bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stakeholder Consultation in an Oil Operating Company
Authors: Okoro I. C. , Geerling C.
Published: December 2007

Social accountability beyond strictly legal or contractual obligations has become a major driver of SPDC's business in Nigeria.

In order to define our position vis-à-vis those who are or could be our stakeholders, four workshops were organised between 1998 and 2000. After a low profile but intensive consultation with a wide range of interest groups, including respected international opinion leaders in the areas of Environment and Social Development, a simple stakeholder selection philosophy was adopted, which was to consult as widely as possible.

In all, the workshops involved over 600 participants representing a broad spectrum of interests, including community groupings, regulatory authorities, Government agencies, the academia, industry specialists and NGOs. The workshops produced a detailed list of queries, recommendations and suggestions. SPDC made a commitment to respond to every issue raised in the follow-up of the workshops.

While there was recognition of SPDC's efforts in environmental impact minimisation as well as in the provision of social infrastructure, it was felt that the company should put more emphasis on the linkages between environmental impact and social impact. The company should also get more involved in wider issues of environmental conservation.

The net result of these workshops is that a new annual stakeholder dialogue programme has become part of the SPDC management calendar. This will be in addition to other established structured and programmed dialogue sessions on an issue by issue and with relevant stakeholders and community groups.

Key learning points are:

Seek first to understand in order to be understood. Independent views of experts and open discussion will pull people out of dug-in positions. Openness and transparency works all the time.
Environmental Decision Making for New Developments: An Alternative Approach
Authors: Alderdice Ian , Cutteridge David , Whitehead Alwyne
Published: December 2007

A variety of approaches are adopted within the Oil and Gas sector with regard to selecting appropriate environmental standards and performance levels for new developments. For those aiming to advance the standards of environmental performance it is probably not unreasonable to suggest that the general approach is to consider existing practice and then assess what incremental progress can be made to improve performance levels without incurring excessive additional costs.

This paper presents a new approach to the consideration of appropriate environmental performance levels for new developments which, it is asserted, will result in significant reductions in emissions and impacts without a significant increase in development costs.

Fundamentally this new approach involves replacing the starting point for the assessment. The traditional starting point of existing practice is replaced with the new starting point of the ideal outcome i.e. zero damage. How zero could be achieved then has to be described along with logical intermediate positions between ‘zero’ and existing practice. The final step is to determine the appropriate level of performance for the proposed development, the methodology being that the zero option will be adopted unless a rigorous justification, considering all relevant factors, can be constructed for adopting a lesser position. One possible method for making this assessment is proposed.

It is asserted that consideration of the practicalities of achieving zero damage during the early stages of development planning, along with the requirement to provide a robust justification for each area in which zero cannot, or should not, be achieved will result in significant improvements in environmental performance (judged against current practice) at an acceptable incremental cost.
Project Risk and Reward - An HSE Manager's Experience
Authors: Moorfield Derek
Published: December 2007

This paper presents the writer's experience of a risk and reward scheme used on a recent gas exploration, design, fabrication and installation project performed by an international Alliance Project Team in the Republic of South Africa where a large element of the scheme included HSE qualifiers.

The Project, like many today, was performed against a tight budget and schedule and presented a number of challenges with respect to the management of HSE. These were complicated by the structure of the Alliance which employed seventeen member companies and many sub contractors from within South Africa, France, Portugal and United Arab Emirates, all with different HSE cultures and practices.

This paper discusses the following:

Details of the risk and reward scheme; The reasons the Client required HSE to be included in the scheme; How this affected the Project approach to HSE management; Pros and Cons of the scheme; Did it work?; Would we do anything different next time?
Application and Integration of Security Risk Assessment Methodologies and Technologies into Health, Safety and Environmental (SHE) Programs
Authors: Piper John W. , Carlon Joseph R.
Published: December 2007

In the petrol-chemical industry, SHE programs evolved from multiple sources, such as the American Institute of Chemical Engineer's Center for Chemical Process Safety. In ExxonMobil, SHE programs are managed through the Operational Integrity Management System (OIMS), which draws upon those chemical industry best practices. OIMS is comprised of eleven key elements that define aspects of sound SHE operations. OIMS provides for definitions of what is expected as well as providing specific best practices.

Specific OIMS elements are:

Management Leadership, Commitment, and Accountability Risk Assessment and Management Facilities Design and Construction Information/documentation Personnel and Training Operations and Maintenance Management of Change Third Party Services Incident Investigation and Analysis Community Awareness and Emergency Preparedness Operations Integrity Assessment and Improvement

Unfortunately, the petrol-chemical industry—unlike some industries such as commercial nuclear power where clear SHE-security relationships are mandated—has typically not addressed security matters in development of best practices. For example, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requirement NUREG/CR-1345 is entitled Nuclear Power Plant Design for the Reduction of Vulnerability to Industrial Sabotage and requires facilities to consider sabotage scenarios in design. No such recommended practice exists in the AICHE Center for Chemical Process Safety documentation.
Technological Aspects Relative to Assessing the Integrity of Existing Offshore Facilities: A Regulatory Perspective
Authors: Smith Charles E.
Published: December 2007

Aging or damaged offshore facilities present many challenges to the offshore oil and gas industry and regulators worldwide. Many existing facilities were designed in accordance with much lower standards than are currently prescribed. Others may have suffered damage as a result of storms and/or accidents or, because of the lack of active maintenance programs, deteriorated to the extent that their future structural integrity is in question. Further, with the advent of new drilling and production technologies, lives of existing reservoirs have been significantly extended; thus, facilities are being called upon to serve well beyond their original design life. Regulatory bodies, as well as the oil and gas industry, have put forth much effort to develop suitable standards to assess the integrity of existing offshore facilities. Although the primary focus in the past has been on platform structures, i.e. steel jackets, recent efforts have been associated with topsides facilities and pipeline systems. This paper will discuss the Minerals Management Service (MMS) perspective relative to reassessment issues and will present an overview of major research and technology efforts that have been or are currently being funded by the MMS in support of these activities.
Integrated Safety Information System - A Strategic Management Tool
Authors: Pereira Azevedo Miguel Francisco , Constantino Roberto , Maida Fernando
Published: December 2007

This paper presents the development criteria and implementation steps of a Corporate System of Information on Industrial Safety ("Sistema Corporativo de Informações de Segurança Industrial" - SISIN) implemented in PETROBRAS-Petróleo Brasileiro S.A as a strategic management tool. The system in reference involves some 40 units, including main offices and operating units, encompassing a universe of 35,000 (January/2000) employees of the Company and Contractors’ employees and totals 70,000 records approximately in the period from 1985 to 2000 (January), including records of accidents resulting in personal injuries and records of irregular occurrences.

The engineering adopted for the development of the data bank employed the concepts recommended in the ISO-9000 series Quality rules, with reference to a wider application of the definition of "non conformity". The criteria set forth in the Brazilian Standard of Accident Recordings NBR-14.280, issued by the Brazilian Technical Standards Association ("Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas"- ABNT) were also taken into consideration, as well as the international rules on which the charts included in the System were based.

The purpose of this paper is to evidence the managerial importance of an Information System of such dimensions, since the basic assumptions adopted for its development, such as the processing speed of data input, data availability in real time, concepts and national and international indicators were employed and are strategically necessary within a globalization scenario, in which information quality and productivity are increasingly needed elements, as well as fundamental factors of corporate survival.
People Are the Key to Safety Excellence: The Benefits of a Strong Safety Culture
Authors: Solomon Peter
Published: December 2007

DuPont understands the direct connection between safety, quality and environment through employee behaviour. Safety has been important to DuPont for two centuries, and the DuPont safety philosophy was based on concepts promoted by its founder, E.I. du Pont.

Through years of experience within its own plants, DuPont has found that safety needs to focus on people. A DuPont study has found that unsafe acts are the cause of 96 percent of all injuries at work, whereas only four percent are related to technical causes.

This papers highlights the DuPont belief that a good safety culture is essential for the well being of a company. It will describe the DuPont philosophy and how it has helped in creating strong safety values within the organisation, and the resultant positive results.

Its philosophy includes:

– All injuries are preventable. – Safety is a condition of employment. – Safety off-the-job is just as important as safety on-the-job. – Good safety is good business.

The paper will use case studies to illustrate how if people are placed at the centre, from all levels within the organisation, the safety culture will improve drastically. And this does not just apply to safety. If people act responsibly towards safety, then they will do the same for quality and all other core values.

This paper also describes the interplay between ‘management’ and ‘worker roles’ and how these are affected within the model of cultural development – from dependence to independence through to interdependence.

In conclusion. Safety should be an integral part of the behaviour of all employees, at all levels. By ‘walking the talk’, DuPont has been able to achieve its status as the safest science and technology company worldwide. To achieve a strong safety culture, companies must be willing to devote all the time and resources necessary to encourage employees in the development of personal commitment, individual accountability and a strong sense of interdependency.
World Wildlife Fund and an Operating Company Partnership: Lessons Learned from Six Years of Collaboration in Biodiversity Protection
Authors: Flemming D. , McCall D. R.
Published: December 2007

In 1994, the Kutubu Petroleum Development Project (established by a consortium of oil companies and operated by Chevron Niugini Limited) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) embarked on a unique partnership to conserve the globally-significant forest ecosystem of the Kikori River catchment in Papua New Guinea. The Kutubu Project is Papua New Guinea's first petroleum development project and is surrounded by the vast 2.3 million hectare Kikori River catchment. The partnership established between Chevron Niugini and WWF initiated the Kikori Integrated Conservation and Development Project (KICDP) to assist the people of the Kikori River catchment to conserve their natural resources, which are under threat primarily from large-scale logging. While few partnerships of this magnitude exist between international oil companies and conservation organizations, the KICDP has proven that such a partnership can be a successful way to promote and achieve environmental conservation. This partnership is predicated on Chevron Niugini's efforts to safeguard the environment through environmental controls and WWF's goal of conserving the earth's outstanding biological diversity. The KICDP completed its first three-year phase of operation in 1997 and initiated a second three-year phase in January of 1998 with funding from the Gobe and Kutubu Petroleum Development Projects. Both Chevron and WWF have recently completed internal reviews of the partnership. This paper describes the results from these reviews. The conclusion from six years of partnership experience between Chevron and WWF is that this partnership--and potentially others like it--offers considerable promise as an innovative strategy for environmental protection.
Biomarkers: A New Approach to Assess Environmental Impact of Petroleum E&P Activities
Authors: Børseth J. F. , Grøsvik B. E. , Camus L. , Le Floch S. , Gaudebert B.
Published: December 2007

Description of benthic fauna have traditionally been the most dominating method in offshore environmental impact studies. However, this method has revealed clear limitations. Benthic fauna investigations are retrospective with regard to biological impacts. They are relatively expensive and do not provide information about the impact of discharges in the water column. Today, focus on the water column has increased and the Norwegian Pollution Control Authorities has decided to emphasise on possible biological effects. However, this has not yet been implemented and present monitoring is limited to measurements of chemical concentrations in water and tissue. These data are combined with model simulations of water concentration fields. The rationale behind the change in biomonitoring focus towards biological effects is that one do not necessarily include in monitoring programs those chemicals that cause effects. Therefore, it is considered a better strategy to monitor effects directly. Some biological effect parameters (by definition named general biomarkers) integrate responses to several classes of chemicals in the environment, other parameters respond more specifically to special compounds. For environmental screening purposes, it is important to select the type of biomarkers which is most relevant for the type of pollution expected and the species investigated. If effects are indicated with a screening biomarker, a more detailed environmental analysis will be required. Supplementary biomarker methods and chemical analyses can then decide the real size and cause of the impact in a stepwise and cost-effective manner.

The use of biomarkers in biomonitoring of oil & gas activities in the North Sea has been shown to be useful by studies conducted within the Elf IDREMER program in Norway and by studies in UK supported by the Scottish Pollution Control Authorities.
Modification of a Standardized Anaerobic Biodegradation Test to Discriminate Performance of Various Non-Aqueous Base Fluids
Authors: Candler John E. , Lee Burney , Rabke Stephen P. , Geliff Jonathan M. , Stauffer Richard , Hein Jerry
Published: December 2007

The inability to consistently discriminate biodegradation performance inhibits the development and use of Synthetic-Based Muds (SBMs) and other non-aqueous base fluids. Government regulators and industry representatives are discussing and seeking to improve the repeatability, discriminatory power and environmental relevance of the current bottle and simulated seabed biodegradation tests. To date, the existing protocols and procedures are only moderately successful in discriminating the performance of various base fluids. This study provides information on the modification and development of an existing freshwater anaerobic test (ISO/DIS 11734)1 for use as a marine sediment anaerobic biodegradation test. This paper reviews and compares the repeatability, discriminatory power, practicality and ecological relevance of the modified test relative to the performance of other biodegradation tests and field data.
Health Risk Assessment
Authors: Eckhoff Hans Egil
Published: December 2007

A Health Risk Assessment is a process used to determine if health hazards potentially affect workers or the public. This can be basic, initial assessment as part of routine work planning and execution, or they can be structured assessments that evaluate and prioritize potential health risks. The health risk assessment defines the required follow-up and contains recommendations for control and remedial actions.

The Norwegian Regulations to systematic follow-up of the working environment in the petroleum activities requires an evaluation of whether and how risk analyses may be used as an element in the work of preventing work related disease.

This paper describes the documentation of the administrative framework for formally assessing occupational health risks in a structured fashion, Controlling occupational health risks, Communicating the results of formal health risk assessments, and Obtaining appropriate levels of management approval for health risk assessment and control activities.

The formal Health Risk assessment includes the following procedural steps: Triggers, Methodology, Health Risk Matrix, Classification of occupational health risks, Risk reduction plans, Risk communication plans, Reassessment of health risk assessment, Management approval, Risk assessment responsibilities.

A formal health risk assessment is a useful tool to in a systematic way assess exposure to health hazards and develop risk reduction plans. Management's approval and responsibilities are essential in the process.
Offshore Drilling Project Integrated HSE Management in Australia
Authors: Embury Jim
Published: December 2007

The key focus for companies today is managing the operation as an integrated project rather than as a series of services managed through contractual agreements. Safety is becoming the integrating factor over the services provided by the drilling contractor and other service companies rather than the technical objectives of the program.

The paper will describe the Safety Case legislative requirements and how companies are meeting them. It provides a quick overview of the process that was developed in 1996 to meet the regulatory requirements then moves to the current day and describes how operators, coming in for two to four wells, meet the requirements while providing better hazard management than companies drilling three years ago. Examples of risk management over multiple wells in one permit, simultaneous operations for infield drilling and assessment of hazardous occurrence including drilling in shipping lanes and during cyclone seasons will provide readers with an insight into Australian operating conditions.

This paper will go beyond the "what to do" to include the "how to do it". The contributions of the Australian industry will be shared to contribute to the advancement of risk management for offshore drilling operations.
The Hearts and Minds Project in an Operating Company: Developing Tools to Measure Cultural Factors
Authors: Hudson P. T. W. , Willekes F. C.
Published: December 2007

The Hearts and Minds project is being carried out to improve safety performance across the Oman oil industry. The objective is to identify how people can become intrinsically motivated for good HSE behaviour and to develop (micro-) tools to achieve such well motivated behaviour in a simple and effective manner, optimally tuned to the cultures in the organisation. The Hearts and Minds programme involves two components. One is the development of tools to measure the safety culture, readiness to change and national cultural factors. The second involves the development of ‘micro-tools’ to produce development of safety culture. This paper reports the results of the first stage. Reliable and simple scales to measure safety culture and readiness to change have been developed. The results show differences between PDO and a number of its major contractors. Most interestingly there are reliable differences between managers, supervisors and workforce that are independent of the company. Managers are invariably more open to change and have higher evaluations of the safety culture than do either supervisors or the workforce.

A replication of Hofstede's scales for the measurement of national culture was also successful. The scales measured were Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Collectivism-Individualism and Masculinity-Femininity. Significant differences have been found between different groups that have considerable implications for the development of safety culture and the implementation of initiatives in general. This paper also discusses the consequences of the results for implementation of safety initiatives within a company that is characterised by being culturally extremely diverse.
Structuring the Greater Ekofisk Drilling Operations for Best in Class HSE Results
Authors: James R. W. , Croucher T. M.
Published: December 2007

Phillips Petroleum Company Norway has made significant HSE improvements to gain "best in class" results. An industry leadership position has enabled Phillips Petroleum Company Norway (PPCoN) to involve the Norwegian authorities, research institutes, operators, and contractors towards the further development and application of the methods used. An additional benefit of these improvements has been reduced costs of drilling operations.

This paper discusses the HSE improvements achieved by PPCoN drilling department and the manner inwhich external organisations have been involved. The paper also identifies the benefits to PPCoN and the external organisations, and how industry-wide improvements have resulted.
OCS Resource Management and Sustainable Development
Authors: LaBelle Robert P.
Published: December 2007

Can production and consumption of hydrocarbon energy from offshore sources be considered as contributing to sustainable development? What's more, can an agency with the responsibility of managing offshore resource development do so in a way that supports the concept of sustainability? This paper will outline an affirmative response to both of these questions and discuss the reasoning and goals inherent in this position.

The Offshore Minerals Management Program of the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) is responsible for the safe and environmentally sound leasing, development, and production of OCS oil, gas, and minerals. The concepts of environmental sustainability, as well as economic and social sustainability, will be presented with a view to describing a coordinated approach to overall sustainable development.

The paper concludes that the use of an exhaustible resource, such as hydrocarbons, can be considered sustainable if economic and social gains balance the lost resource, and the environment is protected. The paper focuses on what the MMS can do, and is doing, as a resource manager to promote sustainable development within its authority and mandate. This is an effort to "think globally and act locally," which has been advocated by many as an ideal individual contribution to meeting the challenge of sustainable development.
Land Farm Design and Management in Bolivia: A Case-Study
Authors: Younkin W. , Suaznabar C. , Parsons S.
Published: December 2007

An environmental liability audit of Empresa Petrolera Chaco, S. A. (CHACO), a BP Amoco/Bridas entity and the Bolivian Pension Funds joint venture, identified approximately 55,000 m3 of TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon) contaminated soils and wastes from prior operations requiring remediation. In addition, ongoing operations required a cost effective approach to oily waste disposal. Operations sites were remote and widely scattered, having a wide range of climatic conditions and limited availability of equipment. Land farming, a well-accepted technique in North America was identified as the most cost effective method for treating these oil-contaminated materials.

Land farming had never been done in Bolivia and there were no specific regulations for treatment of oil-contaminated soils. Modified designs from Canada and the United States were used to prepare land farm designs and management guidelines. The first site, Los Cusis Land Farm, was established in the subtropical humid forest region north of Santa Cruz. High rainfall and a shallow ground water table required careful planning and monitoring of soils and near surface ground water. First year results showed reductions of TPH from highs of 15% in applied wastes, to less than 1% in treated soils within a seven-month period. Environmental monitoring of groundwater and soils confirmed treatment areas had little or no impact on shallow groundwater. A second site, Exploration Well #2 Land Farm, was established in the dry temperate forest region south of Santa Cruz. The third site, Camatindi Land Farm, is under construction in a mountainous region in the southern part of the country.

The land farming technique has been a success story for CHACO, due to careful design for appropriate environmental conditions and social concerns, proper management of contractors and reliable sampling and laboratory analysis. This paper provides a summary of design parameters, management procedures and bio-remediation volumes and rates, for the Los Cusis and Exploration Well #2 sites.
International Emergency Medical Evacuations: Management, Organization and Results within a Major Oilfield Service Company
Authors: Barbey A.
Published: December 2007

Major oilfield companies are regularly confronted with the costly, delicate and complicated problem of evacuating their severely ill or wounded employees when the local medical infrastructure is not capable of handling the medical situation.

Schlumberger, a large oilfield service company with operations in more than 100 countries, employing over 60,000 people is faced each month with serious and sometimes life-threatening medical emergencies, which require an international medical evacuation.

Prior to 1998 company managers around the world used a multitude of emergency providers. There was no centralized coordination, control or medical review of the worldwide medical evacuations.

Beginning in 1999 two major global medical evacuation providers were selected for worldwide coverage for the entire group in order to:

rationalize evacuation service partners provide one global focal point provide a systematic approach using web technology establish benchmarks and review them on a regular basis.

This reorganization resulted in:

more consistent and efficient coverage reduction in response time improved employee and family confidence and morale in difficult environments reduced costs.

We review in this paper the company's experience within the last 12 months concerning international emergency medical evacuations and in particular the:

frequency and medical nature of these emergencies profile of the evacuees logistic problems involved cost of these evacuations.
Hull Monitoring
Authors: Hermundstad Ole A. , Helland Øyvind , Hellvik Sten
Published: December 2007

North Sea Regional Effects.

The maritime activity in the North Sea region is extensive, growing and for a large portion associated with the development of oil and gas reservoirs. The activity and growth reflects directly into coastal infrastructure, into risk for spill and environmental effects and to precautions and measures taken to avoid or minimise effects.

Particularly in Norway and in the U.K. an industry has emerged from the needs in the offshore sector. The development of that industry has been in the coastal regions.

This HULLMON+ project addresses both safety and the cost saving potential in knowledge based operation of maritime structures. Additionally, through transnational co-operation by most parties directly or indirectly involved, the level of knowledge where required will be raised to develop procedures for effective tools to realise such cost saving potential. The project may also give foothold for the expansion of technology based industry specialising in fibre optics, fatigue analysis, design and construction of marine structures, tools related to quality assurance etc. in the marine and other sectors.
Fire System Integrity Assurance
Authors: Waterfall Kevin , Ramsden Niall
Published: December 2007

The paper contends that demonstrable risk reduction requires defined fire system performance standards that are verified on a regular basis. It represents the contents of the "Fire Systems Integrity Assurance" guidance document of the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, to be published in 2000.

Non functioning of expensive fire detection or protection systems can result in them failing to fulfil their risk reduction potential. Drawing on practical experience from oil and gas installations the paper gives examples of how to avoid failures if the appropriate fire system performance standards are not set and verified.

The paper offers recommendations for management, in terms of an approach to design, construction, commissioning, maintenance, inspection and recording to meet fire and explosion risk reduction criteria.

This will be presented as a poster session in the fifth SPE HSE conference in Stavanger in 2000.
Crisis Management System to Support Worldwide Activities
Authors: Rizzi W. , Girola G. , Pizzamiglio M.
Published: December 2007

This paper reviews the current position of ENI Agip Division on Contingency Planning & Emergency Response after the new Corporate HSE Policy came into force in 1998. This has been the first step for several initiatives to create and improve a new integrated HSE MS of the Division for the new millennium.

A key element has been our commitment to HSE standards and performance. HSE considerations must be central to all decision making throughout all of ENI Agip Division activities, from concept development to final abandonment. We must also be prepared to be scrutinized on these decisions and to be measured on our performance in meeting the standards we set.

Good HSE practice must be a way of life for all involved in our operations be they ENI Agip Div. staff and/or contractors. The new HSE policy has been the opportunity to review the existing Emergency Response Plans both in the Italian Districts as well as in all Sister Companies and Subsidiaries worldwide. The Corporate Contingency Plan for major incidents specify when assistance should be requested from outside the Italian subsidiaries and Sister Company, principally for major emergency and for response to blowouts and major oil spills. Contractual arrangements are in place to provide these services when requested.
Experience with Malaria and the Use of Antimalarials in an Oil and Gas Producing area of Nigeria
Authors: Ajayi P A , Faleyimu B L , Chira F , Kpiasi O , Fadeyi T
Published: December 2007

With an estimated worldwide 300-500 million clinical cases and 1.5 to 2.7 million deaths per year, malaria continues to be a major health problem especially in the tropics. This prospective two-phased study was carried out in Chevron Nigeria's operational areas to determine effectiveness of conventional antimalarials, degree of drug resistance and thereby update our treatment policy. The first phase was carried out between March and December 1998 in Escravos, which is the operational headquarters with a well equipped base clinic. Employees with malaria (Parasitaemia confirmed using the QBC technique) were randomized to take chloroquine or Fansidar, which are our first line drugs in the immune/semi-immune. Malaria parasitaemia was checked at 24, 48 and 72 hours. A second line drug was administered if parasitaemia persisted or increased and patient's symptoms persisted. A total of 85 employees, all males (84 nationals and 1 expatriate) were included in the study.

The second phase was carried out between March and August 1999 in Warri, which is 15 minutes flight from Escravos. Here, the company has a 26-bedded hospital, which serves as a back up to the Escravos clinic, and also caters for the employees when they are on time off, and their dependants. A protocol similar to the phase 1 study was used, with modifications to accommodate the different categories of patients seen and the different specialists managing them. A total of 150 patients were studied. From both studies, a total of 235 employees were studied. 195 completed the treatment protocol and the drugs used were Chloroquine (85), Fansidar (34), Halfan (68), Quinine (5), Mefloquine (1) and artemether in 2. There was no mortality. We found chloroquine and Fansidar still very useful as first line drugs but there was significant multidrug resistance. This paper discusses our findings, an overview of our experience with malaria, the prevalence of antimalarial drug resistance, and our prescription pattern. It also highlights our experience with chemoprophylaxis among our expatriate staff.
Health and Medicine in the Russian Federation: An Issue of Both Foreign Policy and Humanitarian Concern
Authors: Burger Edward J.
Published: December 2007

The present Russian health care sector and the state of Russians’ health present both enormous challenges and clear opportunities. This paper proposes an initiative for health and medicine in the Russian federation to serve both humanitarian and security goals. Maintaining social order and civil society in the Russian federation is in the interest of both parties - Russia and the West - and appropriate attention to social safety net issues - especially health - will enhance the probabilities of maintaining a civil society. The initiative for health should be designed as a coherent strategy for the subject alongside other programs aimed at maintaining security and social order. Further, we should take advantage of experience gained in the course of past initiatives which have precedential value for the present. Importantly, any coherent strategy should include both public and private interests where health and social welfare matters are of concern. The oil exploration sector, with its long legacy of social investment and its inherent interest in the longevity of its exploration investments, has a key role to play in that strategy.
The Leveraged Buy-in: Creating an Enabling Environment for Business through Strategic Social Investments
Authors: LaPin Deirdre
Published: December 2007

Social and economic realities directly influence the business environment. In emerging economies like Nigeria, which are heavily dependent on revenue from oil and gas operations, industry attention to stakeholders and their quality of life is a business imperative. One best practice approach is to make strategic social investments that promote an enabling social and economic environment. By fostering a healthy exchange between business and its context, the needs of both human and business development are aligned and mutually reinforcing.

An example of best practice in strategic social investment is offered by the Community Development Programme launched in 1998 by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, Nigeria, Ltd. SPDC works in a region of over 1,500 communities and about 7 million people. In the past two years the Company has transformed a low-performing community assistance programme into a sustainable community development approach by combining strategies of participatory rural appraisal, local project planning, community ownership and management with capacity building and active partnering with local NGOs, government, and international organisations. The approach may be called the leveraged buy-in. Its objective is to transform the social investments the company already makes as an intrinsic part of doing business (taxes, products, jobs) or as direct "giving" (i.e. community support) into a sustainable and multiplying value that engages the resources, skills, and structures of multiple partners in government, civil society, and the development profession.

To deliver this programme SPDC organised a "community development business area" with over 120 staff supporting "best practice" community services in health, water and sanitation, education, business development, women's programmes, and agriculture. So far, Niger Delta men and women have created over 45 community development plans including over 30 different development "products", and have formed more than 150 project management committees. The approach grants communities the confidence and capacity to build their own sustainable future with reduced dependency on the Company. Useful lessons have emerged about how to expand corporate capacity to manage social investment and how to create new company structures and processes that bring positive benefits for communities and for business.
Lost Hills CO2 Pilot: Evaluation, Design, Injectivity Test Results, and Implementation
Authors: Perri P. R. , Emanuele M. A. , Fong W. S. , Morea M. F.
Published: December 2007

This paper describes the evaluation, design, and implementation of a jointly funded DOE/Chevron CO2 pilot project in the Lost Hills field, Kern County, California.

The pilot consists of four inverted (injector-centered) 5-spot patterns covering approximately 10 acres, and is located in a portion of the field, which has been waterflooded since early 1991. The target reservoir for the CO2 pilot is the Belridge Diatomite. The pilot location was selected based on geology, reservoir quality and reservoir performance of the waterflood. A CO2 pilot will investigate uncertainties associated with CO2 utilization rate and premature CO2 breakthrough, and overall uncertainty in the unproven CO2 flood process in diatomite and siliceous shale.

This paper summarizes the methodology used in the project evaluation and design, including construction of the geologic model, reservoir simulation and CO2 flood predictions, facilities design, and well design and completion considerations. An actual CO2 injectivity test was conducted in March 1999. The results of the injectivity test, which helped in the design of the pilot, are presented.

The reservoir management plan and future field potential are also discussed. CO2 injection in the pilot is planned to commence in July 2000. The methodology and technical analysis used to evaluate and design the Lost Hills CO2 pilot are applicable to other potential San Joaquin Valley CO2 floods.
Laboratory Studies of In-Depth Colloidal Dispersion Gel Technology for Daqing Oil Field
Authors: Smith J. E. , Heng Liu , Dong Guo Zhi
Published: December 2007

To investigate the possibility of using in-depth colloidal dispersion gel (CDG) enhanced oil recovery technology for the Daqing Oil Field, a cooperative study conducted by TIORCO, INC., and the Daqing Petroleum Administrative Bureau, was initiated in 1997. The study included a training program to ensure consistent laboratory methods and techniques, tests conducted in both laboratories, and computer simulation. The lab work included screening tests to determine the best polymer and formulation to use for CDG's at Daqing, followed by performance of the optimum CDG formulation in core experiments. Results from the static screening tests and core displacement studies show that the CDG process can further increase the oil recovery over straight polymer flooding and, indeed, is a viable EOR process for the Daqing Oil Field. This paper reports the details of the laboratory studies and initial simulation results which have resulted in plans for a field pilot test.
Perceiving Drilling Learning Through Visualization
Authors: Sanstrom W. C. , Hawkins M. J.
Published: December 2007

Using three-dimensional visualization of the earth model as a foundation, a new IT development strategy focuses on perceiving "Drilling Learning" by an intuitive method. Symbols, known as "Knowledge Attachments" are attached to each wellbore trajectory displayed in the three-dimensional environment, with each symbol indicating a specific event- such as one related to drilling operations or problems. It proves particularly useful to represent this disparate data at once, and in such a manner that the interdependencies between the earth model and drilling operations data are evident and correlated.
Tracer Technology for Water-Alternating-Gas Miscible Flooding in Pubei Oil Field
Authors: Yang Daoyong , Cui Huanwen , Zhang Qi , Li Luhua , Wu Zheng
Published: December 2007

There has been an increasing interest in tracer surveillance program to not only make better reservoir characterization, but also to effectively monitor reservoir performance. Both water and gas tracers have been selected for the tracer program in Pubei oil field, the first water-alternating-gas (WAG) miscible flooding project in China, in terms of combining geological characteristic, reservoir engineering scheme and laboratory research.

This paper presents that commercial compositional model was successively used to simulate the well-to-well gas tracer and water tracer performance, to quantify the distribution of tagged solvent among the producers, and to estimate swept volumes. A novel approach was used to link the sub-program for water tracer equations of motion. The application result of the model to the field shows that it can be effectively used to modify the reservoir model and to provide important information for effectively adjusting and controlling the reservoir performance as well as optimizing production and injection.
Reservoir Drainage with Downhole Permanent Monitoring and Control Systems. Real-Time Integration of Dynamic Reservoir Performance Data and Static Reservoir Model Improves Control Decisions
Authors: Nyhavn Fridtjof , Vassenden Frode , Singstad Peter
Published: December 2007

Downhole Permanent Monitoring and Control Systems invoke the vision of adapting real-time process control to the hydrocarbon drainage process. This paper discusses some aspects of the evolution towards that vision. Three functions of Reservoir Management are focused: Estimating physical downhole states (inverse problems) for Reservoir CharacterizationUpdating models (history matching)Controlling well inflow

The potential for a real-time system to contribute successfully seems to differ from function to function.
Pipeline Bundles Model Implemented Into a Multiphase Flow Model
Authors: Duret E. , Lebreton E. , Heintzé E. , Henriot V. , Saint-Marcoux J. F.
Published: December 2007

Deep-water production requires more and more advanced pipeline insulation to produce under safety conditions. For less than ten years, the research focuses on such insulation systems as pipe in pipe and more recently on pipeline bundles, system composed by some pipe sets within a carrier pipe. Then, attempts have been made to take into account the bundles modelisation in a transient multiphase flow model.

The TACITE compositional code is able to simulate the behavior of transient multiphase flow in pipelines with process equipments such as controllers, valves, separators and lateral injectors. A transient pipeline bundle module has been developed to analyse the thermal interactions between several single phase lines and the main production line. The model is based on the numerical resolution of a set of energy balance equations, defined for each lines and the annulus medium within the bundle, to compute the heat transfer between the main production line, all the single phase lines, the carrier pipeline and the outside. The natural convection is taken into account in the annulus area.

The SYSTUS code developed by SYSTUS International is currently used at Stolt Offshore to solve thermal engineering problems including pipeline bundles. The results of SYSTUS output have been checked against full size bundle test and then can be considered as a reference in this domain. Different simulations have been done with SYSTUS and TACITE in multiphase conditions in order to validate TACITE. This illustrates that the model developed for TACITE is both efficient and accurate. Also the simulation results demonstrate that it is important to take accurately into account thermal effects in case of deep-water production to predict phenomena such as hydrate formation or wax deposition.
MODIG - A Process Diagnostic Advisory System
Authors: de Xerez Sobral Marcos Moreira , Pinto Reynaldo , de Carvalho Sérgio Pires
Published: December 2007

The Diagnostic Module (MODIG) is a component extension to the standard automation architecture defined by PETROBRAS for use on its offshore production platforms (the ECOS – Supervision and Operation Control Station –Automation Architecture)[1]. MODIG works as a malfunction detection and diagnosis advisory system to assist operators on handling process upsets. To achieve that objective MODIG monitors several process variables and detects any behaviour change that might lead the process to run away of control. A functional decomposition model of the process is then used to determine the possible causes for the observed deviations. Warning messages are issued on the operators console informing about the deviations detected and the diagnosis reached by the system. Several additional tools like trend charts and causal chain displays help operators understand the present situation and decide the actions to be taken before conditions degrade to a plant shutdown.

The system was completely designed, configured, installed and commissioned by PETROBRAS technical staff using a commercial expert system development shell. MODIG is presently running on PETROBRAS’ P19 offshore oil production platform, an installation processing 125000 bbl/day. The modular approach applied during its development makes MODIG an easy to customize application. Prospects are that MODIG shall be soon installed on several other platforms.