bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bayesian inversion of VSP traveltimes for linear inhomogeneity and elliptical anisotropy
Authors: Danek Tomasz , Slawinski Michael A.
Published: September 2012

Bayesian interpretation of a three-parameter model of anisotropy and inhomogeneity for a VSP data set obtained in the Western Canada Basin indicates that introduction of the anisotropy parameter is justified by the data to a high grade of evidence. The acquisition geometry is a key factor in the resolving power of the data, and hence in deciding on the appropriate number of pertinent parameters. Herein, we show that the acquisition geometry composed of only two sources and eight receivers might be sufficient. The resolution of the inhomogeneity parameters is higher than the resolution of the anisotropy parameter. Nevertheless, the presence of the last parameter remains strongly justifiable by means of the Bayesian information criterion.
Treatment with Sunitinib for Patients with Progressive Metastatic Pheochromocytomas and Sympathetic Paragangliomas
Authors: Ayala-Ramirez Montserrat , Chougnet Cecile N. , Habra Mouhammed Amir , Palmer J. Lynn , Leboulleux Sophie , Cabanillas Maria E. , Caramella Caroline , Anderson Pete , Al Ghuzlan Abir , Waguespack Steven G. , Deandreis Desirée , Baudin Eric , Jimenez Camilo
Published: September 2012

Context:

Patients with progressive metastatic pheochromocytomas (PHEOs) or sympathetic paragangliomas (SPGLs) face a dismal prognosis. Current systemic therapies are limited.

Objectives:

The primary end point was progression-free survival determined by RECIST 1.1 criteria or positron emission tomography with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose/computed tomography ([18F]FDG-PET/CT), in the absence of measurable soft tissue targets. Secondary endpoints were tumor response according to RECIST criteria version 1.1 or FDG uptake, blood pressure control, and safety.

Design:

We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of patients with metastatic PHEO/SPGL treated with sunitinib from December 2007 through December 2011. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed.

Patients and Setting:

Seventeen patients with progressive metastatic PHEO/SPGLs treated at the Institut Gustave-Roussy and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Interventions:

Patients treated with sunitinib.

Results:

According to RECIST 1.1, eight patients experienced clinical benefit; three experienced partial response, and five had stable disease, including four with predominant skeletal metastases that showed a 30% or greater reduction in glucose uptake on [18F]FDG-PET/CT. Of 14 patients who had hypertension, six became normotensive and two discontinued antihypertensives. One patient treated with sunitinib and rapamycin experienced a durable benefit beyond 36 months. The median overall survival from the time sunitinib was initiated was 26.7 months with a progression-free survival of 4.1 months (95% confidence interval = 1.4–11.0). Most patients who experienced a clinical benefit were carriers of SDHB mutations.

Conclusion:

Sunitinib is associated with tumor size reduction, decreased [18F]FDG-PET/CT uptake, disease stabilization, and hypertension improvement in some patients with progressive metastatic PHEO/PGL. Prospective multi-institutional clinical trials are needed to determine the true benefits of sunitinib.
PERSPECTIVE—Relaxing the Taboo on Telling Our Own Stories: Upholding Professional DistanceandPersonal Involvement
Authors: Anteby Michel
Published: September 2012

Scholars studying organizations are typically discouraged from telling, in print, their own stories. The expression “telling our own stories” is used as a proxy for field research projects that, in their written form, explicitly rely on a scholar’s personal involvement in a field. (By personal involvement in a field, I mean a scholar’s engagement in a set of mental activities that connect her to a field.) The assumption is that personal involvement is antithetical to maintaining professional distance. In this paper, I argue that the taboo against telling our own stories stems in part from an epistemological misunderstanding. Learning from the field entails upholding both distance and involvement; the two dimensions should not be conceptualized as opposite ends of a continuum. Moreover, I suggest that the taboo has become too extreme and stifles our collective capacity to generate new insights. To make this argument, I start by discussing the general taboo against telling one’s own stories. Second, I focus on the rationale set forth to justify not only the taboo but also its limitations. Third, I examine what distance entails and how involvement, far from lessening distance, creates opportunities for generating potentially strong theoretical insight. Fourth, I showcase several areas of theoretical development that might benefit from revisiting the taboo. I conclude by reviewing key practical implications of such a shift for our profession and by arguing that organizational scholarship could gain a great deal from relaxing the taboo.
Modeling of Diesel Particulate Filter Regeneration under the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule
Authors: Huang Di , Keith Jason M.
Published: September 2012

Particulate Matter (PM) emissions from either on-road or off-road diesel engines are subject to federal and/or state standards. Recently, Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) have been shown to be the most efficient way to reduce the PM emissions. However, DPFs need to be regenerated periodically. In order to predict when to regenerate the DPF under real-time driving conditions, a regeneration model for the DPF is needed. In this study, a transient one-dimensional model is used to track gas and solid temperatures and the particulate deposit thickness, and is studied under the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) which has variable exhaust flow rate, exhaust temperature, and PM concentration. In order to determine the best conditions, the thermal regeneration is initiated at different time points during the UDDS cycle. Moreover, we also calculate the transient temperature profile and the deposit thickness for each case. We found that the regeneration efficiency is the highest when the regeneration is initiated at 180 seconds into the UDDS cycle which corresponds to a period of extended city driving without stopping.
Integrated Dairy Plant Effluent Treatment and Production of Biomass and Lipids using Micro Algae - "Chlorella vulgaris"
Authors: Balasubramaniyan Bharathiraja , Jayaraman Jayamuthunagai
Published: September 2012

Algal biomass is a potentially inexpensive source of energy which has high lipid content. As India is the Asia’s largest milk producing country (104.8 million tons in the year 2008), the milk production terminates with an effluent production of 5.24% of the total milk produced i.e., 20 million tons of dairy waste is produced. This effluent can be broken down in many ways, but a more economical way is broken down by the growth of the algal species Chlorella vulgaris which results in the tremendous reduction in various toxic salts concentration and other complex chemicals. As the dairy effluent is hostile to the natural environment, the algae is used not only to break down the toxic substances but also to produce Biomass, which is produced at a rate of 17g/l, which contains a lipid content of 30% ( from 1:1 ratio of effluent and water). Also the treated effluent has low chemical oxygen demand [COD], hence this can be used for irrigation of farms mainly those which are heavily fed with chemical fertilizers. The biosynthesis of organics salts, alkanoates [PHAs] and other phenolic compounds, involves algal species the process is secured by using i) large inoculums ii) tolerant strain (pure strain or GM, if available). This research work uses the pure strain of Chlorella vulgaris which involves the treatment of effluent with three different dilutions and analyzing them.
A modified polyurethane elastomer using polyfunctional HTPB synthesized by in-situ nitroxide mediated polymerization of 1,3-butadiene
Authors: Haghighat Hassan Rezaei , Barikani Mehdi , Morshedian Jalil
Published: September 2012

In-situ nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP) of 1,3-butadiene was carried out in the presence of tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) as a tri-functional nitroxide precursor, which furnished a high degree of hydroxy functionality. The multi-modal molar mass distribution of the product was elucidated by reductive hydrolyzation of the oligomeric product. The new polyfunctional hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (PFHTPB) was characterized and used in preparation of an HTPB-based polyurethane (PU). The effects of this new HTPB on mechanical and dynamic-mechanical properties of its corresponding polyurethane elastomer were studied. The mechanical and dynamic-mechanical characterization of the elastomer was evaluated by tensile and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) tests. A significant enhancement in mechanical properties of the elastomeric product with a small increase in the glass transition temperature was achieved using PFHTPB. In addition, there was a significant decrease in loss of the tangent value over the use of PFHTPB, compared to industrial HTPB, due to an efficient increase in crosslink density of the PFHTPB-based PU elastomer. The thermal stability of PFHTPB-based PU was comparable with its corresponding HTPB-based PU elastomer.
Multiple roles of COUP-TFII in cancer initiation and progression
Authors: Litchfield Lacey M , Klinge Carolyn M
Published: September 2012

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II (COUP-TFII) is an orphan nuclear receptor that acts as a transcriptional activator or repressor in a cell type-dependent manner. Best characterized for its role in the regulation of angiogenesis during mouse development, COUP-TFII also plays important roles in glucose metabolism and cancer. Expression of COUP-TFII is altered in various endocrine conditions. Cell type-specific functions and the regulation of COUP-TFII expression result in its varying physiological and pathological actions in diverse systems. Evidence will be reviewed for oncogenic and tumor-suppressive functions of COUP-TFII, with roles in angiogenesis, metastasis, steroidogenesis, and endocrine sensitivity of breast cancer described. The applicability of current data to our understanding of the role of COUP-TFII in cancer will be discussed.
Impact of Maternal Depressive Symptoms on Growth of Preschool- and School-Aged Children
Authors: Surkan Pamela J. , Ettinger Anna K. , Ahmed Saifuddin , Minkovitz Cynthia S. , Strobino Donna
Published: September 2012

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of our study was to examine whether maternal depressive symptoms at 9 months postpartum adversely affect growth in preschool- and school-aged children.

METHODS:

We used data from the US nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort. We fit multivariable logistic regression models to study maternal depressive symptoms at 9 months postpartum (using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) in relation to child growth outcomes, ≤10% height-for-age, ≤10% weight-for-height, and ≤10% weight-for-age at 4 and 5 years.

RESULTS:

At 9 months, 24% of mothers reported mild depressive symptoms and 17% moderate/severe symptoms. After adjustment for household, maternal, and child factors, children of mothers with moderate to severe levels of depressive symptoms at 9 months’ postpartum had a 40% increased odds of being ≤10% in height-for-age at age 4 (odds ratio = 1.40, 95% confidence interval: 1.04–1.89) and 48% increased odds of being ≤10% in height-for-age at age 5 (odds ratio = 1.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–2.13) compared with children of women with few or no depressive symptoms. There was no statistically significant association between maternal depressive symptoms and children being ≤10% in weight-for-height and weight-for-age at 4 or 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS:

Maternal depressive symptoms during infancy may affect physical growth in early childhood. Prevention, early detection, and treatment of maternal depressive symptoms during the first year postpartum may prevent childhood height-for-age ≤10th percentile among preschool- and school-aged children.
Defining the Phenotype in Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation Due to ALG1 Mutations
Authors: Morava Eva , Vodopiutz Julia , Lefeber Dirk J. , Janecke Andreas R. , Schmidt Wolfgang M. , Lechner Silvia , Item Chike B. , Sykut-Cegielska Jolanta , Adamowicz Maciej , Wierzba Jolanta , Zhang Zong H. , Mihalek Ivana , Stockler Sylvia , Bodamer Olaf A. , Lehle Ludwig , Wevers Ron A.
Published: September 2012

Deficiency of β-1,4 mannosyltransferase (MT-1) congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG), due to ALG1 gene mutations. Features in 9 patients reported previously consisted of prenatal growth retardation, pregnancy-induced maternal hypertension and fetal hydrops. Four patients died before 5 years of age, and survivors showed a severe psychomotor retardation. We report on 7 patients with psychomotor delay, microcephaly, strabismus and coagulation abnormalities, seizures and abnormal fat distribution. Four children had a stable clinical course, two had visual impairment, and 1 had hearing loss. Thrombotic and vascular events led to deterioration of the clinical outcome in 2 patients. Four novel ALG1 mutations were identified. Pathogenicity was determined in alg1 yeast mutants transformed with hALG1. Functional analyses showed all novel mutations representing hypomorphs associated with residual enzyme activity. We extend the phenotypic spectrum including the first description of deafness in MT1 deficiency, and report on mildly affected patients, surviving to adulthood. The dysmorphic features, including abnormal fat distribution and strabismus highly resemble CDG due to phosphomannomutase-2 deficiency (PMM2-CDG), the most common type of CDG. We suggest testing for ALG1 mutations in unsolved CDG patients with a type 1 transferrin isoelectric focusing pattern, especially with epilepsy, severe visual loss and hemorrhagic/thrombotic events.
Views of Adolescents and Parents on Pediatric Research Without the Potential for Clinical Benefit
Authors: Wendler David , Abdoler Emily , Wiener Lori , Grady Christine
Published: September 2012

OBJECTIVE:

Critics argue that pediatric research without the potential for clinical benefit is unethical because it treats children as mere means, exposing those who cannot consent to risks for the benefit of others. The present survey was designed to assess whether this claim is consistent with the views of adolescents who actually participate in research, or their parents.

METHODS:

Interviews were conducted with adolescents participating in research at the NIH Clinical Center or Seattle Children's Hospital, and their parents, from June 2008 through April 2010.

RESULTS:

Interviews were completed with 177 of 186 adolescent/parent pairs (response rate= 95.2%). Overall, 90% of the adolescents and parents were willing to have the adolescent undergo a few extra blood draws, and 65% were willing to have the adolescent undergo an extra skin biopsy, for research purposes. The vast majority felt that the adolescents were making an important contribution to help others, and 80.8% of the adolescents felt proud to be doing so. Respondents overall were equally willing to have the adolescent face risks to help others in a research study or in a charitable activity.

CONCLUSIONS:

The views and experiences of these respondents do not support the claim that pediatric research without the potential for clinical benefit treats subjects as mere means. Instead, the findings provide proof of principle for the claim that non-beneficial pediatric research involves a type of charitable activity which offers children the opportunity to contribute to a valuable project to help others.
Incidence of Chronic Bilirubin Encephalopathy in Canada, 2007–2008
Authors: Sgro Michael , Campbell Douglas M. , Kandasamy Sharmilaa , Shah Vibhuti
Published: September 2012

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Despite the implementation of screening guidelines to identify infants at risk for hyperbilirubinemia, chronic bilirubin encephalopathy (CBE) continues to be reported worldwide in otherwise healthy infants. The incidence of CBE in Canada is unknown. The objectives of this study were to establish the incidence of CBE in Canada and identify epidemiological and medical risk factors associated with its occurrence.

METHODS:

Data on infants were collected prospectively through the Canadian Pediatric Surveillance Program. Infants born between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008 were included if they either had symptoms of CBE and a history of hyperbilirubinemia, or if they presented in the newborn period with severe hyperbilirubinemia and an abnormal MRI finding as per the reporting physician.

RESULTS:

During the study period, 20 cases were identified; follow-up data were available for 14 of these. The causes for the hyperbilirubinemia included glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (n = 5), sepsis (n = 2), ABO incompatibility and other red blood cell antibodies (n = 7). Fifteen infants had abnormal brain MRI findings during the neonatal period. At follow-up, 5 infants developed classic choreoathetoid cerebral palsy, 6 had spectrum of neurologic dysfunction and developmental delay (as described by the reporting physician), and 3 were healthy.

CONCLUSIONS:

CBE continues to occur in Canada at an incidence that appears to be higher than previously reported.
Managing Community Expectations through Strategic Stakeholder Engagement
Authors: Wall Caleb
Published: September 2012

Stakeholder Engagement is widely accepted as a useful tool in responding to community concerns and managing community grievances. This paper argues that stakeholder engagement, if conducted in a strategic manner, can also be a useful tool in managing community expectations from extractive industry projects.

This paper examines the way in which new exploration activities often lead to local ‘host’ communities developing unrealistic or unreasonable expectations in terms of benefits from an oil & gas development. Concern about ‘raising community expectations’ is often given as a reason not to engage, or to wait on community engagement until the project is well advanced. Often it is these unfulfilled community expectations that serve as the touch stone for public dissatisfaction with large projects and which exacerbate community tensions.

This paper suggests that the presence of community expectations is an inevitable aspect of developing projects in remote locations, and argues instead for the use of strategic stakeholder engagement to deliberately manage community expectations. This means managing community expectations early on, and having a good answer ready when the project needs to say ‘no’ to certain community requests, and being prepared to say why.

By looking at stakeholder engagement as a risk management tool, rather than a response to an already degraded relationship with the community, this allows projects to be more in control of the messages they are sending to communities, and to carefully monitor where expectations may be running ahead of reality. Although unrealistic community expectations may be unavoidable, they can be managed and mitigated in a way that allows for constructive community engagement throughout a project lifecycle. However, to be effective this engagement needs to start early and say ‘no’ more often, while explaining why.
New Game Changers or Roads to Ruin - Now will industry change direction?
Authors: Smith Andrew L
Published: September 2012

Recently, eighteen high profile corporate crises or major risk events of the last decade and their origins, impact & implications have been analysed.1

Seven underlying types of risks are integral to the ethos, safety, reputation and longevity of a business and its ability to use its own information effectively. They are seldom discussed within companies or in the literature on risk analysis. Many are virtually taboo internally, because they touch on the behaviour, decisions, performance and perceptions of the senior echelons of the company.

The important lessons are related to the need for boards, particularly non-executive directors [NEDs], to be more effective in their approach to risk management, seek full information and ask challenging questions about the underlying risks that have been identified. Risk managers and internal auditors will feel uncomfortable working in the areas highlighted in this report until they have been able to gain the skills and experience necessary effectively to question and discuss both corporate strategy and the leadership style of senior management. Many of these risk areas are difficult for risk professionals to explore or report on, due to the need to question and sometimes criticise those above them in the hierarchy. Four important developments are necessary if boards are to effectively address these important risk issues.

Many of the risks highlighted are inherent in every organisation. Unrecognised and unmanaged, these underlying risks pose a potentially lethal threat to the future of even the largest and most successful businesses. Boards, particularly chairmen and NEDs, have a large, important blind spot in this dangerous area. Without board leadership, these risks will remain hidden because only boards can ensure that enough light shines on these hard to see risks.

This paper is a critique of the relevant global game changers that our industry must fully comprehend and where necessary change direction before it's too late.2 Recent events since this report was published in July 2011, would indicate otherwise e.g. Brazil seeks $22 billion from Chevron and Transocean in oil spill and Elgin gas leak in North Sea could cost Total £4.8bn3, 4
Behavioural Safety - Human Factors
Authors: Burton Sharon
Published: September 2012

It is believed by many in the Health and Safety sector that up to 80% of work-related accidents are down to employee behavior or the human factor, in the form of acts or omissions. Such behavior as this can lead to many small-factors coming together to produce a negative outcome or accident. There are many reasons why employees engage in ‘at-risk’ behavior at work including but not limited to: cutting corners to save time, ergonomic factors, accepted practices, reinforcement of at-risk behavior by the actions of supervisors, misunderstanding at-risk behavior and instinctive risk-tasking behavior.

The emphasis of the behavior based approach to safety is on employees’ behavior. Through influencing behavior, this system can reduce injury rates. The behavioral based approach to safety is focused exclusively on the observable, measurable behaviors critical to safety at a particular facility. This is a task orientated view of behavior, and it treats safe behavior as a critical work-related skill. It should not be confused with inspections and audits of the workplace for unsafe conditions.

Behavioral safety is part of a natural progression of safety management from highly prescriptive approaches, through the engineered or procedural systems which most progressive companies have long since established, to a system which recognizes workers as mature human beings with a genuine interest in their own well-being, who contribute best when they can see that they themselves can have an influence on their own safety. To achieve this transition is to change the culture of the work group involved, so this approach will not provide instantaneous results. Human behavior is often categorized as reflex/automatic, intended and habitual, and this is what we need to change or adapt.

This paper will look at best practice and how employers and employees can influence the human factor, by examining how we can reinforce safe behaviors or good habits and removing or reducing unsafe ones. The key to which lies in first indentifying those behaviors which are critical to safety and in subsequent regular observations to monitor them.
Development of an Automated Groundwater Monitoring System Using a Wireless Based Sensor Array Deployed in a Groundwater Monitoring Well
Authors: Reed Phil , Beard Dan , Day Harry
Published: September 2012

Protection of groundwater resources in Saudi Arabia is of vital importance as the Kingdom's aquifers supply over ninety percent of water use in the country, are essentially non-renewable due to the arid climate, and, if impacted, can pose risks to human health and the environment. As part of its corporate-wide groundwater protection program, Saudi Aramco actively monitors shallow groundwater at many of its operating facilities, primarily through a network of hundreds of groundwater monitoring wells. Groundwater sampling and laboratory analysis occurs on a periodic basis each year to monitor groundwater quality changes. Limited staff and laboratory resources pose challenges in meeting this objective and a practical solution was required.

This paper presents a solution to these challenges by development of an automated, standalone measurement system deployed in groundwater monitoring wells using a multi-parameter sensor array package. A key feature included an ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence sensor that can measure dissolved-phase aromatic hydrocarbons at microgram per liter concentrations. Combined with data logging and wireless capabilities, the deployed system enables real-time and remote monitoring of groundwater quality from standard 4-inch diameter monitoring wells.

Prior to field deployment, a series of laboratory bench-scale calibration profiles were developed for the UV-fluorescence sensor to determine sensitivity to typical Saudi Aramco hydrocarbon streams. A complete prototype system was then constructed and placed in an active groundwater monitoring well.

This paper discusses the results of the laboratory calibration and field evaluation, including performance monitoring of individual array components, development of power budgets to match data logging requirements with solar power generation, data transmission and remote system management via Ethernet-to-wireless communications, and long-term system performance in a harsh (high temperature, humid and dusty) environment. The benefit of this system allows for automated (and more frequent) monitoring of sensitive and remote areas, enabling prioritization of staff and laboratory resources where they are needed the most.
Acceptability of New Oil & Gas Projects and Reputation Management. A Major Challenge for the International Oil Companies
Authors: Charlez Ph. A.
Published: September 2012

This paper details a methodology to manage the long term Reputation of an International Oil Company with respect to key Stakeholders. Reputation is defined with three major components: responsibility (respect HSE rules, national laws, local content target, social responsibility), reliability (deliver project on time, schedule and quality) and trustability (be honest and transparent with stakeholders). Managing reputation requires an iterative and learning process including the following steps: ✓Analyze, map and assess reputational issues & key stakeholders. Understand their major concerns,✓Define an effective, proactive and cross functional Reputation Plan,✓Execute the Reputation Plan✓Monitor the efficiency of the Reputation Plan

To properly manage reputation, a general workflow As well as guidelines in terms of organization and training are proposed. As any for any transverse process with functional interfaces, the workflow needs a strong involvement and support from the CEO and his executive team.

We also highlight the value of media, internet and internal staff as key communication channels. Media engagement and internal communication are therefore major leverages to improve Company Reputation. Finally, the importance taken by environmental and social issues in Reputation Management has to push Companies to go beyond compliance and "to do more" than what is purely requested by contractual agreements. In the long term, the development of local, regional and national economy broad sense (i.e. outside O&G business) to fight against the well known "Dutch Disease" phenomenon will be key topics.
HSE Challenges While Testing and Completion of Sour HPHT Exploratory Wells in the State of Kuwait
Authors: Packirisamy S. , Sagar D. Vidya , Manimaran A. , Al-Salali Yousef Zaid , Al-Ibrahim Abdullah R. , Ibrahim Anwar , Al-Nabhan Abdulrazzaq
Published: September 2012

Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) is fully committed to protect the health and safety of its people and the environment. Strict adherence to the KOC HSE policies and procedures helped safe execution of critical well testing and completion operations of sour High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) exploratory wells.

This paper describes safety challenges, H2S related risks, and methodology adopted to achieve safe and successful well-testing operations with deep drilling rigs in extreme sour HPHT environmental conditions. Critical operational equipment and safety precautions to be followed prior to and during well testing will also be discussed in detail.

Deep HPHT wells with sour environment continue to challenge the execution of well testing and completion operations, especially when wells are of exploratory nature. Wells drilled in deep Jurassic section (14,000’–17,500’) having bottom hole pressure more than 10,000 psi, bottom hole temperature higher than 280°F and high sour content(up to 30% H2S) are considered for this case study. Almost 30 exploratory wells under similar environmental conditions have been drilled and tested with deep drilling rigs in different fields in the state of Kuwait. Drill Stem Testing (DST) technique is being used to test the targeted formations.

Well related production testing operations like Perforation, Coiled Tubing, and acid stimulation warrant high HSE standards and technical precautions. Every HPHT well is unique and demands special attention when it comes to the selection of critical safety equipment and other safety requirements such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), H2S monitors, wellhead equipment, sealing material, flow control equipment and surface safety valves (SSV) with emergency shutdown switches.

Even in such hostile environment, with meticulous planning and testing strategies, KOC could overcome all the challenges and all HPHT sour wells were safely tested without any incident. Commitment to HSE was given the highest priority during testing of sour HPHT wells with great emphasis on personnel safety.
Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Conventional and Coal Seam Gas LNG
Authors: Hardisty Paul E. , Clark Tom S. , Hynes Robert G.
Published: September 2012

As the world moves towards cleaner forms of energy worldwide, gas will have an increasingly important role to play in the future energy mix. From this perspective, there has been growing interest in the relative greenhouse gas (GHG) intensities of a range of fossil fuels, and how various forms of LNG compare to not only coal, but also to renewables and nuclear across their life cycles. These issues are important for energy and GHG policy, especially with developments in carbon pricing. However, until recently there has been little information on the life cycle GHG emissions from Australian fossil fuel exports. This paper helps to complete the picture.

Using a wide range of available data from government submissions by industry and the authors’ own project experience, life cycle GHG emissions estimates were developed for LNG derived from conventional natural gas sourced from Western Australia's North West Shelf and Queensland coal seam gas (CSG). A comprehensive assessment of GHG emissions was made for upstream operations, LNG production, transport, regasification, and end-user combustion for electricity generation (assumed to be in China). These life cycle emission estimates were compared to life cycle emissions for Australian black coal exported to China and used to generate electricity. Comparisons were also made with renewables and nuclear. The results show that the life cycle GHG intensity (tCO2-e/MWh) of electricity sent out is highly sensitive to the thermal efficiency of the end-use combustion technology. For most comparison scenarios, natural gas-fired power generation is less GHG intensive than black coal-fired power generation. The differences range from 17% to 56% less intensive for a variety of plant efficiencies. In some cases, coal was marginally less GHG intensive when comparing open-cycle gas technology with ultra-supercritical coal combustion. LNG derived from CSG was also found to be more GHG intensive than conventional gas. Modelling of upstream methane fugitive emission scenarios from CSG (using 100-year and 20-year methane Global Warming Potentials) had little impact on the life cycle GHG intensity rankings, such is the dominance of end-use combustion. When exported to China for electricity production, LNG was found to be 22–36 more GHG intensive than wind and concentrated solar thermal (CST) power and 13–21 times more GHG intensive than nuclear power
Indigenous People, Grievance And Claims Management, Resettlement -Lessons Learn In Africa
Authors: Grobler Jan
Published: September 2012

Extended Abstract

Controversy often arises when mineral deposits or project infrastructure results in undesired displacement and expropriation of established rural communities. This typically results in the emergence of social conflict. The extent of the conflict fluctuates, depending on the capacity of relocated communities to engage with the project proponent, and according to the benefits offered, such as employment or compensation.

Relocation of a population is a complex matter that involves consideration of several factors. Project proponents must consider factors such as recreating the social structure, economic and political development and maintaining or enhancing standards of living relative to the level that existed before relocation. It is difficult to neutralise all risks associated with involuntary resettlement. However, one approach that assists in reducing risks substantially is to plan and act with a consistent stakeholder engagement process and grievance resolution procedure which are embedded within the cultural context of the affected community.

This paper outlines success measures to manage stakeholder expectations and grievances in a culturally appropriate manner. The paper draws upon practical lessons learnt and success factors that were identified across a number of resettlements projects in Africa (hereafter referred as ‘resettlement projects’). All of these resettlement projects were undertaken in line with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards. The resettlement projects were all mining projects in remote and rural African locations with similar socio-economic characteristics. The projects involved the relocation of dwellings and associated assets from the project footprint to a new location (host site). Relocation involved the development of a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) with an intensive stakeholder engagement component.
The First Year's Operation of the Nimr Water Treatment Plant in Oman-Sustainable Produced Water Management using wetlands
Authors: Breuer R. , Headley T. R. , Thaker Y. I. , Al Sharji Badar
Published: September 2012

One of the largest industrial constructed wetland systems in the world was commissioned at the start of 2011 to sustainably manage more than 45,000 m3/day of produced water from the Nimr oilfields in Oman. This natural treatment system consists of a passive oil-water separator, 234 hectares of surface flow wetlands and 300 hectares of evaporation ponds and has been instrumental in reducing the amount of hydrocarbon polluted produced water being disposed to the deep well aquifers. The Nimr Water Treatment Plant (Nimr WTP), being a gravity flow system uses minimal fossil fuel for its operation and therefore results in an enormous saving in energy consumption compared to the conventional, energy-intensive disposal method of pumping the water more than 1.5 km below ground into deep aquifers under high pressure. Maximizing the use of locally available and naturally occurring materials for construction, treating and reusing oil contaminated soil from the oilfields and minimizing electricity consumption has decreased the carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts of the oilfield, thus helping to protect people and the environment. The average operational power consumption for running the NWTP measured for 2011 was only 0.06 kWh per m3 of produced water treated, compared to 3.6 – 5.5 kWh/m3 for the deep well disposal that has traditionally been used. This equates to an energy saving of 98.3 – 98.9 % for managing the produced water and represents a huge saving in energy costs, fossil fuel consumption and subsequent green-house gas emissions making the project not only environmentally friendly but also economically successful for the oil producer. The reduction in CO2 emissions in 2011 was between 40,700 and 62,600 tons. The wetlands and ponds also provide a valuable habitat for migratory birds, with close to 100 different bird species having been identified at the site to date. During 2012, an extension to the wetland system (additional 120 hectares) is being constructed to increase the capacity of the plant to 95,000 m3/day. As part of this extension, approximately 167,000 m3 of oil contaminated soil has been biologically treated and reused as soil substrate in the wetland, providing additional environmental benefits. This paper discusses the details of the plant performance, data analysis and the challenges experienced in the first year operation of the Nimr WTP.
Project Management — Engaging the Hearts and Minds to "Protect Tomorrow. Today."
Authors: Tyler David C. , Callon Douglas R. , Boog Lillian , Wood Ben
Published: September 2012

ExxonMobil Development Company (EMDC) is in the project management business. The company currently manages a portfolio of more than 120 projects on five continents. Today's projects are often progressed in sensitive environments, against a backdrop of complex regulatory frameworks and fragile socioeconomic settings. The manner in which these risks are identified, assessed, and managed can significantly impact the success of a project and, importantly, its longer-term operations.

Engaging the hearts and minds of our project teams early on is the key to successfully managing these stakeholder risks. Just a few of EMDC's strategies described in this paper include: Leadership: Established a Socioeconomic Center of Excellence for all Upstream activitiesProcess: Formalized a screening process during concept selection focused on environmental and socioeconomic alternativesCollaboration: Created an online "suitcase" for project teams with key guidance, tools, and project examplesLearning: Developed a flexible training framework for project management using targeted "leadership briefings"

Our strategies can help small and large project operators and contractors engage the hearts and minds of their own people, enabling them to tackle the evolving challenges of key stakeholder risks. The strategies apply in developed and developing countries alike, at either greenfield or brownfield locations, and under any fiscal terms.

The journey is ongoing but EMDC is seeing progress in managing this important aspect of our global business. The success of our work on Sakhalin Island has led to new resource opportunities across Russia. The Point Thomson Project on Alaska's North Slope has successfully deployed new practices and technologies to protect the environment. And while the world-class LNG project in PNG has been challenging on several fronts, these "heart and mind" strategies are steadily taking root.
Building a Culture of Responsible Environmental Performance: EMFORCE
Authors: Shield Helga
Published: September 2012

How do you ingrain a culture of responsible environmental performance? First rolled out in June 2005, EMFORCE (ExxonMobil Fundamentals of Regulatory Compliance and Environment) is an in-house course that equips employees and contractor leaders with skills, knowledge and tools to lead the workforce in environmentally responsible day-to-day operations and project planning. To date, this two day course has been delivered to twenty three classes totaling over 400 workers. Typical class attendees include Steam Engineers, Operations Technical Facilities Managers, Plant Foremen, Field Foremen, Maintenance Planning Leaders, Operations Superintendents, Plant and Field Operations Specialists, Project Engineers and Advisors for whom it is required training.

EMFORCE provides a foundation of knowledge from which to begin, and positions environmental responsibility as a core value. What it means for each individual to further the corporate goal of "Protect Tomorrow. Today." is explored, and the expectation that all workers can and must be Environment Leaders is woven throughout. The course culminates with a call to leadership, and the public sharing of each participant's Personal Action Plan with senior management. The ongoing sharing of lessons learned and reinforcing of messaging continues outside the course through the use of "EnviroAlert" bulletins to operating and project groups on a regular basis.

EMFORCE is contributing to real environmental performance improvements including a reduction in lease sizes for new shale gas drilling and reduced night time lighting at Imperial Oil Resources’ western Canada operations to name a few. Environmental considerations are now consistently making their way into pre-job planning meetings and job safety analyses.

EMFORCE is helping build a culture of responsible environmental performance. The course continues to be successful for a number of reasons. It is continually updated by senior in-house environment and regulatory staff who deliver the material. Senior management actively and visibly provides support by personally opening and closing each session. In addition, the course features recent and relevant in-house case studies, uses breakout groups, and requires each participant to develop a "Personal Action Plan". Examples of expected behavior are modeled and discussed.
Operation of Germany's Largest Oilfield Mittelplate and Planning Further Exploratory Drilling in UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site Enclaves
Authors: Oppermann H.
Published: September 2012

Mittelplate is Germany's largest oilfield and has been operated by RWE Dea AG for more than 25 years. The partner company in this venture is WINTERSHALL Holding GmbH.

The oilfield is located in the southern part of the tidal flats on the territory of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein about 7.5 km off the shoreline. (Fig. 1)

Also additional oil reserve potential has been identified in the neighborhood of the Mittelplate oilfield and south of Mittelplate in the mouth of the river Elbe on the territory of the German state of Lower-Saxony. A total of four exploration wells are planned to be drilled.

Both, the Mittelplate oilfield and the potential new oil deposits are located below National Park Areas, which were dedicated as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. The enclaves designated by UNESCO enable to use the existing offshore manmade drilling and production island and the four offshore locations for further exploratory drilling. These activities do not conflict with UNESCO rules

The article gives an overview on producing an oilfield and planning for exploratory drilling including the permitting process within this environmentally highly sensitive and protected area.
The Ecological Resources on Shell Mound Habitats Surrounding Platform Decommissioning Sites in the Santa Barbara Channel, California, USA
Authors: Krause P. R. , Hill R. , Gala W. R. , Hartley M. K.
Published: September 2012

In 1996, four offshore oil and gas platforms were removed from the Santa Barbara Channel off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. The four platforms, Heidi, Hope, Hazel, and Hilda, (collectively the 4H platforms) were installed between 1958 and 1965 and provided oil and gas production until their decommissioning. As part of decommissioning the above water structures (topsides) and legs (jackets) were removed at the sea floor. At each of the 4H sites, the underlying drill cutting mounds were left behind. These mounds are covered with several meters of "shell hash" from bivalve shells dislodged from the platform jacket and natural sedimentation that has accumulated in the 30+ years following cessation of drilling activities. The resulting "shell mounds" remain on the natural soft bottom and provide a rare complex hard bottom habitat within the Santa Barbara Channel area. To date few studies have focused on the shell mound habitats relative to the surrounding soft bottom habitats. This study was designed to evaluate the shell mound habitat and soft bottom areas and included a nearby deep natural rocky reef reference location.

A multi-season fish trapping study using standard commercial fish traps was conducted to address the ecological value of the shell mounds sites. Data were collected from the 4H shell mound sites, two soft bottom reference sites, and a deep natural reef location over a two year period. The study design was a paired sampling of sites within a depth gradient (i.e., deep and shallow) on an approximate quarterly basis. The assemblage of fish and invertebrates observed in the fish traps from the mounds include several species of rockfishes (genus Sebastes), ling cod, rock crabs, whelks and bat stars that are typical of hard bottom communities in the Santa Barbara Channel. Results indicate that the shell mounds have more fish and invertebrates and a more diverse benthic community than the soft-bottom reference areas. These data supports the conclusion that the fish habitat value of the shell mounds is greater than that of the surrounding soft bottom habitat and similar to the deep natural reefs of the area.
An Innovative Way To Spread Safe Behaviour
Authors: Matkin Darren B. , Scotti Davide
Published: September 2012

Following a year of research and development, Saipem introduced another innovative and inspiring element toward solidifying it's change program ‘Leadership in Health & Safety (LiHS). Showing the same determination to establish a true organisational shift in safety performance, as demonstrated for the first phases of LiHS, again the CEO plays an active and highly visible role in the release and endorsement of the Saipem ‘Leading Behaviours’.

The campaign comprises of five simple ‘non-negotiable’ behaviours launched into the organisation early 2011, with a strategy deigned to inject very simple and transferable ‘Leading Behaviours’ throughout the organisation. The long term aim is to generate an embedment of the behaviours in the very DNA of the workforce's everyday actions and decisions, creating a further trigger toward the organisational safety cultures growth, multiplying specifically chosen behaviours to become a normality.

The behaviours are released into the organisation through a multi-channelled cascade approach, utilising e-based platforms with you-tube style TV, intranet and internal press and publication releases. Simultaneously, each behaviour is cascaded by local Management and Supervisors to the thousands of employees through a series of high influence events. Supporting this release is a 25 minute film, following the personal and working life of a Saipem employee who, through the film drama, demonstrates to the viewer how the Leading Behaviours can simply be interwoven into their own working life. The five behaviours are also introduced independently through visual media, and with each behaviour released into the organisation at six week intervals. These five descriptive clips are led by the CEO, on-camera for each one personally describing and endorsing the behaviours, encouraging the practice and adoption of the behaviours company-wide.

The innovative methodology exploits the knowledge that Humans are highly susceptible to following, copying and imitating their peers, easily adapting to a behavioural and cultural change when those around them are actively involved in the same change process.