bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pollinators of oil palm and relationship to fruitset and yield in two fruit forms in Ghana
Authors: Riley Samuel Oyeveshose , Dery Sylvester Kuunaa , Afreh-Nuamah Kwame , Agyei-Dwarko Daniel , Ayizannon Romuald Gbèkpon
Published: June 2022

Oil palm and its pollinators are native to Africa. Notwithstanding, it has been extensively cultivated outside its native range, so also has its pollinators been acquired and introduced. A concern, however is that most documentation on oil palm and its pollinators are non-indigenous, with little information of African origin commenting on their activities in Africa. Thus, a study on the insect pollinators of oil palm was carried out on two fruit forms: Dura and Tenera, (ages ten and seven, respectively), in Ghana. The aim was to understand how average monthly population density of the pollinators relates to one another, and to two bunch parameters (fruitset and fruit-to-bunch ratio). Nine species (all in the order Coleoptera) were consistently seen on the spikelets of anthesising male inflorescences, and eleven species on receptive female inflorescences. Six were of the Elaeidobius genus: E. kamerunicus, E. plagiatus, E. singularis, E. subvittatus, E. bilineatus, and Elaeidobius sp. 1 (unidentified species); two each were of the Microporum genus: M. congolenses, M. dispar, and the Prosoestus genus: P. scuptilis, P. minor; while one species was of either Atheta or Forficula. The pollinators were observed to be positively related, and to varying degree of significance. Fruitset level was acceptably high, indicating adequate pollinator population and efficient pollination. There was a positive relationship between population density of the pollinators and fruitset, and a negative relationship between the bunch parameters. A number of other insects were seldom observed around the male and female inflorescences; their role could not be defined.
Continuous Flow Microreactor Promoted the Catalytic N-Oxidation Reaction of Pyridine Derivatives
Authors: Zhang Zhang , Qian Bo , Chen Siyuan , Yang Shanxiu , Wang Hao , Niu Yanning
Published: June 2022

A simple continuous flow microreactor was successfully constructed for the N-oxidation of pyridine. The continuous flow microreactor used titanium silicalite (TS-1) in a packed-bed microreactor and H2O2 (in methanol as solvent) as the catalytic oxidation system for the formation of various pyridine N-oxides in up to 99% yields. This process is a safer, greener, and more highly efficiency process than using a batch reactor. The device was used for over 800 hours of continuous operation with the catalyst maintaining great activity thus providing great potential for large-scale production.
Posttreatment Imaging of the Knee: Cruciate Ligaments and Menisci
Authors: Heuck Andreas , Woertler Klaus
Published: June 2022

Cruciate ligament reconstruction and meniscal surgery are frequently performed for restoration of knee joint stability and function after cruciate ligament and meniscus injuries, and they contribute to the prevention of secondary osteoarthritis. In cruciate ligaments, the most common procedure is anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Meniscal surgery most frequently consists of partial meniscectomy and suture repair, rarely of a meniscus transplant. In patients with symptoms following surgery, imaging reevaluation for a suspected intra-articular source of symptoms is indicated and mainly consists of radiography and magnetic resonance imaging. For proper imaging assessment of cruciate ligament grafts and the postoperative meniscus, it is crucial to understand the surgical techniques applied, to be familiar with normal posttreatment imaging findings, and to be aware of patterns and specific findings of recurrent lesions and typical complications. This article presents an updated review of the techniques and the imaging of cruciate ligament reconstruction and meniscus surgery, recurrent lesions, treatment failure, and potential complications.
Overcoming Challenges to Inclusive User-based Testing of Health Information Technology with Vulnerable Older Adults: Recommendations from a Human Factors Engineering Expert Inquiry
Authors: Peute Linda W. , Wildenbos Gaby-Anne , Engelsma Thomas , Lesselroth Blake J. , Lichtner Valentina , Monkman Helen , Neal David , Van Velsen Lex , Jaspers Monique W. , Marcilly Romaric
Published: June 2022

Objectives: Involving representative users in usability testing of health information technology (HIT) is central to user-centered design. However, (vulnerable) older adults as representative users have unique requirements. Aging processes may affect physical capabilities and cognitive skills, which can hamper testing with this demographic and may require special attention and revised protocols. This study was performed to provide expert-based recommendations for HIT user-testing with (vulnerable) older adults to support inclusive HIT design and evaluation.

Methods: First, we conducted a structured workshop with ten experts in HIT implementation and research, recruited through purposeful sampling, to generate insights into how characteristics of older adults may influence user-testing. Next, five Human Factor researchers experienced in HIT user-testing with (vulnerable) older adults validated the results and provided additional textual insights to gain consensus on the most important recommendations. A thematic analysis was performed on the resulting inquiries. Applied codes were based on the User-Centered Design framework.

Results: The analysis resulted in nine recommendations for user-testing of HIT with older adults, divided into three main themes: (1) empathetic approach and trust-building, (2) new requirements for testing and study design, and (3) adjustments to usability evaluation methods. For each theme a checklist of relevant items to follow-up on the recommendation is provided.

Conclusions: The recommendations generated through expert inquiry contribute to more effective usability testing of HIT with older adults. This provides an important step towards improved accessibility of HIT amongst older adults through inclusive user-centered design.
Datafication: the Flavor and Scent of Data
Authors: Botin Lars
Published: June 2022

This paper deals with data handling in health care on three distinct and different levels. The three levels can be classified in the following way: ethical level based on principles, political level based on negotiations and relations, and phenomenological level based on relation in between the physical and digital world. The paper takes an outset in a recent report, published in October 2021, from the Lancet and Financial Times Commission on governing health futures 2030 (ethical level), and a recent publication (2020) and exhibition at the Biennale of Architecture in Venice (2021) on Data Publics (political level), and finally makes an attempt to frame our being with digital technology on a philosophical and phenomenological level. It is the assumption that all these levels are needed the moment we try to appropriate and incorporate data in different arenas and worlds, might they be global, national, institutional, or/and individual.
A scintillator attenuation spectrometer for intense gamma-rays
Authors: Liang E. , Zheng K. Q. , Yao K. , Lo W. , Hasson H. , Zhang A. , Burns M. , Wong W. H. , Zhang Y. , Dashko A. , Quevedo H. , Ditmire T. , Dyer G.
Published: June 2022

A new type of compact high-resolution high-sensitivity gamma-ray spectrometer for short-pulse intense gamma-rays (250 keV to 50 MeV) has been developed by combining the principles of scintillators and attenuation spectrometers. The first prototype of this scintillator attenuation spectrometer (SAS) was tested successfully in Trident laser experiments at LANL. Later versions have been used extensively in the Texas Petawatt laser experiments in Austin, TX, and more recently in OMEGA-EP laser experiments at LLE, Rochester, NY. The SAS is particularly useful for high-repetition-rate laser applications. Here, we give a concise description of the design principles, capabilities, and sample preliminary results of the SAS.
Electron acceleration based on Bloch surface waves
Authors: Zhu Ying Bin , Zhao Pan , Liao Mei Yan , Yao Ruo He , Ang L. K.
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we present an electron acceleration model based on Bloch surface waves (BSWs). In our model, a dielectric multilayer deposited on a prism substrate is used to generate BSWs by a femtosecond laser pulse. It is found that the field enhancement factor of BSWs is larger than that of surface plasmon polaritons. We numerically solve Maxwell's equations to explain the phenomenon in space and time domain. Various aspects of the acceleration mechanism are discussed, including BSWs coupling and evanescent attenuation, the influence of electron injection time and angle, the kinetic energy spectrum, the angular distribution, and the angular-resolved energy spectrum. Such a model provides an all-optical method for electron acceleration.
Raman scattering of a laser beam carrying an orbital angular momentum
Authors: Nuter R. , Korneev Ph. , Tikhonchuk V. T.
Published: June 2022

We study theoretically and numerically the Raman backscattering process of a laser beam carrying an orbital angular momentum. By expanding the electromagnetic and electrostatic waves over the Laguerre–Gauss modes, we retrieve the strong dependence of the growth rate on the radial overlap of these functions. The presence of an orbital angular momentum in the laser beam results in a mitigation of the Raman backscattering by 30%. This is confirmed with three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Both the theoretical description and numerical analysis show that the scattered electromagnetic wave is generated with an azimuthal order equal to the laser beam's.
Coulomb and Riesz gases: The known and the unknown
Authors: Lewin Mathieu
Published: June 2022

We review what is known, unknown, and expected about the mathematical properties of Coulomb and Riesz gases. Those describe infinite configurations of points in Rd interacting with the Riesz potential ±|x|−s (respectively, −log |x| for s = 0). Our presentation follows the standard point of view of statistical mechanics, but we also mention how these systems arise in other important situations (e.g., in random matrix theory). The main question addressed in this Review is how to properly define the associated infinite point process and characterize it using some (renormalized) equilibrium equation. This is largely open in the long range case s < d. For the convenience of the reader, we give the detail of what is known in the short range case s > d. Finally, we discuss phase transitions and mention what is expected on physical grounds.
Electronic properties of CaF2 bulk and interfaces
Authors: Chen Jiaqi , Zhang Zhaofu , Guo Yuzheng , Robertson John
Published: June 2022

The electronic band structures of ultra-wide gap CaF2 are investigated with both the hybrid functional and the efficient generalized gradient approximation (GGA) + U scheme. The hybrid functional scheme is in excellent agreement with experiments, while introducing an on-site Coulomb interaction to F-2p orbitals also accurately reproduces the experimental bandgap and greatly improves the previous theoretical results using advanced electronic structure schemes. We also apply the GGA + U method to study CaF2/Si and metal/CaF2 interfaces. The CaF2/Si insulating interfaces with a clear bandgap are built based on the electron counting rule. Our supercell calculations of the CaF2/Si interfaces show a type-II band alignment and the valence band offset follows a descending trend from (001) to (111) then to (110). The calculation convergence of GGA + U is further tested with the metallic contacts. The metal/CaF2 interfaces are observed to be weakly pinned and different orientations of CaF2 sharing a similar pinning factor S up to ∼0.9, owing to the highly ionic nature of CaF2. The GGA + U approach is proven to be a useful tool in studying such fluoride interfaces and contacts.
Coherent state representation of thermal correlation functions with applications to rate theory
Authors: Pollak Eli , Upadhyayula Sameernandan , Liu Jian
Published: June 2022

A coherent state phase space representation of operators, based on the Husimi distribution, is used to derive an exact expression for the symmetrized version of thermal correlation functions. In addition to the time and temperature independent phase space representation of the two operators whose correlation function is of interest, the integrand includes a non-negative distribution function where only one imaginary time and one real time propagation are needed to compute it. The methodology is exemplified for the flux side correlation function used in rate theory. The coherent state representation necessitates the use of a smeared Gaussian flux operator whose coherent state phase space representation is identical to the classical flux expression. The resulting coherent state expression for the flux side correlation function has a number of advantages as compared to previous formulations. Since only one time propagation is needed, it is much easier to converge it with a semiclassical initial value representation. There is no need for forward–backward approximations, and in principle, the computation may be implemented on the fly. It also provides a route for analytic semiclassical approximations for the thermal rate, as exemplified by a computation of the transmission factor through symmetric and asymmetric Eckart barriers using a thawed Gaussian approximation for both imaginary and real time propagations. As a by-product, this example shows that one may obtain “good” tunneling rates using only above barrier classical trajectories even in the deep tunneling regime.
Comparative study of the giant stress impedance behavior of commercial amorphous ribbons for strain sensing applications
Authors: Pan Patrick , Hayward T. J.
Published: June 2022

The giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) and giant stress impedance (GSI) behaviors of amorphous ribbons composed of three commercially available materials (Co66Si15B14Fe4Ni1, Fe81B13Si3.5C2, and Ni40Fe40Si + B19Mo1−2) with differing saturation magnetostriction constants (λs) and Young's moduli (E) were studied under longitudinal stress/strain. The linearity of the ribbons' GSI responses and gauge factors was measured to create a figure of merit and compare their stress/strain sensing performance for strains up to ɛ = 10 × 10−3. We observed that the Ni40Fe40Si + B19Mo1−2 ribbon displayed the best performance for low strains (ɛ < 1 × 10−3), whereas the Co66Si15B14Fe4Ni1 ribbon displayed the best performance for higher strains (ɛ < 10 × 10−3). We conclude that the suitability of a material for sensing strains in any given strain regime has a complex dependence on both λs and E, the former of which dictates both the absolute magnitude of the impedance variation materials exhibit (i.e., the dynamic range), while both λs and E control how their impedances vary with applied strain.
Frequency-bin entanglement from domain-engineered down-conversion
Authors: Morrison Christopher L. , Graffitti Francesco , Barrow Peter , Pickston Alexander , Ho Joseph , Fedrizzi Alessandro
Published: June 2022

Frequency encoding is quickly becoming an attractive prospect for quantum information protocols owing to larger Hilbert spaces and increased resilience to noise compared to other photonic degrees of freedom. To fully make use of frequency encoding as a practical paradigm for quantum information processing, an efficient and simple source of frequency entanglement is required. Here, we present a single-pass source of discrete frequency-bin entanglement that does not use filtering or a resonant cavity. We use a domain-engineered nonlinear crystal to generate an eight-mode frequency-bin entangled source at telecommunication wavelengths. Our approach leverages the high heralding efficiency and simplicity associated with bulk crystal sources.
A new digital beam position and phase measurement implementation based on a field programmable gate array for the high intensity heavy-ion accelerator iLinac
Authors: Ni Fafu , Li Zhixue , Wu Junxia , Wei Yuan , Hu Xuejing , Gu KeWei , Tian Ruixia , Zhang Yong , Zhu Guangyu , Su Jianjun , Wang Yanyu
Published: June 2022

A new digital beam position and phase measurement (BPM) system was designed for the ion-Linac accelerator at the high intensity heavy ion accelerator facility. The fundamental and second harmonic signals are retrieved from the BPM electrodes to simultaneously calculate their respective beam positions and phases. All data acquisition and digital signal processing algorithm routines are performed in a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The position and phase information are obtained by using the in-phase and quadrature demodulation method. A practical and straightforward method is used to generate the second harmonic reference signal for processing the second harmonic beam signal. The reconfigurable filters are integrated into the FPGA to allow the measurement of short beam pulse length. The laboratory test results show that the achieved phase resolution is better than 0.2° and 0.03° when the input signal is −60 and −45 dBm, respectively. A position resolution better than 30 μm was achieved for an input power level of approximately −60 dBm, and it can reach 7 μm with the input power higher than −45 dBm. The entire execution time of the algorithm is accomplished within 3.4 µs, which provides a sufficient reaction time for the fast beam interlock signal to the machine protection system. The performance of this newly designed prototype BPM electronics was evaluated with the online proton beam.
Experimental and theoretical studies on atomic structures of the interface states at SiO2/4H-SiC(0001) interface
Authors: Yamashita Yoshiyuki , Nara Jun , Indari Efi Dwi , Yamasaki Takahiro , Ohno Takahisa , Hasunuma Ryu
Published: June 2022

We investigated the atomic structures of the interface states (gap states) at the SiO2/4H-SiC(0001) interface using hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES), operando hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, extended x-ray absorption fine structure, and first principles molecular dynamics (FPMD) calculations. For the interface states, two types were observed: continuous interface states in the whole gap and interface states with discrete energy levels near the conduction band minimum (CBM). From HAXPES, we found that carbon clusters and carbon vacancies were formed at the SiO2/4H-SiC(0001) interface. FPMD calculations on the SiO2/4H-SiC(0001) interface showed that the interface states in the whole gap were attributed to the various atomic geometries of the CßSi3 species and the carbon clusters with various sizes and surrounding atoms. For the interface states with a discrete energy level near the CBM, we could not find their atomic structure using our current calculations. We calculated the carbon vacancies prepared on the side of an SiC substrate at the SiO2/4H-SiC(0001) interface, indicating the formation of a discrete energy level in the midgap. It is likely that carbon vacancies formed at the step of the interface may modulate the midgap energy level to energy below the CBM. Therefore, we propose that the interface states with discrete energy levels near the CBM could be attributed to the carbon vacancies formed on the steps at the SiO2/4H-SiC(0001) interface.
Emergence of bilayer-locked states and synthesis of elastic wave networks in a programmable 3D topological metamaterial
Authors: Dorin Patrick , Liu Xiang , Wang K. W.
Published: June 2022

Recently, concepts from topological physics have been used to achieve exceptional elastic wave transport phenomena in 3D mechanical systems. Although interesting, the previously studied 3D topological elastic structures are fixed after fabrication and thus cannot adapt to changes in the external environment or operating conditions. This lack of reconfigurability limits potential performance and functionality. In this Letter, we advance the state of the art by proposing a programmable 3D topological metamaterial that can be tuned adaptively via carefully designed metastability. A metastable switching methodology is developed that enables the synthesis of multiple unique topological states in a 3D mechanical structure. By taking advantage of the adaptivity of the proposed metamaterial, the path of 2D topological surface states is on-demand controlled, a bilayer-locked topological state is discovered, and 3D elastic wave networks with advanced filtering and splitting capabilities are realized. The findings presented in this Letter offer insight into how topology can be used to control the flow of energy in 3D elastic structures. Furthermore, the advanced functionalities of the proposed metamaterial could be harnessed to create intelligent and robust devices for various purposes, such as mechanologic, vibration mitigation, energy harvesting, and remote sensing.
Discrete stochastic models of SELEX: Aptamer capture probabilities and protocol optimization
Authors: Wang Yue , Mistry Bhaven A. , Chou Tom
Published: June 2022

Antibodies are important biomolecules that are often designed to recognize target antigens. However, they are expensive to produce and their relatively large size prevents their transport across lipid membranes. An alternative to antibodies is aptamers, short (∼15−60 bp) oligonucleotides (and amino acid sequences) with specific secondary and tertiary structures that govern their affinity to specific target molecules. Aptamers are typically generated via solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis before selection and amplification through Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX), a process based on competitive binding that enriches the population of certain strands while removing unwanted sequences, yielding aptamers with high specificity and affinity to a target molecule. Mathematical analyses of SELEX have been formulated in the mass action limit, which assumes large system sizes and/or high aptamer and target molecule concentrations. In this paper, we develop a fully discrete stochastic model of SELEX. While converging to a mass-action model in the large system-size limit, our stochastic model allows us to study statistical quantities when the system size is small, such as the probability of losing the best-binding aptamer during each round of selection. Specifically, we find that optimal SELEX protocols in the stochastic model differ from those predicted by a deterministic model.
Edge weights in a protein elastic network reorganize collective motions and render long-range sensitivity responses
Authors: Yu Chieh Cheng , Raj Nixon , Chu Jhih-Wei
Published: June 2022

The effects of inter-residue interactions on protein collective motions are analyzed by comparing two elastic network models (ENM)—structural contact ENM (SC-ENM) and molecular dynamics (MD)-ENM—with the edge weights computed from an all-atom MD trajectory by structure-mechanics statistical learning. A theoretical framework is devised to decompose the eigenvalues of ENM Hessian into contributions from individual springs and to compute the sensitivities of positional fluctuations and covariances to spring constant variation. Our linear perturbation approach quantifies the response mechanisms as softness modulation and orientation shift. All contacts of Cα positions in SC-ENM have an identical spring constant by fitting the profile of root-of-mean-squared-fluctuation calculated from an all-atom MD simulation, and the same trajectory data are also used to compute the specific spring constant of each contact as an MD-ENM edge weight. We illustrate that the soft-mode reorganization can be understood in terms of gaining weights along the structural contacts of low elastic strengths and loosing magnitude along those of high rigidities. With the diverse mechanical strengths encoded in protein dynamics, MD-ENM is found to have more pronounced long-range couplings and sensitivity responses with orientation shift identified as a key player in driving the specific residues to have high sensitivities. Furthermore, the responses of perturbing the springs of different residues are found to have asymmetry in the action–reaction relationship. In understanding the mutation effects on protein functional properties, such as long-range communications, our results point in the directions of collective motions as a major effector.
A heat-driven combined cooling and heating system based on thermoacoustic technology
Authors: Yang Yupeng , Chi Jiaxin , Wu Zhanghua , Yang Rui , Xu Jingyuan , Zhang Limin , Hu Jianying , Luo Ercang
Published: June 2022

Energy crisis and environmental pollution have become global issues. This study reported a heat-driven combined cooling and heating system based on thermoacoustic technology, which adopted two units of thermoacoustic engine and cooler cores to improve the efficiency. This system can be used as a refrigerator and a heat pump at the same time. Experimental results showed that with a charging pressure of 10 MPa, a high temperature of 300 °C, and a medium temperature of 45 °C, cooling power ranging from 0.61 to 3.89 kW and coefficient of performance varying from 0.08 to 0.30 with low temperature changing from −30 to −5 °C were achieved when the system was working as a refrigerator. Meanwhile, under a low temperature of −30 and −10 °C, a heating power of 7.85 and 14.3 kW with a medium temperature of 45 °C could be achieved corresponding to a coefficient of performance of 1.08 and 1.24 when the system was working as a heat pump. These experimental performances show remarkable advantages and a promising prospect for thermal energy utilization in the future.
Concurrent 1. Presentation for: A regional chronostratigraphic framework for play-based resource assessments in the Eromanga Basin
Authors: Bradshaw Barry E.
Published: June 2022

Presented on Tuesday 17 May: Session 1 Geoscience Australia is undertaking a series of basin-scale assessments to identify the ‘yet-to-find’ resource potential for hydrocarbons, as well as for groundwater resources and carbon capture and storage (CCS) opportunities in central Australia under the Exploring for the Future (EFTF) Program. A play-based exploration approach is being used to systematically evaluate the key risk elements for each resource type through the analysis of drilling results and spatial data to map ‘sweet spots’ for exploration. These assessments aim to reduce the risks and uncertainties for explorers by providing spatially enabled assessments of energy resources and CCS potential. The work will also improve the understanding of existing groundwater resources which may be impacted by future energy resource developments or provide feedstock for future green hydrogen projects. A key requirement for undertaking such play-based resource assessments is to apply a common regional chronostratigraphic framework across all the resource types that link different geological unit nomenclatures through defining the assessed reservoir and seal intervals and their associated sequence stratigraphic surfaces (sequence boundaries, transgressive surfaces and maximum flooding surfaces). A Mesozoic chronostratigraphic framework has been developed for the Eromanga Basin, which defines nine regional play intervals that host the known hydrocarbon and groundwater resources, or represent potential CCS targets. The Mesozoic play framework is now being applied to undertake play-based low-carbon energy resource assessments in the western Eromanga Basin, with initial work focussing on the interpretation and correlation of the nine play intervals in wells for post-drill analysis. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here
Concurrent 1. Presentation for: Reservoir quality and diagenesis of the West Erregulla field, North Perth Basin, Western Australia
Authors: Wright Matthew
Published: June 2022

Presented on Tuesday 17 May: Session 1 The West Erregulla field is the deepest onshore gas discovery in Australia today, with three wells drilled to more than 5000 m vertical depth. The reservoir quality has been preserved at depth by clay coating, which shows a similar trend with core from other shallower fields in the northern Perth Basin such as Waitsia and Beharra Springs Deep. The primary reservoir in the West Erregulla field is the Permian Kingia Sandstone that was deposited in a tidal estuary environment, which allowed for mixing of meteoric and saline waters. This depositional setting has been inferred from core, image logs and seismic interpretation. This setting resulted in quartz grains coated in chlorite/illite that has limited quartz overgrowth cements and maintained intergranular porosity. This paper presents Strike’s interpretations of the depositional environment that resulted in the anomalous depth–porosity trend based on core analysis, high-resolution borehole image log interpretation and cuttings. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here
Concurrent 2. Presentation for: Feasibility study of adiabatic compressed air energy storage in porous reservoirs
Authors: Czapla Jason P.
Published: June 2022

Presented on Tuesday 17 May: Session 2 The Australian electricity sector is undergoing a transformation in which variable renewable energy (VRE) is becoming a dominant generator. VRE sources such as wind and solar have intermittent generation profiles influenced by weather and climate with daily and seasonal variations. To support high penetration rates of VRE, energy storage is required to store energy during times of oversupply and discharge energy during times of under supply. Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) is a promising, economic technology to compliment battery and Pumped Hydro by providing storage over a medium duration (4–12 h). CSIRO and MAN-ES conducted a feasibility study on Adiabatic-CAES (A-CAES) based on the premise of storing compressed air in a permeable subsurface reservoir (i.e. depleted gas reservoir). The design assumptions regarding the storage reservoir are based on previous work conducted on behalf of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) which consisted of drilling test wells and conducting air injection and withdrawal tests to determine suitability for a 300 MW-10 h facility. The plant design and equipment are based on commercially available components. This work found that A-CAES has the potential to achieve >60% round trip efficiency and provide levelised cost of storage (LCOS) as low as ~A$108/MWh. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here
Concurrent 5. Presentation for: Multiple tracers for dis-connectivity of shallow aquifers, alluvium, and coal seam gas wells in the Great Artesian Basin
Authors: Pearce J. K.
Published: June 2022

Presented on Tuesday 17 May: Session 5 The potential for connectivity between water supply aquifers and gas reservoirs raises community, government, and scientific concerns. Methane can occur naturally, making it difficult to determine whether water bore methane levels are being influenced by nearby gas operations. This poses a challenge in the Surat Basin, where coal seam gas production operates alongside groundwater using industries (including feedlots, agriculture, mines). Water and gas samples were taken from water bores and coal seam gas (CSG) wells in the Walloon Coal Measures and from overlying aquifers (nominally, the Springbok, Gubberamunda, Orallo, and Mooga sandstones) and the Condamine Alluvium, for stable isotopes of gases, groundwater and dissolved inorganic carbon, as well as strontium isotopes. Most of the sampled water bores had isotopic signatures distinct from CSG wells, though a minority from gassy Springbok Sandstone and Walloon Coal Measure water bores could not be distinguished from CSG wells. In those few cases, neither connectivity or dis-connectivity could be confirmed. Alluvium and shallow aquifer samples have higher R36Cl values distinct from the older CSG production waters, as is the case with most 14C measurements. Waters from the Condamine River indicate potential surface water connectivity with the alluvium. The use of multiple tracers has shown that groundwater in some aquifers can be differentiated from groundwater in the coal seam gas reservoir and hence are useful tools in identifying where groundwater connectivity occurs. Understanding this connectivity forms another line of evidence to improve impact prediction models on a regional scale as well as providing information on connectivity in local groundwater investigations. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here
Concurrent 6. Presentation for: Application of heel intersect horizontal well concept in coal bed methane play: a case study
Authors: Lu Han , Guevara Mariano Ospina
Published: June 2022

Presented on Tuesday 17 May: Session 6 Arrow Energy is a 50/50 joint venture between Shell and China National Petroleum Corporation. It holds vast coal bed methane gas resources in the Surat and Northern Bowen basins of Queensland, Australia. Recently the well design in the north Bowen asset has evolved to a heel intersect multilateral concept to further reduce the surface footprint, extend reservoir access and improve cost-effectiveness. The new well design components consist of a vertical producing well intersected by a horizontal multilateral well. It was tested on several targeted reservoirs and areas. There were a number of key learnings developed during the horizontal well construction, such as underbalanced drilling, intersect well technology, and directional drilling learning curve. Post completion, special considerations have been given on initial dewatering rates and solids-related production trends as a holistic well production strategy to assess the well concept selection effectiveness. This paper describes the key challenges and learnings from the well construction and production phases of the heel intersect multilateral well trials. This program has significantly helped Arrow Energy to mature the well design concept for future campaigns. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here
Concurrent 7. Presentation for: Climate change litigation: directors’ duties, legal developments and risk management
Authors: Camenzuli Louise , Korbel Andrew
Published: June 2022

Presented on Tuesday 17 May: Session 7 Climate change is being repositioned in commercial, financial and legal spheres as a matter that requires board-level strategic attention. With a broad-ranging consensus that climate change risks are material and reasonably foreseeable, activists are pursuing a myriad of legal challenges seeking to hold government and companies to account. As the law develops, a number of trends are emerging which will require companies and directors to adapt their response to climate-change-related risks. In particular, directors are required to adequately inform themselves as to the broader physical and economic consequences of climate change, to critically evaluate the implications for financial performance and risk management, to adapt their company’s strategic response, and disclose and report relevant information to stakeholders. These requirements need to be managed amid significant uncertainties and complexities about the impacts of climate change, and also as to realistic emissions reduction targets, offsetting, innovation, measurement and reporting methodologies. This paper outlines climate litigation trends to assist in equipping boards, directors and general counsel to understand and engage with their company’s exposure. In particular, we consider claims against government which are of relevance to companies, including challenges to project approvals on climate change grounds; as well as potential actions against companies, directors and advisors in respect of fiduciary duties, disclosures and greenwashing. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here
Concurrent 8. Presentation for: Create a new carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry – unlock Australian CO
Authors: Cha Daein
Published: June 2022

Presented on Tuesday 17 May: Session 8 Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is central to a clean energy transition. According to the UN’s IPCC and IEA, CCS needs to attain a global CO2 reduction capacity of ~4 billion tonnes per annum by 2050 to achieve Paris Agreement targets. To date, only 27 large-scale CCS facilities are operating worldwide, totalling 36.6 million tonnes per annum of CO2 reduction. Massive number of new projects are needed. Australia has a potential CO2 storage capacity of 434 billion tonnes, with 316 billion tonnes (73%) residing in offshore oil and gas fields and aquifers. A key constraint to unlock this potential is that the CO2 storage sites and emitter sources are not necessarily located close by. Since CCS projects considered to date in Australia use pipeline transportation, this limits the number of developments to those that have the emission sources and storage sites in proximity. By utilising the Floating CCS Hub development concept, which includes CO2 carriers and floating CCS hub facilities, CCS can be provided to a broader range of emission sources. The transportation cost using CO2 carriers is not as sensitive to transport distance as pipelines, which have a linear relationship between distance and cost. In addition, the CO2 carriers costs are reducing substantially as technology allows for CO2 to be transported in lower pressure states enabling larger parcel sizes, and manufacturing efficiencies further reducing costs. CO2 carriers and CCS hub facilities minimise development constraints related to pipeline distances and land use, and enable replicability and scalability for multiple CCS projects. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here
Concurrent 11. Presentation for: Strategies for actively engaging with Indigenous businesses
Authors: McCafferty Kevin , Williams Llewellyn
Published: June 2022

Presented on Wednesday 18 May: Session 11 Indigenous businesses are significantly contributing to the Australian economy and the improved circumstances of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their families and communities through social and economic empowerment. Supplier diversity has significant and measurable long-term business benefits. Diversity within supply chains can not only bring new ideas and solutions to an organisation, but also boost competitiveness and market growth. But it goes further than these commercial benefits to encompass social value; the ability to reduce socio-economic inequality and create stronger, more stable communities. In this case study, the authors demonstrate key strategies for actively engaging with Indigenous businesses resulting in an increased spend of A$83.9 million compared to A$54.9 million for the same period last year, representing a 54% year-on-year increase. These key strategies are: (1) Identify verified Indigenous businesses; (2) Align objectives and requirements with key stakeholders; (3) Start small and increase scope with capability; and (4) Make it easy for Indigenous businesses to engage with organisations. Realising the potential of Indigenous businesses will create a new generation of entrepreneurs who grow their own business knowledge, networks, assets and wealth, removing barriers to employment for future generations and helping create a positive cycle of social and economic empowerment. Case study: Indigenous Beverages Australia is a unique company run and owned by a Goreng Goreng heritage family. Initially supplying a range of quality natural spring water, beverage and specialty coffee products, the company is now one of Ventia’s largest Supply Nation-certified suppliers providing products including coffee cups, coffee beans and isotonic drinks throughout Australia. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here
Concurrent 17. Presentation for: Stratigraphic framework and structural architecture of the Upper Cretaceous in the deep-water Otway Basin – implications for frontier hydrocarbon prospectivity
Authors: Nicholson Chris
Published: June 2022

Presented on Wednesday 18 May: Session 17 Geoscience Australia has undertaken a regional seismic mapping study that extends into the frontier deep-water region of the offshore Otway Basin. This work builds on seismic mapping and petroleum systems modelling published in the 2021 Otway Basin Regional Study. Seismic interpretation spans over 18 000 line-km of new and reprocessed data collected in the 2020 Otway Basin seismic program and over 40 000 line-km of legacy 2D seismic data. Fault mapping has resulted in refinement and reinterpretation of regional structural elements, particularly in the deep-water areas. Structure surfaces and isochron maps highlight Shipwreck (Turonian–Santonian) and Sherbrook (Campanian–Maastrichtian) supersequence depocentres across the deep-water part of the basin. These observations will inform the characterisation of petroleum systems within the Upper Cretaceous succession, especially in the underexplored deep-water region. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here
Concurrent 19. Presentation for: Overcoming COVID challenges in project execution – West Barracouta
Authors: Shaw Grant
Published: June 2022

Presented on Wednesday 18 May: Session 19 The West Barracouta (BTW) field, one of the largest proven undeveloped gas fields off the south-eastern Australian coast, commenced production in April 2021. The project was developed by Esso-BHP Gippsland Basin Joint Venture (GBJV), a 50–50 JV between ExxonMobil’s subsidiary Esso Australia and BHP Petroleum. The BTW gas field is situated ~6 km south west of the existing Barracouta gas field and platform, the first GBJV platform in Bass Strait. The BTW development involved drilling two subsea production wells, installation of umbilical controls from the existing platform and installation of a ~6 km subsea flowline to connect to existing gas pipeline via a hot tap. The BTW team successfully navigated through engineering, fabrication, testing, mobilisation of an international team and installation of the facilities in a COVID environment. The paper shares insights on how to: manage fabrication impacts with closures and restricted workhours to minimise disruption to the project; complete videoconference Hazid Identification Risk Assessment workshops across different geographical locations; develop and execute methodology for distributed component integrated testing with hardware located in different geographical locations; complete remote inspections, Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT)/verification using videoconference; complete enhanced familiarisation and testing activities at shorebase, prior to offshore installation, given restrictions in overseas travel/access to FAT locations; and safely manage installation personnel to ensure continuity of activities in a COVID environment, e.g. platform, installation vessel and diver COVID requirements. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here
Concurrent 21. Presentation for: Conceptual model of the Lower Permian Kingia Sandstone (northern Perth Basin, Western Australia) as an alternative energy resource
Authors: Meckel Trey
Published: June 2022

Presented on Thursday 19 May: Session 21 The geothermal potential of the Kingia aquifer in the northern Perth Basin has been identified. In order to further assess resource potential, the occurrence, conditions, and properties of the Kingia Sandstone have been considered further. A new regional correlation supports the Kingia Sandstone being a regionally extensive unit deposited along the northern margin of the syn-depositional Dandaragan Trough. The unit is part of a falling-stage to lowstand system containing lower and upper shoreface, coastal, beach, and estuarine sands. Gross Kingia Sandstone thickness varies from 16 m on flanking terraces to at least 71 m in the basin depocenter. At depth, reservoir properties are preserved where iron-rich clay grain coatings inhibit cementation and preserve primary porosity. In such cases, net reservoir ranges from 3 to 58 m thick (18 m mean) and net porosity range is 12–19 p.u. (15 p.u. mean). The prevailing geothermal gradient is ~37°C/km with heat flow in excess of 90 mW/m2. Resultant Kingia aquifer temperatures exceed 115°C. Given the presence of hot, porous Kingia aquifer, the potential for geothermal power generation is strong. Production of Kingia brine to surface facilities allows for power conversion via established binary Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology. A scalable Kingia opportunity could help to meet Western Australia’s decarbonisation aspirations by contributing to the replacement of coal-fired and gas-fired power plants, plus supply of low-carbon power to local urea, hydrogen, and gas projects. An enhanced understanding of Kingia porosity distribution, reservoir compartmentalisation, flow performance, and ultimate energy delivery remain key uncertainties subject to future de-risking activities. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here
Concurrent 21. Presentation for: Hydrogen storage potential of depleted oil and gas fields in Western Australia
Authors: Craig Adam
Published: June 2022

Presented on Thursday 19 May: Session 21 The global subsurface hydrogen storage industry is at an embryonic stage and is currently dominated by a handful of manufactured salt caverns worldwide. There are currently no known depleted oil or gas fields used to store pure hydrogen, although there are examples of hydrogen and natural gas mixtures. The Government of Western Australia has developed a renewable hydrogen strategy with a vision for Western Australia becoming a significant producer, exporter and user of renewable hydrogen. An element of the strategy and roadmap includes the possibility of utilising depleted oil and gas fields for transitory geological storage of hydrogen. The physical characteristics of hydrogen are quite different to natural gases and a number of potential loss mechanisms need to be considered for transitory geological storage. Currently, 30 renewable energy projects with associated hydrogen generation are proposed or being considered in Western Australia. It is assumed that some, if not all, of these projects may require transitory geological storage of hydrogen. An assessment of the required storage potential has been made and 23 onshore depleted oil and gas fields of the onshore northern Perth Basin and Carnarvon Basin were screened for their suitability to satisfy the storage requirements of a renewable hydrogen industry. Seven fields were then selected as suitable candidates for transitory hydrogen geological storage sites. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here