of exploration as an assessment procedure rather than a land use it is possible to draw parallels between the conservation status of Australian coastal waters today and the onshore situation some 20 years ago. The offshore oil and gas exploration industry needs to take several measures if it is to avoid denial of access for exploration. These include clearly identifying the environmental effects of exploration as opposed to production, adopting industry- wide codes for environmental practice, and recording and disseminating the industry's environmental performance.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HYDROCARBON SHOWS AND OIL RECOVERIES IN THE LONGREACH AREA, CENTRAL QUEENSLAND
Authors: Hodge C.C. , Russell N.J. , Smyth M.
Published: November 2018

In 1925, over 40 gallons of oil were recovered from the Longreach town- water well. More recently, Corona 1, drilled by the ATP 271P Joint Venture in 1984, recovered 9 m (0.5 bbls) of oil in the drill pipe.These oil recoveries, along with several water- bore oil and gas occurrences, are all located in the Longreach area, Central Queensland, over 100 km north- northeast of the Cooper Basin zero edge. The oil recoveries and shows are therefore considered to be the product of source rocks other than those of the Cooper Basin.The Birkhead Formation, the unit considered most likely to source the Longreach and Corona oils, has been studied with a view to understanding the nature of hydrocarbon generation in the vicinity of the Maneroo Platform. The variables measured include (1) thickness of the shale units, (2) volume and type of dispersed organic matter (DOM) and (3) maturity (vitrinite reflectance). Measurements were taken from 10 exploration wells through the whole formation to provide uniform comparative assessment.The Birkhead Formation in the Maneroo Platform area is shown to have an anomalously low sandstone- to- shale ratio, vitrinite reflectance values (Rm(o)) consistently greater than 0.7 per cent and a favourable petroleum generative geochemistry.These results emphasise the highly variable nature of the Eromanga Basin sequence, and therefore its diverse generative potential, and highlight the encouraging prospectivity of the Maneroo Platform area despite the present lack of commercial oil discoveries.
THE EROMANGA BASIN
Authors: Wecker H.R.B.
Published: November 2018

The Eromanga Basin, encompassing an area of approximately 1 million km2 in Central Australia, is a broad intracratonic downwarp containing up to 3000 m of Middle Triassic to Late Cretaceous sediments.Syndepositional tectonic activity within the basin was minimal and the main depocentres largely coincide with those of the preceding Permo- Triassic basins. Several Tertiary structuring phases, particularly in the Early Tertiary, have resulted in uplift and erosion of the Eromanga Basin section along its eastern margin, and the development of broad, northwesterly- to northeasterly- trending anticlines within the basin. In some instances, high angle faults are associated with these features. This structural deformation occurred in an extensional regime and was strongly influenced by the underlying Palaeozoic structural grain.The Eromanga Basin section is composed of a basal, dominantly non- marine, fluvial and lacustrine sequence overlain by shallow marine deposits which are in turn overlain by another fluvial, lacustrine and coal- swamp sequence. The basal sequence is the principal zone of interest to petroleum exploration. It contains the main reservoirs and potential source rocks and hosts all commercial hydrocarbon accumulations found to date. While the bulk of discovered reserves are in structural traps, a significant stratigraphic influence has been noted in a number of commercially significant hydrocarbon accumulations.All major discoveries have been in the central Eromanga Basin region overlying and adjacent to the hydrocarbon- productive, Permo- Triassic Cooper Basin. The mature Permian section is believed to have contributed a significant proportion of the Eromanga- reservoired hydrocarbons. Accordingly, structural timing and migration pathways within the Permian and Middle Triassic- Jurassic sections are important factors for exploration in the central Eromanga Basin region. Elsewhere, in less thermally- mature areas, hydrocarbon generation post- dates Tertiary structuring and thus exploration success will relate primarily to source- rock quality, maturity and drainage factors.Although exploration in the basin has proceeded spasmodically for over 50 years, it has only been in the last decade that significant exploration activity has occurred. Over this recent period, some 450 exploration wells and 140 000 km of seismic acquisition have been completed in the pursuit of Eromanga Basin oil accumulations. This has resulted in the discovery of 227 oil and gas pools totalling an original in- place proved and probable (OOIP) resource of 360 MMSTB oil and 140 BCF gas.Though pool sizes are generally small, up to 5 MMSTB OOIP, the attractiveness of Eromanga exploration lies in the propensity for stacked pools at relatively shallow depths, moderate to high reservoir productivity, and established infrastructure with pipelines to coastal centres. Coupled with improved exploration techniques and increasing knowledge of the basinal geology, these attributes will undoubtedly ensure the Eromanga Basin continues to be a prime onshore area for future petroleum exploration in Australia.
TECTONIC CONTROLS ON SEDIMENTATION AND MATURATION IN THE OFFSHORE NORTH PERTH BASIN
Authors: Marshall John F. , Lee Chao- Shing , Ramsay Douglas C. , Moore Aidan M.G.
Published: November 2018

The major tectonic and stratigraphic elements of the offshore North Perth Basin have been delineated from regional BMR multichannel seismic reflection lines, together with industry seismic and well data. This analysis reveals that three sub- basins, the Edel, Abrolhos and Houtman Sub- basins, have formed as a result of three distinct episodes of rifting within the offshore North Perth Basin during the Early Permian, Late Permian and Late Jurassic respectively. During this period, rifting has propagated from east to west, and has culminated in the separation of this part of the Australian continent from Greater India.The boundaries between the sub- basins and many structures within individual sub- basins are considered to have been produced by strike- slip or oblique- slip motion. The offshore North Perth Basin is believed to be a product of transtension, possibly since the earliest phase of rifting. This has culminated in separation and seafloor spreading by oblique extension along the Wallaby Fracture Zone to form a transform passive continental margin.This style of rifting and extension has produced relatively thin syn- rift sequences, some of which have been either partly or completely removed by erosion. While the source- rock potential of the syn- rift phase is limited, post- rift marine transgressional phases and coal measures do provide adequate and relatively widespread source rocks for hydrocarbon generation. Differences in the timing of rifting across the basin have resulted in a maturation pattern whereby mature sediments become younger to the west.