bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generic Health / Safety / Environment Cases
Authors: Kelland A. N. , Primrose M. , Pickles J. C.
Published: December 2007

A desire to implement HSE Management Systems including HSE Cases in all Shell companies operations prompted the development of a relational data base software package (THESIS) to provide a structured way of preparing tin HSE Case. The software includes features which facilitate the management of 'Keeping the Case Alive", enabling the dissemination of tasks and hazard information to the workplace.

During the software development it was recognised that a significant reduction could be made in the resources which would be required to prepare an HSE Case for each and every operation by the building of "Generic HSE Cases" addressing specific activities which were repeated across the Company's operations, This was recognised to be particularly valid for the smaller Single String Venture type of operations. The activities selected for the initial Generic HSE Case development include Land Drilling Operations, Land Seismic Acquisition, and Land Transport.

To establish the Generic HSE Case, the THESIS data base is populated with data for a generic operation, identifying all the hazards and activities associated with that operation including all the associated controls, with established formats for the textual sections. In effect, the Generic Case defines the smndards required for that type of operation. To generate an operation specific HSE Case, the Generic Case thereafter requires to be modified/adapted so that it represents the actual situation in the operation which it defines. This process includes itemisation of all the operation specific details, and may involve the inclusion/deletion of any additional/existing activities or hazards together with their associated controls.

Through the use of THESIS and the Generic Drilling HSE Case which has been developed, it has been established that a local specific Drilling HSE Case may be produced within two months by a small dedicated team; a significant reduction when compared with to the early Cases, which demanded man years of effort.
Risk Perception and Safety in the UK Offshore Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Flin Rhona H. , Mearns Kathryn , Gordon Rachael P. E. , Fleming Mark T.
Published: December 2007

This paper presents a selection of the final results from a study of risk perception and safety attitudes in workers on UKCS offshore oil and gas platforms, which was sponsored by the HSE Offshore Safety Division, Amerada Hess, British Gas, BP, Conoco, Elf Enterprise and Total Oil Marine1. The study was designed in conjunction with Dr Rundmo of Trondheim University who was carrying out a matched survey with Norwegian offshore workers for the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate2. A representative sample of 622 UKCS workers on six production platforms were surveyed about their job characteristics, perceived risks, safety attitudes, safety satisfaction, accidents and injuries and the Safety Case. The results indicate that the relative feelings of safety in relation to major hazards (e.g. explosion, blow-out) are aligned with QRA calculations. In general, the workforce feel safe but are aware of the hazards in their environment. Further analyses and statistical modelling indicates that organisational factors (e.g. management commitment to safety, safety attitudes) have the greatest direct effect on workers' perception of risk and their satisfaction with safety measures. The British and Norwegian data sets are now being merged and preliminary findings will be mentioned. To explore the emerging issues further, a new study on human factors in UK offshore safety has just been launched with the support of OSD, OCA and six operating and contractor companies. A brief outline will be presented.
Oil Contamination of Fish in the North Sea. Determination of Levels and Identification of Sources
Authors: Johnsen S. , Restucci R. , Klungsoyr J.
Published: December 2007

Oil Contamination of Fish in the North Sea. Determination of Levels and Identification of Sources.

Two fish species, cod and haddock have been sampled from five different regions in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, the Haltenbanken and the Barents Sea. Three of the five sampling areas were located in regions with no local oil or gas production, while the remaining two areas represented regions with high density of oil and gas production fields. A total of 25 specimen of each of the two fish species were collected, and liver (all samples) and muscle (10 samples from each group) were analysed for the content of total hydrocarbons (THC), selected aromatic compounds (NPD and PAH) and bicyclic aliphatic decalines.

The present paper outlines the results of liver samples analyses from four of the sampled regions, the northern North Sea region and the three reference regions Egersundbanken, Haltenbanken and the Barents Sea. In general, no significant difference was observed between the hydrocarbon levels within the sampled regions. The only observed exception was a moderate, but significant increase in decaline levels in haddock liver from the Northern North Sea region. The qualitative interpretation of the results showed that the sources of hydrocarbon contamination varied within the total sampling area. This observation indicates that the local discharge sources in areas with high petroleum production activity are the sources of hydrocarbons in fish from such areas. However, it was not possible to identify single discharges as a contamination source from the present results.

Introduction

Determination of levels oh total hydrocarbons (THC) and selected PAH in fish was originally included in the regular environmental monitoring programme for offshore petroleum installations in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. In a work shop hosted by SFT (the Norwegian State Pollution Control) in 1988, these analyses were left out of the monitoring guide-lines. This decision was made as a result of the lack of available standardised analytical methods for determining such compounds in a biological matrix, and, the fact that the results presented in the annual reports were of relatively low quality regarding precision and accuracy. The lack of good reference material in the monitoring surveys for this purpose was also a prominent factor in this decision.

In 1989, the Marine Research Institute (MRI) performed a study where fish caught in the vicinity of the Statfjord field was analysed for hydrocarbon content and potential tainting (Palmork et al. 1989) The conclusion of this work was that the fish was indeed contaminated by oil from drill cuttings discharged in the area.

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Drilling Cuttings on the Sea Bed: the Options
Authors: Booth M. J.
Published: December 2007

The paper considers the options available to operators for the treatrnem of drilling cuttings on the seabed under and around the offshore installations on the UKCS (UK Continental Shelf).

The options range from leaving in place to removal or bioremediaiion.

There are a number of practical problems to be overcome and not enough is known about the environmental effects of disturbing the cuttings. Further research and development is suggested.
Offshore Petroleum Installations in the North Sea used as Fish Aggregating Devices - Potential and Suggestions for Preparation, Management and Monitoring
Authors: Aabel J. P. , Cripps S. J. , Kjeilen G.
Published: December 2007

There are approximately 70 working and planned structures in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The majority are steel-legged installations (oil and gas jackets) placed in depths ranging from 70 to 200 m. Several oil fields and structures are soon to be abandoned. Production from the North-east Frigg and Odin fields, was stopped in 1993 and 1994 respectively.

From a technical and safety viewpoint, most of the structures are probably removable. Economically, concern has been expressed as to whether it is necessary to remove to shore all the installations. A positive environmental impact may be achieved by using some of the structures as fish aggregating devices.

The implications of creating an artificial reef from a steel jacket by toppling in-place are discussed. A typical steel jacket in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea weighs 5,000 - 10,000 tonnes (excluding piles) and has a volume of 100,000 -150,000 m3. It may also be possible to utilise some of the deck modules. Technical and biological aspects relating to artificial reef establishment are reviewed, including the identification of the chemicals and materials that need to be removed prior to toppling. Suggestions for further management and monitoring for documentation purposes, are reviewed A 5 year monitoring programme protocol is proposed.

The creation of a test reef from a steel jacket would present an ideal opportunity to obtain essential data, hitherto lacking in the North Sea, on the usefulness of high profile steel reefs as fisheries management tools. Data obtained would also be used to propose effective North Sea reef management and exploitation strategies. The suitability of using material arising from the petroleum industry, as components for artificial reefs, seeks to be determined.
Practical Completion and Production Practices in The Mississippi-Alabama Jurassic Trend
Authors: Hildebrandt W.W.
Published: December 2007

The normally-pressured reservoirs of the Mississippi-Alabama Jurassic Trend are usually produced with allowable rates of 300 to 500 BOPD per well. Gas produced with the oil frequently contains one to four percent hydrogen sulfide. Because of the high producing rates and the presence of hydrogen sulfide, completion and production practices have been designed to provide practices have been designed to provide both a safe and economical method of depletion. A review of these practices is the objective of this paper.

In addition to the application of successful completion techniques used elsewhere, an increase in curing time has improved primary cementing. Current cement bond logging practices, which incorporate acoustic scope logging, have eliminated unnecessary squeeze-cementing and have contributed greatly toward reduced completion expense. The placing of acetic acid opposite the productive zone prior to perforating has minimized completion perforating has minimized completion time and reduced pump-in pressures if further stimulation is necessary.

Production personnel are thoroughly trained in the hazards of hydrogen sulfide and the use of recommended safety equipment. Pressure buildup data, obtained by wireline, Pressure buildup data, obtained by wireline, is successfully used to determine stimulation requirements and obtain other reservoir information. Inexpensive corrosion-monitoring techniques are utilized to improve equipment design and reduce failures.

Introduction

The Jurassic Trend of Mississippi and Alabama consists of sandstone and carbonate reservoirs extending southeastward from Jackson, Mississippi. A map of the Jurassic Trend in the Mississippi-Alabama area is presented in Figure 1.
Environmental Risk and the Business Bottom Line
Authors: Wright N. H.
Published: December 2007

Demands for the integration of environmental considerations into the business priorities of leading companies are gathering momentum. Potentially devastating financial losses linked to environmental problems ormismanagement and perceptions of environmental issues, has alarmed the public, financial and insurance sectors together with key stakeholders.

Expensive lessons have been learned in recent years - poor environmental design and management can undoubtedly lead to escalation of overall costs to meet changing standards and end of life cycle decommissioning bills. Environmental impact not only damages profitability but erodes the corporate asset base. Even suspicion of land contamination can wipe out market values of real estate.

Comprehensive screening of business portfolios, investment plans, and existing assets for sources of environmental risk from concept to divestment, is crucial to ensure environmentally sound investment, to protect assets and minimise both environmental impact and future liability.

Today's key stakeholders and financial sectors are looking beyond the existing balance sheets of companies and now scrutinise their environmental credentials to ensure wise investment.

Recent developments in environmental risk as a tool for placing environment on the balance sheet of private and public companies will be presented, using selected examples geared to the exploration and production business, together with the needs for a common, international framework for environmental risk strategies.
Ranking Environmental Liabilities in the Petroleum Industry
Authors: Lupo Mark J.
Published: December 2007

An exploration, production, transportation, or refining com-pany may have numerous discontinued operations, as well as active process units that may emit potentially hazardous chem-icals into the environment. These sources can impact different environmental media including air, soil, groundwater, the un-saturated zone above the water table, and surface water. The number of chemicals of concern may be large. A procedure is put forth for ranking the sources by considering the impact of each chemical in each medium from each source in terms of concentration, release rate, and a weighted index based on toxi-city. In addition to environmental impact, the sources can be ranked in three other ways: (1) by cost to remediate, (2) by environmental risk reduction, and (3) by cost benefit. Ranking each remediation project enables management to realize the maximum benefit from environmental remediation projects by strategically planning the investment of limited resources. An example is presented in which a subset of the remediation projects is chosen for funding. If the sources were chosen for re-mediation based on their risk, one would achieve more than 95% of the planned risk reduction at nearly 75% of the total cost of all of the projects. On the other hand, if the projects were selected based on the cost-benefit analysis, 85% of the planned risk reduction could be attained with only 15.5% of the planned budget.
Consolidate and Gravel Pack in One Step
Authors: Carnes James D. , Mixon Arthur M.
Published: December 2007

Over 500 field applications have been made with a sand control process which achieves gravel packing and sand consolidation in essentially one treating step. It was designed to improve conventional gravel packing and yet offer advantages over sand control achieved by gravel packing followed by sand consolidation techniques.

In a related application, successful repair of damaged areas in wire-wrapped screens or slotted liners in place has been accomplished with this method. This has eliminated the expense of pulling and repairing or replacing the screening device and then repacking.

The application of the resin-sand pack method of sand control results in a strong, highly permeable filter around the wellbore. In addition, a portion of the formation sand may be consolidated with the treatment, resulting in an effective screen for preventing formation fines from entering the preventing formation fines from entering the pack sand and acting as a possible deterrent pack sand and acting as a possible deterrent to production declines which frequently follow gravel packs. The consolidated pack sand offers additional strength over gravel packs to withstand overburden and other stresses. This will tend to lessen damage to casing and cement jobs. Also, in conventional perforated casing completion treatments, perforated casing completion treatments, mechanical screening devices are generally not needed.

The method described uses selected pack sand coated by a small quantity of furfuryl alcohol resin finely dispersed in a low viscosity oil. This provides for all the pack sand's being resin-coated. This method pack sand's being resin-coated. This method is generally more economical than gravel packs followed by consolidation techniques since the latter method normally requires more resin to coat all the gravel pack solids. Low pump rates may be used to minimize damage to the formation. The resin can be externally or internally catalyzed, a feature which allows flexibility of this method for use in perforated casing completions, around liners perforated casing completions, around liners in casing or open hole, or for repairing holes in old gravel screens or liners.
Surveillance of Health, Working Environment and Industrial Hygiene
Authors: Ulven Arne J.
Published: December 2007

A method for systematic surveying of health and working environment has been developed by Statoil. The method meets relevant Norwegian acts and regulations (refs. 1 through 5). The survey is done in one organizational unit at a time and is performed by health and working environment personnel with extensive involvement of the managers and employees of the department The method ensures that the findings are followed up by actions.
Substance-Abuse Testing in Overseas E&P Operations
Authors: Chockchai K. , Cook A. N.
Published: December 2007

The Company introduced its Substance Abuse Program in February 1995 to cover all of the workforce including contractors in its operations. This program supports the safety program in terms of loss prevention, accident prevention and employee performance problems which may be related to substance abuse in the workplace. The company has many work locations with distinctly different operational character-istics. It employs over 1,100 employees and 1,100 contractors of which 1,000 personnel are employed on offshore facilities; this requires a major logistics effort. The program is designed to be fair and equitable. The individuals to be tested are se-lected by a PC driven random number program. The testing program is treated confidentially. The chain of custody is carefully controlled. Disciplinary action complies with Thai labor law1. The results of the twelve month program show that a total of 1.083 breath alcohol and 1,200 urine samples were tested for all causes. The results showed that only 0.55% and I 25% of breath alcohol and urine samples respectively were positive
Drug and Alcohol Abuse: The Pattern and Magnitude of the Problem
Authors: Ajayi P. A.
Published: December 2007

In the last 12 months, many more cases of alcohol and drug (substance) abuse in the workplace were seen in the Escravos operations of Chevron Nigeria Limited than in previous years. This called the attention to the rising prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse in contradistinction to reports from similar organizations in other parts of the world. Chevron Nigeria has a written Drug and Alcohol Policy which has been dormant for some time because of the apparent rarity of the problem of substance abuse in the workplace. This Policy is being reviewed to broaden its scope and make it more effective. A total of 30 employees were tested for drugs and alcohol. 6 exceeded the legal limits of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and 5 tested positive for drugs. Tests were mainly post-accident, reasonable cause and random. The common substances abused were alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and morphine in that order. The findings are compared with those of similar organizations in UK and USA. Efforts to control substance abuse in the workplace are being put into place.
The Development and Field Testing of a Less Hazardous and Technically Superior Oil Based Drilling Fluid
Authors: Kenny P. , Norman M. , Friestad A. M. , Risvik B.
Published: December 2007

This paper describes the development and subsequent field results of a new invert emulsion, low toxicity, oil based drilling fluid (LTOBM). The new fluid was developed in response to the anticipated increased usage of LTOBM, and primary considerations in the development were those of working conditions, the environment, technical performance and economics.

Developments in invert emulsion drilling fluids have, over recent years, been concentrated in the areas of reducing environmental impact, and improving technical performance. LTOBM have, as a result of this, been largely replaced by synthetic based drilling fluids (SBM), which exhibit similar, or improved technical performance, whilst claiming to have reduced environmental impact. This development focus has resulted in very few changes being made to LTOBM since the replacement of diesel by low toxicity mineral oil.

The occupational health hazards involved in using SBM have, however, proven to be similar, or occasionally worse, than with LTOBM. Such health problems can be mainly attributed to two components; the base fluid and lime, the latter being a major contributor to skin irritation problems, and the former to both skin irritation, and inhalation problems There has been a lack of occupational health studies carried out with respect to the use of SBM compared to LTOBM.

This paper describes the laboratory testing conducted, and results obtained during the development, where several base fluids were screened, along with a multitude of fluid additives, prior to obtaining the optimal formulation. The final fluid was designed for use on high temperature high pressure wells and extended reach wells, as well as more "normal wells". The laboratory data presented is supported by field data from the successful use of the system as a worker friendly, high performance, LTOBM drilling fluid.
The Challenge of Performing Safer Coiled Tubing Operations
Authors: Van Adrichem Willem P. , Godsman John M.
Published: December 2007

The substantial growth in coiled tubing services over the past several years has increased both the frequency of lost time injuries and potential for job execution related incidents.

As the industry realizes the additional benefits of coiled tubing e g. well intervention under pressure, efficiency, selective placement of fluids down hole and drilling, it is obvious that pipe size has, and will continue to increase. Pipe size has increased from a modest 1 1/4" outside diameter ten years ago to outside diameters in excess of 2 7/8" being used on a regular basis to-day. In addition the development of programs to predict pipe fatigue and down hole stresses have encouraged operators to become more confident with the service.

To accommodate these larger pipe diameters the size and capability of pipe handling equipment e.g. injector heads and reels, as well as well control equipment e.g. BOPs and stripper assemblies have had to increase substantially. This increase in weight and dimensions creates additional hazards.
The Removal of Odors and Pyrophorics from Produced Water Sites, Sour Water Tanks, and Process Equipment using Potassium Permanganate
Authors: Vella Philip
Published: December 2007

In the production of oil, the water that is generated contains a number of different organic and inorganic compounds. The compounds that commonly cause problems are those having an odor such as mercaptans and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Disposal of this water is becoming increasingly difficult due to environmental restrictions, especially concerning sulfides. Previous methods for disposal, such as deep well injection, are no longer acceptable. Other alternatives must be found.

A similar problem exists at a refinery with respect to sour water. Sour water is defined as any water, process or otherwise, that is contaminated with H2S. The sour water is usually cycled between a sour water tank and the unit process requiring the water. At some point in time, the water becomes too contaminated for use in the process, and must be discharged. The water is usually stored in a sour water tank, which can also contain organic sludge, suspended solids, dissolved organics, and other hazardous materials.

In addition to removing sulfides, oil and gas facilities have to contend with pyrophoric materials, e.g. pyrophoric iron sulfide. Pyrophoric iron sulfide is formed when sulfide laden hydrocarbon streams come in contact with any source of iron in the absence of oxygen. During normal plant operations, pyrophoric iron does not cause a problem. However, when specific units are opened for inspection and maintenance, the potential for a pyrophoric iron sulfide fire is significant.
Marine Management Efforts for the Pagerungan Gas Development
Authors: Hamzah Amir , Saleh A. Adjiz , Budhi Takdir Satya
Published: December 2007

ARCO and Pertamina in Indonesia have developed and are producing from gas reserves in the Pagerungan Field. The gas production has provided a clean burning fuel for power plants in East Java that were burning diesel oil and coal in the past. Conversion of these plants to natural gas has been beneficial to local air quality and has economic benefits for the area as a result of reducing operating expenses and diversifying fuel sources. The substantial commercial gas reserves of Pagerungan Field were discovered 1985. The gas producing facilities were built in 1991 -1993 on Pagerungan and were designed for 350 MMSCFD of dry gas and 3,500 bbl/day of condensate. About 9 of the 16 planned wells are producing. The gas and condensate sales commenced on January 1994. In Pagerungan island, the aquatic marine environment plays an important role in sustaining organisms which in turn provide both employment and business opportunities for the local people. The Pagerungan gas development has been completed with a series of environmental studies. The studies point out that the development is likely to have a significant impact on the marine environment. For this reason, the company are responsible for managing and monitoring these possible effects and taking action to mitigate potential or actual problems. In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the company have managed the coral communities, prevented nursery ground degradation and controlled marine pollution, installed artificial reefs and improved local fishermen’s incomes. The discharge of waste disposal into marine water and dredging and drilling works on reef communities and nursery ground areas have been selected as the highest priority in marine management activities. All wastes produced by development activities have been treated by using the current available technology in Indonesia. As a socio economical support, artificial reefs, ice plant & cold storage facilities have been constructed on the island to improve the fishermen’s incomes. To support these efforts, marine and socio-economic monitoring has been implemented on the island. Presently, the marine environment of Pagerungan is still in very good condition. The live coral community is still healthy and the fishermen can harvest commercial fish without any environmental degradation. To maintain these marine condition and improve the marine quality as well as the fishermen’s incomes, mangrove trees have been planted around Pagerungan.
Recent Case Histories of Foam Drilling in Brazil
Authors: Lage A. C. V. M. , Nakagawa E. Y. , de Souza A. A. , Santos F. M. M.
Published: December 2007

Since 1994, Petrobras has been testing stable nitrogen foam to drill a series of wells in low pressure oil production zones. In the first tests, the operations were conducted under both situations, overbalanced and underbalanced with the main purpose of accessing the operational feasibility and the economic benefits of such drilling technique. This work analyzes information available after these tests, based on some relevant aspects; (1) well productivity; (2) drilling performance; (3) economic advantages; and (4) need for further developments.

Two vertical wells were drilled in Carmopolis Field, one overbalanced and the other underbalanced. The initial results have shown that the productivity improved substantially (almost four times) compared to a conventionally drilled well. In the beginning of 1995, a third well was drilled in Candeias Field, in a fractured carbonate reservoir. In spite of loss of circulation being the most common drilling problem in the area, the well was successfully drilled overbalanced. The increase in penetration rate was significant, bringing about a reduction in the overall drilling costs. Because of such encouraging results, Petrobras is planning to reenter the Candeias Field well and drill three short radius horizontal underbalanced wells until the end of this year.

Finally, at the end of 1995, foam was also applied in an exploratory well in Parana Basin, where two high permeability and low pressure sandstone reservoirs were drilled, reducing formation damage. As the reservoirs were just below a thick layer of basalt, it was observed that foam drilling has twofold penetration rate in such hard rock.

Despite the observed operational and economical viability, some crucial topics still demands intense R&D efforts.
Forging Alliances in a State Oil Company
Authors: Ransome G. , Kadera S. , John M.
Published: December 2007

Forging alliances in a State Oil Company (SOC) implies the fusion of key internal stakeholders: the state, labour and employees with management to form a strong, cohesive foundation which underpins the viability of the company. It is a fundamental prerequisite upon which any successful strategic alliance is to be built.

Forging State alliances underscores the need for both the state and management to understand and compliment each other's peculiar roles so that the SOC may overcome the dilemma of complying with a multiplicity of conflicting goals. Forging labour alliances is an imperative if the SOC is to make the adjustments necessary to ensure its survival in a highly competitive world. Forging employees alliances signifies creating the right environment that excites the company into action and which propels the individual to soar to ever increasing heights of achievement.
A Look at Abnormally Pressured Formations in the U.S.S.R.
Authors: Fertl Walter H.
Published: December 2007

Abnormally pressured formations occur worldwide and are the cause of many drilling and production problems. This study takes a look at more than 100 wells penetrating Devonian, Carboniferous, Mesozoic and Tertiary formations in the USSR, in which formation pressures other than hydrostatic have been pressures other than hydrostatic have been encountered. Some data on geology, salinity and the pressure-hydrocarbon relationship supplement this discussion.

Introduction

A look at the world map shows that the regional structure of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics' (USSR) land somewhat resembles that of the U.S., except that the relation of plains and mountains is reversed. A comprehensive discussion of the geology in the USSR has been given by Nalivkin.

Russia's oil industry dates back to the last century, the first successful well being drilled in 1871 in the Kuban region in the Caucasus foothills. However, oil seeps in this area were known for centuries. As early as the 13th century, Marco Polo, the Venetian traveler, reported seeing caravans carrying oil from Baku on the Caspian Sea on his way to Kublai's court in Peking, China.

Today, the Russians have found and developed numerous hydrocarbon deposits, with current emphasis on wildcatting in the central areas of Europe Russia and Eastern Siberia. With the exception of the Caspian Sea and possibly the Black Sea, there appears to be no possibly the Black Sea, there appears to be no hurry to develop potential offshore reserves. Existence of numerous untested onshore prospects and lagging offshore technology seem to be the main reasons. Nevertheless, during the first half of 1970 the USSR produced oil at an average rate of 6,937,000 B/D with proved crude reserves at 58 billion bbl and, according to the 1970 International Gas Industry Congress in Moscow, proved gas reserves reached 425 Tcf. The proved gas reserves reached 425 Tcf. The Russians, already leading the world in proved natural gas reserves, expect to double them in the next 10 years. Table 1 gives some additional data on drilling and production in the USSR during 1968 and 1969.
Case History: Comparison of Advanced MWD and Wireline Resistivity Tools in Thinly Laminated Reservoirs, Offshore, Trinidad
Authors: May Bruce , Dattoo Bobby , Roeth Richard , Oberkircher Jim
Published: December 2007

A direct comparison of the two most advanced resistivity devices currently in use, the MWD based EWR Phase 4TM and the wireline run Array Induction Tool(AIT)TM, is made. Both tools were run in a well drilled off of the East Coastof Trinidad by Amoco Trinidad Oil Company. The tools are run in theirrespective environments to enhance reservoir identification and characterization in thin, highly laminated reservoirs. The objective intervalin this area was thought to have this type of reservoir characteristic. Bothuse multiple depths of investigation combined with good vertical resolution to determine true resistivity (Rt) and to identify invasion profiles. A comparison of the results of the tools are related to previous efforts with other logging devices and actual production results. The two tools are compared through both thinly laminated and thick sand sequences.

Introduction:

Samaan B-8(ST)X well in Samaan Field, offshore Trinidad provides anopportunity to compare resistivity log response between the MWD EWR Phase 4tool and a high resolution wireline resistivity tool such as the ArrayInduction Tool in a thinly laminated sandstone reservoir. Recognition of pay inthinly laminated low resistivity sand sequences similar to the Samaan Field 4BSand reservoir is important in an active exploitation program in this field. The EWR Phase 4 and the AIT obtain resistivity information under differing borehole and invasion conditions. Both resistivity devices respond to the thinly laminated nature of the 4B Sand reservoir.

Tool Specifications

EWR Phase 4

The EWR Phase 4 (Figure 1.) is a multiple depth of investigation MWD resistivity device that uses four transmitter receiver spacings. From these spacings, different depths of investigations can be derived using phase, attenuation or a combined phase/attenuation based measurement. The spacings include X-shallow (EWXP, 6-12 inches radius of investigation); Shallow (EWSP,12-18 inches); Medium (EWMP, 24-30 inches); and Deep (EWDP, 36-40 inches). The three shallower reading devices propagate at a frequency of 2 MHz, while the deep reading curve is at 1 MHz.

The Array Induction Tool

The AIT Tool (Figure 2.) is also a multiple depth of investigation resistivity device. It utilizes 8 mutually balanced induction arrays, whose main coil spacings range from a few inches to several feet3. A single transmitter coil operates simultaneously on several frequencies between 105 Hz to 104 Hz range.

P. 709
Oil and Los Angeles - An Environmental Triumph
Authors: Spaulding Arthur O.
Published: December 2007

Early in 1969 an oil well blew out of control in the Santa Barbara Channel. Contemporaneously, public opinion erupted in an outpouring of sentiment for environmental quality and vituperation against the oil industry. Some of the events that followed the Santa Barbara blowout are (1) the statutory depletion allowance was reduced from 27 1/2 percent to 22 percent; (2) the sale of federal leases in the percent; (2) the sale of federal leases in the (Gulf of Mexico was postponed for 2 years; (3) the construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline has been indefinitely postponed; (4) drilling in waters under California State jurisdiction is now prohibited; and more locally, Occidental Petroleum Corp. was denied a permit to drill in Petroleum Corp. was denied a permit to drill in one of the more scenic portions of the City of Los Angeles. A less discernible but highly significant result has been a diminished exploration effort by the oil industry to find new hydrocarbon reserves in the U.S.

In this onslaught of environmania, drilling in the City of Los Angeles continues relatively unabated, and the City remains the paragon of social compatibility for oil operations. For example, last year not only were 37 onshore wells completed throughout the highly populated central part of Los Angeles, but, also, the City authorized the first and only offshore exploratory well drilled in California waters since Channel blowout. These operations, like the predecessors, were conducted in total harmony predecessors, were conducted in total harmony with aesthetic considerations and without incident.

Oil operators and the City of Los Angeles have compiled an impressive record in the past 18 years. At the moment, 350 wells located in 18 controlled drillsites, or islands, produce oil at the rate of 40,000 B/D and have been responsible for the recovery of about 120,000,000 bbl of oil from an urban location. The success of these operations, however, is not to be measured in statistics, but rather in social attitudes. The City Planning Commission has just given the urban oil business a ringing endorsement by unanimously rejecting a proposal that would have phased production out of the City over the next 10 years.

Introduction

The year 1969 began like any other year in recent memory with football games and the residue of the night before. On the West Coast we were deluged not only with the tinsel of the new year, but also with vast amounts of rainfall and emotional rhetoric associated with an oilwell failure in the Santa Barbara Channel. It is now more than 2 years after the event, and the environment of the Channel appears to be relatively unchanged, in sharp contrast with the state of the domestic energy supply that may never be the same again.
Health Assessment of Fitness to Work in the E&P Industry : an E&P Forum Initiative
Authors: Barbey A.
Published: December 2007

Health assessment is an essential part of health risk management. It allows the company's medical advisor to identify medical conditions which determine an individual's Fitness to work. It is in the individual's and the company's interest to determine whether or not he or she is fit to undertake duties within certain given conditions.

Assessing an employee's fitness to work has always been a costly and controversial subject varying from one country to another and from one oil field company to another within the same country. What is fitness to work? How often should an employee be examined? What clinical, biological or radiological examinations should be performed upon preemployment or upon routine assessment for the various job categories within the Exploration and Production (E&P) Industry? What is the difference between health assessment, health screening and health surveillance?

A task force was developed by the E&P Forum Committee on Safety, Health and Personal Competence (SHAPC) and chaired by the author. This international committee met regularly throughout 1994 and 1995.

The committee consisted of physicians experienced in occupational health with practical knowledge of the specific working conditions and constraints observed in the E&P industry world-wide. This document, like other E&P Forum documents, was extensively reviewed in draft by senior management and health professionals of many interested companies.

The committee produced a modular system of guidelines covering pre-employment and periodic assessments for the various job categories within the E&P industry: i.e. catering staff, off shore employees, video display units, respiratory protective equipment, temporary employment (less than three months), local or national employees, employees working outside of their country of domicile and their dependents, etc.. The committee provided recommendations on frequency, content and medical standards of a health assessment for each of the E&P job categories as well as guidelines for handling of medical data, reporting employee fitness, transfemng and analyzing medical data.
Multilayer Reservoir Testing with Multiprobe Wireline Formation Tester
Authors: Kuchuk Fikri J. , Ramakrishnan T.S. , Ayan Cosan , Akbar Mahmood , Mahmoud Yahia , Young Neil , Al-Matroushi Salem
Published: December 2007

Multilayer Reservoir Testing with Multiprobe Wireline Formation Tester.

Four multiprobe wireline formation pressure transient tests were performed in a well in the Thamama formation. The main purpose of the tests was to estimate vertical communication across what were perceived to be thin, tight layers. The tests were unique because they had sink and horizontally offset probes, and two vertical probes - the farther one being almost ten feet away from the sink.

The downhole tests were complemented by extensive core measurements of porosity, vertical and horizontal permeabilities, and other petrophysical properties. The cores and the wellbore images obtained through the formation micro imager were depth matched. A reservoir model comprising 30 layers was used to analytically model the tested region for pressure transient propagation. The layer model was constructed based on the geological description, openhole logs, and the resistivity images. The data from the wellbore multiprobe interference tests were used to estimate the layer horizontal and vertical permeabilities using a nonlinear least-squares estimation method. The permeabilities from cores, pretests, and multiprobe tests were found to compare favorably. In addition, the pretest permeabilities along the wellbore, which correspond to endpoint effective permeabilities in the filtrate invaded region are within 50% of the core values. This suggests a weakly wet formation. The following results have been deduced from our study:–Vertical communication across zones of interest; - Horizontal and vertical permeabilities on probe spacing length scales;–Integration of high-resolution wellbore images with multiprobe measurements;–Reconciliation of core and log data with multiprobe pressure transient tests for new insights into vertical continuity.

Introduction

This paper presents the interpretation of four multiprobe pressure transient tests conducted at four locations along the wellbore with Modular Formation Dynamics Tester (MDT) in Well X in the carbonate Thamama reservoir. The multiprobe formation tester (MDT) is shown in Fig. 1 and is described in detail by Zimmerman et al. A four-probe configuration, as also shown in Fig. 1, that consists of sink and horizontal probes (dual-probe module) and two single vertical-probe modules, was used to perform these transient tests. The sink-observation probe spacings are 2.3 ft for the first vertical probe (V1) and 10.3 ft for the second one (V2) as shown in Fig. 1. For each transient test, the pressure distribution in the formation was created by producing (withdrawing) fluids through the sink probe with the pumpout module or one-gallon sample chamber. The pumpout module consists of dual chambers that alternate the pumping of formation fluids into the borehole. The reciprocating piston pumps hydraulic oil into the pump-out module displacement unit.

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Identifying the Controls on Waterflood Performance in a Giant Carbonate Reservoir
Authors: O' Hanlon M. E. , Black C. J. J. , Webb K. J. , Bin-Daaer G. , El-Tawil A.
Published: December 2007

The performance of most Abu Dhabi fields to date has not been dramatically impacted by waterflood characteristics. However, a stage has now been reached in field life when current and future reservoir management decisions depend more critically on the prediction and understanding of waterflood performance.

A large number of water / oil relative permeability datasets have been generated on the reservoir studied, by a number of different laboratories. Upon review, a wide scatter was observed in the historical data, both within individual reservoirs and between equivalent horizons, which could not be systematically related to variations in lithology, depth or wettability. To reduce this uncertainty a review of the data was performed to identify the controls on relative permeability behaviour.

A screening process was developed to identify core data validity based on a mechanistic understanding of the impact of different core acquisition procedures, core preparation and laboratory methods. Statistical analysis of the data sought to establish systematic correlations indicating dependency on physical rock properties.

The statistical analysis established that no single property controlled waterflood behaviour. A combination of lithology, sample zone, permeability and Swi appeared to be the major control on water – oil relative permeability. Separating the data by lithotype, sample zone, permeability and Swi, significantly reduced the scatter in the experimental data

Because of the laboratory procedures adopted by the different laboratories, these historical datasets are unlikely to represent waterflood behaviour in the field. However, the observed

trends in the historical data are compared and contrasted with data from recent high quality experimental studies.
Profile Modification in Water Injection Wells by Polymer Treatments
Authors: Glenat Ph. , Zaborowski G. , Loppinet A.
Published: December 2007

Chemical treatments of water injectors have been performed at the Romashkino oil field located in Tatarstan (Russia). This sandstone reservoir is heterogeneous (9 to 12 layers) and fractures are suspected due to its extensive water-flooding for decades. Since 1992, 134 injection wells have been treated for conformance control with 12,000 to 20,000 bbl of hydroxyl-ethyl-cellulose suspensions. The additional oil obtained from the 494 offset producers amounts 4.6 millions barrels and corresponds to 6,500 bopd.

Production data are presented for a selected zone: 12 injectors and 35 producers. It is shown that the treatments have resulted in the areal and vertical modifications of the sweeping efficiency of water.
Recent Advances in Gas Network Synthesis
Authors: Evrenos Attila I. , Rahouz Gerald J. , Vest Gary L. , Jones Robert W.
Published: December 2007

This paper presents new network simulation algorithms that:

(1) drastically affect the formulation of network problems,

(2) permit the simulation of very large networks,

(3) afford large savings in computing cost. These algorithms may be used as computational aids to the design, evaluation, and operation of natural gas gathering, transmission, and distribution systems.

The first algorithm applies to networks without flow circuits. Its designation "CINS - I", is an acronym for Converging Information Network Simulator. The second algorithm is a modified version of CINS - I, designed to simulate networks with few flow circuits. Its acronym is "CINS - II". The third algorithm is a combination of CINS -I and the Newton-Raphson Method, which is used for very large multi-circuit networks. It is called "GINS", which is the acronym for General Information Network Simulator. The power of the CINS algorithms stem from the circumvention of matrix manipulations normally encountered in network simulation. GINS is designed to greatly reduce the size of the matrices required in the Newton-Raphson Method and to exploit the sparseness of the reduced matrices. Several applications of the algorithms to typical gas networks are also given.

Introduction

The gratification of a modern society is deeply imbedded in a maze of networks which, among other things, collect and disseminate information, transport people, and distribute goods and energy. The enormous investment in and dependence on these networks demand that existing ones be rationally used and the new ones intelligently planned.

"A typical approach to a current decision making problem (i.e. a network design and/or operating decision) is to allow intuition, experience and current knowledge to dictate the selection of factors to be considered. There are some indications that good intuition is a manifestation of the correct mix of factors".