bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information Systems Leadership Roles
Authors: Gottschalk Petter
Published: May 2011

Information systems (IS) leadership roles have undergone fundamental changes over the past decade. Despite increased interest in recent years, little empirical research on IS managers has been done. This article presents results from a survey in Norway. The survey collected data on general leadership roles such as informational role, decisional role and interpersonal role, as well as on specific IS leadership roles such as chief architect, change leader, product developer, technology provocateur, coach and chief operating strategist. The empirical analysis indicates that strategic responsibility as well as network stage of growth influence the extent of informational role, while the extent to which the chief executive uses IT influences the extent of decisional role, and the extent to which subordinates use IT influence the extent of interpersonal role. IS managers with greater operating responsibility will be chief architects. The role of a change leader is positively influenced by the number of years in IT, the extent of IT use, the extent of strategic responsibility and the organisation’s revenue, while it is negatively influenced by the number of years in the current position. Product developer can be predicted by strategic responsibility and chief executive’s IT use, while technology provocateur can be predicted by the extent of IT use. Coach can be predicted by the extent of subordinates’ IT use, and chief operating strategist can be predicted by the extent of strategic responsibility. Although several significant predictors of IS leadership roles were identified in this research, the search for more significant explanations should continue in future research.
Three Strategies for the Use of Distance Learning Technology in Higher Education
Authors: Rayburn William E. , Ramaprasad Arkalgud
Published: May 2011

“University A” is a small, private liberal arts school with a religious affiliation. Located in a large city, it draws locally and from its particular religious group. With an enrollment under 3,000, it carries a Carnegie Classification of Baccalaureate II and has its own board of trustees. The school has pushed the use of new technology in instruction. For instance, it was one of the first schools in its area to install a fiber optic network across campus. Programs such as business feature the active use of technology to enhance learning. For example, in an international business course, students develop links with fellow students in other countries. However, University A differs from other schools that have embraced new information and communication technology; it has rejected some uses as not appropriate to the mission of the school. For instance, University A will not use videoconferencing to send instruction to remote sites. Why? School leaders feel that a significant part of a student’s experience at University A comes from faculty providing role models, and that role modeling cannot be done through a television monitor.
Student Perceptions of Virtual Education
Authors: Kumar Anil , Kumar Poonam , Basu Suvojit Choton
Published: May 2011

Over the years instructors and administrators have worked together to provide education to students in academic institutions. The role of the participants in this educational system were well-defined. Instructors and administrators were responsible for the dissemination of knowledge and the methodology used was simple: the instructor transferred the knowledge to the students. The merging of computers and communications technology is transforming the way we teach and learn. Physical classrooms are being replaced by electronic classrooms. The roles of the participants are being redefined where the instructor is becoming a facilitator in the electronic classroom and students are participating in these classes from anywhere and at anytime. Questions that arise for universities include: Is this the future of higher education? Will electronic classrooms replace traditional classrooms? In this study we explore and discuss the perceptions of students in a mid-western rural university regarding virtual education. Implications for the participants in the educational system are also discussed.
Human Learning Models and Data Collection over the "Long Haul"
Authors: Reilly Kevin D. , Bray Norman W.
Published: May 2011

Modeling human learning and performance that also involves data collection requires teamwork, most often inter-disciplinary. When research is of long duration, changes occur in personnel and even in the research areas. When computing is a core component, technology change presents additional issues, in how to best exploit new technology and to preserve already successful work. This chapter offers solutions and suggestions based on our experience and ranging from theory-based to practical approaches.
A Methodology for Validating Entry Level Value versus Career Value of Courses in an MIS Program
Authors: Chrysler Earl , Van Auken Stuart
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this study was to determine which entry-level course evaluations are drivers of an attitude of approval toward an MIS program, which career-level course evaluations are drivers of an attitude of approval toward an MIS program and whether alumni evaluations coincide with the beliefs of faculty who designed the curriculum. Alumni were asked to indicate the value of the content of each required course of the program during their first year on the job, then in their current position and then asked to evaluate the entire MIS program yielding a factor score for one’s overall attitude toward the MIS program. The resulting factor score for each alumnus was related to the scores for the value of courses during one’s first year on the job and the scores for the value of courses in one’s current position. The plans of the faculty who designed the MIS curriculum as to what point in time, entry-level position, later in one’s career, or a combination of the two, each course would be of value is reviewed. The perceptions of the alumni are compared to the beliefs of the faculty.
Places and Processes in Learning Environments
Authors: Hawryszkiewycz I. T.
Published: May 2011

The chapter describes ways to create a variety of learning environments. It suggests that good practices require both the definition of places of learning as well as clear definition of processes to be followed within such learning places. Different processes are often needed for different places. The paper then describes a metamodel for defining different environments and a system that implements the metamodel. The environments described include classroom teaching, group support, distance moderation and monitoring of groups. The chapter then describes a system, called LiveNet, which can be used to configure a variety of learning environments in terms of the metamodel, and describes experiences in its use. The experiences in particular indicate the need to clearly define processes to be followed and that the process changes depending on the learning environment and the support tools to facilitate the process with ensuing benefits to both teachers and students.
Using Cost Benefit Analysis for Enterprise Resource Planning Project Evaluation
Authors: Murphy Kenneth E. , Simon Steven John
Published: May 2011

The goal of this chapter is to demonstrate how cost benefit analysis can be applied to large-scale ERP projects and that these methods can incorporate the intangible benefits, e.g., user satisfaction. Detailed information on the business case utilized by a large computer manufacturer in their decision to implement the SAP system R/3 is presented. We illustrate how this organization utilized techniques to include intangibles in the implementation project’s cost benefit analysis. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the state of valuing ERP projects and questions to be answered in the future.
Electronic Broker Impacts on the Value of Postponement in a Global Supply Chain
Authors: Robinson William N. , Elofsen Greg
Published: May 2011

Global and electronic markets are increasingly forcing manufacturing enterprises to become more competitive. As a result, many manufacturing enterprises are seeking to manage their supply chains more effectively. Product differentiation timing is one important factor in supply chain management. Under an early product differentiation process, finished products are manufactured and stored in a distribution center until delivery. Under a delayed product differentiation process, partially completed product components are manufactured and stored in a distribution center; later, based on demand information, finished products are completed from the product components. The difference in value between early product differentiation and delayed product differentiation is the value of postponement. Prior research has analytically shown that the value of postponement is affected by information precision in demand forecasts. In this article, we investigate whether adding a market-making electronic broker to a supply chain increases the value of postponement. We hypothesize that it may do so by providing greater accuracy in demand forecasting. We test this relationship by comparing the results of agent-based simulations that vary between early and late differentiation strategies and the use of an electronic broker. In each simulation, the effects of demand correlation, demand variability, and demand pooling are considered. The simulations show that an electronic broker increases inventory cost savings (compared to a non-broker) and increases the value of postponement in the face of increasing demand variability, increasing demand pooling, and decreasing demand correlation. Moreover, an electronic broker may, through its own actions, increase demand variability and demand pooling, while decreasing demand correlation, thereby creating the environment in which is best operates.
A Web Usability Assessment Model and Automated Toolset
Authors: Becker Shirley A. , Berkemeyer Anthony H. , Roberts Natalie A.
Published: May 2011

Many organizations are taking advantage of World Wide Web market opportunities through the development of electronic commerce (E-Commerce) web sites. The implementation of an E-Commerce web site, however, doesn’t guarantee marketing and financial success. In fact, it could adversely impact the organization when the site is viewed as consumer “unfriendly” or “unusable.” An E-Commerce site will be most successful when consumer usability attributes (e.g., performance, design layout, navigation) drive its development. This chapter describes a web usability assessment tool that is being developed to provide usability feedback on a particular web site. The tool incorporates a set of usability attributes with user profile data and organizational goals for ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of a web site.
Evaluation of Electronic Commerce Adoption within SMEs
Authors: Tagliavini Marco , Ravarini Aurelio , Antonelli Alessandro
Published: May 2011

The exponential growth that has recently characterized the diffusion of electronic commerce (EC) applications could lead companies of any size to plan new investments, in order to compete in an increasingly dynamic market. The first business experiences show that EC should be considered a competitive instrument not simply affecting economic transactions, but significantly influencing the business organizational structure and strategic objectives. Although this issue has recently been object of considerable attention, the research on the evaluation of EC adoption for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is still relatively new. This chapter aims at supporting SMEs in choosing the most suitable EC approach according to their peculiarities and strategic goals. First, it identifies five EC approaches supporting different business activities. Then, it describes the business variables involved in any EC project and identifies four SME profiles characterized by different values of these variables. Finally, a cross analysis between EC approaches and SME profiles allows developing a framework suggesting the most suitable EC solution for each business profile.
Conceptual Modeling of Large Web Sites
Authors: Strauch Bernhard , Winter Robert
Published: May 2011

Current web site development is still dominated by technical issues. In order to enable efficient communication between developers and to provide a stable foundation for adopting new technologies, web sites should be derived from conceptual models. Based on the state-of-the-art of conceptual modeling as implemented in current CASE environments as well as web site development tools, the “essence” of a web site is identified, and an adequate conceptual meta model is proposed. Appropriate web site models are intended to capture not only hierarchical document structure and hypertext semantics, but also dynamical page generation from databases as well as explicit and implicit navigation. It becomes evident that web sites can be regarded as supersets of traditional information systems, thereby requiring conceptual modeling to include various additional features. The proposed meta model comprises several classes of information objects, various types of associations, design rules, and quality checks. For illustration purposes, the model is applied to an existing web site. Commercial web site development tools are analyzed with regard to the extent to which they support conceptual web site modeling.
Tacit Knowledge Acquisition and Processing within the Computing Domain
Authors: Busch Peter Anthony , Dampney C. N.G. (Kit)
Published: May 2011

Given that Articulate Knowledge has long been codified and substantiated for daily usage, the role of articulable Tacit knowledge needs to be examined in greater detail with an emphasis on its usage in the public sector. What needs to be born in mind however is that the codification of Tacit Knowledge is a reality and that eventually almost all Tacit Knowledge becomes so. This process is not necessarily immediate but takes place in a stepwise format passing through partial to full codification. The authors also argue that codification is more prevalent today due to the need for organisations to be more accountable. Accountability requires accurate reporting and quantitative interpretations of information which in turn demand codified knowledge, not tacit ambiguities.
Beyond Models of National Culture in Information Systems Research
Authors: Myers Michael D. , Tan Felix B.
Published: May 2011

Many IS scholars argue that global organizations need to understand cultural differences if they are to successfully deploy information technology. We agree that an understanding of cultural differences is important, but suggest that the concept of “national culture” that has tended to dominate the IS research literature is too simplistic. In this article, we challenge information systems researchers to go beyond models of national culture. We propose that IS researchers should adopt a more dynamic view of culture – one that sees culture as contested, temporal and emergent.
Rewarding Knowledge Workers
Authors: Sahraoui Sofiane
Published: May 2011

In a business environment characterized by digitization, globalization, mobility, workgroups, immediacy, and disintermediation (Tapscott, 1996), organizations have become ever more reliant on delivering maximum value to their customers to keep competitive. Knowledge workers using computing and communication technologies produce intangible goods and services. They represent the primary leverage through which organizations maximize the value offered to their customers. Leveraging the intellectual assets of knowledge workers should be the primary focus of planning processes where customer service systems are designed along with accompanying IT solutions. Knowledge work will require new forms of management and, implicitly, a new strategy for human resource management (Collins, 1998). Consequently, human resource management is increasingly trying to reinvent itself around the emerging concepts of knowledge work and core competencies (Lawler, 2000).
Toward an Understanding of the Behavioral Intention to Use a Groupware Application
Authors: Chen Yining , Lou Hao
Published: May 2011

Over the past decade, groupware technologies, such as e-mail, electronic bulletin boards, and group support systems, have become an important part of the business computing infrastructure in many organizations. Organizations adopt groupware applications to enhance communication and collaboration among group members and thus improve group performance. While some groupware applications, e.g., e-mail, have been commonly accepted, many other applications, especially those that require significant collaboration and cooperation among users, are not widely used in organizations and their potential benefits are far from being fully realized (Orlikowski, 1993). Although numerous laboratory and field studies have consistently shown the relevance and positive impact of group support systems on group work, more research is needed in understanding how to increase the rate of diffusion and adoption of the technology (Nunamaker, 1997). Behavioral-related elements, recognized by many, are the primary cause of resistance of users toward a newly implemented system or technology. Information technology (IT) research, however, tends to under-utilize existing knowledge in the behavioral science (Turner, 1982; Robey, 1979). Expectancy theory has been recognized as one of the most promising conceptualizations of individual motivation (Ferris, 1977). Many researchers have proposed that expectancy theory can provide an appropriate theoretical framework for research that examines a user’s acceptance of and intent to use a system (DeSanctis, 1983). This study uses expectancy theory as part of a student-based experiment to examine users’ behavioral intention (motivation) to utilize a groupware application.
The Collaborative Use of Information Technology
Authors: Doll William J. , Deng Xiaodong
Published: May 2011

User participation seems especially important in the development of collaborative work systems where the technology is used by a work group to coordinate their joint activities. Users rather than systems analysts are often the best source of information on how they will use information technology to collaborate. It is almost an axiom of systems development that end users should participate in a broad range of activities/decisions, and that they should be permitted to participate in these decisions as much as they want. Despite these widely held beliefs, research has not focused on the differential efficacy of user participation in collaborative versus non-collaborative applications. Building upon the work of behavioral scientists who study participative decision making, Doll and Torkzadeh (1991) present a congruence construct of participation that measures whether end users participate as much as they want in key systems analysis decisions. Using a sample of 163 collaborative and 239 non-collaborative applications, this research focuses on three research questions: (1) Is user participation more effective in collaborative applications? (2) What specific decision issues enhance user satisfaction and productivity? and (3) Can permitting end-users to participate as much as they want on some issues be ineffective or even dysfunctional? The results indicate that user participation is more effective in collaborative applications. Of the four decision issues tested, only participation in information needs analysis predicts end-user satisfaction and task productivity. Encouraging end users to participate as much as they want on a broad range of systems analysis issues such as project initiation, information flow analysis, and format design appears to be, at best, a waste of time and, perhaps, even harmful. These findings should help managers and analysts make better decisions about how to focus participatory efforts and whether end users should participate as much as they want in the design of collaborative systems.
A Framework for the Implementation of a Collaborative Flexible Learning Environment for Academic Institutions
Authors: Li R. K.Y. , Cheng S. T. , Willis R. J.
Published: May 2011

Over the past few years the enormous advances in multimedia and Internet technology have started to affect how we live, play, enjoy and conduct our businesses. At the same time, these technologies have begun to creep into our learning and training environments. Many educational institutions are experimenting with the use of the new technology to enhance existing teaching methods. The traditional instructor-centric method of teaching is giving way to the learner-centric model of learning in which information is interpreted rather than merely received by the students and new knowledge is created (Lotus Corporation , 1997). In the learner-centric model, students learn through discovery. The traditional textual and verbal-based learning method is becoming less acceptable. The new learning model is often driven by interactive multimedia which gives the learner full control over the learning process and hence, the focus is on what the learner does not already know. Interactiveness increases the student’s motivation and rate of retention (Bielenberg & Carpenter-Smith, 1997). The term flexible learning, a contemporary buzzword, is often used to describe the above-mentioned model.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Authors: Grant Gerald
Published: May 2011

Managers, IT practitioners, and IS researchers are easily seduced by the latest information technology wave. Consequently, we tend not to question conventional assumptions about the implementation of IT systems in organizations. Instead of providing managers with directions, IS researchers can sometimes turn into prognosticators of the latest information technology fad. We call on researchers to delve below the surface of new IT trends to expose inconsistencies between technological promises and the reality of deploying information systems in global organizations. Many IS researchers are turning their attention to the area of global information management (Gallupe and Tan, 1999). This journal is a vehicle for publishing such research work. Interest in integrated global information systems is fueled both by the developments in information and communications technologies and the trends in business towards globalization of products and markets. Conventional wisdom suggests that businesses operating in global markets would benefit from implementing global information systems and achieve economies of scale and scope. This may be true in some cases, but does it hold for all cases? I suggest it may not. In certain cases deploying global IT systems could lead to diseconomies of scale.
Copyright, Piracy, Privacy and Security Issues
Authors: Kreie Jennifer , Cronan Timothy Paul
Published: May 2011

End user acceptable/unacceptable behavior related to computer information systems has caused significant losses to business and society. Some measures have been suggested to prevent losses or discourage unethical behavior. One approach is to identify factors that might better explain acceptable/unacceptable actions. In this study, we examined models of ethical behavior and selected factors from these models that might influence decision-making. We conducted an empirical study to determine perceptions of acceptable or unacceptable behavior and which factors were significant in influencing a person’s judgment of acceptable/unacceptable behavior. Identifying the factors that influence ethical decision-making is one approach suggested by researchers to find ways to discourage unethical behavior and help businesses prevent losses. The results of the study indicate there are significant factors that affected individuals’ assessment of what is acceptable behavior. The results also indicate that the factors which were influential were contingent on the characteristics of the ethical dilemma.
Method over Mayhem in Managing e-Commerce Risk
Authors: Fink Dieter
Published: May 2011

Under the system of e-commerce, organisations leave themselves open to attack which can have catastrophic consequences. Recent well-publicised business disruptions to firms such as Northwest Airlines and Ebay have had significant business impacts. The chapter identifies the differences in risk management approaches for older information technology systems and those required for e-commerce. The benefits and the critical success factors for an e-commerce risk management methodology are identified and discussed. A literature survey revealed the existence of only two methodologies with potential suitability for e-commerce risk management. They are evaluated against the critical success factors. The chapter recommends a program of research to make risk management more dynamic and interactive particularly for the operational aspects of e-commerce.
Social Issues in Electronic Commerce
Authors: Papazafeiropoulou Anastasia , Pouloudi Athanasia
Published: May 2011

Policy implementation for electronic commerce is a complex process since policy makers, national governments in their majority, have to act in a fast changing environment. They need to balance special national demands with international cooperation (Papazafeiropoulou & Pouloudi, 2000). One of the areas that policy makers have to tackle is dealing with barriers that have been reported in the adoption of electric commerce today. These barriers are mostly derived from factors such as lack of awareness about the opportunities offered by electronic commerce as well as lack of trust to ward network security. Additionally the current legislative framework, drawn before the advent of electronic commerce, is perceived as outdated, thus impeding the expansion of online transactions. Policy makers, therefore, find it increasingly critical to update commerce legislation (Owens, 1999; Shim et al., 2000; the White House, 1999) and take other measures to facilitate the uptake of electronic commerce.
Strategic and Ethical Issues in Outsourcing Information Technologies
Authors: Reid Randall C. , Pascalev Mario
Published: May 2011

Outsourcing of information technology (IT) is the transfer of a company’s information technology functions to external vendors. Ordinarily, such transfer is considered only with regard to its strategic and economic impact on the organization. However, as the recent practice demonstrated, cost-benefit considerations and other strategic considerations are not sufficient to analyze an outsourcing case. Important ethical concerns relating to fiduciary responsibilities, insiders’ bidding for outsourcing contracts, and the like, are also pertinent to the analysis of outsourcing. This chapter will identify major ethical problems and will propose guidelines for ethical conduct in the process of outsourcing IT. Such guidelines could have broad practical implications for the practice of outsourcing. The chapter will analyze literature on outsourcing models and professional ethical standards. It will have the following structure. First, the benefits and models of outsourcing information technology will be discussed. Second, ethical literature in general and professional organizations’ codes of ethics in particular will be considered. Third, a recent case of IT outsourcing will be presented and analyzed. The ethical standards established in the thesis will be applied to the case. Finally, generalized ethical guidelines will be suggested for outsourcing models.
The Competence-Based View on the Management of Virtual Web Organizations
Authors: Franke Ulrich J.
Published: May 2011

The organizational concept of virtual Web organizations encompasses three organizational elements, namely the relatively stable virtual Web platform from which dynamic virtual corporations derive. Virtual corporations are interorganizational adhocracies that are configured temporally of independent companies in order to serve a particular purpose, such as joint R&D, product development, and production. The third element of this organizational construct is the management organization that initiates and maintains the virtual Web platform as well as forms and facilitates the operation of dynamic virtual corporations. Since the organizational concept of virtual Web organizations is hardly researched this chapter aims to provide readers with a better understanding of the organizational concept of virtual Web organizations and in particular of how such an organizational construct is managed. Based on empirical research the author developed a competence-based management model of virtual Web management organizations. This competence-based view of virtual Web management organizations presents an overview of a set of common sub-competencies underlying the three virtual Web management’s main competencies of initiating and maintaining virtual Web platforms and forming dynamic virtual corporations. Furthermore, the developed competence-based management model describes the content of the individual sub-competencies and it explains the purpose, the interrelateness and the temporal dimensions of the virtual Web management’s sub-competencies.
Knowledge Mapping
Authors: Liebowitz Jay
Published: May 2011

Knowledge management is one of the fastest emerging fields in industry today. Unfortunately, however, most of the knowledge management endeavors do not seem to have rigorous and comprehensive knowledge management methodologies, tools, and techniques. One technique that can greatly aid the knowledge management field can be borrowed from the concept mapping community, namely the use of knowledge maps. This chapter will discuss the role of knowledge mapping for improving knowledge management projects, and the specific use of a tool called WisdomBuilder to aid in the creation of the knowledge maps.
Knowledge Management System
Authors: Jha R. K. , Mallik K. K. , Mukherjee R. N.
Published: May 2011

Knowledge Management System, with its database consisting of details of equipment capability, test methods, references and expertise of individuals is introduced in RDCIS laboratories through existing wide spread LAN on windows NT platform. Being a R&D organisation, both codification and personalisation strategies were adopted carefully to reuse and share the knowledge efficiently. This involves capturing of inherent knowledge and storing it in a web based hyperlinked information system so that it can be retrieved whenever and wherever needed. A two layer K M platform, based on Distributed interNetApplications of Microsoft has been designed and implemented successfully for this purpose. Significant improvement has been noticed in effective utilisation of equipment potential through systematic approach of knowledge sharing beside continuous enrichment of data bank.
Conceptual Model for MIS Flexibility Evaluation
Authors: Furukawa Masaru
Published: May 2011

Most leading companies worldwide are striving to achieve agile management. Agility is a company’s ability to cope promptly with internal and external changes, an ability indispensable for a company seeking to obtain a competitive edge. Since this ability consists in a company’s quick recognition of changes, quick decision on measures to respond to these changes and quick implementation of the measures adopted, then, it is indispensable for the company to make adequate use of IT (information technology). As we know, an MIS (management information system) brings utility only though its use process, so an MIS should be easily acceptable to the organization concerned, as witness the fact that currently recommended for MIS effectiveness evaluation are the following five criteria: “High levels of system use,” “User satisfaction with the system,” “Favorable attitudes about MIS functions,” “Achievement of objectives,” “Financial payoff” (Laudon & Laudon, 1994).
Temporal Semistructured Data Models and Data Warehouses
Authors: Combi Carlo , Oliboni Barbara
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes a graph-based approach to represent information stored in a data warehouse, by means of a temporal semistructured data model. We consider issues related to the representation of semistructured data warehouses, and discuss the set of constraints needed to manage in a correct way the warehouse time, i.e. the time dimension considered storing data in the data warehouse itself. We use a temporal semistructured data model because a data warehouse can contain data coming from different and heterogeneous data sources. This means that data stored in a data warehouse are semistructured in nature, i.e. in different documents the same information can be represented in different ways, and moreover, the document schemata can be available or not. Moreover, information stored into a data warehouse is often time varying, thus as for semistructured data, also in the data warehouse context, it could be useful to consider time.
Case Study on Polymer Gel to Control Water Coning for Horizontal Well in Offshore Oilfield
Authors: Dai Li Cai , You Qing , Yuhong Xie , Long He , Ya Cui , Fulin Zhao
Published: May 2011

This paper describes polymer gel with different gelation time for water coning control in horizontal well located in Weizhou 11-4 offshore oilfield, CNOOC, China. The selected horizontal well was shut in with zero oil production and 100% water cut before treatment. This paper also reports the detailed information about the treatment, including production history of this horizontal well, gelants formulas with different gelation time optimization, operational procedure and reservoir performance after treatment. In addition, a method is built up to control water coning for horizontal well in offshore oilfeild. The gelants formulas are 0.30%HPAM +0.60%phenol formaldehyde resin, 0.40%HPAM+0.10%Na2Cr2O7+0.20%(NH2)2CS and 0.40%HPAM+0.20%Na2Cr2O7+0.40%(NH2)2CS, with corresponding gelation time of 3.5 day, 2.0 day and 1.0 day separately at 75 degrees celsius. The above gelants were successively injected with injection volumes of 384 m3, 256 m3 and 128 m3. The overdisplacing fluid was used to displace gelants away from percolation area. Then the well was shut in for 4 days in order to form gel that could be used as packer between oil-water interface to control water coning. At the same time, real-time monitoring data about injection pressure and rate were also recorded. The treatment resulted in an oil increase of 16.3~27.4 t/d and average water cut decrease of 6%~9% in one year after treatment.

Introduction

Excess water production from oil well has become a serious problem for oil & gas field due to long term of water flooding. High level of water production leads to increase corrosion and scale, increase load of fluid-handling facilities, increase environmental protection concerns and eventually shut-in well, especially in offshore oilfield. Consequently, producing zone is often given up in an attempt to avoid excess water produce, even when the intervals still have large volumes of remaining hydrocarbons. Therefore, controlling water production has become more and more important to oil industry in the world.

It is widely reported that polymer gel treatment is a cost-effective method to improve sweep efficiency in reservoirs and to reduce excess water production during oil & gas production. The gelant formed by polymer and cross-linker is injected into target formation which is high water cut zone and react to form gel to fully or partially seal the formation at reservoir temperature(Sydansk, 1992 and Fulin, 2001, 2006).
Integrity Management: From Design to Decommissioning Through IMMR for Floating Units
Authors: Franco Mireille , Cholley Jean Marc
Published: May 2011

Creating and maintaining asset integrity is a complex aggregation of many different activities that all together will provide the required assurance.

Part of the cycle is the IMMR: Inspection Maintenance Monitoring and Repair.

Integrity verification/assurance activities are in place throughout production, maintenance and inspection.

Verification tasks are principally managed through adequate software which is the master repository for technical data and daily activity management.

An essential step of integrity management is to regularly verify the validity of the corrosion prevention, inspection and maintenance programs, ensuring they cover all the identified risks, and that they comply with the control points defined in the performance standards.

Implementing IM aims at ensuring the solidity of the assurance processes used for checking that requirements are met, results recorded and assessed. Ultimately, this is achieved when monitoring results comply with Performance Standards. Most important aspects should be measured and reported through performance measures & KPIs.

For some strategic assets or where specialized skills are required the verification of compliance normally performed by the affiliate can be complemented/ validated by a Surveillance Team composed of specialists from the Head Office.

This is currently the case for pipelines, flexible lines and Floating Units.

Application

The constitution, role and responsibilities of Surveillance Teams are formalized as part of corresponding management systems.

The overall Technical Integrity Assurance Process includes the verification and measure of compliance with Performance Standards, which are essential to demonstrate that the preventive and mitigation barriers are in the expected state of condition and fulfill all required functions. This is the place for IMMR plan

Observation and Conclusions

When in a floating unit, Class and the application of International Maritime Conventions play a role inside the IMMR plan and the strategy defined.

Hull integrity problems do occur and most of the decisions to be taken are required on site with minimal impact to production.

The relative short life of operating floating units has as a consequence a relative short historical data about hull integrity, hull performance and repair procedures on site.
Emergency Pipeline Repair Equipment - Site Integration Tests and Post SIT Engineering
Authors: Rebello Armando , Ayers Ray R. , Long Randy
Published: May 2011

Since the onset of Deep Water Response to Underwater Pipeline Emergencies (DW RUPE) JIP in 2005, we have been reporting on progress of the development of a repair system designed to repair ANSI 1500 class pipelines in the 10-inch to 24-inch range in water depths up to 10,000 ft. For each pipe size, the system provides a minor repair kit with one structural clamp, and a spool assembly kit with two connectors. 6,5,4,3,2,1

Following delivery of the repair system, composed of pipe lifting frames (PLFs), indexing base frames (IBFs), weld seam removal and FBE removal tool, cutting and end preparation tools, connectors and clamps, the system was subjected to System Integration Trials (SIT) in November 2009.

This paper reports on the SIT, post SIT conclusions and the path forward since the SIT, with regards to design modifications, storage techniques, assembly of the equipment, mobilization and management of the system.

Introduction

The word that comes to mind in response to damage to pipeline infrastructure is " immediate??. The speed of reaction to a given subsea pipeline repair problem will dictate the financial impact, including production loss, potential liability and reputational damage for pollution issues, in addition to the cost of the repair itself. Consider the time it will take to order simple forgings needed for the manufacturing of repair clamps and connectors, currently in the order of 8 to 10 weeks, let alone the time to machine and assemble all components, and the cost of preparedness will be fully justified.

However, given the fact that the likelihood of such emergency is relatively small, many oil and gas companies still do not have any dedicated effort established toward maintaining repair tools and consumables on the shelf.

DW RUPE is a non profit co-ownership project dedicated to such emergencies, where the cost of equipment and tools is proportionally shared among its co-owners.

After completion of the asset acquisition phase in 2009, DW RUPE had a set of components needed to conduct repairs on pipelines in deep water. It was important to test the tools and equipment assembled as a system, in order to identify any problems before a real repair had to be conducted. A significant factor for the SIT was the fact that at the end of 2009, the IBFs and PLFs supplier encountered completion issues and DW RUPE took responsibility for operational readiness and any required improvements.

The lessons learned from the SIT were converted to a list of improvement tasks that are being implemented in their order of priority, for completion before 2011 hurricane season.
The 2nd Generation DC All-Electric Subsea Production Control System
Authors: Abicht Daniel , Van Den Akker Jan
Published: May 2011

With the successful operation of the first All-Electric Production Control System this technology continues to proven its advantages. With a system availability of well above 99.9 % (status Dec, 2010), initial development targets have been significantly exceeded. While this pilot system further continues to gain field experience, the development of the 2nd generation DC All-Electric Subsea Production Control System already is in its final stages.

A mature development initiative planting the design on the successful and field proven CameronDC™ System has been initiated. Key target was a further simplification of the system architecture and an implementation of a state of the art fiber optics communication while maintaining commercial feasibility. As a result the advantages of the DC All-Electric technology such as environmental friendliness, improved reliability & availability and real time feedback are combined with the advantage of a high speed communication using fiber optic in one Production Control System concept. Naturally, relevant standards including API 17N have been considered as part of this development initiative.

The 2nd generation DC All-Electric Subsea Production Control System represents state of the art technology in several aspects. High voltage transmission enables significant step-out distances. The available high bandwidth enables a transfer of large data amounts even for complex field architectures. Functionalities to control subsea actuators have been expanded. The already applied performance assessment approach enabling incipient failure detection has been maintained.

Discussing the operational feedback as well the development targets this paper will introduce the concept of the 2nd generation DC All-Electric Subsea Production Control System and address its inherent advantages. The qualification strategy will be outlined. It also will describe the experience gained during the development.
Blade Inspection Guidance for Offshore Wind Turbine Facilities
Authors: Sheppard Robert Edward , Puskar Frank , Waldhart Chris
Published: May 2011

Blades form an integral part to the operations and structural response of wind turbine facilities and demonstrating their long-term integrity in an offshore environment is challenging. Known blade degradation mechanisms and those that are likely in specific US offshore areas are considered along with evaluations of various inspection and condition monitoring capabilities, both now and in the near future. This paper is based on a study funded by the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE).

Development Approach

The inspection guidance development started with understanding existing blade inspection practices for both land-based and offshore facilities through a literature search and discussions with industry experts from the manufacturing, service and operational sectors, and others with broad industry experience. Also considered were inspection technologies and practices expected to be available for practical implementation within the next few years since these will likely be in use when the first US offshore wind turbine facilities begin operating.

In order to evaluate the pros and cons of various inspection practices, both established and novel, and determine the best approaches to recommend, a set of criteria were established to compare the various practices against each other:Worker Safety - the ability to implement the inspection safely and effectively considering the access requirements for blades in an offshore environmentScalability - the ability to implement the inspection across multiple facilities in a fieldRepeatability - the ability to reliably reproduce the inspection activity and obtain results that are consistent on the same blade and across multiple blades in a fieldCost effectiveness - qualitative assessment of the inspection cost in terms of manpower, downtime, and duration weighed against the potential data gathered

Subject matter experts were queried regarding prevalent blade damage mechanisms, techniques used for identifying damage and in what situations each would be implemented, what access equipment and systems are used, and what technologies are available, or will be available, that have the potential for widespread use within the next five to ten years.

Damage Mechanisms

Current practice for blade inspections for land-based and offshore facilities is generally driven by knowledge of defects in similar blades or problems identified in the power performance of a particular turbine. In developing guidance for more proactive inspection and monitoring programs, it is useful to understand what mechanisms affect blade performance.