bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The business public consultation service quality assessment: Kaunas regional case study
Authors: Aleksandravičius Alvydas , Valauskienė Sandra
Published: December 2014

The business consulting public services is one of the most successful business building and development conditions. The business public consulting services are an important professional activity helping executives and managers analyze and solve practical problems of other organisations, improve operational efficiency as well as absorb the experiences of other organisations. Various models integrating theoretical knowledge and practice are used for analysing and for evaluating the quality of the services. After performing an analysis of the majority of the models, it was decided that the most suitable models for evaluation or service quality are the Generally Perceived Quality and Servqual. Consulting services are not providing the consumers with any materials goods and therefore, most of the other models are not suitable for evaluation of business consulting services. Research object – quality of business consultation services. Research aim – to identify the quality of business consultation services, provided by public institutions of Kaunas Region and to prepare the recommendations, how to improve it. Research methods: the analysis and synthesis of academic literature, questionnaire poll, logical modelling, comparison and visualization techniques were.
Technology-based curriculum features of education and business organizations
Authors: Daukilas Sigitas , Kasperiūnienė Judita
Published: December 2014

Integrating technology-based learning tools into business and educational institutions, it is important to identify epistemological differences that are preconditioned by the circumstances of interactive and high-quality cognition. The research was carried out aiming to reveal the aspects between the pedagogical and andragogical interaction applying technology-based learning tools in business and educational institutions. Studies have shown that in business organizations and educational institutions differences in curriculum cognition are due to the interactive, high-quality, technology- based forms of studies. Personalization elements and enhancement of cognitive knowledge warrant an interactive technology-based curriculum in educational institutions at cognitive, emotional, sensual and practical perception levels. Business organizations give priority to cognitive form of perception that is often realized by adults applying the elements of reflective and experiential learning. Technology-based curriculum for adult education can be impersonalized.
Socio-economic backgrounds of agricultural production ecologization
Authors: Khodakivska Olga
Published: December 2014

This article reveals the economic and social preconditions of ecologization agricultural production. Purpose of this article is to offer a system solution of environmental problems in the agricultural sphere both at the global and local levels. It has been found that meeting the needs of mankind is accompanied by new innovative technological solutions that are sometimes dangerous to human life and health, and increase in the food production in developing countries is accompanied by depletion of natural resources, specifically land and water. On the basis of scientific and special methods of economic research, core areas of ecologization agricultural production have been grounded: meeting the needs of the population in the environment-friendly food; ensuring people environmental safety; use of technologies and methods of agricultural production that do not harm human health and the environment.
Consumers perceived insurance price survey
Authors: Kiyak Deimena , Pranckevičiūtė Linara
Published: December 2014

In order to increase the demand for insurance services in Lithuania remains a pressing problem to reveal how consumers perceive this service, which characteristic of the insurance products they emphasizes. The aim of the research – exam the consumer attitudes to non-life insurance prices and determine their perceived quality for insurance products as the insurance products value. It was established that consumers selecting an insurance company to insure focus not only on price but also on other factors – fast service, good claim compensation, insurance service after purchase, a high level personnel. Meanwhile, factors such as nice and modern office, Lithuanian capital company, loyalty to the same company, famous brand and the emotional satisfaction after the purchase of insurance by the users have been identified as less important when choosing in which insurance company to purchase the insurance products.
The integration of corporate social responsibility activities into the value creation model in pricing
Authors: Kiyak Deimena , Šneiderienė Agnė
Published: December 2014

Consumers are more concerned about the surrounding environment and they take into account the social side of enterprises while making consumption decisions. It should be emphasized, that it becomes important for companies’ to revise the process of value creation development, to assess the need of consumers’ participation in the value creation process, to determine the potential mutual benefits. In this way, there is highlighted the link between consumers’ and business enterprises co-operation; that is especially important when the products of socially responsible companies’ are analyzed. The concept of product value is quite often investigated in scientific literature, but there is a lack of research that emphasizes twofold interpretations’ of the value concept. Also, there is noticed a lack of examination of how corporate social responsibility can create perceived value for consumers. It must be stated, that there remains a problem how to integrate the value creation of socially responsible companies products in the pricing process. The aim of the article – after analyzing how socially responsible companies’ can create value of their products, investigating the differences of twofold value concept, identifying the stages of value creation, to establish a model how to integrate the value creation into the pricing process.
Local food systems and their development in Latvia
Authors: Melece Ligita
Published: December 2014

The issues related to local food systems and their wider social, cultural, economic and environmental implications have flourished amongst scholars and policymakers over the last decades. The hypothesis of study, which this paper is based upon, is that local (alternative) agrifood or food systems will be a suitable tool for further development of sustainable agrifood sector, as well as development of rural communities and rural areas. The tasks of study are: to clarify the concept of local food systems; to investigate the food system relationship with further sustainable development of rural communities; and to review initiatives and activities for developing the local food systems in Latvia. The used research methods are mainly qualitative: analysis and synthesis, logical and abstract constructive and expert, etc. Although there is no consensus among scholars regarding the definition of the local food system, nevertheless, the local food systems or alternative food networks are no less important and suitable tool for solving environmental, economical (farmers’ and rural inhabitants’ income increasing) and social issues, and they facilitate further sustainable development of rural areas and communities. Some activities and projects as examples of development and implementation of local food systems in Latvia are explained and results of projects’ implementation are given, for example: Project “Local Identity Product” Project „Local Products Development in Middle Baltics”; Project “Marketing Campaign for Development of Rural Tourism Products in all Regions of Latvia and their Promotion” etc.
Price policy in the marketing system of agricultural enterprises
Authors: Tarasovych Lyudmyla
Published: December 2014

The aim of the research is to explain the peculiarities and mechanisms of price formation the system of agricultural enterprises’ marketing. Research methods have scientific and analytical comparison, induction and deduction, analysis and synthesis. Place, role, and peculiarities of price policy formation in the system of marketing of agricultural enterprises are explained. Theoretically proven that effective functioning of agricultural enterprises is determined by pricing policy formation which is efficient and corresponds to the market. The pricing policy is considered as a system of actions directed on determining prices for products and services, and on formation of pricing strategy and tactics, and also on changing the level of prices depending on the competitive position of an enterprise on the market in order to hold the desired marketing chares in strategic perspective. The key ideas of complementary connection of pricing policy of agricultural enterprises with other directions of their marketing activity are described.
Cluster formation patterns: the general indicators, criteria, stages and gestation phases overview
Authors: Viederytė Rasa
Published: December 2014

In order to enhance the competitiveness of enterprises and strengthen the competitive positions in the market, the cluster formation is increasingly becoming one of the essential conditions for the increasing of business cooperation and development, especially in initiating general joint projects and corporate trust. Cluster formation is a dynamic process that is recognized by the general Indicators and Criteria, consisting of consequential Stages and having different maturity Gestation Phases. Therefore, the Objective of the Study - to assess the General Indicators, Criteria, Stages and Phases of Gestation significance of Cluster Formation process. The Study Objective conducted a comprehensive study of the Cluster Formation process, involving both the Cluster Formation process Phases, Gestation Stages and Cluster Development through the Analysis of dynamic Criteria and General Indicators analysis. According to the Study, the main features of Cluster general Indicators, the parameters of Gestation Phases, Stages and Criteria were determined, the main barriers to the formation of clusters were identified and the reasonable conclusions of the Cluster Formation process improvement were prepared.
Theoretical and methodological principles of forming the agrarian insurance market in Ukrane
Authors: Vilenchuk Oleksandr
Published: December 2014

Riskiness in agrarian production calls forth the necessity of well-timed localization and effective neutralization of the phenomena and processes that negatively affect the process of agricultural production. The paper grounds the expediency of developing an insurance system as an efficient instrument of risk management in the agrarian sphere. The purposes of this article is the substantiation of theoretical and methodological approaches and the application of present-day methodology of forming the agrarian insurance market in Ukraine for providing effective insurance protection and creating favourable business environment in the agrarian sphere. The trends of the development of the domestic agrarian insurance market in 2005–2013 point out the necessity of intensifying research activity concerning the optimization of the forms and methods of innovative insurance protection of agrarians. The realization of the potential of the agrarian insurance development in Ukraine will make it possible to essentially reduce the negative effect of risks on agricultural production and ensure the minimization of fluctuations in revenues of agrarians.
The mind in the world of web: Relationships and learning in the context of new ICT
Authors: Pléh Csaba , Rácz Anna , Soltész Péter , Kardos Péter , Berán Eszter , Unoka Zsolt
Published: December 2014

A tanulmány abból indul ki, hogy milyen viszony van a gépek és az emberi gondolkodás között az európai eszmetörténetben. Hogyan bontakoznak ki a gépi determinista, a metaforikus és az instrumentális elképzelések. Ez a kérdés abba az általánosabb problémakörbe illeszkedik, hogy hogyan befolyásolják a magunk által létrehozott technikai eszközeink az emberi kapcsolatok és megismerés átfogó keretrendszereit, az architektúrákat. A WEB szerepéről három hozzáállás bontakozott ki. A techno-optimista felfogás szerint az internet alapvetően megváltoztatja emberi kapcsolatainkat és tanulási módszereinket. A techno-pesszimista felfogás szerint ez a változás igaz ugyan, de nem jó irányban hat. Kognitíven felszínesebbé és szétesettebbé, kapcsolatainkban pedig elkötelezetlenné válunk. A biológiai-optimista felfogás szerint a változások már meglévő biológiai architektúráink felhasználásán keresztül működnek. Újít az információtechnika világa az embereken, de nem változtatja meg őket radikálisan.Saját kutatásainkból az én köré szerveződő kapcsolatok világával összefüggő eredményeinket mutatom be először. Dunbarnak a különböző szorosságú kapcsolati sávokra kidolgozott koncepcióját használva kimutattuk, hogy az új eszközök elsősorban felszíni kapcsolatainkat érintve tágítják ki kapcsolati köreinket. A személyiség meghatározottságában pedig azt látjuk, hogy az új közegekben is érvényes az, hogy elsősorban azokkal a személyekkel vagyunk szoros kapcsolatban, akikkel biztonságos kötődési viszonyt alakítottunk ki. A tanulás és az emlékezeti világ átalakulása a számítógép és az internetes hozzáférés körülményei között sokat elemzett kérdése a modern pszichológiának. Az új, távolról hozzáférhető tudásrendszerek megléte és a keresés világa megváltoztatja attitűdünket a tudás személyes megőrzésével. A hipertextes olvasás vitatott hatékonyságát illetően pedig saját kutatásaink szerint — azon a trivialitáson túl, hogy a jól szerkesztett hipertextes szövegek könnyebben megjegyezhetőek — az egyéni különbségeknek itt is rendkívül fontos szerepük van. A munkaemlékezet, különösen a vizuális munkaemlékezet, különbségei alapvetően meghatározzák, hogy mennyire vagyunk képesek felismerni a hipertextes szövegek logikai szerkezetét. Egészében véve azt találjuk, hogy kapcsolati dolgokban viszonylag konzervatívabbak vagyunk és nem a technológia szolgái, a technológia valójában eszköz számunkra a kapcsolatok fenntartására. Az olvasás tekintetében kicsit másképp áll a dolog. A könnyen letölthető és hozzáférhető szövegek felszínesebbé tehetik az olvasásunkat. Ezért újra kell gondolnunk az ember és szöveg viszonyát a könnyen hozzáférhető szövegek hatását tekintve, és olyan kutatásokat kell terveznünk, amelyek nemcsak az alkalmi, epizodikus, hanem a hosszú távú szerkezeti hatásokat is vizsgálják.
Variables associated with peripherally inserted central catheter related infection in high risk newborn infants
Authors: Rangel Uesliz Vianna , Gomes Junior Saint Clair dos Santos , Costa Ana Maria Aranha Magalhães , Moreira Maria Elisabeth Lopes
Published: December 2014

OBJECTIVE: to relate the variables from a surveillance form for intravenous devices in high risk newborn infants with peripherally inserted central catheter related infection.METHODOLOGY: approximately 15 variables were studied, being associated with peripherally inserted central catheter related infection, this being defined by blood culture results. The variables analyzed were obtained from the surveillance forms used with intravenous devices, attached to the medical records of newborn infants weighing between 500 and 1,499 g. The statistical association was defined using the Chi-squared and Student t tests. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Instituto Fernandes Figueira under process N. 140.703/12.RESULTS: 63 medical records were analyzed. The infection rate observed was 25.4%. Of the variables analyzed, only three had a statistically-significant relationship with the blood culture - the use of drugs capable of inhibiting acid secretion, post-natal steroid use, and undertaking more than one invasive procedure (p-value of 0.0141, 0.0472 and 0.0277, respectively).CONCLUSION: the absence of significance of the variables of the form may be related to the quality of the records and to the absence of standardization. It is recommended that the teams be encouraged to adhere to the protocol and fill out the form.
Genetic evaluation of popcorn families using a Bayesian approach via the independence chain algorithm
Authors: Rodovalho Marcos , Mora Freddy , Arriagada Osvin , Maldonado Carlos , Arnhold Emmanuel , Scapim Carlos Alberto
Published: December 2014

The objective of this study was to examine genetic parameters of popping expansion and grain yield in a trial of 169 half-sib families using a Bayesian approach. The independence chain algorithm with informative priors for the components of residual and family variance (inverse-gamma prior distribution) was used. Popping expansion was found to be moderately heritable, with a posterior mode of h² of 0.34, and 90% Bayesian confidence interval of 0.22 to 0.44. The heritability of grain yield (family level) was moderate (h² = 0.4) with Bayesian confidence interval of 0.28 to 0.49. The target population contains sufficient genetic variability for subsequent breeding cycles, and the Bayesian approach is a useful alternative for scientific inference in the genetic evaluation of popcorn.
Integrating Economics in the Critical Period for Weed Control Concept in Corn
Authors: Keller Martina , Gantoli Geoffroy , Möhring Jens , Gutjahr Christoph , Gerhards Roland , Rueda-Ayala Victor
Published: December 2014

The effect of weed interference on corn yield and the critical period for weed control (CPWC) were determined in Germany and Benin. Treatments with weed control starting at different crop growth stages and continuously kept weed-free until harvest represented the “weed-infested interval.” Treatments that were kept weed-free from sowing until different crop growth stages represented the “weed-free interval.” Michaelis–Menten, Gompertz, logistic and log–logistic models were employed to model the weed interference on yield. Cross-validation revealed that the log–logistic model fitted the weed-infested interval data equally well as the logistic and slightly better than the Gompertz model fitted the weed-free interval. For Benin, economic calculations considered yield revenue and cost increase due to mechanical weeding operations. Weeding once at the ten-leaf stage of corn resulted already profitable in three out of four cases. One additional weeding operation may optimize and assure profit. Economic calculations for Germany determined a CPWC starting earlier than the four-leaf stage, challenging the decade-long propagated CPWC for corn. Differences between Germany and Benin are probably due to the higher yields and high costs in Germany. This study provides a straightforward method to implement economic data in the determination of the CPWC for chemical and nonchemical weed control strategies.
International Collaboration and the Importance of Eubiosia
Authors: Tanneberger Stephan
Published: December 2014

The call of the oncologist is to improve quality of life, and to do so, oncologists can look beyond technology and expensive medications; these may not be necessary for patients to achieve eubiosia: no more pain and dignity of life until the last moment of life. Simple gestures of companionship, family, and care can make a difference.
Towards Four Phase Autosegmentation and Microporosity Quantification
Authors: Bennetzen Martin V. , Sølling Theis I. , Marquez Xiomara
Published: December 2014

The topic of digital rock physics including experimental imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) is on the rise in oil and gas research. The aim is to map the pore architecture and subsequently to model multiphase flow with the prospect of improving and developing enhanced oil recovery methods. The initial computational step to construct the pore network architecture is the so-called segmentation of CT-tomograms into the constituent phases.

We have probed two different packages, Avizo and MANGO to address pros and cons of the packages and the segmentation process itself. Segmentation involves a substantial amount of manual assignment of grayscale intensity thresholds to the given phases. This is a significant challenge in particular as the process is based on qualitative judgment and hence subjected to a substantial human bias. Importantly, in carbonates, where the very small pores are unresolvable under the experimental conditions, segmentation becomes particularly challenging.

In order to be able to make consistent, unbiased and quantitative segmentation of a full high-resolution tomogram we have developed a fully deterministic autosegmentation algorithm. The segmentation results in quantification of the macroporosity, microporosity and of specific minerals such as pyrite.

The autosegmentation algorithm is based on an advanced statistical analysis of the global and local intensity distributions of the tomogram. The method involves local normal distribution fitting, differential curve intersection analysis, density function estimation and subsequent derivative analysis. The statistics-based definition of microporosity represents in itself a novel approach to the characterize microporosity, where microporosity identification and quantitation are based on properties of the well-defined region of intensity distributions of the present grains and macroporosity. Identification of special minerals such as pyrite is based on statistical outlier analysis.

In the paper we present (1) an algorithm to perform automated CT-image segmentation, (2) a method to quantitatively distinguish microporosity from macroporosity, (3) a method to identify special minerals and (4) a method to estimate the relative presence of grain, macroporosity, microporosity and selected special minerals.
New Generation of High Strength Sour Service Drill Pipe: A Breakthrough Innovation to Address Ultradeep and Extended-Reach Drilling Challenges Combined with H2S Environments
Authors: Flores Vincent , Rodrigues Ricardo , Godeke Kenneth , Thebault Florian
Published: December 2014

"Sour Service" refers to a well environment containing Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), which is naturally associated with acid conditions. It is well known that H2S is hazardous to human health, living organisms, and more generally to the environment. It is for this reason that wells found with Sour Gas were often carefully plugged and abandoned in the past. H2S can also lead to catastrophic brittle failure of drillstring components: the physical phenomenon associated with Sour Service Environments and affecting steel based products under applied or residual stress is known as H2S embrittlement or more specifically as Sulfide Stress Cracking (SSC).

With the increasing demand of gas worldwide, some highly sour oil and gas reservoirs are being explored, mainly in Russia, the Middle East, China and North America, and are now more and more associated with complex well profiles – such as deep reservoirs or extended reach wells. The use of high strength drill pipe is essential to achieve such drilling objectives; however it does represents significant technical challenges in terms of drill pipe integrity and operational safety with the current high strength grades available on the market, such as S-135 drill pipe. Because higher strength is generally detrimental to Sulfide Stress Cracking, innovative chemistries and new heat treatment processes are needed to push Sour Service material limits even further.

A new high strength drill pipe family has been developed to specifically address those challenges: these new grades exhibit a minimum Yield Strength (120 ksi) higher than the current Sour Service grades available on the market as described by the current industry standards (95ksi or 105 ksi Specified Minimum Yield Strength). In order to guarantee the SSC resistance of these high strength materials, pipes and tool joints are tested as per the NACE standards. A first string of this high strength material is already being commercialized and used for the first time in offshore wells in the North Sea.
Knowledge and Experience Transfer, an on the Job Training Approach
Authors: Dawoud A. M. , Stander J. , Al Hosani S. , Al Mazrouei H. , Esteves C. , Hussein T.
Published: December 2014

Bridging about 20 years of Knowledge and Experience (K&E) gap usually is done through commercial training schools and it was found that not more than 30% knowledge transfer takes place due to the academic nature of teaching practices.

The Competence Assurance Management System (CAMS) program was developed in 2002 to facilitate the development of fresh graduates joining the company and provide them with the required K&E. The CAMS framework was designed to cover K&E equivalent to 8-12 years in a 4 years program. The program has been very effective and some of the CAMS graduates are currently holding middle management positions. Considerable efforts are being made as there is still a need to close K&E gaps due to increase in number of the experienced staff reaching retirement age and are about to retire. Some have left already.

Since its launch CAMS frameworks have been updated to achieve 10-15 years equivalent K&E gain in 4 years or less focusing on more on the job training of real work. Although coaching is provided by experienced staff it was not sufficient enough to bridge the gaps within the period required due the business objective of the coaches to meet their responsibilities.

To ensure the set objectives are achieved, the service of some of the retired long experience staff (30 years+ with ADCO) have been extended to be fully devoted to follow up the CAMS program staff and provide the required technical assistance and support as On the Job Trainers (OJTs). The OJTs cover all the disciplines in the fields operations as well as the technical in the main office. Pilot trials of in-house courses by the appointed OJTs showed high success and appreciation by the CAMS staff as the required level of K&E based on real examples from ADCO was transferred.
Design Considerations for a 200°C MWD System
Authors: Stroehlein Brian
Published: December 2014

It is a well-accepted rule in electronics that, at best, every 10°C increase in operating temperature shortens operating life by an additional 50%. Just as designers of 175°C+ Measurement-While-Drilling (MWD) systems face new challenges in making their designs work to reliability and operating time requirements, so are they finding newly-available opportunities to help them meet those requirements. This paper summarizes a recent cross-disciplinary effort to identify and address the key challenges involved with development of a new 200°C MWD system.

In 2012 we completed a Feasibility Study, commissioned by an operator, for a 200°C directional-gamma MWD system with a mud pulser for real time telemetry and a turbine alternator for power. The primary users of this system would be MWD service providers servicing those operators drilling hot holes. This Study included a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art in components, materials, system architectures, fabrication & assembly techniques, and statistical reliability & quality techniques required for successful implementation. Sufficient downhole memory for time-stamped directional, gamma and diagnostic records were essential parts of this project. Due to the potentially drastic life-shortening environmental effects of drilling hot holes, we also specified recording of temperature, shock and vibration data to enable Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) based on Accumulated Damage Modeling (ADM).

Our Feasibility Study showed that several key technology developments inside and outside the oilfield made the 200°C MWD system technically achievable. The system was also shown to be operationally viable for all three parties in the application chain: our organization, the independent drilling service provider users and their operator customers. These factors were expected to have a positive effect on service availability for hot hole applications.

This paper provides insights into the drilling technology development process in general and the key technologies available for implementation, specifically, of a 200°C directional-gamma MWD system. We completed extensive research on the history and current state-of-the-art in components, materials, fabrication & assembly techniques and statistical reliability & quality techniques, and found no insurmountable obstacles to implementing a successful production 200°C MWD system suitable for use by independent MWD service providers.
Sedimentology Genetic Modeling of an Offshore Abu Dhabi Carbonate Reservoir
Authors: Bourdarot Gilles , Khemissa Hocine , Al Shemsi Abdullah , Murat Bruno , Richet Remy , Games Federico , Porcher Florent
Published: December 2014

During this innovative work a 3D Stratigraphic forward Modeler initially designed for geohistorical basin modelling has been used to produce multi-realization of 3D facies distribution of a giant offshore carbonate reservoir in Abu-Dhabi.

The Stratigraphic 3D forward Modeler simulates carbonate production and transport by solving a diffusion equation. The modeling started from a given age, through a sequence time steps. At each time step, three main parameters controlling deposits are modelled: 1) Accommodation space which reflecting the total available water depth for sediment deposits, 2) Sediment Supply by setting carbonates production laws inside the model, 3) Transport and Wave Reworking using a diffusion law, function of wave energy, slope and a diffusion coefficient depending on carbonate nature and grain size.

The model is calibrated to facies thickness and texture described at 17 cored wells by a previous 4th order Sequence Stratigraphic Sedimentology study.

The model has a grid of 200 X 200m, similar to the reservoir simulation grid size, a 50,000 years time step which corresponds to 136 layers, ensuring a vertical resolution in the range of 1 to 2 meters. The total size of the model is 2.7 Million cells. The resulting model reproduces the spatial facies distribution in the reservoir and with more than 80% success the facies texture and thickness at cored wells for each 4th order sequences.

By varying the parameters controlling sediment deposits, using an Experimental Design approach, several realizations of the geological model have been produced to capture uncertainties on facies distribution between wells, each of them honoring the facies description and thickness at cored wells.

This new approach increases considerably the consistency, resolution and reliability of the geological model between wells.
Neutron-Star Seismic, an Ultra-Dense 3D Acquisition and Processing Test
Authors: Keggin James , Ourabah Amine , Ellis David , Grimshaw Martin , Kowalczyk-Kedzierska Monika , Murray Eamonn , Cooper Sharon
Published: December 2014

Since the advent of modern seismic methods in the 1950s, we have seen the quality of our subsurface images increase dramatically. Along with improvements in engineering, computing and seismic processing techniques, this is largely due to the massive increase in the number of seismic measurements made per unit area. In the 1950s 2D seismic data consisted of hundreds of seismic recordings per sq. km – in 2011, BP acquired an onshore 3D survey in Jordan with around 10 million seismic measurements per sq. km. The first part of this paper describes how, using the Independent Simultaneous Source technique (ISS®) these data were acquired efficiently in a short time frame. Then in the second half of the paper, we describe the careful processing and analysis of a large number of data decimations. We then discuss whether there is an upper limit to the improvements in image quality seen as data density increases. Image quality is judged not only on the quality of the post stack data, but also on the quality of various pre-stack attributes that are increasingly being used for reservoir description and lithology and fluid prediction. We also discuss the challenges associated with managing and processing the huge data volumes that are generated with this style of dense acquisition - modern seismic surveys of this density are starting to contain Petabytes of data.
Low-salinity Water-alternating-CO2 Flooding Enhanced Oil Recovery: Theory and Experiments
Authors: Teklu Tadesse Weldu , Alameri Waleed , Graves Ramona M. , Kazemi Hossein , AlSumaiti Ali M.
Published: December 2014

Carbon dioxide flooding is currently the most technically and economically viable enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process in carbonate and sandstone reservoirs. Low-salinity waterflood is a relatively new EOR process; and our experiments in carbonate cores show significant oil recovery improvements. We propose a new EOR process to improve economics, which involves low-salinity water-alternating-CO2 (LS-WAG) injection.

To evaluate the proposed idea, three core floods and several contact angle and IFT measurements were performed. The core floods include: seawater flood, followed by low-salinity waterflood, followed by CO2 injection, which yielded fourteen, twenty-five, and thirty-eight percent additional oil recovery by CO2 from two carbonate and one sandstone experiments.

We performed contact angle measurements on several low-permeability carbonate, medium-permeability Berea sandstone, and ultra-low permeability Three Forks mudstone core discs using different salinities. The contact angle measurements confirmed that favorable wettability alteration is achievable with the proposed EOR process. In addition, visual observations suggested that the proposed EOR process could be effective for cleaning the matrix-fracture interface in conventional and unconventional reservoirs. IFT measurments and modeling relevant to the EOR process is also included in this study.
Drilling Deep Horizontal Well in Highly Depleted and Thin Sandstone Reservoir: A Successful Case Study from North Kuwait
Authors: SANYAL A. , De S. , Dutta A. , Al-Khaldy M. D. , Safar A.
Published: December 2014

In the Asset of North Kuwait, a very productive, narrow and moderately continuous sandstone layer has been heavily exploited since 1990. Over and underlain by extensive shale barriers, this channel sand with weak lateral drive, has been developed using predominantly vertical and deviated wells. The sand body was deposited in an estuarine environment as a minor switching channel with limited lateral connectivity. With reservoir pressure currently at 3ppg MWE, horizontal completions were planned to further accelerate production in anticipation of much needed pressure support. The major challenges to overcome were i) the trajectory planning and high-angle drilling through about 300 feet of highly loss prone Dolomite, close above the target reservoir, ii) casing-off the high-pressured overlying shale, iii) restrict formation damage while drilling lateral section and iv) avoiding differential sticking using conventional over-balanced mud systems. An excellently engineered 7.6 ppg OBM (least possible mud weight) yielded rich dividends as it minimized formation damage and reduced chances of differential sticking. Pre drill modelling based on nearby well data and judicious use of Distance to Bed and Azimuthal Deep Reading Resistivity image from LWD tool suite provided excellent control that facilitated successful geosteering through thin pay. Dynamic and Contingency Planning during execution were crucial to real time decisions leading to a successful completion of the first horizontally completed well. The case study details the analytical approach and meticulous planning towards the selection of a Directional Drilling BHA, Wellbore Trajectory, Mud Weight and type, Drilling Strategy, pre-job and contingency planning that resulted in successfully drilling and completing a productive horizontal well through grossly depleted reservoir in its maiden attempt. The engineering tools and strategies outlined can be appropriated to the drilling and completion of horizontal drain holes in thin-pay, heavily depleted reservoirs that require high-angle penetration of equally depleted zones.
Production Optimization of Maximum Reservoir Contact Well by Utilizing Acid Stimulation with Limited Entry Technique
Authors: Issa Faiz , Abbott Jonathan , Akbari Aulia
Published: December 2014

In recent years, a major Abu Dhabi offshore operating company has shifted towards utilizing Maximum Reservoir Contact (MRC) wells to improve oil production and long-term oil recovery. The initial MRC pilots demonstrated the importance of designing the well and completion to facilitate intervention and stimulation. Coiled tubing stimulation methods applied in these first wells were able to meet the objective by significantly improving overall oil production and water injection. However, as we move into tighter formations and longer wells the efficacy of coiled tubing is significantly reduced by limited accessibility and restrictions on the rate.

The MRC strategy is being implemented in Reservoir II which is the largest reservoir in terms of Oil in-place. Reservoir II is a thick multilayered limestone reservoir characterized by its low permeability. This low permeability becomes more pronounced as one moves from the crest of the field to the periphery of the field.

In such tight reservoirs (Reservoir II), conventional techniques may yield lower than expected production results. In an effort to improve production and ultimate recovery, a new stimulation and completion strategy is required that improves contact with the reservoir beyond the wellbore.

In this paper we will discuss the design and implementation of a new technique intended to improve the production and recovery from tight reservoirs. This technique combines a fit-for-purpose limited entry type completion with high rate acid stimulation. Pre- and post-production comparisons demonstrate a substantial production increase and uniform contribution along the extended horizontal interval.

We will review the design approach, job execution and evaluation of pre- and post-production performance. We highlight key technical challenges and risks encountered during the preparation, design, execution and evaluation stages of this operation and discuss how these were overcome and mitigated for the improvement and optimization of future MRC wells.
A Combination of Selective Noise Suppression Methods and Pre-stack Time Migration for Effective Denoising: A Case History from Offshore Abu Dhabi Production Oil Field
Authors: Inoue Hiroyuki , Al Shehhi Jamila , Hagiwara Hiroshi , Mahgoub Mohamed , Khakimov Oleg , Janik Frantisek , Hussain Ayad
Published: December 2014

Effective and careful noise attenuations are crucial for any seismic processing project to control and assure the product quality. The robustness of the data processing can be often identified and quantified by existing well data in production oil and gas fields during the processing. However, if we drill new infill and/or appraisal wells on the flank of the structure based on the processed seismic data, we always need to address the thorny issue of unforeseen mismatching between predicted and actual geological formation tops.

In this paper, we present a recent seismic re-processing study from an offshore an Abu Dhabi oil field utilizing relevant seismic processing techniques to overcome these problems as a case study. The original data processed in 2006-2007 exhibits several technical issues: wavelet instability, poor signal-to-noise ratio, limited resolution and offset range, remnant acquisition footprint and multiples. This imperfect dataset led to significant depth discrepancies on a recent appraisal well that was planned using this seismic dataset.

The recent processing techniques such as adaptive subtraction of ground roll, 3D deconvolution, 3D Radon-demultiple, 3D projection filtering in the OVT (offset vector tile) domain were carefully applied to address these issues. In addition, we demonstrated that PreSTM (prestack time migration) is an effective de-noise tool while unnecessary and harmful noise attenuations could not be applied to the data because of the potential damage to diffractions and signals before PreSTM. These noise attenuation efforts allowed longer offset ranges into the stack, which proved to be the crucial factor in improving the seismic data quality.

Our recent structural interpretation results based on the reprocessing have successfully demonstrated more accurate depth matching on key geological formation tops at this appraisal well location. In addition, blind test utilizing nearly all wells in the field has reinforced our observations. Since subtle reservoir depth variation at each well location will make significant changes to oil production and recovery factor in this particular field, this cast history brought added value to the field development plan particularly for planning horizontal hole drilling and optimizing appraisal well locations.
Efficient Structural Uncertainty Parameterization for Risk Assessment of Large Fields
Authors: Sabatino R. , Viviani E. , Della Rossa E. , Sala C. , Maffioli A.
Published: December 2014

Unexpected results during the development phase of a field, often due to geological structure and fault network limited knowledge, have a huge impact on reserves. 3D reservoir models, however, are usually built on the basis of a deterministic interpretation of sparse or indirect information. The typical description of structural uncertainty by means of a large number of alternative reservoir top surfaces is commonly used in reservoir studies and risk assessment. Nevertheless, this approach might be cumbersome for two reasons: firstly, the high computational costs for large field models and secondly the link between a single uncertain structural feature and the related dynamical responses is not easily identified using the random surfaces realizations. To overcome the above issues, in this paper an approach based on the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is presented. This statistical technique is able to reduce the number of parameters required for an effective representation of uncertain geometrical features. The idea is to decompose the large set of surfaces coming from geophysical uncertainty modelling into a limited number of spatial frequency components.

The resulting reduced parameterization is then used in combination with an elastic gridding approach, internally developed, to directly modify the corner point grid. The proposed methodology is therefore applied to assess hydrocarbon in place and estimate reserves of a large carbonate field. Structural uncertainties such as flanks geometry and reservoir thickness, were combined in a unified workflow with other static and dynamical uncertainties.

The benefits and improvements of this approach were highlighted and compared to a standard workflow. The outcome is a comprehensive risk assessment which allows for a clear understanding and a straightforward connection between the effect of uncertain structural features and both the hydrocarbon in place and the dynamical behaviour.
The Appraisal and Development of a Challenging Marginal Field in the Middle East
Authors: Saadawi Omar , Baguenane Boussad , Al Marzouqi Mohamed , Al Hashemi Tayba
Published: December 2014

Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) is a major oil producer in the Arabian Gulf with a wide portfolio of fields and reservoirs. The company is currently developing both new and existing assets to increase its production capacity. Field ‘M’ is one of the new assets that will contribute to this additional production.

Although the field was discovered in 1975, it was categorized as a marginal development primarily due to its remote location, limited size and reservoir properties. As a result it remained undeveloped until 2011. A 3D seismic reprocessing was conducted in 2009, and significant reservoir data was gathered from an appraisal well in 2010 which reduced the subsurface uncertainties. The field became less remote through the development of a larger, neighboring field 50km away. As a result, in 2011 a decision was made to carry out a full field appraisal campaign, with the aim of putting the field on production by 2017.

This paper describes the main challenges of the appraisal and development of the field, and details how they were tackled. A special emphasis is put on the value of multi-discipline integration between all the project stakeholders.
Low Salinity Water Injection: eni's Experience
Authors: Rotondi M. , Callegaro C. , Masserano F. , Bartosek M.
Published: December 2014

Low salinity water flooding has been recognized as prominent enhanced oil recovery technique acting at microscopic scale by reducing residual oil saturation thanks to a combination of intertwined mechanisms. In the last ten years, several studies and applications have been performed by Academia and Oil Companies giving indication of the process potentialities to increase oil production both in clastic and carbonate reservoirs.

Low salinity is considered by eni a key EOR method to improve recovery of both green and brown fields due to low capital and operational costs, leading to favorable economics compared to riskier and more expensive EOR techniques.

This work presents the state of art and describes eni's experience on low salinity waterflooding. Beneficial combination of low salinity water with polymer is also discussed as efficient and cost-effective EOR process for viscous oil fields. Eni has covered the whole low salinity life-cycle since 2006, from field candidate screening, laboratory experiments, log-inject-log tests, single well chemical tracer tests (SWCTT), accurate 3D reservoir modeling, desalination technique studies up to inter-well pilot tests. Experimental investigation in eni laboratories is executed to understand low salinity basic mechanisms and assess main parameters affecting fluid/rock/low salinity water interactions. Tertiary corefloods at field conditions are the first step to obtain evidence of beneficial effects. Lab results are reproduced by means of core-scale models to define simulation parameters. Obtained values are then applied on well and sector scale models for injection optimization and pilot design. Subsequently, field pilots such as SWCTT are performed, giving additional information on low salinity effectiveness. If positive results are confirmed and supported by updated simulation model, the technology is extended at inter-well and full field scale.

Eni has developed robust best practices leveraging on internal laboratory, modeling work and field experience which are crucial to boost recovery factors and extend fields life.