bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accelerating Technology Acceptance: Nucleating and Funding E&P Technology
Authors: Bates T. , Coyle G.
Published: December 2007

Significant changes have occurred in the world of E&P technology in the past twenty years. The traditional role of large oil companies with substantial R&D budgets has changed, especially as commodity prices have become more volatile. Technology spending by U.S. oil companies, for example, fell significantly during the 1990s. During this same period, oil service companies increased technology investment. However, the oil price crash of 1998 put a severe dent in their aggregate R&D activity. Many observers note that the lack of current breakthrough technologies on the horizon resulted from reduced new product investment. This paper is based on an SPE Advance Technology Workshop held in March, 2005 with over 90 participants from across many sectors of the industry. It will discuss macro trends in technology funding, issues that impact product development and roll-out, and new business models which promise to alter the way the oil industry funds new technology in the future.
Accelerating Technology Acceptance: Prioritization and Assessment of Technology
Authors: Jacobs S. , Dirks B.
Published: December 2007

This paper represents a summary of the discussion and findings from a breakout session held during the two-day SPE Applied Technology Workshop on Accelerating Technology Acceptance in the industry. Besides understanding current practices, the purpose of the session was to prioritize the steps that should be taken to achieve this goal, and to outline how best to assess the new technology needs of the industry. In addition to outlining the most salient points from the discussion on existing practices among oil companies and technology providers, also addressed are a series of recommendations for accelerating the acceptance of technology. The analysis includes a prioritization of the various suggestions given during this session, with a comparison made of the importance placed on each recommendation by operators versus technology providers. Some differences in opinion did exist. Based upon all information collected, it is clear that the road to accelerated technology acceptance involves commitment from leadership in both oil and technology provider companies, clear identification of the value propositions existing for new technology, and better communication between users and technology developers to insure that the appropriate R&D efforts are made to address the increasingly stringent exploration and production applications around the world. How SPE can assist in this important effort is also addressed.
Accelerating Technology Acceptance: Blurring the Lines
Authors: Ferguson S. E. , Vollebregt E. J. E.
Published: December 2007

This paper describes the content and findings of a breakout session at the SPE Applied Technology Workshop held 15-16 March 2005, in Montgomery, Texas.

The pace of technology adoption in the oil industry is widely acknowledged to be relatively slow. The purpose of the breakout session was to examine the extent to which contracting relationships between service companies and oil companies contributed to this problem, and what measures could be taken to improve these relationships.

Framing the Problem. The session participants identified the most important factors that block the uptake of technology. These provided a backdrop against which to examine the contractual relationships.

Current Practices. The participants then selected a number of relationship types that are widely used in the industry, including: conventional tendering; licensing; collaborative development work; the role of small technology providers; coventuring; and working interest participation.

Views and Experience. Within the time constraints of the session each of the relationships types was debated individually, considering their good and bad features, and the circumstances under which they did and didn't tend to produce good results.

Recommendations. Following the debates the most important observations were captured and recommendations for improvement were made. Each of these recommendations was then voted upon by the session participants to determine both its importance and feasibility to implement. These recommendations were then presented to the wider audience at the Workshop.
Accelerating Technology Acceptance: Is the Industry "Backbone" Strong Enough for Acceptance of New Technology?
Authors: Arnold K. E. , Dunlap D.
Published: December 2007

Proposal

This paper presents the results of a breakout session on the role of the industry's technical knowledge, or "backbone", in speeding the acceptance of new technology. The session occurred at the SPE Applied Technology Workshop on Accelerating Technology Acceptance held March 15-16, 2005. Addressed was the issue of whether it is necessary for operating companies to have their own core staff of technical experts to provide this knowledge, or whether the existence of such a group could actually hinder the acceptance of new technology which was "not invented here". The role of consultants and embedded service company engineers as a means of providing this technical backbone is discussed.

The paper also discusses the state of the industry's current efforts and concepts needed for hiring, training and motivating sufficient quantity and quality of technical staff in both operating and service companies. The role of the corporate CEO and top executive staff in this effort is highlighted. The current perceived gap that exists between top executive staff's stated strategic objectives and the actions taken through organizational filters which may inhibit accomplishing these objectives is discussed, as are recommendations for closing this gap.
Risk-Based Driving Improvement Plan (Beyond Traditional Approaches)
Authors: Lopez J. C. , Tate D. , Lane K.
Published: December 2007

This paper explains how an oilfield services company developed a site-specific, risk-based improvement plan for the activity of driving, applying both the traditional control measures and innovative local initiatives while taking into account behavioral factors and operational needs. It also shows the excellent results of the plan after more than one year of implementation.
Safety Culture Change—A Norway Case Study
Authors: Halvorsen H. , Middelthon R. , Liland S.
Published: December 2007

This paper discuss the safety culture change process that was started in BP Norway late in 2003. It describes the various actions taken and the results achieved at the time of writing, Desember, 2005.
An Approach to QHSE Management in an Emerging Technology
Authors: Houlbrook A. , Lyon A.
Published: December 2007

This paper concerns the development and introduction of a Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental (QHSE) Management System by a global underbalanced drilling service provider in a dynamic environment. Underbalanced and Managed Pressure drilling are not new techniques but do present challenges in terms of QHSE which have to be met if the industry and its clients, the exploration and production companies, are to be satisfied that such projects may be conducted in an environment where risk is eliminated or minimized.

Allied to this, any QHSE Management System (QHSE MS) introduced by a company operating in 110 locations across 6 regions has to be flexible in meeting regional legislative, cultural and operational requirements.

The UB supply sector has been characterized by consolidations with numerous small suppliers being absorbed into a few major providers, this and the inherent nature of UB drilling has lead to safety risks and concerns and, UB effectiveness uncertainties. In turn this has required a variety of QHSE methodologies having to be consolidated into one coherent system.
The Use of Drilling Cuttings as Building Materials in Baiano, Brazil
Authors: Vaqueiro R. L. C. , Araruna J. T. , Pires P. J. M.
Published: December 2007

Oil production in Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil, generates circa 13,000tons of drilling cuttings each year. As the environmental awareness rises in Brazil, oil companies started to look for environmental sound technologies to account for this residue.

An experimental programme has been devised to encapsulate the constituents of drilling cuttings. This process employs cation and anion exchange capacity of natural clayey soils to adsorb barite and chloride, and a thermal process to volatize the organic constituents of the drilling fluid and stabilize the adsorbed constituents.

In practice, the experimental programme consisted of a batch of geotechnical, mineralogical and chemical tests in order to evaluate the capacity of three different clayey soils from Recôncavo Baiano to encapsulate drilling cuttings. The main objective was to use the encapsulated material as brick or tiles by the building industry.

Drilling cuttings from Recôncavo Region consists mainly of a clayey soil mixed with n-parafin, chlorine and barite. They present and high percentage of clay fraction, in which ilite and kaolinite are the main clay minerals, and a high plasticity. The soils considered herein present different clay fractions, mineralogy, and chemical constituents. Their Atterberg limits vary widely. In this study, three different mixes of each soil were employed in order to assess the optimum mixture, e.g. 10%, 20% and 30%. The materials considered as raw material for bricks, are extruded, dried and then fired up to 700°C. The resulting brick is submitted to strength and TCLP tests.

The experimental results have shown so far that a mixture of drilling cuttings with Pederva could be used as brick material Results from TCLP tests have indicated that these mixtures could be considered under Brazilian Standards as non hazardous but non inert materials.
Changing Gear—The Need for a Different Way of HSSE Learning
Authors: Peuscher W. T. , Clark D. D. , Graeb-Konneker S. E. , de Rijke R.
Published: December 2007

Shell companies have a systematic approach to health, safety, security and environmental management in order to achieve continuous performance improvement. To this end, Shell companies manage these matters as critical business activities, set standards and targets for improvement, and measure, appraise and report performance externally. We continually look for ways to reduce the environmental impact of our operations, products and services.

Shell has, over the years, built up a comprehensive suite of Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) courses for its employees and contractors. These are mainly classroom courses, managed and delivered by Shell specialists. With the introduction of a new Shell-wide Competence Based Development framework in 2004, the opportunity was taken to rejuvenate the complete HSSE learning portfolio, using the latest learning methods and distribution systems.

Two forces drove the design philosophy – To make relevant HSSE training available at the right time in the right place at the right costTo facilitate "real learning" which takes place when the theory is applied in practice. This happens at the workplace

Advances in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and telematics application were applied to the design and delivery of the new HSSE training.

Basic HSSE awareness learning is supplied as a set of electronic newspapers, delivered daily by e-mail. They are written in simple language, and contain pictures, cartoons and puzzles. They have embedded links to slidepacks and websites. They have a common "red-thread" case study, and there is a test at the end of each module. These were launched at the start of 2005, and take up has been massive, with excellent feedback.

Advanced HSSE knowledge learning is supplied by a blended learning event, which uses combinations of the most effective learning methodologies. The event is delivered through TeleTOP, an electronic course management system. The heart of each module is three assignments – one to prove understanding, one to show workplace application, and one to challenge and discuss. These assignments are assessed and marked by a facilitator. Networking and best practice sharing is stimulated and documented.

This paper describes the thinking process around and the outcome of the novel design and delivery of HSSE training at Shell.
Environmental and Social Management of Seismic Operations in Sensitive Tropical Rainforest
Authors: Benalcazar F. L. , Thurber M. , Westlund D.
Published: December 2007

The remaining on-shore petroleum reserves in Ecuador are located within culturally and environmentally sensitive areas of the lowland tropical rainforest at the headwaters of the Amazon Basin, including protected nature reserves and indigenous communities. Regulatory obligations and stakeholder concerns require an extensive formal and informal consultation process prior to petroleum activities in these areas. EnCana and Walsh Environmental Scientists and Engineers (WALSH) have used the first phase of petroleum development in Yasuni National Park (YNP), seismic exploration, to gain the trust and confidence of a diverse group of stakeholders, by adopting an innovative set of new best practices, transparent dialogue and direct participation of the stakeholders.

The result of this consultation process was a modified project design and the EMP (Environmental Management Plan) that restricted heliports to previously intervened areas; restricted flight paths of helicopters away from scientific research stations, restricted use of rivers; and created offsets from sensitive micro-habitats like clay/salt licks, animal bathing areas, and tree-cutter ant farms. The execution of the project was closely monitored and audited by EnCana, WALSH, the affected Communities, an independent Environmental and Social Scientific Advisory Committee (ESSAC), an independent auditing consultant associated with the most respected environmental Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Ecuador, the Ministries of Environment, Energy and Mines and the National Heritage Institute of the Ecuadorian government. This participatory approach during seismic exploration has facilitated acceptance for the current exploratory drilling activities in this highly sensitive area.
Creating a Culture to Deliver Sustainable HSE Performance
Authors: Buell R. S.
Published: December 2007

Demands on the petroleum industry are driving continual improvement of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) performance. It has become widely recognized that the deliberate and structured creation of HSE culture directly affects HSE performance. Developing HSE culture is a complex recipe that combines values, leadership, management systems and processes, behavioral and cognitive psychology, technology, equipment, and HSE expertise. This combination creates a culture or "way of working in the organization."

There are many theoretical and practical papers on the creation and assessment of HSE culture. For a leader in Exploration and Production (E&P) operations, the distillation of this large body of knowledge into an appropriate course of action can be a daunting task. A generic HSE cultural maturity model is provided in this work. HSE culture is further defined in terms of cultural dimensions. To improve HSE performance, development of culture cannot be confined within an E&P operator's organization. Contractors, partners, service providers, and suppliers must also be included in the development of HSE culture. Guidance is provided to help the E&P practitioner work collaboratively with contractors to develop, sustain, and improve HSE culture and performance. Pragmatic examples are provided for diagnosing HSE culture.
World Class Road Safety Campaign
Authors: DeBello M.
Published: December 2007

Driving is a key safety exposure for Sakhalin Energy's integrated oil & gas project that stretches over 900km, the length of Sakhalin Island, Russia. A long-term inter company & community/Oblast road safety programme is underway. Ultimately, the goal is to work towards the elimination of road safety accidents on Sakhalin Island, particularly those related to company activities, by increasing road safety awareness amongst the campaign participants, its contractors and sub-contractors and members of the wider community in which we operate.

We plan to achieve this through a comprehensive programme of training, education, road safety awareness and enforcement of standards. It will be developed and articulated to address a number of hazards and behaviors including speed, winter driving, the wearing of seat belts, inattention/distraction, fatigue, drink driving and more, over the coming years. We also are working with the local authorities to roll out initiatives to communities across Sakhalin Island.

Key performance indicators will be summarized, including the impact the program has had in regards to lives saved and monetary gains through efficient, community targeted objectives i.e. education & awareness for schools, road infrastructure upgrades, community action campaigns etc.

Rewards from the program are multi faceted, including improvement of HSE performance, community recognition and ownership in the long-term.
Constructed Treatment Wetlands for the Treatment and Reuse of Produced Water in Dry Climates
Authors: Nijhawan N. , Myers J. E.
Published: December 2007

When water is scarce, its value increases. Produced water is the largest byproduct in oil and gas production and as a field matures, the ratio of water to oil produced increases. Excess produced water is the main reason for abandoning wells, and declaring fields uneconomic. The challenge of produced water is further compounded by water being a valuable resource especially in arid oil producing regions of the world. In dry climates, where easily accessible sources of freshwater are limited, large volumes of freshwater are being used for non-potable uses, such as by the agricultural and industrial sectors. This paper discusses the growing need for produced water reuse, highlights reuse options and gaps, and specifically presents Constructed Treatment Wetlands (CTW) as a technology for the treatment of produced water and the facilitation of water reuse. The Chevron/Cawelo water reuse project and demonstration CTW, located in California's San Joaquin Valley is presented in order to highlight the use of CTWs for the treatment and reuse of produced water. In this dry climate, where the agricultural and petroleum industries co-exist, Chevron provides approximately 450,000 bpd of produced water to supplement the local irrigation supply.
Indoor Emergency Training—Application in the Oil and Gas Sector
Authors: Corrêa A. L. A. , Benevides P. , Duarte M.
Published: December 2007

The Indoor Emergency Training (INDOOR) is an emergency simulation methodology, consisting of a role-playing game, supported by a mathematical modeling of the accident scenario, associated with visual resources in three dimensions. The INDOOR exercise permits close similarity to the real live emergency simulation with its associated benefits at lower costs.
Management Program for Hoisting and Lifting
Authors: DeBello M. A. , Ostirov A.
Published: December 2007

Management of key high risk activities such as hoisting & lifting in a world class integrated oil & gas development project is a integral part of the HSES-MS. SEIC has formed the Lifting Steering Committee to achieve excellence in safety performance through lateral learning & best practice sharing within the project & throughout the EP industry.

A company, contractor/subcontractor committee, chaired by the CEO, meets bi-monthly to address existing & planned hoisting & lifting issues per a evolving agenda that includes: Maintenance and Certification, Planning Of Non-Routine Lifts, Competence Of Lifting Operations Personnel, Execution Of Lifting Operations, Supervision In Practice, Communication, Cranes and Lifting Equipment Standard Revisions, Compliance and Monitoring. EP global networking is key tool for finding & sharing best practices. The paper details the sequence of implementation of hoisting & lifting safety blitzes, evaluation & gap analysis for company, contractors & subcontractors lifting activities, interview process with the field to ascertain perceptions in competences required and transparency concerning communication of standards (both company & Russian Federation).

Hoisting & lifting is one of the top 3 HSE exposures, thus the benefits of a well managed program include a safer, more efficient working environment.
Comparative Study of Occupational Health Regulation in the Middle East
Authors: Malca M. , Shokeir H. , Medhat M. , Al Ghailani A. E. , Kiaei B. , Sakkal F.
Published: December 2007

Occupational Health is an integral part of the protection of the health and safety of workers. Most countries have adopted stringent safety and environmental regulations in the last years, however this has not always been the case for Occupational Health. In the Middle East, Occupational Health Regulations do exist and are easily available on-line for the UAE, Oman and Qatar. However Occupational Health Services are usually present mainly in the private sector and mostly in self-regulated industries. The capability of many countries in the region to supervise and enforce existing regulations is often undermined by the lack of specialized staff in sufficient numbers.
Oil and Gas Industry Guidance on Voluntary Sustainability Reporting
Authors: Boyle B. , Depraz S.
Published: December 2007

The oil and gas industry recognises the important role it plays around the world in fuelling economic development and social progress. It also understands the need to respond to stakeholder concerns, including those related to sustainability, which are of ever-increasing significance. Many oil and gas companies have begun to communicate how these concerns are being addressed by issuing sustainability reports. Given the organisational diversity, scale and complexity of many oil and gas companies, providing report content which is relevant, complete and accurate is a difficult challenge as is choosing performance indicators which allow for consistent and transparent presentation of information. To assist companies across the industry, IPIECA and API have produced oil and gas industry guidance on voluntary sustainability reporting. This paper summarises and describes the guidance, outlining its benefits and flexibility as well as the nature of the challenge which lies ahead.
"E-Safety Case": Improving Communication and Application of HSE Data
Authors: Fairbairn L. , Pegram A. , Nishapati M.
Published: December 2007

The key to ensuring safe operations is not only to undertake appropriate safety reviews and risk assessments but, equally importantly, to ensure that the results of these studies are communicated in a way that can be readily understood by all personnel. Ongoing advances in technology mean that this is now more easily achievable than ever, by producing and linking documents in a dynamic electronic format that will considerably enhance their utility. Such an ‘E-Safety Case’ is being developed for BHP Billiton's Liverpool Bay Asset (LBA) operations.
Ormen Lange—Implementing Minimum Exposure to Personnel Through Safety in Design and Operations
Authors: Lauvstad B. , Schumacher R. , Saltrø P.
Published: December 2007

Ormen Lange (OL) is the second largest gas/condensate field development on the Norwegian continental shelf and recoverable gas reserves presently stand at a 375 billion Sm3. Gas from OL to the UK and European continent will commence in October 2007 and to continue for 30 to 40 years with a planned production rate of 70 million Sm3/d of gas. Associated Condensate will be exported by tankers and daily production estimated to 8400 m3/d

Current investment estimates at 10 billion USD (2003). The 1,200 kilometre export pipeline from Norway to the UK will be worlds largest subsea pipeline.

Hydro is appointed operatorship for the development phase and Shell is appointed operatorship for the production operations phase. The two oil and gas companies have signed an agreement for co-operation and support in both phases.

This paper focuses on the Safety benefits and challenges in early phase involvement working in a joint development environment with one company responsible for development and one company for the production operations phase. This setting gave an opportunity for innovative ways of implementing safety in design to improve on both company's best practices.

The Ormen Lange organization is based on a "low manning concept". Traditional solutions for onshore terminals rely on manual fire fighting, manual head counting and fire-detection. In order to reduce exposure to personnel, the Ormen Lange plant made use of extensive CCTV monitoring, remote operated fire monitors, electronic personnel tracking, automatic gas and fire detection, automatic shutdown and blowdown, passive fire protection and rescue teams instead of firefighting teams. Historical accidents in hydrocarbon processing and storage facilities have shown fire fighters killed and injured in attempts to fight fires to save plant and equipment without potential for second and third party injury or fatality. Some examples of this are;

The Longford Gas Plant escalation 25.09.98 The Albert City Iowa Propane BLEVE 09.04.98 The Romeoville Illinois escalation 23.07.84 The Milford Haven tank boil over 30.08.83

A focus early in the project and training of engineers and operators in the philosophy of minimum personnel exposure has and will give the ballast for ensuring implementation in design and operations. An introductory training and HSE cultural program focused on the importance of saving lives. All necessary training is not yet completed but will be before hot plant in June 2007. The equipment is designed to take care of itself as far as technology allows.
Health Risk Assessment (HRA): A Case Study—Implementing HRA Into the Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd., Nigeria
Authors: Parry K.
Published: December 2007

Health Risk Assessment (HRA) is The Shell Group of Companies' tool ‘for a healthier workplace’ through identification, assessment and control of health risks within each and every work environment.

Implementing Health Risk Assessment throughout Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), an oil exploration and production company, has not been a straightforward task. This is a society where distant-risk perception is at a basic level, and immediate risks outside the workplace, malaria, violence, HIV etc, are far more of an everyday reality than any existing or perceived occupational risk… A society where today is what counts, and tomorrow is dealt with when it arrives.

This case study will describe the stages of HRA implementation within SPDC, from initial identification of the need for HRA, through competency based development, the training of teams, development of corporate documentation, undertaking the assessments, dealing with the resulting actions and information management (through people, paper and electronic technology).

The challenges encountered at each stage of the implementation will be presented, along with the solutions that the OH Team used to overcome them.

Some of the real-life health benefits of undertaking HRA will be explored, using examples of situations (in some cases life-threatening) that have been identified within during the HRA process, and the actions taken to control these risks will be detailed.

This paper will share SPDC's experiences of implementing HRA with others… The challenges of implementing a standard initiated within a developed society into a developing society, the solutions to these challenges, and the route to making HRA a live and useful tool in the control of health risks within SPDC.
Lifting and Hoisting Safety—Raising the Bar
Authors: Lawrie G. , Brasic M.
Published: December 2007

One of the major causes of incidents and fatalities associated with E&P activities is in the category of Lifting and Hoisting operations. Within this category are operations as varied as the lifting of loads using forklift trucks, heavy lifts over live facilities, and lifting of topside modules onto offshore facilities. Each type of lift presents a different spectrum of risks that need to be managed if the lift is to be undertaken in a safe and efficient manner.

A variety of regulations, standards and guidelines exist related to different aspects of lifting operations; however despite these, incidents continue to occur. Hence, in an effort to bring the E&P industry's focus to this issue, in 2005 the OGP Safety Committee formed a Lifting and Hoisting Safety Task Force. The remit of the Task Force was to develop appropriate tools (guidelines, recommended practices, etc) that will assist E&P companies and their contractors to reduce the number of lifting and hoisting associated incidents.

Key areas that the Task Force is addressing include:

– Planning of Lifting Operations – Roles and Responsibilities – Personnel Competency and Training – Human Factor issues – Lifting and Hoisting Hardware – Design and Control of Lifting Equipment – Specialized Lifting Operations

The paper describes the work of the OGP Lifting and Hoisting Task Force, and its findings, recommendations and proposed strategies with respects to the above issues.
Work Hours and Serious Occupational Injuries
Authors: Lauridsen O. , Bjerkebaek E. , Danielsen I. , Loland G.
Published: December 2007

In the project ‘Trends in Risk Levels on the Norwegian Continental Shelf’ the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) has analysed the information on serious occupational injuries gathered from all companies on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). The injuries have been analysed with respect to data on work hours, shift arrangement and sleep quality based on questionnaires.

The reliable reporting of serious injuries in a large population presents a unique opportunity to analyse the distribution of serious injuries during the hours of the day and night. Our data allows us to normalise the results according to activity level at different time periods and operations.

Even though the most serious injuries happen during the day shift, there is a significant increase in the frequency of injuries during night shift when the numbers are adjusted to differences in activity level between shifts. The difference in injury rate between day and night varies with the kind of operation and between the first and second week offshore. The results from the questionnaires showed that the quality of sleep is poor during day time and that the quality of sleep also is influenced by the kind of shift arrangement. Quality of cabins with respect to noise and disturbance also has a significant influence on how tired the employees are at work. We argue that combined disturbance of the circadian rhythm and sleep quality seem to increase the probability of human error and error related incidents.

Our results provide important risk guidance with respect to planning of shift arrangements. The result clearly demonstrate that the amount of work carried out by night should be reduced to a minimum, and that some activities should receive special risk management attention when performed at night. Our paper emphasises the importance of implementing measures that could improve quality of sleep during periods of circadian rhythm adaptation and day sleep.
Environmental Impact Factor for Emissions to Air: A Tool for Prioritizing Emission-Reduction Measures Based on Environmental Impacts and Benefits
Authors: Larssen T. , Knudsen S. , Bruteig I. , Aarrestad P. A. , Høgåsen T. , Kinn S. J. , Engen S. , Johnsen S.
Published: December 2007

Emission of nitrogen oxides and other air pollutants from the petroleum industry causes concerns regarding impacts on sensitive aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. In order to optimize strategies for emission reductions according to environmental benefits, an integrated modelling tool has been developed (Environmental Impact Factor for Emissions to Air, EIF-Air). The approach takes into account different emissions to air (nitrogen, sulphur, and organic compounds) and different related environmental impacts based on the concept of critical loads and levels. The model currently takes into account four environmental impacts (acidification of surface waters and soils, nutrient effects on terrestrial ecosystems and vegetation damage from elevated ozone concentrations), but is general in it's formulation and can easily be extended to included other relevant impacts. The approach includes atmospheric dispersion modelling of the emissions, a database for current total deposition and models for the different environmental impacts. Results from three case studies are presented. The first shows that nitrogen emission reductions at an offshore installation in the North Sea have larger environmental benefit than a similar reduction in the Norwegian Sea. In the second case the tool is ised to rank different technology options at a Norwegian onshore petroleum facility. The third case compare the environmental benefits of reducing nitrogen emissions at supply ships compared to offshore installations, showing that measures at ships gives larger benefit per unit nitrogen reduced.
CO2 Sequestration—A Safe Transition Technology
Authors: Sengul M.
Published: December 2007

Fossil fuel fired plants are responsible for the one third of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions which thought to be a major contributor to the current rise in the Earth's surface temperature.

Reducing CO2 atmospheric concentrations by capturing emissions at the source—power plants or chemical units—and then storing them in subsurface reservoirs is thought by many scientists to be a reliable solution until emission-free energy sources are developed and viable. The current options for captured CO2 utilization are; Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), Enhanced Coal Bed Methane Recovery (ECBM), Enhanced Gas Recovery (EGR), Food processing applications, Mineral products, Fertilizer manufacture, Algae growth promoter, Enhanced plant growth. The capture and storage of CO2 continues to accelerate as new projects are initiated and existing projects confirm the development scenarios.

A crucial element in CO2 storage is reliable monitoring of CO2 migration behavior and storage volumes. An innovative seismic monitoring techniques, has recently been awarded a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) project that will examine the application of time-lapse (4D) seismic technology and advanced reservoir simulation to optimize CO2 EOR operations. Well design, cementing, completions techniques and long life cycle mechanical integrity assurance are currently subject of many R&D projects.

Industry expertise also is being tapped in CO2 projects across Europe and in Australia, including four major EU proposals under the Framework Program Six and the Australian CO2CRC Otway Project. These projects address pertinent issues in CO2 capture and storage such as site selection, storage monitoring and verification techniques, developing local CO2 storage sites from hydrogen- and power-generation plants, and industry training.

In our paper framework of CO2 sequestration and vital aspects such as; site selection, reservoir characterization, modeling of storage and long term leakage monitoring techniques will be illustrated.
Malaria: A Guideline for the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Johnson C. , Barbey A. , Huisman B. , Cox R.
Published: December 2007

Malaria is a parasitic disease that affects an estimated 500 million people in the world. It kills two million people a year, more than any other disease, and is currently endemic in over 100 countries. Within the oil and gas industry, malaria is a major cause of sickness in high malaria risk countries and an significant cause of death from an occupational illness.

Although the biology of, and defence mechanisms against, Malaria have been known for some time, fatalities amongst Oil & Gas personnel on assignment to Malarious areas still occur.

This paper summarizes the key elements of a comprehensive strategy on Malaria Management to be released in May 2006 by the joint Health Committee of the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) and the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA).

If a company is considering business opportunities in malarious settings, it is critical to consider development of an appropriate MMP for all phases of the business activity. OGP and IPIECA member companies support the managements systems approach, and that management system should include a suitable malaria management program based on a full assessment of the risks and measures to address such risks

In addition to their own workforces, this program may cover a variety of contractors and suppliers. Overall, an integrated approach, using primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, is likely to have the greatest chance of success.

This paper outlines a basic strategy for such a management system, called a Malaria Management Program (MMP), and is a summary of good practices which form the basis for a new publication from the OGP-IPIECA Health Committee ‘Guidelines for Managing Malaria in the Oil & Gas Industry’.
Addressing the Common Barriers to Establishing Sustainable Health-Protection Programs: Lessons From a Global Malaria-Control Program
Authors: Buford D. L. , Shallenberger L. G. , Tremarco W. E.
Published: December 2007

Malaria remains a significant health problem and a major cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. The potential impact of malaria on business operations within malaria risk areas is substantial. Initial attempts to protect individuals using standard counseling and recommendations for prophylactic treatment did not achieve the desired reduction in the number and severity of malaria cases. A Malaria Control Program was implemented that addressed five common barriers to the successful implementation and sustainability of effective health protection programs: Awareness, Availability, Affordability, Accessibility and Acceptability.1 Awareness of the causes of the disease and disease preventive behaviors, availability of treatment and other supplies, affordability of medications, accessibility of health care resources, and acceptability of the disease prevention behaviors were all considered. Utilization of this multi-faceted strategy along with management controls has resulted in a significant increase in awareness, understanding and adoption of protective behaviors, with an apparent reduction in the number of malaria cases in both the non-immune and semi-immune population. Private companies will need to significantly increase their knowledge of significant public health issues and must engage themselves in new ways, perhaps performing functions previously thought to be beyond the scope of their responsibility.2,3 This type of strategy is useful not only in combating malaria but may also prove to be effective in the fight to maintain a healthy and productive workforce in the face of other emerging public health issues.
Feasibility Study of Cuttings-Injection Operation: A Case Study of the Niger Delta Basin
Authors: Okorodudu A. , Akinbodunse A. , Linden L. , Anwuri L. , Irrechukwu D. O. , Zagi M. M. , Guerrero H.
Published: December 2007

Problems encountered during initial trials of cuttings injection (CI) in Nigeria resulted in the technology being perceived by regulators as an infeasible disposal option in the Niger Delta basin and it was considered to be removed from the approved list of disposal options. This study was conducted to review the disposal technology, assess the deficiencies in the initial trials with respect to the Niger Delta geology, and proffer a framework for an environmentally-feasible application of the technology. The results of the study revealed that the geology of the Niger Delta is favorable for CI operation because of favorable lithology and a lack of strong seismic events. However, due to variations in the depth of the base of fresh water a suitable injection domain cannot be mapped across the Niger Delta basin. Therefore, each project needs to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis using site-specific information.

The lessons learned from the previous practices were identified and an integrated project approach was recommended to achieve an environmentally appropriate use of CI in the Niger Delta basin.
Corporate Sustainability Reporting From the Driller's Perspective
Authors: Peyton K.
Published: December 2007

Noble Corporation regards excellence in health, safety, environmental (HSE) and social performance to be paramount to its ability to conduct business and compete around the world, and therefore to remain a sustainable business. Consequently, programs aimed at continuously improving HSE and social performance are thoroughly integrated into planning, measurement and management at Noble, from the top level of corporate strategy down to daily rig management.

By the same token, Noble integrates transparency and other sound business practices into HSE management. This led the company to issue its first sustainability report in 2002. Documenting its responsibility and accountability to employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders, communities and society was a natural extension of Noble's integration of health, safety, environmental and social performance with business objectives.

Sustainability reporting was already common in the exploration and production sector, and in some consumer industries, in 2002. However, Noble was the first drilling contractor to publicly disclose its HSE and social performance. Noble has continued to publish sustainability reports yearly, with each report evolving as its HSE and social programs evolve.
Development of a Successful Motor Vehicle Safety Process for Western Venezuela
Authors: Matusalen J. , Bohorquez A. , Stelling D. , Barboza F. , Lizio M. , Smith S. L.
Published: December 2007

The use of vehicles for transportation of people and material is a fundamental business requirement in today's onshore oil and gas exploration and production operations all over the world. The combination of moving people and material on roads also introduces significant risks, hazards, and safety challenges to our industry and the communities in which we operate. The engineering improvements in vehicle safety, infrastructure improvements, and modern traffic engineering technology provide a qualitative sense of security. However, human behavior is still the primary factor in motor vehicle safety today. This study describes the positive impact and results of a proactive motor vehicle safety process that helps to influence the right behaviors of drivers by encouraging them to maintain a high level of safety awareness when driving. The fleet safety challenge remains to drive defensively and to always expect the unexpected.

Recent studies led by the United Nations, The World Health Organization, and others point to road safety as an issue of immense proportions despite significant improvements in road safety over the past few decades. The study estimates that 1.2 million people are killed every year in road traffic crashes around the world1. This averages to approximately one traffic-related death every two minutes. Further, the studies indicate that nine out of ten deaths occur in developing countries and countries in transition; although these countries only account for 32% of the motor vehicles currently in service.2 In Latin America and the Caribbean the motor vehicle fatality index exceeds that of any other region.3

Chevron operates the Boscán field, an oil production operation near Lake Maracaibo on behalf of Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA). Starting in 2001, Chevron's western Venezuela upstream operating area initiated a focused campaign to improve motor vehicle safety results. Use of Journey Management, Field Checkpoints, Driving Monitors, First Move Forward parking principle, Speed-Limit Enforcement, and a comprehensive Driver Training program have contributed to improve the crash incident rate, reducing vehicle crashes by 79% since the implementation of the Motor Vehicle Safety Process.
Development of a Biodiversity Action Plan for the Boscan Field (Western Venezuela)
Authors: Lilien J. P. , Albesa J. , Gonzalez F. , Lasso C. , Matusalén J.
Published: December 2007

Chevron operates Boscan field, an approximately 115,000 barrel per day heavy oil production operation near Lake Maracaibo in Western Venezuela. Most of Boscan occupies a heavily modified agricultural landscape, but several individuals have recognized portions of the field as providing important habitat for migratory birds and other species. For this reason, Chevron hired a well-known Venezuelan research institute, Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales (FLASA), to conduct a biodiversity assessment of the field. One of the first of its kind in the Lake Maracaibo basin, the assessment found that portions of the field support valuable habitats (including relict tropical dry forests, gallery forests, and seasonal wetlands) and a large number of plant and animal species (including many which are endemic to the Lake Maracaibo basin). Chevron is using results of the assessment to develop a biodiversity action plan for the field. Major components of the plan include: generating a map of sensitive habitats, increasing awareness of biodiversity within the local business unit, managing the footprint of oil and gas operations to minimize impact to sensitive habitats, and engaging local landowners to encourage biodiversity conservation.
Offshore Oil-Spill Detection and Monitoring in E&P Areas—An Operational Multisensors Approach
Authors: Bentz C. M. , Politano A. T. , de Miranda Pinto R. S. , Genovez P. C.
Published: December 2007

Since May 2001 PETROBRAS is using spaceborne multi-sensor remote sensing for its sea surface monitoring program at the Campos, Santos and Espírito Santo Basins, southeastern Brazilian coast. Ocean color (SeaWiFS and MODIS), thermal infrared (NOAA/AVHRR), scatterometer (QuikSCAT) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (RADARSAT-1 and ENVISAT) data were integrated in order to detect and characterize different sorts of marine pollution and meteo-oceanographic phenomena. The near real time processing and delivery of the SAR data allowed the timely in-situ verification and sampling of the remotely detected events. Satellite sensors operating in the visible part of the spectrum are used to monitor ocean color variations and associated biomass changes. Thermal infrared radiometers are ideal to monitor features like oceanic fronts and upwelling plumes. However, the major limitation for both types of sensors is the extensive and persistent presence of clouds in the monitored area. Fortunately, microwave sensors such imaging spaceborne SAR permit the acquisition of oceanic scenes, regardless cloud coverage. With the spaceborne SAR systems available it is possible to have almost a daily synoptic view of large areas with suitable spatial resolution for the detection of different natural and men-made events. The integrated analysis of these dataset presents an important decision tool for emergencies, as well for the elaboration of contingency plans and evaluation of the oil industry activity impacts.