bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visões de identidade de escritores judeus: O Eu e o Outro
Authors: Vieira Nelson H.
Published: September 2015

Este estudo trata do desafio que diversos autores brasileiros de ascendência judaica enfrentam ao negarem uma afirmação absolutista de expressão étnica ou identitária que emerge hoje em dia nas discussões sobre pluralidade, multiculturalismo e o que é considerado "politicamente correto." Entre outros temas, o assunto de alteridade é especialmente referido para sublinhar como a expressão literária de autores judeus no Brasil desconstrói o flagrante emprego tradicional de "identidade." Esta ótica se inspira muito no pequeno livro de aforismos de Leon Wieseltier,Against Identity, [Contra Identidade] e de visões articuladas por outros pensadores como Hannah Arendt, John Stuart Mill, Sigmund Freud, Zygmunt Bauman, Charles Taylor e Edward Said. Aqui a argumentação ou exposição se apropria basicamente de certas obras de ficção de Clarice Lispector e de Samuel Rawet, mas também inclui breves referências a outros escritores judeus no Brasil, como Moacyr Scliar, Cíntia Moscovich, Bernardo Ajzenberg, junto com pensamentos de artistas,scholars, pensadores, e ensaístas internacionais, judeus e não-judeus, a fim de entender principalmente como eles abordam, no seu tratamento ficcional e não-ficcional, a idéia de identidade, pertencimento e alteridade, seja ela étnica, grupal ou individual.
A fortaleza e o navio: espaços de reclusão na Carreira da Índia
Authors: Doré Andréa
Published: September 2015

Este artigo pretende salientar algumas relações que podem ser estabelecidas entre os dois principais veículos da expansão portuguesa: a fortaleza e o navio. Esses dois espaços de reclusão podem ser entendidos como "instituições totais", na forma como as define Erving Goffman, e apresentam profundas semelhanças, principalmente quando se analisam momentos-limite vividos pelos indivíduos, durante os naufrágios e durante as situações de cerco. Para este efeito privilegia-se a presença portuguesa no Oceano Índico, caracterizada pela construção de uma rede de fortalezas sem uma significativa penetração no território.
Sistemas agrários na Velha Província: O processo de transição para o trabalho livre sob o signo da Modernização Conservadora (1850-1888)
Authors: Barreiros Daniel de Pinho
Published: September 2015

Com base no conceito de "via prussiana" defendido por Barrington Moore Jr., o artigo retoma importantes teses no estudo dos sistemas agrários fluminenses, na conjuntura de crise do trabalho escravo e de transição para o trabalho livre, argumentando que a ideia de uma "fronteira agrícola fechada" a partir da Lei de Terras é insuficiente para definir as relações de trabalho e de acesso à terra estabelecidas após 1888. As conclusões destas teses, quando analisadas em conjunto, nos permitem afirmar que a existência de terras livres exerceu forte pressão contrária aos mecanismos de "proletarização" do trabalhador rural, levando portanto ao emprego de "sistemas repressivos de mão-de-obra" como alternativa viável de preservação da grande propriedade, configurando assim um aspecto fundamental da modernização conservadora, tal como previsto por Moore Jr.
AS AVENTURAS DO MARXISMO NO BRASIL
Authors: Musse Ricardo
Published: September 2015

A meditação acerca da importância e do lugar do marxismo na sociedade brasileira – seja na vida política e social, seja na produção intelectual e cultural – adquiriu uma via privilegiada com a conclusão da obra coletiva História do marxismo no Brasil. Um inventário, mesmo que precário, de suas lacunas e superposições também abre espaço para um balanço da produção bibliográfica sobre o marxismo brasileiro. A partir disso, torna-se possível destacar estruturas e tendências em seu desenvolvimento histórico.
Role of adipose tissue-derived stem cells in the progression of renal disease
Authors: Donizetti-Oliveira Cassiano , Semedo Patricia , Burgos-Silva Marina , Cenedeze Marco Antonio , Malheiros Denise Maria Avancini Costa , Reis Marlene Antônia dos , Pacheco-Silva Alvaro , Câmara Niels Olsen Saraiva
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the role of adipose tissue-derived stem cells in reducing the progression of renal fibrosis. Methods: adipose tissue-derived stem cells were isolated from C57Bl/6 mice and characterized by cytometry and differentiation. Renal fibrosis was established after unilateral clamping of the renal pedicle for 1 hour. Four hours after reperfusion, 2.105 adipose tissue-derived stem cells were administered intraperitoneally and the animals were followed for 24 hours during 6 weeks. In another experimental group, 2.105 adipose tissue-derived stem cells were administered only after 6 weeks of reperfusion, and they were euthanized and studied 4 weeks later. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, the animals treated with adipose tissue-derived stem cells displayed reduced renal and tubular dysfunction and an increase of the regenerative process. Renal expression of IL-6 and TNF mRNA were decreased in the animals treated with adipose tissue-derived stem cells, while the levels of IL-4, IL-10, and HO-1 were increased, despite the fact that adipose tissue-derived stem cells were not observed in the kidneys via SRY analysis. Results: In 6 weeks, the kidneys of non-treated animals decreased in size, and the kidneys of the animals treated with adipose tissue-derived stem cells remained at normal size and display less deposition of type 1 collagen and FSP-1. The renal protection observed in animals treated with adipose tissue-derived stem cells was followed by a drop in serum levels of TNF-α, KC, RANTES, and IL-1a. Treatment with adipose tissue-derived stem cells after 6 weeks, when the animals already displayed established fibrosis, demonstrated an improvement in functional parameters and less fibrosis analyzed by Picrosirius stain, as well as a reduction of the expression of type 1 collagen and vimentin mRNA. Conclusion: Treatment with adipose tissue-derived stem cells may deter the progression of renal fibrosis by modulation of the early inflammatory response, likely via reduction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
Immunological induction with thymoglobulin: reduction in the number of doses in renal transplant from deceased donor
Authors: Moura Lucio Roberto Requião , Tonato Eduardo José , Ferraz Érika Arruda , Filliponi Thiago Corsi , Chinen Rogério , Matos Ana Cristina Carvalho , Silva Maurício Rodrigues Fregonesi da , Durão Marcelino de Souza , Pacheco-Silva Alvaro
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare three different regimens of thymoglobulin induction. Methods: One hundred seventy two patients submitted to renal transplantation from a dead donor were divided into three groups according to the total number of thymoglobulin doses used in the post-transplantation surgery: Group 1, until 14 doses - May 2002 to June 2004 (n = 48); Group 2, until 7 doses - July 2004 to December 2006 (n = 57); Group 3, until 4 doses - January 2007 to July 2009 (n = 67). The three groups were compared according to the main outcomes. Results: The main demographic differences among the groups were: greater dialysis time in Group 3 (p < 0.001 for Group 1; and p = 0.04 for Group 2); donor age, greater in Groups 2 and 3 (p = 0.02; p = 0.01, respectively); and cold ischemia time progressively greater from Group 1 to 3: 19.5 ± 5.1 to 24.6 ± 5.7 hours (p < 0.001). In relation to the inhibitor of calcineurin, the relation Tac/Csa was 14.6/66.7% in Group 1, 78.9/12.3% in Group 2 and 100/0% in Group 3. Reflecting the increase in cold ischemia time, the incidence of delayed graft function was 64.6%, 68.4% e 82.1% in Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p = ns). The incidence of acute rejection was similar in the three groups: 16.7% (1); 16.3% (2) and 16.4 (3) - p = ns. The prevalence of viremia for cytomegalovirus was 61.7% in Group 1, 66.1% in Group 2 and 83.3% in Group 3 (p = ns). There were no difference related to the number of infected cells with cytomegalovirus in antigenemia, according to the groups, however, patients in Group 3 had an earlier diagnosis: from 64.3 ± 28.5 days in Grup 2, to 47.1 ± 22.5 days, in Group 3, p < 0.001. Survival of the graft in one year was 89.6%, 92.9% and 91.0%, in Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p = ns). The graft function was much better with the lower doses of thymoglobulin: Group 1: 57.0 ± 20.0 mL/min; Group 2: 67.0 ± 18.4 mL/min (p = 0.008); Group 3: 71.2 ± 18.4 mL/min (p < 0.001, Group 1 versus Group 3; p = 0.06, Group 1 versus Group 2). There was a significant reduction in the costs of induction protocol from U$ 7,567.02 to U$ 3,485.56 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The total number of thymoglobulin doses for immunologic induction could be reduced in a safe and effective way, without a negative impact in graft rejection or survival, preserving renal function and being significantly cheaper.
Does the time between collecting and processing umbilical cord blood samples affect the quality of the sample?
Authors: Barini Ricardo , Ferraz Ubirajara Costa , Acácio Gregório Lorenzo , Machado Isabela Nelly
Published: September 2015

Objective: To assess the association between the time from umbilical cord blood collection until processing and the quality of the sample. Methods: Umbilical cord blood samples collected during the third stage of labor were placed in temperature-controlled boxes for the transport of biological material and sent to an umbilical cord blood bank, where the number of nucleated cells, viable cells and CD34+ cells were counted, and samples were additionally tested for contamination at the following time intervals: up to 24 hours, up to 48 hours and up to 72 hours following sampling. Data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and compared using McNemar's χ2 test. Significance was defined at p < 0.05. Results: Means and medians of the number of nucleated cells, viable cells and CD34+ cells decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) as a function of the increased time between sampling and analysis, the difference between 24 and 48 hours being less than the difference between 24 and 72 hours. A linear correlation was found between the mean number of viable cells and CD34+ cells at the three moments of analysis. Contamination testing was negative in all samples. Conclusion: The increase in time interval from sampling until analysis negatively affected the number of nucleated cells, viable cells and CD34+ cells but was not associated with specimen contamination. A linear correlation was found between decrease in the number of viable cells and CD34+ cells.
Immunomodulatory effect of mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Marti Luciana Cavalheiro , Ribeiro Andreza Alice Feitosa , Hamerschlak Nelson
Published: September 2015

Mesenchymal stem cells represent an adult population of nonhematopoietic cells, which can differentiate into a variety of cell types such as osteocytes, chondrocytes, adipocytes, and myocytes. They display immunomodulatory properties that have led to the consideration of their use for the inhibition of immune responses. In this context, mesenchymal stem cells efficiently inhibit maturation, cytokine production, and the T cell stimulatory capacity of dendritic cells. They also can impair proliferation, cytokine secretion, and cytotoxic potential of T lymphocytes. Moreover, mesenchymal stem cells are able to inhibit the differentiation of B cells to plasma cells by inhibiting their capacity to produce antibodies. A variety of animal models confirm the immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells. Clinical studies including patients with severe acute graft-versus-host disease have revealed that the administration of mesenchymal stem cells results in significant clinical responses. Therefore, mesenchymal stem cells improve acute graft-versus-host disease and represent a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of immune-mediated diseases, due to their immunomodulatory capability and their low immunogenicity.
Emotions in the Structure of Psychological 'Fabric' of Organizational Culture
Authors: Groshev I.V. , Davydova Y.A. , Krasnoslobodtseva I.A.
Published: September 2015

The paper explores the role and significance of the emotional factor in the system of components of organizational culture. Along with the psychophysiological component the authors describe patterns of formation of emotions in organizational systems and state that manifestations of these emotions are determined by cultural conditions of the organization and by the type of its organizational culture. The authors also outline levels of emotions and degrees of their subjective management in individuals. A set of requirements is proposed for the system of emotional management within the organization which may be implemented in a broad range of personality manifestations. Finally, the authors review the ecological theory of emotions, the psychophysiological and sociocultural approaches, analyzing their main propositions concerning the nature and management of emotions as well as perspectives for raising the efficiency of activity in the organization with the assistance of the emotional factor. On these grounds the authors propose an activity-based model of emotions determined by the type of organizational structure.
The Phenomenon of Vagrancy from the Perspective of Psychosocial Theory of Development: Origins, Nature and Prevention Guidelines
Authors: Ilyin V.A. , Bonkalo S.V.
Published: September 2015

The paper addresses the issue of vagrancy as a social psychological phenomenon determined by personality deviations. It clarifies the conceptual relationship between the notions of 'vagrancy/homelessness' commonly used in practice-oriented research. As it is revealed, vagrancy as a social psychological phenomenon can be interpreted in terms of one's dysfunctional resolution of the basic conflicts of psychosocial development in the early stages of the epigenetic cycle. The paper also outlines the key tasks for practicing psychologists faced with the challenge of vagrancy prevention.
Managing Hand Injury Risk – Perspective of International Well Servicing Company
Authors: Chen Shen , Leong Weng Fei , Wells Mike , Kennedy Reggie
Published: September 2015

Hand injury risk is a concern in many organizations across the upstream oil and gas industry. Despite strong focus on hand safety, hand injuries continue to occur in high numbers due to the very hands-on nature of the industry both on the rig floor as well as throughout the many processes supporting exploration and production activities. A total approach to manage hand injury risk is required to look at hand injury risk from a lifecycle approach with the aim of making hands-on job hands-free. In this paper, the authors explore a fit-for-purpose program that addresses the challenges of reducing hand injuries by communicating and implementing a simplified and easy-to-understand set of rules to govern risks to hand injuries in a total approach. This holistic approach focuses on the hearts and mind effort to change mindsets that hands on practices can be done safer through alternative work methods and also developing and implementing new ways of performing high risk hands on jobs. Ideas to improve hand hazards recognition through innovative risk assessment methodologies like video risk assessments and hand hazard picture books will further help to reinforce the hearts and mind effort. Eliminating hand injuries is possible and putting the right focus and strategy will go a long way in making the industry safer for the hands that work in it.
Streamline-Based History Matching of Arrival Times and Bottomhole Pressure Data for Multicomponent Compositional Systems
Authors: Tanaka Shusei , Kam Dongjae , Datta-Gupta Akhil , King Michael J.
Published: September 2015

Streamline-based history matching techniques have provided significant capabilities in integrating field-scale water-cut and tracer data into high resolution geologic models. The effectiveness of the streamline approach lies in the fact that parameter sensitivities can be computed analytically as one-dimensional integrals along streamlines and requires little additional computational overhead beyond the forward simulation. However, application of the streamline-based approach for simultaneous integration of water-cut and bottomhole pressure has been rather limited. This is partly because the convective streamlines appear to offer no particular advantage while computing parameter sensitivities for the bottomhole pressure data. This limits the utility of streamline-based history matching particularly for three-phase black-oil and compositional systems where the integration of pressure data is a requirement to accurately model reservoir depletion mechanisms.

In this paper we first introduce a novel semi-analytic approach to compute the sensitivity of the bottomhole pressure data with respect to grid block properties. The approach takes advantage of the streamline trajectories and yields results that are comparable to sensitivities computed from adjoint methods, at a fraction of the computational cost. The bottomhole pressure sensitivities can be easily integrated with the water-cut, gas oil ratio or composition sensitivities for a joint inversion of pressure data using high resolution geologic models. An iterative least squared method (LSQR) is used to minimize a penalized objective function that includes the data misfit and appropriate ‘norm’ and ‘roughness’ penalty terms to preserve the prior model characteristics during the inversion. The proposed approach is well suited for both streamline and finite difference methods with access to streamlines, and has been generalized for application to three-phase and compositional systems by integrating water-cut, gas oil ratio, and bottomhole pressure data. We demonstrate the power and utility of our proposed method using synthetic and field examples. The synthetic examples include black-oil and compositional cases involving gas injection. The streamline-based sensitivities are compared with adjoint methods for verification purposes. We then apply the method to the Brugge benchmark case and the Norne field to demonstrate the practical feasibility of the proposed method.
A Comparison of Air Emission Estimation Protocols for Drilling Rigs
Authors: Stuver S.
Published: September 2015

Since the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has determined that the Eagle Ford and its supporting industry will be included in future air emission inventories, it is crucial that the most accurate and cost effective methods for determining air emissions of drilling operations be identified. Estimation is the preferred method for creating regional emission inventories since direct measurement of diesel engine exhaust is often cost prohibitive. These estimations are commonly calculated using engine load, conservatively estimated at 100%. This introduces considerable error in the emissions inventory since electric rigs are rarely run at full load and drilling operators do not record engine activity. Conducting an air emission inventory of drilling rigs requires a novel way to estimate emissions without relying on engine load as a primary variable. With this in mind the research team employed an estimation method based on fuel consumption rather than horsepower. Fuel use data is readily available on drilling sites and so more accurately reflects the engine activity of electric rigs in drilling operations. This study finds that emissions calculated using different estimation methods can vary from 9 to 106 pounds per hour of NOx, but that the fuel consumption method offers an opportunity for more accurate assessment of regional emission inventories.
Using Association Rule Mining and High-Dimensional Visualization to Explore the Impact of Geological Features on Dynamic Flow Behavior
Authors: Suzuki Satomi , Stern Dave , Manzocchi Tom
Published: September 2015

Due to computational advances in reservoir simulation utilizing high performance computing, it is now possible to simulate more than thousands of reservoir simulation cases in a practical time frame. This opens a new avenue to reservoir simulation studies, enabling exhaustive exploration of subsurface uncertainty and development/depletion options. However, analyzing the results of a large number of simulation cases still remains a challenging and overwhelming task. We propose a new method that enables the efficient analysis of massive reservoir simulation results, often consisting of thousands of cases, by discovering interesting patterns of relationships among variables in large datasets. The method uses a well-known data mining method, called association rule mining, together with a high-dimensional visualization technique. We demonstrate the capability of the proposed method by utilizing it to analyze the reservoir simulation results from the SAIGUP (Sensitivity Analysis of the Impact of Geological Uncertainty on Production) project, which is an interdisciplinary reservoir modeling project carried out by Manzocchi et al. earlier. To investigate the influence of geological features on oil recovery in shallow marine reservoirs, numerous reservoir models were built and flow-simulated in the SAIGUP project. In this paper, we analyze the simulation results from an ensemble of 9072 models, which cover all possible combinations of several structural and sedimentological parameters individually varied to describe geological uncertainty. To be able to analyze the simulation results from such exhaustive sampling from high-dimensional model parameter space, it is crucial to efficiently decompose complex interactions between model parameters and discover hidden impacts on flow response. By coupling the association rule mining algorithm and high-dimensional visualization, such interactions and impacts are rapidly extracted and visualized in such a way that engineers and geoscientists can interpret meaningful sensitivities “at a glance”. This methodology provides a novel way to rapidly interpret flow response from large ensemble of reservoir models without being overwhelmed by massive data. It is also applicable for the analysis of production data from unconventional wells consisting of more than thousands.
A Real Time Chemical Monitoring Platform for Inventory and Usage
Authors: Piovesan C. M.
Published: September 2015

Automation for chemical application usage and inventory on offshore platforms and other facilities requires proactive monitoring of surface equipment and application dosage. Non-productive time (NPT) can be the result of system failures or production equipment. Equipment failures or lack of chemical inventory can impact the fixed surface equipment on the rig floor that can also shut down drilling or production operations. Automation systems require real time data to be collated into knowledge to create actionable plans. Automation or management of the complex, software-dependent systems from multiple equipment vendors on the rig floor can therefore be a major proponent of productivity. Automation is beyond the pump sensor or on line monitoring, it is the combination of all sources of the data displayed together. The primary goal of the Real Time Chemical Monitoring System is to automate the chemical inventory and usage, such as dosage, during production in order to reduce equipment downtime and personnel-on-board (POB) requirements while increasing supply chain reliability, safety, regulatory compliance and environmental responsibility. This requires defining application or dosage levels that optimize chemical usage for costs and efficiencies, allowing early identification and intervention for pending lack of inventory and enabling supply chain management to react which takes into account multiple data point factors. The use of chemical inventory and usage monitoring has recently been proven on an offshore production platform and has reached a competent level of capability. The Real Time Chemical Monitoring System (CRTMS) applies best practices derived from numerous known case studies within the digital oilfield and to fixed surface equipment in order to reduce NPT. This solution brings together inventory and usage data from an automated field sensor and data capture network developed to be deployed for offshore operations. It utilizes unique data capture and management tools to monitor the equipment and give alerts when the usage is out of parameters. Results of the data collection are delivered in a web based secure visual dashboard from multiple aggregated data streams. A recent prototype installation utilizes data streams from a major offshore drilling platform with a collection of multiple offshore sensor units and an onshore operational performance center at a leading oilfield operator company to demonstrate the viability of this approach for both offshore and remote onshore operations. The success of this proof of concept demonstrates that disparate data from multiple equipment vendors can be gathered from remote locations, analyzed and distilled into actionable items, and displayed in order to support proactive decisions by a distributed pool of subject matter experts.
Effective Force; Fiction Or Reality?
Authors: Nergaard Arnfinn
Published: September 2015

There are numerous examples of confusion and disagreement in literature and industry in the understanding and implementation of axial force theory for pipe exposed to external and internal pressures. In 1962, Lubinski et al (1) described how tubing exposed to internal or external pressure behaved different to what was expected from calculations. The gap was defined as a fictitious force. In the 50-year period since then, the terms ‘true force’ and ‘effective force’ have emerged from the many discussions and research activities performed to understand pipe behavior. True and effective forces represent certain physical conditions and parameters that are normally easily described and represented in diagrams; however, there is still an ongoing discussion as to what is the mechanical model and explanation, especially for effective forces. The gap between true and effective forces has been subject to many discussions. Several attempts have been made to bridge this gap. Today it is often referred to C.P. Sparks (3, 4) who presented a very simple relation between the true and the effective tension and the influence of internal and external pressure. A classic discussion theme is; will a cylindrical pipe connected to bottom see buoyancy when there is no bottom flat exposed to pressure? It is generally agreed that this pipe see no true axial force from the surrounding water, however, the Sparks equation implies that the pipe see an effective tension equal to the the weight of displaced fluid above a given level. The last contribution to the discussion is Samuel/Kumar's paper “Effective Force and True Force: What are they?” presented at SPE/IADC Drilling Conference, 2012 (2).

The objectives of the present paper are; to offer an understanding of the mechanics of effective forces, to demonstrate the physical effect of effective forces from laboratory tests, to underline the relevance and importance of applying effective forces in design and dimensioning of drill pipe and risers, to give examples of true and effective forces in a few classical well situations and finally to present a method for understanding and assessment of effective compression in a Macondo look alike case.
Novel Laboratory and Field Approaches to Control Halite and other Problematic Scales in High Salinity Brine from the Bakken
Authors: Lu Haiping , Penkala Joe , Brooks Johnathon , Haugen Chris , Harbaugh Chad , McAfee Clyde , Kalfayan Leonard
Published: September 2015

Scale formation during oil and gas production may cause formation damage, pump failure, blockage of tubing or annulus, and deposits in surface lines and equipment that can result in shutdowns or loss of production. Therefore, the prevention of scale is of considerable interest and concern to the oil and gas industry. Control of scale, particularly halite in high salinity Bakken brines (total dissolved solids > 250,000 mg/L), is challenging on two fronts: 1) laboratory evaluation of scale products by conventional dynamic tube-blocking tests or static bottle tests are not optimal for halite scale, and 2) halite formation and high tendencies for carbonate and sulfate scales characterize high-salinity brines, which are difficult to manage with conventional scale control strategies. This paper describes a novel laboratory testing procedure to better evaluate halite/scale inhibition and how to apply this method. Conventional testing is also included to provide a more robust strategy for effective scale control in the high-salinity Bakken brines.

Currently, there is not an industry-recognized method for laboratory testing of halite due to difficulty controlling the amount of halite precipitation and reproducibility during the test. However, a test method was devised utilizing an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer to monitor dynamic scale formation during product evaluation. This kinetic turbidity test (KTT) uses the information on scale formation kinetics to differentiate various product performances with reproducible testing results. Halite inhibitors and combination products (halite inhibitor + common scale inhibitors) were screened with this method for potential use in field applications. The combination of products exhibited good scale inhibition performance for both halite and other common scales.

The challenges of halite and other scales in Bakken brines cause typical scale inhibitors to be ineffective. Diluting brines with freshwater is the common field treatment to lower scaling ion concentrations and wash out salt deposits. However, this approach is restricted in the Bakken because of the limited fresh water availability, poor fresh water quality (i.e., high bicarbonates and high pH), and remote locations that can impede freshwater treatment. Therefore, more effective treatments are essential for economic oil and gas production.
Mathematical Modeling and Experimental Breakthrough Curves for the Adsorption of Toxic Vapors Emitted from Crude Oil and Condensate Storage Tanks
Authors: Oyelakin Oluwatosin Akintoye , Olabanji Lawal , Ramirez David
Published: September 2015

Toxic vapor emissions (TVEs) from crude oil and condensate storage tanks contain volatile organic compounds which are precursors for ground level ozone formation. Vapor recovery units have been proposed for the control of TVEs but come with high energy cost and no liquid recovery. Thermal swing adsorption (TSA) was experimentally and theoretically studied for the capture and recovery of TVEs from crude oil and condensate storage tanks. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m, p and o-xylene (BTEX) were selected as the TVEs from the analyzed mixture of crude oil and condensate sample, API 54.2. Experimental adsorption breakthrough curves of BTEX on a commercially available granular activated carbon (GAC) were obtained from a bench scale TSA system. A non-steady state, mathematical model was developed to simulate concentration breakthrough curves for the adsorption cycle. The GAC showed high removal efficiencies with equilibrium adsorption capacities for toluene, benzene, m, p-xylene, o-xylene and ethylbenzene on GAC of 215 ± 7 mg/g, 183 ± 5 mg/g, 56 ± 2 mg/g, 9 ± 2 mg/g, and 3 ± 0.3 mg/g, respectively at 25°C. Liquid recoveries of BTEX ranged from 30–35%. Results from the mathematical model were compared to the experimental values. The non-steady state mathematical model predicted the experimental data very well. The model simulation results were further used to study column dynamics adsorption and evaluate the process efficiency of the TSA system.
Case Study of Soft Particle Fluid to Improve Proppant Transport and Placement
Authors: Sun Hong , Zhou Jia , Brannon Harold , Satya Gupta D. V. , Ault Marshall , Carman Paul , Wheeler Richard
Published: September 2015

The primary objective of hydraulic fracture stimulation is to use “ideal” fracturing fluids to initiate and propagate fractures, transport proppant and place a conductive proppant pack in the created fracture. Resident hydrocarbons may be more easily produced in the created fracture broadways. Thus, optimization of conductive fracture area is perhaps the most critical tenets of fracture stimulation. The effective fracture area is characterized by the conductive fracture height and length, and is often compromised by the inability to place the proppant throughout the created fracture area. Several attempts have been implemented to improve the effective fracture area, such as hybrid fracturing, ultralightweight proppant (ULWP) delivery, channel fracturing, and slug fracturing. The techniques are all based on viscosity-governed proppant transport mechanisms.

This paper proposes a new fluid system for nearly perfect proppant suspension to improve proppant transport and vertical distribution in fractures. It improves effective fracture height by placing proppant across the complete productive interval under downhole conditions when properly applied. This leads to better transverse and vertical placement of proppant in the fracture and significantly increases the fractured surface area. The degradability of the fluid can lead to non-damaged fracture conductivity with time by internal or external stimulus.

Criteria and considerations for successful applying such fluids to optimize proppant placement and maximize fracture conductivity are discussed. Job design is elaborated in terms of fluid mechanics and proppant transportation mechanics differences and benefits over traditional crosslinked gel systems. The execution, experiences, and subsequent well performance of treatment applications results are compared to offsets treated with a traditional crosslinked gel system.
Coupling Nanoparticles with Waterflooding to Increase Water Sweep Efficiency for High Fines-Containing Reservoir - Lab and Reservoir Simulation Results
Authors: Huang T. , Han J. , Agrawal G. , Sookprasong P. A.
Published: September 2015

Waterflooding is an established conventional method to improve oil recovery. When water flows into pores in a rock formation occupied by hydrocarbons, clays and other formation fines are released and flow with the injection water. Left unaddressed, the released formation particles can accumulate and plug the pore throats in the flow channels, which cause higher water injection pressure, lower water sweep-efficiency and lower oil recovery. Chemical additives in the injection water to stabilize formation clays and fine particles during waterflooding operations are partially helpful. Several major operators established a goal for 70% oil recovery, motivating the research of higher performing waterflooding formulations. As the nanoparticle-loaded water drives hydrocarbons toward the producers, the nanoparticles fixate formation fines at their sources in the water flow channels, resulting in fewer fines accumulating at the near-wellbore region of the producers (causing less choking to the production of hydrocarbons) and resulting in water-sweep-efficiency increases. This paper presents the results with and without using nanoparticles in simulated waterfloodings. In addition to cleaner water effluent, lower pressure drop occurs across the porous media containing nanoparticles under the same flow rate of 5%KCl and the same porous media compositions of sand and simulated formation fines. Full reservoir simulation details the benefits of coupling the nanoparticles and waterflooding in high fines-containing reservoirs with various reservoir properties.

This paper presents the use of select nanoparticles in waterflooding to significantly improve oil recovery in reservoirs susceptible to formation fines migration. The research shows the unique ability of select nanoparticles in stabilizing formation clays and fines in waterflooding operations. The lab results demonstrate a much higher performance of the new nanoparticle-blended waterflooding than the currently used technology of stabilizers for formation clays and fine particles. Lab tests, even visually, show a clear improvement of the water-effluent quality (less fines) when the nanoparticle-blended waterflooding is pushed through the lab-constructed permeable media. The simulation resulted in 37% more production than regular waterflooding in a higher permeability reservoir case and 95% greater production in a lower permeability reservoir scenario. The paper includes the scientific principle behind the nanoparticle functioning, detailed lab results and the reservoir simulations.
Innovative New Frac Manifold Trailer Offers Step Change in Slickwater Pumping
Authors: Gusek Ronald , Farshad Ghasripoor
Published: September 2015

It has been more than 15 years since the idea of slickwater fracturing was proposed as an effective means of stimulating unconventional reservoirs. Since then, the use of slickwater treatments has grown to represent a significant portion of hydraulic fracture treatments pumped in North America today. The growth in the use of low viscosity fluids has not been without its challenges, specifically around equipment. Historically, lower pumping rates and higher viscosity fluid protected many of the wear surfaces in a pump from the erosive properties of sand. Today, repair and maintenance of fracturing pumps due to erosion from proppant pumped at high rates in low viscosity fluids is a major expense, and can be a significant contributor to operational downtime for that equipment.

This paper examines an innovative new technology that enables a step change in how slickwater fracture treatments are pumped. The unique manifold trailer, or “missile”, allows for proppant-laden fluid to be pumped downhole at fracturing pressures without passing through a frac pump. This process of pressurizing the slurry is accomplished using a device called a pressure exchanger. The pressure exchanger functions by taking energy from high pressure clean fluid and transferring that energy to low pressure slurry, the outcome being a high pressure slurry stream and a low pressure clean stream of fluid. It accomplishes this function using only one simple rotating component within an outer housing. It has no bearings or valves, and is manufactured from tungsten carbide to maximize durability and minimize wear. By utilizing the unique pressure exchanger technology, fracturing pumps are no longer required to pump slurry laden fluid, but simply to pressurize a clean fluid stream from which the energy is subsequently extracted. By removing proppant from the fluid stream that passes through the pumps, wear and tear on the pump, and specifically on components such as valves and seats, is expected to be reduced significantly.

The paper will discuss the design and function of the new missile and its key component, the pressure exchanger. It will also examine the results of the yard test and the potential impact on the life of pump components as a result, as well as highlight operational differences vs current technology.
Real-Time Monitoring of Health Hazards During Hydraulic Fracturing
Authors: Uyanik Ilyas , Dursun Serkan
Published: September 2015

Hydraulic fracturing processes can use hundreds of thousands of pounds of fracturing sand or “frac sand,” which may result in airborne silica dust. Although the use of hydraulic fracturing techniques provides many benefits in the production of natural gas and oil resources, there are concerns about possible health, environment, and safety (HE&S) effects associated with silica dust. In fracturing processes, frac sand can produce breathable crystalline silica dust, which is a potential exposure hazard. Long-term exposure to or breathing excessive amounts of crystalline silica can result in silicosis, which is a respiratory disease that causes scarring in lung tissue. Consequently, the proper handling of the frac sand to avoid overexposure to silica dust is important. This paper presents an initial experience in the design and development of a real-time monitoring and surveillance system, consisting of desktop and smartphone applications with mobile and stationary sensors. The system is designed to monitor and report spatio-temporal evolution of airborne silica clouds on the drilling site. The purpose of the proposed system is to monitor the silica cloud movement and exposure to silica by workers on the drilling site in real time and to provide information about actions required for a safe drilling operation. The quantitative monitoring of airborne crystalline silica exposure has been distinctly difficult because the infrastructure framework has not been available until now. With the proliferation of environmental sensor networks installed, real-time, quantitative, and localized information becomes available. The system assesses airborne silica exposures quantitatively, rather than speculatively, for both workers and managers on the drilling site.
Velocity Tracking for Flow Monitoring and Production Profiling Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing
Authors: Paleja Rakesh , Mustafina Daria , in ‘t panhuis Peter , Park Timothy , Randell David , van der Horst Juun , Crickmore Roger
Published: September 2015

In this paper, we will share the recent work that was done to understand how bulk flow rates and fluid composition may be derived in single-phase and multi-phase flow by tracking the slopes (velocities) of coherent features detected using Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS). Both laboratory experiments and real field examples will be presented to demonstrate how velocity features can be detected and attributed to events such as slug flow or sound waves. Speed of Sound (SoS) analysis can in principle be used for determining changes in the fluid composition in multiphase flows, which provides opportunities to detect fluid interfaces and water or gas breakthrough. On the other hand, slowly moving features such as slugs or turbulent eddies can be used to derive bulk flow velocities, which may be used for injection or production profiling. The evaluation method directly derives velocities by Fourier transforming the raw DAS data in the temporal and spatial domains without applying any calibration steps. It can therefore be used to monitor flow in wells on a drive-by or continuous basis without a need for reference flow data.
Obtaining Operational Efficiencies by Applying Process Safety KPIs Developed for Offshore Production Installations
Authors: Infortunio Fred A. , Bedford Grantt V. , Vacas Francisco
Published: September 2015

The authors of this paper use Process Safety Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to improve safety and operational efficiency by studying Safety Critical Equipment (SCE) reliability on Exploration & Production (E&P) offshore installations. This gives E&P Operations and Maintenance Departments the ability to optimize operational safety and production efficiencies. Details of the methods utilized and the process of selection of SCE and KPIs and the study and findings are presented in this paper. The authors used recognized international recommended practices as suggested by The American Petroleum Institute (API), (Process Safety Performance Indicators for the Refining and Petrochemical Industries, RP-754, April 2010), The Oil and Gas Producers (OPG), (Process Safety-Recommended Practice on Key Performance Indicators, Report No. 456, November 2011) and The Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), (Guidelines for Process Safety Metrics, ISBN 978-0-470-57212-2, October, 2009). However, the identification of risks associated with high hazard operations, usually conducted upfront (HAZIDs, HAZOPS, FMEAs, etc.), do not necessarily show the whole picture. Advanced targeted analyses into some of the leading KPIs helps eni improve its Operations and Maintenance Departments.

Process Safety Tier 1 and Tier 2 events are well known, but they are lagging indicators and do not predict failure. This study focuses on Tier 3 and Tier 4 events that are statistically valuable and provide insight to eni's activities. These KPIs capture the number of demands on emergency shut-down systems, abnormal safety system and permissive overrides for operational purposes, asset integrity stressing, and corrective and preventive maintenance activities.

Analyses and control chart comparisons of the process as it reaches or exceeds the process control limits gives an understanding of the functioning of the SCE and an understanding of the sensitivities of the processes changing conditions. Identifying process variations that exceed control limits helps eni to improve process safety, reduce production downtime, and increase profitability.
Experimental Study on Mechanisms of Wax Removal During Pipeline Pigging
Authors: Wang Wenda , Huang Qiyu , Liu Yangjin , Sepehrnoori Kamy
Published: September 2015

Pigging is widely used in pipelines for wax removal. However, pigging operation relies heavily on “rule-of-thumb.” Because of its complexity and lack of methods, the wax removal mechanism is still poorly understood. This work aims to reveal the nature of the wax breaking process and thus promote understanding of wax removal physics. A unique experimental setup is designed and constructed to perform a series of wax removal experiments. The test section consisting of a 50-mm-ID, 600-mm-long, horizontal pipe has an accurate temperature control for wax casting and removal process. Different types of polyurethane pigs without oversize against the test section were used for the experiments to eliminate the influence of friction force between the pig and the pipe wall. Mixtures of crude oil and field wax deposit were cast inside the test section to carry out the experiments. In particular, a novel yield stress measurement was introduced into this study to characterize the wax hardness.

The effects of wax thickness, mixing ratio of wax deposit to oil, pipe wall temperature, shape and aggressiveness of polyurethane pig on wax breaking force were investigated comprehensively. In particular, the dependences of wax breaking force on the pig aggressiveness and pipe wall temperature are clarified for the first time. In addition, it is found that the relationship between wax failure stress and yield stress can be well fitted as a linear relation. Furthermore, the dependences of wax breaking force on the wax hardness and pig design being used are revealed quantitatively. Subsequently, it is concluded that there is an overwhelming effect between wax failure stress and yield stress, where the wax failure stress exceeds the yield stress of the same wax deposit during the wax removal process. The findings of this paper are beneficial in determining the optimal de-waxing frequency and evaluating the pigging risks.