bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Casing Vapor Recovery Optimization and Heavy Oil Maximization through Seasonal Effects
Authors: Gentile Lauren , Larner Erin
Published: April 2017

In this study we suggest a procedure to optimize Casing Vapor Recovery (CVR) systems during seasonal temperature changes. Previous seasonal effects caused several operational upsets. Obtaining physical measurements is costly, and in some cases, not operationally possible. This process is aimed at lowering CVR pressures instantaneously and aiding thermal recovery field operations while maximizing heavy oil production.

Routine CVR sweeps are performed based on business rules before high temperature seasons. Not all wells are fitted with the equipment for such testing. Furthermore, a small sample of wells had casing chokes installed to manage produced steam via pressure drop into the CVR system. For the rest of the operational wells in the field, predictive analytics developed a relationship between produced steam volumes and surface measurements to create a diagnostic tool for managing CVR systems. Measurements of produced steam from individual wells were compared to the empirical equation for validation. Once validated, a forced ranked produced steam to oil ratio (PSOR) was calculated and a report generated.

Historically, spring and summer seasons see decreased CVR system efficiency due to increased ambient air temperature (Figure 3) resulting in less cooling efficiency prior to compression. In order to eliminate operational issues and equipment damage, total gas flow into the CVR system must be decreased. Prior to this project, operations had experienced several process upsets due to the low equipment efficiency. Trouble shooting upsets was difficult and often resulted in production loss. After implementing the PSOR ranked list during ambient air temperature shifts, operations was able to manage casing gas volumes and pressures with minimal impact to production. This process, in conjunction with robust system surveillance, minimizes field upsets and oil production impact during periods of significant ambient air temperature shifts.

The resulting project analytics provide real time PSOR values versus the single point in time physical measurements used in the past, which were ambient air temperature and system upset sensitive.

Additionally, the new CVR optimization through seasonal effect method has changed our operational strategy from an individual well focus to a system wide focus. This change in strategy has increased oil production in summer months relative to the old strategy.
Rapid S-Curve Update Using Ensemble Variance Analysis with Model Validation
Authors: He Jincong , Tanaka Shusei , Wen Xian-Huan , Kamath Jairam
Published: April 2017

Production forecasting for oil and gas reservoir is highly uncertain due to various subsurface uncertainties. Rapid interpretation of measurement data and update of the probabilistic forecast results are crucial for reducing uncertainty and devising high-side capture or low-side mitigation plans. Traditional history-matching-forecasting workflow requires a long life-cycle and a large number of simulations. In this work, we propose a novel method to rapidly update the prediction S-curves given early production data without performing additional simulations or model updates after the data come in.

The proposed method consists of several steps. Before the data come in, we perform an ensemble of simulations to calculate the correlation between the measurement data (e.g. BHP) and the business objective (e.g. EUR). After the data come in, we first perform model validation step based on Mahalanobis distance and statistical testing to determine the validity of the model given observation data. If the model passed the validation test, principal component analysis (PCA) will be applied to precondition the observation data to detect and modify the response which cannot be explained by simulation responses. Finally, an analytical formula based on multi-Gaussian assumption will be used to estimate the posterior S-curve of the business objective.

The approach has been successfully applied in a Brugge waterflood benchmark study, in which the first 2 years of production data (rate and BHP) were used to update the S-curve of the estimated ultimate recovery. Through the study we observed several key advantages of the proposed method. Compared with traditional history matching methods, our proposed method focuses on the data-objective function relationship and thus circumvents the need to update the model parameters and states. The ensemble of simulations can be pre-computed and no additional simulation is needed after data arrives. In addition, our proposed method is insensitive to the number of parameters, and does not require the use of a numerical proxy for simulations, which is normally needed with traditional sampling- based methods.

As far as we know, the proposed workflow, including the model validation and the de-noising techniques, is novel. The proposed workflow is also general enough to be used in other model-based data interpretation applications.
Waterflood Planning and Piloting in a Tight Sandstone with Stimulated Wells: Buena Vista Nose Case Study
Authors: Omelchenko Roman , Wang Guanglan , Klepacki Doug , Cooper Marc
Published: April 2017

The paper covers green field development in a low-permeability reservoir, where water injection is under consideration. To maximize economic value, accurate well placement and key data gathering during delineation and appraisal will allow for early cash flow generation and preservation of ultimate waterflood reserves by operating above the bubble point pressure. Conversely, implementation of pressure support schemes absent information on reservoir connectivity, effective rock/fluid properties, and aquifer strength can result in an over-capitalization of investment via unnecessary expenditures. Implementation of a waterflood in a low matrix permeability system requiring well stimulation to achieve economic oil rates requires more sophisticated reservoir understanding compared to reservoirs with more favorable rock/fluid properties. A properly sequenced multi-disciplinary approach has been successful during reservoir characterization, optimized well/pad placement, well/completion designs, regulatory and land operations. This paper summarizes the approach used to optimize primary production operations while generating waterflood development plans, including challenges and key learnings.
Get Everyone on the Same Curve: Driving Continuous Improvement with Drilling Data Fidelity from Rig to Onshore
Authors: Sharma Meenu , Little Robert , Arumugam Sethupathi , Wang Sophie
Published: April 2017

In recent times there has been a paradigm shift in drilling data consumption. From being utilized only by service companies on the rig, the data is now accessed and analysed by several global stakeholders. As the amount of data being received from multiple sources grows exponentially, more often than not, the data (both real time and historic) is inconsistent across multiple environments. The service companies, rig contractors, operators and onshore environment - each might have multiple variations for the same data. This not only jeopardises the decision making but can have significant financial and reputational repercussions as well. With increased reliance on data, it is advantageous to pay more attention to erroneous data.

This paper focuses on a systematic approach to identify, analyse and address the data fidelity issues triggered by inaccurate, incomplete or inconsistent data which acts as a catalyst in driving continuous improvements and assist decision making.

A comprehensive quantitative and analytical approach is followed to identify missing and non-identical logs and mnemonics that should have been replicated between rig and onshore servers. Various metadata attributes such as sampling frequency, run number, data row count, object growing, data gap, variance between start/end indexes are derived using ETL technique and WITSML API's. This information is used to arrive at definitive statistical indicators such as overall variance and data fidelity score (0-100%) to demonstrate data confidence levels. A case study for a set of rig-onshore environments is used to substantiate the findings. Data fidelity across multiple environments can be represented in a Venn diagram to detect points of failure in a complex rig-onshore server network. Finally, the results with right amount of analytical details are published to stakeholders to ensure easy data access to everyone in their decision making.

The effective use of metadata makes this light weight approach more useful where a full scale big data deployment will be impractical. The trends in data fidelity can be tracked over a prolonged period to ensure data consistency across the global rig fleet and drive continuous improvement in data governance standards, process and software implementation. A fine balance of high level reporting along with the ability to conduct deep dives and support root cause analysis provides powerful tools to various stakeholders.

This approach can be extended to include other WITSML objects to provide an end to end data integrity solution.
Acoustoelastic Estimation of the In Situ Stresses from Sonic Logs for a Carbonate Reservoir
Authors: Samnejad M.. , Aminzadeh F.. , Bubshait A..
Published: April 2017

Knowledge of the magnitude of in situ stresses is crucial to a broad range of applications, particularly drilling, well completion, and hydraulic fracturing design. Stress field characterization is attained by the determination of magnitude and direction of the three principal stresses: the vertical or overburden stress (Sv), the minimum horizontal principal stress (Shmin), and the maximum horizontal principal stress (SHmax). While numerous direct borehole measurements, such as density logs and leak-off tests, provide reliable assessments of Sv and Shmin, estimating local SHmax remains a challenge.

This paper presents a workflow that provides with an approach for estimation and constraining of the maximum horizontal principal stress in a carbonate reservoir from borehole sonic logs, by comparison to the isotropic stress state. Our study was restricted to cases with limited achievable data, namely, conventional logs, which is expected to be the circumstances for most practical applications.

The results were compared to published regional stress reports, with the goal of validating and understanding the variations of stresses at the field scale. Those findings were in agreement with the estimations obtained from other acoustoelastic methods and the region fault regime in terms of the relative obtained magnitudes of the stresses. In addition to an increasing trend in the calculated stress magnitudes with depth, we observe local variations of stresses in this oilfield, that we suspected to be caused partially by the non-uniform distribution of production and injection activities.

The novelty of our proposed workflow is the ability to give borehole estimates of the maximum horizontal principal stress magnitude for a carbonate field located in a regionally compressive zone, without the need for availability of costly measurements, and by taking advantage of techniques to fill in the gaps of limited data, thus, allowing for integrative use of multiple data types that are commonly available.
A Novel Granular Profile Control Agent for Steam Flooding: Synthesis and Evaluation
Authors: Wang Hongsheng , Rabiei Minou , Lei Guanglun , Wang Sai
Published: April 2017

To block big pore throats and channels, caused by high-temperature steam, in vicinity of injection wells of steam flooding, profile control agent should be inject. For the optimum effect, its properties should include excellent heat resistance and some permeability after consolidation, which is beneficial for improvement of sweep coefficient.

In this paper, we do a study on how to synthesize a novel granular profile control agent and evaluate its properties. The basic procedure includes synthesis material selection, synthesis method optimization, consolidation properties test (setting time, consolidation strength and heat resistance) by orthogonal experiments and simulation experiments by heterogeneous parallel dual-core flooding tests.

Results show that profile control agent is self-cemented, inorganic particle with the scale of mm, matching the scale of big pore throats and channels in vicinity of injection well. Initial setting time greater than 7h, consolidation strength up to 3.5MPa and excellent heat resistance can ensure its feasibility and completeness in high-temperature steam. Profile control agent with proper size can form core with some permeability and porosity. The core formed has stable and flushing-resisting flowing channels. The relationship between permeability of core formed and diameter of particles is established, which means with known permeability ratio of formation, specific diameter and injection PV can be chosen to satisfy the homogeneity.
A Comprehensive Multi-Platform Petroleum Engineering Toolbox for Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Balaji Karthik , Suhag Anuj , Ranjith Rahul , Tuna Tayfun , Temizel Cenk , Aminzadeh Fred
Published: April 2017

There are certain online tools that serve as a comprehensive toolbox in specific areas of engineering, including but not limited to, chemical and mechanical engineering. These tools provide quick online access to a broad range of equations used in the area of interest while serving as a convenient tool for professionals who do not have access to a comprehensive library or those who are not familiar enough with the subject to locate the equation required. Thus, the objective of the online Petroleum Engineering Toolbox is to provide users in the academia and industry – with or without a petroleum engineering background – a comprehensive and convenient round the clock accessible source of petroleum engineering and related calculations, offering calculations and technical description of over 1000 formulas.

Petroleum Engineering Toolbox consists of 2 main sections; equations and a technical manual/reference, featuring a total of over a thousand calculations in reservoir, drilling, production, well testing, fluid flow, laboratory experiments, economics, PVT, logging, optimization, well stimulation, EOR and thermodynamics. The purpose of technical manual/reference section is to serve as a library for reference tables, charts, tables in petroleum engineering, thus, providing a very convenient tool for engineers working anywhere in the world, especially in places where it is difficult to access sources of information including fields, offshore and onshore remote locations. The manual outlines the theory of equations used in calculations with units for the most convenient and user-friendly experience.

The petroleum engineering toolbox is available online and as a mobile application for better use on mobile devices. The online interface of Petroleum Engineering Toolbox is entirely built on top of open source technology. Server side connection is done by Apache 2.4.9 Web Server and PHP Version 5.2.4. Formula representations are done by MathJax open source library. Petroleum Engineering Toolbox is available for PC, Mac, tablet, or any mobiles device through mobile friendly online user interface. It is also accessible for iPhone and iPad user as a mobile application.

Currently, even though there are tools for specific calculations, there is no such comprehensive and globally-available toolbox in all platforms in the oil and gas industry, thus, Petroleum Engineering Toolbox is a first of its kind serving the professionals in the oil industry and the academia with its expanding content.
Improving Rollover Crashworthiness of Heavy Trucks Equipped with Towers and Booms Overhanging the Cab
Authors: Friedman K , Hutchinson J , Bui K , Mattos G. , Bozzini S
Published: April 2017

Many purchasers and operators of heavy trucks may be unaware of the potential added danger to occupants from equipment overhanging the cab under rollover conditions. This study examines US and EU regulations for heavy truck occupant protection and the options for minimizing injuries with aftermarket equipment. US and EU government regulations regarding occupant protection in heavy trucks were reviewed and their shortcomings with regard to vehicles modified with a boom structure are highlighted. A finite element model of a truck and boom were created. Baseline performance was verified against real world data and simulations run for rollover impacts. Significant intrusion into the occupant compartment due to the loading of the overhead boom was observed. Overhead booms can deform during contact with the ground, with longer overhanging associated with greater intrusion into the cab under rollover impact conditions. The effect of these structures on heavy truck crashworthiness, especially with regard to low strength OEM cabs, must be considered during up-fitting. A simulation was run with an aftermarket device and conclusions are presented.
A Neural Network Approach for Modeling Water Distribution System
Authors: Popa Andrei S. , O'Toole Conor , Munoz Juan , Cassidy Steve , Tubbs Dallas , Ershaghi Iraj
Published: April 2017

The successful waterflooding field development depends not only of the understanding of reservoir characterization, sub-surface injection displacement and sweep-efficiency, but also an accurate and effective design and operation of the surface network’s water injection distribution. In certain cases, the latter is critical for the successful waterflood operations in large fields with thousands of wells and high volume of new development activity.

For the purpose of this study, we are presenting a new data-driven approach to accurately estimate the injection rate in all non-instrumented wells in a large waterflooding operation. A collection of data driven tools, including statistics, clustering, simulation and an artificial neural network model were employed to prime and model the data. As a final point, the neural network leverages instrumented wells’ data and serves as an accurate real-time proxy to estimate missing injection rate measurements in non-instrumented wells. The system’s accuracy was validated by comparing the estimated rates for different wells on a different branch with the ones measured at physical wells. The neural network model trained on the cleansed data set revealed a high performance system with a >0.93 R2 values for both training and validation sets.

The paper outlines both the methodology and procedures used to analyze a branch of the water network system, and the modeling of accurate estimation of injection rates. The model performance is remarkable having used only field and wellhead measured data and considering the natural uncertainty inherited in these values. Finally, this system provides the capability to estimate the flow rate for every non-instrumented well in the field and respond to exceptions in relevant time.
Developing a Smart Proxy for the SACROC Water-Flooding Numerical Reservoir Simulation Model
Authors: Alenezi Faisal , Mohaghegh Shahab
Published: April 2017

The preferred common tool to estimate the performance of oil and gas fields under different production scenarios is numerical reservoir simulation. A comprehensive numerical reservoir model has tens of millions of grid blocks. The massive potential of the existing numerical reservoir simulation models go unrealized because they are computationally expensive and time-consuming [1]. Therefore, an effective alternative tool is required for fast and reliable decision making. To reduce the required computational time, proxy models are developed. Traditional proxy models are either statistical or reduced order models (ROM). They are developed to substitute the complex numerical simulation by producing a representation of the system at a lower computational cost. However, there are shortcomings associated with these approaches when applied to complex systems.

In this study, a novel proxy model approach is presented. The smart proxy model presented in this article is based on artificial intelligence and data-mining techniques. A numerical simulation run is designed for the smart proxy objectives. The static and dynamic data from the simulation run are extracted. Selected data parameters are used to create a spatial-temporal database for the smart proxy model. The smart proxy is trained, calibrated, and validated using a series of neural networks for the targeted reservoir property. To validate the smart proxy model, it is deployed to replicate a blind numerical simulation run. The developed smart proxy model can replicate the simulation outcomes in a very short time (seconds) with an acceptable range of error.
A Novel Adaptive Non-Linear Regression Method to Predict Shale Oil Well Performance Based on Well Completions and Fracturing Data
Authors: Bakshi Amol , Uniacke Eric , Korjani Mehdi , Ershaghi Iraj
Published: April 2017

This paper presents the results of applying a novel nonlinear regression method, Variable Structure Regression (VSR), to forecasting well performance given the well completion and rock composition data. We compiled and analyzed data from 79 producing wells from the same unconventional reservoir. Calibration using the performance data of 60 wells was used to predict the behavior for the rest, and the predictions are quite successful.

Input parameters for the regression model were the number of frac stages, the average length of each stage, isochore, total organic content, proppant-to-fluid ratio and a rock brittleness metric derived from illite content. The cumulative oil production after three months and after 18 months was considered as outputs of the prediction model. Scatterplot analysis did not indicate any obvious correlations between the individual input parameters and the output, thereby necessitating the use of a more complex multi-parameter model.

Given the relatively small training data size and the complexity of the problem, the VSR method achieved satisfactory prediction accuracy. For predicting 3-month cum oil, model calibration using the performance data of 60 wells was used to predict the behavior for the remaining 19. About 70% of the predictions were within a 30% margin of error. For predicting 18-month cum oil, data from 33 wells was used to predict the production of 10 wells. About 80% of the predictions for the 18-month cum production were within the 30% error margin.
Flow Control Devices in SAGD Completion Design: Enhanced Heavy Oil/Bitumen Recovery Through Improved Thermal Efficiencies
Authors: Banerjee Sudiptya , Hascakir Berna
Published: April 2017

One method of thermal recovery, steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), has proven a commercial success in heavy oil/bitumen production. However, geological and reservoir heterogeneity often complicate this task resulting in uneven production rates, higher operational costs, and stranded heavy oil/bitumen. This work theorizes that SAGD recovery is improved using flow control devices (FCDs) to force conformance in SAGD laterals. To test this theory, a novel protocol and test flow loop was developed to measure pressure drop across an autonomous hybrid FCD while flowing multiphase mixtures containing steam. This laboratory data was used to qualify existing pressure drop correlations and determine if nitrogen gas, a common test gas to describe FCD pressure drop response, creates suitable data for modeling steam systems. Finally, the flow loop was used to induce a steam "flash", a transition of water at saturation temperature to vapor due to a suddenly decreased pressure environment, within the FCD to determine if steam flashing changes expected pressure drops. Using linear regression, a correlation of expected pressure drop across the autonomous hybrid FCD for mixtures of heavy oil/bitumen, water, and steam was generated. Existing correlations proved inadequate for mixtures containing steam, consistently underestimating pressure drop across the FCD. However, the empirical correlation of this research highly matched laboratory data with an R-squared value of 0.94. A secondary linear model captured modifications in FCD behavior due to steam flashing. This second model also exhibited a strong goodness-of-fit with an R-squared value of 0.96. For both empirical correlations, p-values less than 0.05 were easily obtained, inferring the statistical significance of each correlation. Correlations generated in this research were added to the REVEAL™ reservoir simulation package to accurately forecast FCD impact on SAGD well pair performance. Simulating four year periods of production for SAGD well pairs in Albertan reservoirs consistently show that FCD usage simultaneous improved bitumen recovery by 50% or more and decreased cumulative steam/oil ratios (cSOR) by 12 m3/m3, largely through improved steam chamber conformance and by eliminating steam breakthrough events in the producer. Net Present Value (NPV) analysis of improvements with the additional cost of FCD completion tools unfailingly showed a strong economic argument for the use of FCDs to improve thermal efficiency.
A New Method for Geomechanical Modeling of Subsidence Induced Deformation in Fractured Rocks Subjected to Hydraulic Fracturing
Authors: Qi Qianru , Jha Birendra
Published: April 2017

The inspiration for this study is to improve modeling and representation of diatomites, which constitute a major resource base in California. These rocks, because of their high porosity, experience subsidence, which induces changes in conductivities of the natural fractures. Use of hydraulic fracturing to compensate for low formation permeability has been commonplace yet poorly understood. Here, we examine the coupling of stress and flow during fracture propagation in highly deformable rock containing pre-existing fractures. We consider the interaction between the newly created fractures and pre-existing fractures. This requires modeling the loss in natural fracture conductivity caused by stresses associated with fracturing as well as variations in the overburden stress. We find that opening of a hydraulic fracture leads to changes in the normal and shear stresses on the surrounding pre-existing fractures, which further change their aperture leading to changes in their conductivity. The model improves the prediction of the net permeability enhancement under the new stress field created after hydraulic fracturing. Our results can be used to design smart hydraulic fracturing workflows that can simulate stress-induced subsidence in a more effective manner. Our results also provide a more accurate estimate of permeability enhancement due to hydraulic fracturing.
Comparison of Steam and Polymer Injection for the Recovery of Heavy Oil
Authors: Delamaide Eric
Published: April 2017

Steam injection (including cyclic steam and SAGD) has long been recognized as the favored recovery method for heavy oil, with applications in many fields around the world in particular in California and Canada. More recently, polymer flooding has also become a relatively well accepted method to increase production and recovery in heavy oil fields. Numerous successful pilots have been reported these last few years and field expansions are currently ongoing in Canada, Oman, China and Albania for instance but surprisingly enough, there has been to the best of the author's knowledge no such application in the US.

Both steam and polymer injection have their advantages and their limitations and simple screening criteria have been developed by several authors, however there has never been a detailed comparison of the two methods and this is what this paper proposes to do.

The pros and cons of both steam injection and polymer flood are reviewed in light of fundamentals and field experience: reservoir depth, thickness, oil viscosity, expected recovery, water usage and economics of both processes (in particular capital requirements) are all addressed. Guidelines are then provided for the selection of the right process given the reservoir conditions and the capital constraints.

Results show that while steam injection can achieve much higher recovery than polymer flood and is also applicable in much higher oil viscosity, polymer flooding is not limited by depth or reservoir thickness, has lower operating costs and is also less capital intensive. Thus, there is a large opportunity to develop heavy oil reservoirs using polymer where steam injection is not possible. Delamaide and Euzen (Delamaide & Euzen, 2014) estimated that in the US alone, over 5 billion bbl of oil could be targeted by this technique.

This paper will provide guidance to engineers who need to select the optimum Enhanced Oil Recovery method to apply in given heavy oil fields, going beyond the standard screening criteria. It will also increase awareness on the possibilities of polymer flooding in some reservoirs, with a significant potential target not only in the US but also worldwide.
Case Histories of Solvent Use in Thermal Recovery
Authors: Bayestehparvin Bita , Ali S. M. , Abedi Jalal
Published: April 2017

Steam injection is the most successful oil recovery method for heavy oil and oil sands exploitation. In some cases, solvents are added to steam when steam by itself fails to provide satisfactory recovery factors. In other instances, the use of solvents is justified on the basis of water usage reduction and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. This has been done in cyclic steam stimulation (CSS), steamflooding, and steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD). The range of success in these instances is highly variable. Additional oil/bitumen recovery is claimed in most cases, but the commercial viability is often not discussed.

The use of solvents for the recovery of viscous hydrocarbons is proposed for the obvious reason that mixing a solvent with a viscous oil reduces its viscosity, but the volumes needed are prohibitive; for example, 50% by weight of naphtha would be needed to reduce the viscosity of a one million centipoise bitumen to the level attained by a 200 °C (400 F) temperature increase. When solvents are used with steam, other phenomena are invoked to justify solvent use; for example, solvent condensation at steam temperature to promote the advance of solvent into cold heavy oil/bitumen ahead. In such postulates, the extremely low dispersivity of the solvent in the solid heavy oil/bitumen is of concern. The intent in these processes is to achieve a high mixing coefficient for solvent and heavy oil - just the opposite of what was sought in yesteryear's miscible displacement design. The feasibility of this intent is discussed, via a comparison of heat and solvent dispersion. Another line of thinking is that solvent diminishes the effect of formation heterogeneity.

In this study, several case histories of solvent-addition thermal operations are discussed. A few non- thermal examples are also considered. Detailed results are not always available; the published information is tabulated. The results of the projects are discussed, and interpretations are made where possible. In recent years, solvent is being used in about 10% of the ~1500 SAGD well pairs in operation. In some cases, success is claimed. These are discussed in detail. Use of solvents in CSS is being done in Cold Lake; a new large project (Aspen) is planned there on the basis of solvent stimulation only. Solvents were used to a limited extent in some California steamfloods. None of those showed an improvement as a result of solvent addition. In a couple of cases, solvent injection was done unsuccessfully after a cold heavy oil production with sand (CHOPS) operation.

This is a critical study of solvent use for the recovery of heavy oil/bitumen, showing that in most cases, solvents have not delivered the promise expected. In others, they totally failed. As such, it is hoped that the results will be of value in future planning of solvent injection.
Genetic Relationship and Diversity in Some Ornamental Palms Based on Proteins and Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers
Authors: El-Banna Antar Nasr , El-Mahrouk Mohammed Elsayed , El-Denary Mohammed Eraky , Dewir Yaser Hassan , Naidoo Yougasphree
Published: April 2017

For the first time, genetic diversity among 14 ornamental palm accessions originating from different countries and grown in different regions in Egypt were examined. Identification of genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships in ornamental palms would be useful for its genetic identification, improvement, and conservation. Genetic polymorphism was analyzed using the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) as well as protein markers. The electrophoretic pattern of protein analysis produced 21 bands distributed in all accessions with molecular sizes ranging from 11.8 to 99.3 KDa. Some accessions possessed some bands, which were absent in other accessions and could be used for their identification. Furthermore, 10 RAPD selected primers were employed to determine genetic variation among the 14 palm genotypes as well as to test the effectiveness of RAPD primers as a genetic marker. RAPD analysis revealed a high level of polymorphism (100%) among the studied accessions. A total number of 310 amplified bands were generated across the studied genotypes with an average of 30 bands per primer. Cluster analysis using sequence alignment was done to generate a dendrogram verifying the relationship among the 14 studied ornamental palms, with an average similarity matrix range of 0.00 to 0.08 and 0.39 to 0.93 for RAPD and protein markers, respectively. It is concluded that, both SDS-protein and RAPD markers are equally important for genetic analysis and are suitable for the characterization of ornamental palm collection.
Evaluating Three Invasive Algal Species as Local Organic Sources of Potassium for Pak Choi (Brassica rapa, Chinensis Group) Growth
Authors: Gangaiah Chandrappa , Ahmad Amjad , Nguyen Hue V. , Wang Koon-Hui , Radovich Theodore J.K.
Published: April 2017

The application of locally available invasive algae biomass as a fertilizer for crop production in Hawaii is being investigated as a substitute for imported chemical fertilizers. Three closely related greenhouse trials were conducted to determine if the algae served as a source of potassium (K) on growth, yield, and K mineral nutrition in pak choi (Brassica rapa, Chinensis group). In the first trial, three algal species (Gracilaria salicornia, Kappaphycus alvarezii, and Eucheuma denticulatum) were applied at five rates of K, each to evaluate their effects on growth and K nutrition of pak choi plants. The pak choi was direct seeded into 0.0027-m3 pots containing peatmoss-based growth media. In trial 2, pak choi was grown in peat media at six rates of K provided by algae (E. denticulatum) or by potassium nitrate (KNO3). In trial 3, the six rates of K were provided through algae (K. alvarezii), KNO3, and potassium chloride (KCl) and were compared for growth and K nutrition. Results from the first greenhouse trial showed no significant differences among the three algal species in yield or tissue K content of pak choi. However, plant yield and tissue K concentration were increased with application rates. The maximum yield and tissue K were observed when K was provided within the range of 250–300 kg·ha−1. Similarly, in Expts. 2 and 3, there were no significant differences between commercial K fertilizers and algal K species for yield. Only K rates were significant for yields and tissue K concentrations. It was concluded that K in the invasive algae was similarly available as K in commercial synthetic fertilizers for pak choi growth in terms of yield and tissue K content under our experimental conditions.
Physiological Changes of Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior) Inflorescence during Development
Authors: Choon Sea Yeat , Ding Phebe
Published: April 2017

The present study was undertaken to reveal the developmentally regulated changes in physical and physiological characteristics of torch ginger (Etlingera elatior) inflorescence in relation to its usage as a cut flower. The inflorescences at four developmental stages, i.e., tight bud (TB), six reflexing tip (SRT), all involucral bracts unfolded (IBU), and full bloom (FB) were studied. The results revealed that the fresh and dry weights of inflorescences increased significantly from TB to FB stage. Water was the main component of inflorescence with 90.8% to 91.9% of the total mass. Thus, cell expansion resulting from water influx is crucial for inflorescence head development and bract opening. No ethylene was detected in the inflorescences at the four developmental stages. However, a significant higher respiration rate was recorded at FB stage with actively developing and opening true flowers in the inflorescence. The high respiration rate eventually leads to depletion of soluble sugars and starch grains in involucral bracts and inflorescence peduncle, respectively. Thereafter, involucral bracts showed browning and senescing. This result implies that the inflorescence head is a major sink for photoassimilates during flowering stage. Thus, soluble sugars exhaustion is expected to be a main factor of inflorescence senescence.
Blooming Date Predictions Based on Japanese Apricot ‘Nanko’ Flower Bud Responses to Temperatures during Dormancy
Authors: Kitamura Yuto , Yamane Hisayo , Yukimori Akira , Shimo Hiroyoshi , Numaguchi Koji , Tao Ryutaro
Published: April 2017

Flower bud development and the timing of blooming are mainly affected by genotype-dependent chilling requirements (CRs) during endodormancy and subsequent heat requirements (HRs) during ecodormancy. However, little information is available regarding the responses of flower buds to temperatures during endodormancy and ecodormancy in japanese apricot. We exposed japanese apricot ‘Nanko’ trees to various temperatures to estimate the CRs and HRs using development index (DVI) models specific for the endodormant (DVIendo) and ecodormant (DVIeco) stages. These models were based on the experimentally determined development rate (DVR). The DVRendo value was calculated as the reciprocal of the chilling time required to break endodormancy. The relationship between the DVRendo value and temperature was estimated using a three-dimensional curve. Our results indicated that 5–6 °C was the most effective temperature for breaking endodormancy in ‘Nanko’ flower buds. Additionally, exposure to −3 °C negatively affected endodormancy release, whereas 15 °C had no effect. We also determined that the DVReco values for temperatures between 5 and 20 °C were the reciprocal values of the time required for blooming after endodormancy release. The values outside this range were estimated using linear functions. The DVI was defined as the sum of the DVR values ranging from 0 to 1. Models for predicting the blooming date were constructed using the functions of sequentially combined DVIendo and DVIeco models. The accuracy of each model was assessed by comparing the predicted and actual blooming dates. The prediction of the model in which DVIeco = 1 corresponded to a 40% blooming level and DVIeco = 0 was set to DVIendo = 0.5 had the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) value (i.e., 3.11) for trees in commercial orchards exposed to different climates. Our results suggest that the developed model may have practical applications.
Monoecious Mutant Reveals New Insights into Male and Female Inflorescence Development in the Chinese Bayberry (Morella rubra)
Authors: Zhang Zehuang , Lin Qihua , Zhong Qiuzhen
Published: April 2017

To identify the dynamic differences in transcriptome and gene expression in chinese bayberry flowers of different sex types, the female ‘Fugong-1’ (WT) and its monoecious mutant (MT) were used as experimental materials. Using Illumina HiSeq™ 2500, flowers at the inflorescence germination, inflorescence elongation, and initial flowering stages were sequenced by RNA-seq technology and 6 libraries were obtained. After sequence assemble, 84,945 unigenes greater than 200 bp were found and the total length was 71.66 Mb. Transcriptomic expression analysis of the six libraries indicated that there was only 297 genes showed different expression at the inflorescence germination stage between MT and WT, the difference of which was the minimum. At the elongation stage and the initial flowering stage, such numbers increased to 787 and 2722, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis revealed that the enriched differentially expressed genes (DEGs) included those related with transcription in DNA-templated (GO: 0006355), pollen exine formation (GO: 0010584), plasma membrane (GO: 0005886), sequence-specific DNA binding transcription factor activity (GO: 0003700), and 2-alkenal reductase [NAD(P)] activity (GO: 0032440) GO categories, etc. Among these processes, pollen exine formation plays an important role in pollen cell wall synthesis and sporopollen participates in the biosynthesis of sporopollenin. High expression levels of these related genes were closely related to the MT’s male flower traits during the initial flowering stage, which resulted in the male characteristics in MT flower. This study provides important foundation for further mining important genes and regulating factors controlling the sex differentiation of flowers in chinese bayberry.
Impact of Information on Northeastern U.S. Consumer Willingness to Pay for Aronia Berries
Authors: Hoke Omer , Campbell Benjamin , Brand Mark , Hau Thao
Published: April 2017

Consumption of berries has increased significantly over the past couple of years. As such, producers and retailers are experimenting with new berry varieties to capture market share and increase their profitability. We examine consumer preference and willingness to pay (WTP) for a relatively new-to-market berry (aronia: Aronia mitschurinii Skvortsov et Maitulina) compared with another relatively new berry (black currant: Ribes nigrum L.) as well as more traditional (raspberry: Rubus idaeus L., blueberry: Vaccinium corymbosum L., and blackberry: Rubus fruticosus L.) berries. Given that aronia berries have an astringent/bitter flavor while having high antioxidant levels we investigate how taste and health information impact preference and WTP. Furthermore, we add to the literature by investigating the differences in WTP for locally and nonlocally (regional, the United States, and outside the United States) labeled berries across varying retail outlets (i.e., farmer’s markets, farm stands, grocery store). We find that new berries (aronia and black currant) are heavily discounted compared with more traditional berries. Potentially negative taste information (i.e., astringent/bitter flavor) has a negative impact on WTP, whereas positive health information has a positive impact on WTP. The positive effect of health information tends to offset the impact of the negative taste information. With respect to local labeling and retail outlet, locally labeled berries at a farmer’s market and farm stand have WTP values similar to locally labeled berries at a grocery store. On the other hand, nonlocally labeled berries sold at a grocery store were discounted compared with locally labeled berries at a grocery store.
Response of Vegetable Seedling Emergence to Mustard (Sinapis alba ‘IdaGold’ and Brassica juncea ‘Pacific Gold’) Seed Meal
Authors: Wang Xi , Niu Genhua , Gu Mengmeng , Baumann Paul A. , Masabni Joseph
Published: April 2017

Mustard Seed Meals (MSMs) are by-products of biodiesel and an alternative to conventional herbicides for organic farming. However, MSMs might also suppress the emergence of vegetable seedlings. The objective of this study was to determine the response of vegetable seedling emergence to different MSM types and rates applied as an alternative herbicide. Six types of vegetable seeds, onion (Allium cepa), two cultivars of lettuce (Lactuca sativa ‘Black Seeded Simpson’ and ‘Buttercrunch’), mustard (Brassica juncea), kale (Brassica oleracea), and Mizuna (Brassica rapa var. japonica), were sowed in petri dishes containing germination mix. MSMs (Sinapis alba ‘IdaGold’ and B. juncea ‘Pacific Gold’) were incorporated into the germination mix at 0, 88, 176, or 265 g·m−2. Petri dishes were sealed for 1, 3, 5, or 7 days after sowing. For onion, ‘Pacific Gold’ had a greater suppressive effect on seedling emergence than ‘IdaGold’. For kale and mustard, ‘IdaGold’ and ‘Pacific Gold’ had similar suppressive effects on seedling emergence, but ‘Pacific Gold’ delayed emergence of kale at 88 g·m−2 when sealed for 3, 5, and 7 days. For Mizuna, ‘IdaGold’ had more suppressive effects than ‘Pacific Gold’ on seedling emergence, while sealing delayed but did not decrease emergence percentage (EP) at the lower rate (88 g·m−2) compared with the control treatment. For ‘Buttercrunch’ lettuce, there were no differences in the suppressive effects between the two MSMs. For ‘Black Seeded Simpson’ lettuce, ‘Pacific Gold’ had more suppressive effects on seedling emergence than ‘IdaGold’ when sealed at the lower rate (88 g·m−2) for longer durations (7 days) or at higher rates (176 and 265 g·m−2) for shorter durations (1 and 3 days). These results suggest that MSMs might suppress vegetable seedling emergence when applied at high rates (176 and 265 g·m−2), and sealing for more than 7 days after sowing may strengthen the suppressive effect. Extending sealing duration at the medium rates could achieve similar weed control results to high rates without sealing.
Controlled Atmosphere Storage, Temperature Conditioning, and Antioxidant Treatment Alter Postharvest ‘Honeycrisp’ Metabolism
Authors: Leisso Rachel S. , Hanrahan Ines , Mattheis James P. , Rudell David R.
Published: April 2017

The physiology and metabolism characterizing postharvest chilling and CO2 injury in apple has important implications for postharvest management of soft scald and soggy breakdown. This research assessed differences of primary metabolism related to soggy breakdown (cortex CI) and CO2 cortex injury in ‘Honeycrisp’ apple fruit. Results indicate that prestorage temperature conditioning, diphenylamine (DPA), and CA treatments alter fruit metabolism and affect peel and cortex storage disorder outcome. A preliminary summary of primary metabolism involved with soggy breakdown under high CO2 includes increased activity in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, propionate metabolism, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism.
Medium pH between 5.5 and 7.5 has Minimal Effects on Tissue Culture of Apple
Authors: Shi Xiaoxin , Yang Lili , Yan Guijun , Du Guoqiang
Published: April 2017

Medium pH is generally adjusted to 5.8 to 6.0 for plant tissue culture. Our research indicated that pH generally falls between 5.5 and 7.5 in an ordinarily made medium which can be directly used for apple tissue culture without adjusting pH. Repeated adjustment of pH by adding NaOH and HCl leads to the increase in Na+ and Cl− concentration and decrease in Mg2+ and Ca2+ concentration in the medium due to precipitation. To determine the pros, cons, and necessity of pH levels while making medium in plant tissue culture, subculture proliferation, adventitious root induction, and organ regeneration, the apple cultivars Fuji, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, and Gala were used and hardness of the medium and the ion content of Na+, Cl−, Mg2+, and Ca2+ in the medium under different pH were measured. In the lower pH range of 5.0–5.5, plantlets could be subcultured and grew normally; however, the medium did not solidify or solidified poorly resulting in problems associated with handling. No significant difference was found among the treatments when pH ranged 6.0–8.0 in terms of proliferation, adventitious root induction, and adventitious bud regeneration from leaves, except a slight decrease in shoot number proliferation in ‘Jonagold’ and in adventitious bud regeneration from leaves in ‘Fuji’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ at pH above 7.5. The hardness of the medium increased with the increased pH. The superfluous Cl− and Na+ generated during the process of overadjusting pH to 7.0 by adding NaOH and then readjusting to 6.0 by adding HCl significantly affected the proliferation, rooting, and organ regeneration of apple plantlets. A relative broad range of medium pH (5.5–7.5) is suitable for apple tissue culture. We suggest that it is not necessary to always adjust medium pH to 5.8–6.0 in apple tissue culture; especially the repeated adjustment should be avoided.