bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SEISMIC BASED RESERVOIR CHARACTERISATION OF THE WANDOO OIL FIELD
Authors: Micenko M.I. , Rutherford R. , Crane J.
Published: August 2017

The Wandoo Oil Field of Western Australia's offshore Carnarvon Basin is located in the WA-14-L production licence approximately 70 km northwest of Dampier. Hydrocarbons from the 22 m thick oil column are produced from the informally named Unit A and Unit B of the Vf. australis Sandstone reservoir through 15 extended-reach horizontal wells. Cumulative production from the field is over 30 MMBBL of the estimated 160 MMBBL initial oil- in-place. Production reached a plateau rate of 40,000 BOPD in April 1997 and is now declining in line with the predicted reservoir performance.A multidisciplinary team was formed to develop a detailed reservoir model using 3D seismic data, a regional 2D seismic database and geological and engineering data from 11 vertical and 19 horizontal wells. The M. australis Sandstone was divided into six depositional units defined by changes in well log character, glauconite content and reservoir quality. These units were subdivided into 27 correlatable flow units and 6 laterally extensive non- reservoir siderite layers.An estuarine-deltaic depositional system is suggested for the M. australis Sandstone reservoir at Wandoo. The recognition of erosional features at various scales and distinct areas of higher quality reservoir indicate that this system wras subject to frequent changes in relative sea level. The top of the Unit B was identified as the most significant sequence boundary with the overlying Unit A deposited as a transgressive sand of limited distribution.A 3D geological model honouring the revised interpretation has been constructed and used as input for reservoir simulation resulting in an improved production history match. The concepts developed have been successfully tested by a horizontal multi-lateral production well.
APPLICATION OF RESERVOIR GEOCHEMISTRY IN THE IAGIFU-HEDINIA FIELD, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Authors: Kaufman R.L. , Robertson B.
Published: August 2017

In oilfield development and appraisal, a variety of tools are used to help define future reservoir performance. The identification of reservoir compartments, whether vertical or lateral, is a critical part of this evaluation. Reservoir compartments may develop over geologic or production timeframes depending on the characteristics of the reservoir seals. Frequently, the identification of some reservoir compartments is made only after the field is put on production.Reservoir pressure data is commonly used to identify reservoir compartments. A powerful complement to the pressure data are the properties of the reservoir fluids themselves. This provides a direct measure of hydrocarbon continuity. Both physical properties, such as gravity, bubble point pressure and GOR, and molecular properties of the oil are used. The detailed hydrocarbon composition of the reservoir fluids can be determined by a number of geochemical methods. In this paper we use capillary gas chromatography to generate oil fingerprints based on the molecular composition. We show how the oil fingerprint data is a sensitive discriminator of reservoir compartments.Reservoir studies of the Iagifu-Hedinia Field, Papua New Guinea, show the benefit of using a combination of geochemical, geological and engineering data. Each type of data reflects a different characteristic of the reservoir compartments. The combination of oil fingerprint and RFT pressure data demonstrated that some seals have been effective over geologic timeframes while others are effective only on a production timeframe. Geochemical data have also indicated the presence of reservoir compartments where other data were missing or inconclusive. Subsequently acquired production history data have confirmed the geochemically-based interpretations.
DRILLING FLUIDS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ESTER OXYGEN-BASED FLUID
Authors: Papp R.J.A. , West N.F.
Published: August 2017

An oxygen-based fluid (OBF) containing fish oil ester was introduced in October 1998 for the extended reach drilling campaign on the Goodwyn Alpha platform.The introduction involved multiple discussions with the West Australian Department of Minerals and Energy (WADME) and adherence to the risk-based approach from both WADME and the Woodside Energy Ltd (WEL) policies and standards for well engineering operations.The WEL approach to the introduction of the fluid was to address the issues associated with the use and discharge of the ester.The issues included the development of a fluid system which was optimal for extended reach wells, engineering solutions to minimise the amount of fluid discharged, and gaining a better understanding of the environmental impact of the fluid to local conditions.To minimise the volume discharged, the platform was refurbished including an upgrade to state-of-the-art solids removal equipment and modifications to the fluid system to ensure double discharge barriers.Baker Hughes Inteq conducted an extensive development program of the ester fluid system, involving more than 5,000 man hours of laboratory work.In conjuction with Curtin University of Technology, ecotoxicity testing was conducted to determine the acute impact on local species on the North West Shelf. A closed- bottle anaerobic biodegradation test was developed by Geotechnical Services to compare biodegradation rates of different fluids.By minimising the volume discharged and evaluating the impact of the discharge on the marine environment, WEL has demonstrated a comprehensive risk-based approach for the introduction of an OBF to WEL's platform and mobile drilling operations.
UNDERGROUND GAS STORAGE-LEGAL ANT REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS IN AUSTRALIA
Authors: Howard D.
Published: August 2017

The storage of gas in underground naturally occurring reservoirs takes place in a variety of forms and for a variety of reasons. In many jurisdictions within Australia, the regulatory framework to deal properly with underground gas storage requires attention and, in some cases, significant refinement. Underground natural reservoir storage of gas in Australia is an option which is being increasingly investigated as fields close to infrastructure (such as pipelines and processing plants) become depleted and alternative uses are sought for those depleted reservoirs. In addition, gas storage may give flexibility to spot gas sales and other commercial operations, and facilitate greater market sophistication. Accordingly, it is important for the industry in Australia to understand the legal implications and their impact on this type of storage.
DEVELOPMENTS IN NATIVE TITLE
Authors: Sandman M.S.
Published: August 2017

Amendments to the Commonwealth Native Title Act came into force on 30 September, 1988.The amendments are complicated and detailed and significantly alter the manner in which resource companies and governments are required to act in order to comply with native title legislation. Some of the most significant features of the legislation are as follows:Native Title applications will be made to the Federal Court instead of the National Native Title Tribunal.The right to negotiate is subject to change.Native Title applicants are required to pass a new registration test to gain the right to negotiate.New State and Territory bodies may assume the role of the National Native Title Tribunal. These bodies will require State and Territory legislation and the approval of the Commonwealth Minister.People making an application for a determination of Native Title will be required to confirm that they have the authority of the people on whose behalf the application is made. Native title representative bodies will have a new certifying role to confirm this authority.Changes have also been made to broaden the type of land use agreements that can be entered into in relation to native title, that will be specifically recognised by the Native Title Act. These are described as Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA's).In addition, recent seemingly conflicting decisions of the Federal Court have only added to the uncertainty.
NATIVE TITLE ISSUES AFFECTING PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION
Authors: Hunt M.W.
Published: August 2017

This paper focusses on onshore exploration and production because the right to negotiate does not apply offshore. However, the Native Title Act can be relevant to offshore oil and gas explorers and producers. First, where their area of interest includes an island within the jurisdiction of Western Australia. Secondly, in respect of land required for the facilities to treat petroleum piped ashore.Under the original Native Title Act the right to negotiate proved unworkable, the expedited procedure failed to facilitate the grant of exploration titles and titles granted after 1 January 1994 were probably invalid.The paper examines the innovations introduced by the amended Native Title Act to consider whether it will be more 'workable' for petroleum explorers and producers. It examines some of categories of future acts in respect of which the right to negotiate does not apply (specifically indigenous land use agreements, renewals and extensions of titles, procedures for infrastructure titles, reserve land, water resources, low impact future acts, approved exploration etc acts and the expedited procedure).Other innovations include the new registration test for native title claims, the validation of pre-Wik titles, the amended right to negotiate procedure, the State implementation of the right of negotiate procedure and the objection and adjudication procedure for grants on pastoral land.The response of each state and territory parliament to the amended Act is considered, as is the Federal Court decision in the Miriuwung Gajerrong land claim (particularly the finding that native title includes resources, questioning whether these resources extend to petroleum).The paper observes that the full impact of the new Act cannot be determined until the states and territories have passed complementary legislation and it is all in operation. However, the paper's preliminary conclusion is that it does not provide a workable framework for the interaction between petroleum companies and native title claimants.The writer's view is that the right to negotiate procedure is unworkable if relied upon to obtain the grant of a title. If a proponent wishes to develop a project in any commercially acceptable timeframe, it will have to negotiate an agreement with native title claimants. The paper's conclusion is that a negotiated agreement is the only way to cope with native title issues.
A SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC DEPOSITIONAL MODEL OF NEOPROTEROZOIC STRATA, YOWALGA AREA, OFFICER BASIN,WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Authors: Apak S.N. , Moors H.T.
Published: August 2017

Additional data and further studies have now improved geological, geophysical, and geochemical understanding of the Neoproterozoic strata of the Officer Basin. New sequence stratigraphic analysis of continuously cored drillholes (particularly Empress–1/1A), extended throughout the area with wireline log and seismic correlations, provide enhanced recognition of depositional fades and thus basin architecture. Four major flooding events and fifteen sedimentary successions, interpreted as parasequence sets by regional correlation, are recognised across the Yowalga area. These parasequence sets are traceable using seismic data, with flooding events identified on cores and logs producing regional or local reflectors with good amplitude and continuity.Sedimen tary cycles are dominantly mixed carbonates- siliciclastics with primarily progradational stacking patterns. These imply transgressive and regressive cycles in a basin with low bathymetric relief. Depositional settings range from supratidal to just below storm wave base.This interpretation improves the prediction of potential petroleum systems. An architectural model for each formation allows prediction of depositional trends including potential reservoir, source rock and seal in the Yowalga area.
THE WALLOON COAL MEASURES—THE NEXT COAL SEAM GASTARGET?
Authors: Scott S.G. , Crosdale P.
Published: August 2017

The Queensland coal seam gas industry has grown over the last 12 years. During this time the vast majority of exploration wells have targeted the Late Permian coal measures in the Bowen and Galilee Basins. These formations have been the major target because they contain coals with a vitrinite reflectance ranging above 0.7%. This range has always been seen as the main period for methane generation.As well as containing vast quantities of Permian coal, Queensland also has vast quantities of Middle Jurassic coals within its Mesozoic Basins. These coals have received little-to-no exploration for their coal seam gas potential as they have always been interpreted as being immature for gas generation.Over 550 petroleum exploration wells drilled in the Mesozoic Surat Basin of eastern Queensland were reviewed to determine the coal volume of the intersected Walloon Coal Measures. A significant number have intersected large volumes of sub-bituminous to high volatile bituminous coals, in seams ranging up to 11.7 m in thickness. While the individual seams are not laterally persistent, the coal packages can be traced over hundreds of kilometres of the eastern Surat Basin.While only one well has tested the gas content, gas quality and saturation of the Walloon Coal Measures, numerous water bores have reported gas flows from the zone, and petroleum wells intersecting the formation have recorded high mud gas readings during drilling.The relatively shallow depth of the unit over much of the basin, the thickness of the coal packages, the proximity to major gas trunk pipelines and markets make the Walloon Coal Measures an ideal target for the next generation of coal seam gas explorers.
RECONSTRUCTING THE GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN CRUDE OILS USING AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
Authors: Aarssen B.G.K. van , Alexander R. , Kagi R.I.
Published: August 2017

The distributions of methylated naphthalenes in crude oils carry within them detailed information regarding the geological history of the oils. The effects of thermal stress, mixing, biodegradation and migration contamination all leave recognisable imprints, which can be deconvoluted. An extended suite of crude oils from several locations in Australia was analysed for their methylated naphthalene content. It was shown that three ratios of selected isomers, each reflecting the same underlying sedimentary reactions, are linearly related to each other when thermal stress has been the only factor controlling the distribution of methylated naphthalenes. This internal consistency allows for an assessment of maturity independent of source, age and location of the crude oil. When the relationships between the three ratios are not linear, secondary processes such as mixing, biodegradation or migration contamination have affected the crude oil. Close examination of the distribution of methylated naphthalenes can reveal the extent to which either of these processes has affected the oil.
CALIBRATING CORE, LOG AND SEISMIC DATA TO ASSESS EFFECTIVE STRESS AND HYDROCARBON SATURATION, COOPER BASIN, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Authors: Khaksar A.
Published: August 2017

Laboratory measurements of acoustic properties of representative rock samples, simulating in-situ effective stress and fluid saturation, provide useful guides for calibrating and interpreting seismic and sonic log data. This paper addresses some of the major implications arising from a petro-acoustic study for the evaluation of reservoir depletion of Cooper Basin gas reservoirs using logs and seismic. Measurement of P- and S-wave velocities on cores under varying pressure conditions reveals that the stress dependency of Cooper Basin rocks is very large, while core porosity remains effectively unchanged.The saturation heterogeneity at pore-scale, which is shown in capillary pressure data, controls the velocity- saturation in partially water-saturated samples. The steady decrease of P-wave velocity as saturation decreases from the high saturation range to near irreducible conditions suggests a simultaneous drainage of water from pores with a variety of high to moderate aspect ratios, while microcracks (low aspect ratio pores) retain water. Closure and degree of saturation of the low aspect ratio pores control the velocity-effective stress and velocity-saturation relationships at low saturation and stress conditions.The velocity dispersion due to frequency difference between ultrasonic laboratory measurements on cores and theoretical low (seismic) frequency is about 1%, and thus laboratory-measured velocities are comparable with sonic log and seismic data in the Cooper Basin. The potential of the velocity ratio (Vp/Vs) for detection of fluid type and the saturation status at in-situ reservoir effective stress, and prediction of Vs from Vp, are demonstrated for the Cooper Basin rocks. Acoustic measurements on cores, wireline data and seismic modelling are used to predict the expected change in seismic response as the reservoir depletes. Synthetic seismic profiles indicate that the zero-offset reflectivity of a shale to reservoir interface decreases by 28% for a 30 MPa pressure depletion in a typical gas expansion drive reservoir. Such changes should be easily measurable between repeated surveys, suggesting that time-lapse seismic for the monitoring of in-situ effective stress and saturation may have application in Cooper Basin reservoirs. Although these findings refer specifically to the Cooper Basin, the methods used and results of this study may be applicable elsewhere.
NEW SEISMIC METHODS AND POTENTIAL FORTHE REGION
Authors: Reymond S.B.
Published: August 2017

New seismic data types and new interpretation tools are rapidly changing and expanding the applicability of seismic methods. In Australia, the hydrocarbon and mining industries are both using an increased proportion of 3D seismic data to improve lateral predictability and to reduce exploration and production risks and costs. New techniques and workflows described below are expected to come into more common usage over the next five years.3D reservoir characterisation workflows integrate all reservoir data types including well log measurements, seismic data, reservoir models and simulations. Within the domain of seismic data, complementary data types, such as 3D, 4D, 4C, AVO and down-hole seismic, need to be synthesised into a single optimum reservoir representation. One way of producing such results is by using seismic classification which is based on a set of geostatistical and neural network algorithms to produce a single class map or cube mapping reservoir parameters with an uncertainty estimate associated with each trace and sample location.Seismic classification is applied to two types of seismic data: attribute grids and 3D seismic attribute cubes. Seismic classification provides a tool for generalised inversion of seismic data for lithofacies, faults and fluids (DHI, Direct Hydrocarbon Indicators). At the acquisition and processing stages of seismic data, the same classification algorithms are used to assess data quality to quantify and improve seismic data quality.Recent developments in seismic attributes have shown that additional reservoir characterisation information is obtained by decomposing the seismic trace into a set of polynomial coefficients. Such seismic attributes are computed both on the seismic trace and on a synthetic trace computed along the borehole trajectory in order to calibrate the seismic attribute by measured reservoir parameters.An increasing number of 3D attribute cubes or transforms of the raw seismic volume are used by geophysicists to better capture lateral changes in seismic response. The potential and pitfalls of 3D attribute cubes are illustrated with reference to Australasian examples.Increasing interest is also being shown in fault and fracture mapping bom seismic data with applications in both the mining and hydrocarbon industries. Fault mapping and automated extraction can both be based on structural seismic attribute grids and cubes.
APPLICATION OF RESISTIVITY INVERSION MODELLING TO ENHANCE WATER SATURATION CALCULATIONS FROM WIRELINE LOGS
Authors: Shield C.J.
Published: August 2017

Water saturation (Sw) values calculated from resistivity or induction logs are often higher than those measured from core-derived capillary pressure (Pc) measurements. The core-derived Sw measurements are commonly applied for reservoir simulation in preference to the log-derived Sw calculations. As it is economically and logistically impractical to core every hydrocarbon reservoir, a method of correlating the core-derived Sw to resistivity/induction logs is required. Two-dimensional resistivity modelling is applied to dual laterolog data to ascertain the applicability of this technique.The Griffin and Scindian/Chinook Fields, offshore Western Australia, have been producing hydrocarbons since 1994 from two early-to-middle Cretaceous reservoirs, the clean quartzose sandstones of the Zeepaard Formation and the overlying glauconitic, quartzose sandstones of the Birdrong Formation. Routine and special core analysis of cores recovered from wells intersecting these two reservoirs creates an excellent data set with which to correlate the good quality wireline log data.A strong relationship is noted between the modelled water saturation from resistivity logs, and the irreducible water saturation measured from core capillary pressure data. Correlation between the core-derived permeability and the invasion diameter calculated from the modelled laterolog data is shown to produce a locally applicable means of estimating permeability from the resistivity modelling results.The evaluation of these data from the Griffin and Scindian/Chinook Fields provides a method for reducing appraisal and development well analysis costs, through the closer integration of core and wireline log data at an earlier stage of the field appraisal phase.
THE RECOGNITION AND ALLEVIATION OF COMPLEXITY WITH HYDRAULIC FRACTURING ONSHORE AUSTRALIA
Authors: Rahman M.M. , Rahman M.K. , Rahman S.S.
Published: August 2017

Increasingly demanding contractual obligations and more cost-effective technology has led to the widespread use of hydraulic fracture treatments of wells onshore Australia. Whilst historically confined to low permeability, marginal fields, the majority of natural gas wells in some areas of onshore Australia are now routinely hydraulically fractured. However, a number of wells in localised regions have displayed treatment difficulties. Such wells consistently display common symptoms, such as the inability to inject proppant at required concentrations without exceeding surface injection pressure limitations. Fracture treatments on these wells are often prematurely terminated (or 'screen-out'), mainly because of near-wellbore fracture complexity. Such wells invariably display poor post-stimulation productivity.This paper describes the evaluation of reservoirs on the basis of in-situ stress and their propensity for fracture complexity. Simple, recognisable treatment pressure signatures, which indicate the presence of near-wellbore tortuosity, are presented. A conventional single, planar fracture simulation model confirms the presence of fracture tortuosity. Proppant-free shear dilation, herein referred to as a 'water-frac', has been analysed as an alternative fracture treatment in which natural fractures are inflated to interconnect with each other, forming a conduit for hydrocarbon flow. This alleviates near- wellbore fracture complexity and may avoid the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars on sub- optimal fracture treatments or remedial work.
DUET MULTIPHASE FLOW METER
Authors: Roach G.J. , Millen M.J. , Whitaker T.S.
Published: August 2017

CSIRO Minerals has developed a Multiphase Flow Meter (MFM) for measuring oil, water and gas flow rates in offshore topside and sub-sea oil production pipelines. In 1997 Kvaerner Oilfield Products (KOP) signed an exclusive licence agreement with CSIRO Minerals for production and further development of the dual energy gamma-ray transmission (DUET) MFM. This new technology has the potential to save the oil industry many millions of dollars in capital, operating and maintenance costs. Essentially, the MFM consists of two specialised gamma-ray transmission gauges, pressure and temperature sensors, which are mounted on a pipe spool carrying the full flow of the well stream, and processing electronics. Measurements of the intensities of transmitted gamma rays are made to infer the proportions of oil, water and gas, and flow velocities are determined from cross-correlation of gamma-ray signals.Prototype MFM's have completed several Australian and overseas trials, including an extended four-year trial (1994–1998) on Esso's West Kingfish platform in Bass Strait and Texaco's test loop facility in Humble, Texas. During these and other trials the MFM has determined water cut to accuracies of 2–4%, and liquid and gas flow to accuracies of 5–10%, up to a gas volume fraction (G VF) of 95%. Full production versions of the MFM are presently under construction by KOP, and the first installation is due to take place early in 2000 at Texaco's Captain oilfield in the North Sea. CSIRO Minerals is presently consulting with the Australian oil industry to assess interest in the development of a wet gas MFM, capable of operating at GVF's in excess of 95%
THE ESSENTIALS OF EFFECTIVE KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
Authors: Cooper M.A.
Published: August 2017

This paper explores the relationship between knowledge management and knowledge work, and the interaction between the corporate culture and the information processes and technology needed for knowledge management. It looks at the rationale behind one company's introduction of a global information system and how that system works for knowledge management. Discussion centres on data and information management and the use of technology in effective knowledge management.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE IAGIFU-HEDINIA FIELD, PNG FOLD BELT: A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY RESERVOIR MANAGEMENT SUCCESS STORY
Authors: Jr. J.J. Hebberger , Franklin S.P. , Uberawa W.H. , A.M.Pytte
Published: August 2017

Iagifu-Hedinia oil field was discovered in 1986 in the remote Highlands of PNG following a multi-year exploration effort. Exploration and subsequent field development of PNG's first petroleum export project were carried out without the aid of seismic data due primarily to the intense karst development in the area. Because of historically low oil prices and the remote and difficult environment, the decision to develop the field did not occur until late 1990. First oil was produced in June 1992, with successful development dependent upon an intense focus on cost management, land owner and government relations, and most critically an early commitment to active reservoir management by an empowered and multi-disciplinary reservoir management team (MDRM team). This MDRM team added as much as an incremental 70 MMBBL oil and US$240 million of net present value to the project. This resulted from its being given responsibility for reservoir characterisation, reserve estimation, economic analysis, and active reservoir management. At its core the team consisted of both petroleum engineers and earth scientists, but incorporated numerous other disciplines as they were needed. Key to this success was the support and endorsement of management to a truly empowered team.
CREATING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE FROM KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION SHARING
Authors: Starling S.W.
Published: August 2017

Petroleum companies are being challenged to exploit complex reservoirs, operate in remote regions and employ advanced technology to meet stock market demands for increased shareholder value.However, many companies face these challenges with a diminished pool of experienced staff due to organisation downsizing, outsourcing of activities and the retirement of older employees.To combat this erosion of experience, knowledge management programs that aim to formalise the generation and leverage of expertise and skills are becoming an important means of creating and sustaining competitive advantage.To be effective, these knowledge management programs must be driven by the business needs and bring together people, processes, and technology to focus on how knowledge creates value for the organisation.An important consideration for many organisations is bringing about a cultural change which encourages knowledge management and promotes information sharing. Successful change requires leadership, resources, and appropriate rewards.The case studies presented describe how an Australian production company is planning systems to manage the capture, organisation, and sharing of knowledge, and how a multinational exploration company is implementing technology to facilitate information sharing initiatives to access, analyse, and apply knowledge around the world.
STRATEGIC BUSINESS RISK ASSESSMENT-AN APPROACH FOR FINANCIAL CHARACTERISATION OF SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
Authors: Bowden A.R. , Martin J.H. , Mitchell J.
Published: August 2017

Environmental and social issues are now well established within the business risk profile of petroleum companies. Community outcry in relation to events like the Brent Spar disposal controversy, and public reaction over siting and approvals of a gas pipeline in Thailand, have exposed the commercial consequences associated with public disaffection. Despite their obvious financial impact, social and environmental risks are often not adequately addressed in business risk management strategies, due to the perceived difficulty in analysing these risks in financial terms.This paper presents an innovative, systematic approach for identifying and characterising social and environmental risks in financial terms, and developing prioritised strategies for holistic business risk management. This approach has been developed and successfully employed in a wide range of applications, including comparative financial risk assessments of project options; determination of the financial risk of acquisitions; financial reporting of contingent liability; developing financial assurance bonds; and development of asset management plans. The approach has substantial application in the petroleum industry.
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING IN AUSTRALIA: THE PAST, THE PRESENT ANDTHE FUTURE
Authors: Deegan C.M.
Published: August 2017

This paper provides an overview of Australian environmental reporting. Specifically, the topics to be considered include: a brief consideration of trends in environmental reporting together with an overview of industry initiatives to encourage environmental reporting; an overview of regulation pertaining to environmental reporting; an overview of trends towards the practice of sustainable development reporting with particular reference to triple bottom line reporting; an examination of social accounting and social auditing; an investigation of the linkage between social and environmental reporting and financial accounting; and, projections about the future of social and environmental reporting.
PUTTING IT BACKWHERE IT CAME FROM: IS GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL OF CARBON DIOXIDE AN OPTION FOR AUSTRALIA?
Authors: Cook P.J. , Rigg A. , Bradshaw J.
Published: August 2017

Liquefied natural gas projects with a total value of around $20 billion are planned for Australia. Over the next decade or so, they have the potential to generate an increase of approximately 3% in Australia's GDP, and an excess of 50,000 jobs. One of the major risks to this vast investment is uncertainty over how to deal with the major increase in direct carbon dioxide (C02) emissions that will result from these developments. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol has served to focus even more attention on this issue.Potentially, a solution to sustaining Australia's economic development, whilst at the same time meeting emission targets, may lie, in part, in developing suitable methodologies for C02 sequestration. One of the key sequestration options is geological disposal. The method, which involves injection of supercritical C02 into the deep subsurface, is being tested on a commercial scale in only one place in the world at the present time, although several other countries are now developing research programs into the technique.The APCRC research program GEODISC is investigating the applicability of this method in Australia. Whilst the focus of GEODISC is on the application of C02 disposal to the Australian natural gas industry, its outcomes will have implications for other industries such as power generation and minerals processing. It will also be looking at some of the other potential benefits of geological sequestration, such as enhanced oil recovery and enhanced coalbed methane recovery.The program will establish the most viable locations for C02 injection, determine the key areas of technical, social and economic risk, and help define a pilot injection program to address the most critical areas of uncertainty. GEODISC brings together six major petroleum companies, the Australian Greenhouse Office and key Australian research groups. The total cost of GEODISC will be approximately $10 million over four years. The major expected outcome of GEODISC will be to help the Australian gas industry plan the way ahead in terms of C02 emissions in an environmentally acceptable manner, whilst concurrently ensuring that the industry does not incur major cost disadvantages, which may adversely impact upon Australia's international competitiveness.
CASE STUDY-AN ELECTRONIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Authors: Bisset S.J. , Mulligan J.M.
Published: August 2017

In March 1999 a Lotus Notes®-based electronic Incident Management System was introduced into the Santos Queensland and Northern Territory Business Unit. The system initially captured injuries, near-misses and hazards, and introduced significant benefits over the previous paper based system, including:single point data entry;electronic signature capture;automatic notifications throughout the organisation;a comprehensive action assignment and follow-up system;simplified data entry forms;easy access to data across the organisation; andincorporation of risk management strategy into incident assessment.Since March 1999, the system has expanded both in scope and functionality. In June 1999, the system was introduced into the South Australia Business Unit, and is now being introduced into the Offshore Australia Business Unit. The functionality of the system now includes the capture of all types of incidents, including environmental, property damage and non-conformance incidents.The system resulted in an increase in reporting of near misses and hazards, and this has no doubt contributed to Santos' improved safety performance.
FORCE MAJEURE CLAUSES—HOW DEPENDABLE ARE THEY?
Authors: Marshall J.C. , Groom A.
Published: August 2017

Force Majeure clauses are becoming increasingly important to the energy industry. With the privatisation of downstream energy participants and removal of statutory immunities from liability, downstream participants are more likely to seek recourse from upstream parties where there is a failure in supply. Whether this will result in energy producers, wholesalers and retailers being held liable will generally depend on the wording of the force majeure clause contained in the relevant supply contract.This paper considers various issues that have arisen in the construction of force majeure clauses and makes suggestions as to how a party entering into a contract containing a force majeure clause can enhance the protection afforded by such a clause.
THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE AUSTRALIAN FISCAL REGIMES FOR OIL, GAS AND LNG COMPARED TO PRODUCTION SHARING CONTRACTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
Authors: Sarich M.D.
Published: August 2017

With uncertain energy markets in Asia, each energy exporting country needs to be aware of the competitiveness of its fiscal regime. Oil and gas companies are quick to find fault with fiscal regimes, while governments can be slow to react to industry demands.Companies are using increasingly sophisticated methods of project selection. Therefore, if governments wish to encourage exploration and development while ensuring a fair return to the nation, they must constantly analyse fiscal terms and their impact on cash flows for the most common forms of oil and gas projects in the country.This paper takes an objective look at the competitiveness of Australia's Petroleum Resource Rent Tax and royalty/excise fiscal regimes for oil, gas and LNG projects against fiscal regimes in Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. Worked examples have been calculated for each regime to compare Australia's system relative to the other major producing countries in the region.Australia's onshore and offshore regimes are shown to be very competitive with respect to net present value. In addition, Petroleum Resource Rent Tax is one of the more progressive regimes in the region. However, Production Sharing Contracts in Indonesia and Malaysia are seen to be potentially more flexible when considering the varying nature of oil and gas projects, and they can provide a greater degree of certainty as the negotiated terms remain fixed for the life of contracts.
Perspectives of rural and remote primary healthcare services on the meaning and goals of clinical governance
Authors: Kwedza Ruyamuro K. , Larkins Sarah , Johnson Julie K. , Zwar Nicholas
Published: August 2017

Definitions of clinical governance are varied and there is no one agreed model. This paper explored the perspectives of rural and remote primary healthcare services, located in North Queensland, Australia, on the meaning and goals of clinical governance. The study followed an embedded multiple case study design with semi-structured interviews, document analysis and non-participant observation. Participants included clinicians, non-clinical support staff, managers and executives. Similarities and differences in the understanding of clinical governance between health centre and committee case studies were evident. Almost one-third of participants were unfamiliar with the term or were unsure of its meaning; alongside limited documentation of a definition. Although most cases linked the concept of clinical governance to key terms, many lacked a comprehensive understanding. Similarities between cases included viewing clinical governance as a management and administrative function. Differences included committee members’ alignment of clinical governance with corporate governance and frontline staff associating clinical governance with staff safety. Document analysis offered further insight into these perspectives. Clinical governance is well-documented as an expected organisational requirement, including in rural and remote areas where geographic, workforce and demographic factors pose additional challenges to quality and safety. However, in reality, it is not clearly, similarly or comprehensively understood by all participants.
A health-promoting community dental service in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: protocol for the North Richmond model of oral health care
Authors: Hall Martin , Christian Bradley
Published: August 2017

Despite the best efforts and commitment of oral health programs, there is no evidence that the current surgical output-based model of oral health care is delivering better oral health outcomes to the community. In fact, Australian evidence indicates the oral health of the community could be getting worse. It is now well-understood that this traditional surgical model of oral health care will never successfully manage the disease itself. It is proposed that a health-promoting, minimally invasive oral disease management model of care may lead to a sustainable benefit to the oral health status of the individual and community groups. The aim of this paper is to describe such a model of oral health care (MoC) currently being implemented by the North Richmond Community Health Oral Health (NRCH-OH) program in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; this model may serve as a template for other services to re-orient their healthcare delivery towards health promotion and prevention. The paper describes the guiding principles and theories for the model and also its operational components, which are: pre-engagement while on the waitlist; client engagement at the reception area; the assessment phase; oral health education (high-risk clients only); disease management; and reviews and recall.
Evaluating the Potential for a Sex-Balanced Harvest Approach in the Recreational Summer Flounder Fishery
Authors: Morson Jason M. , Munroe Daphne , Harner Ryan , Marshall Rachel
Published: August 2017

Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus support important recreational and commercial fisheries along the northeast and mid-Atlantic coasts of the USA. In the recreational sector, management efforts to constrain harvest below the maximum allowable catch have typically involved increasing the minimum landing size; however, females grow faster than males. Thus, reliance on increased minimum size limits as a management strategy has resulted in approximately 90% of the recent recreational landings being large, female fish. We evaluated the potential for slot limits to produce a sex-balanced harvest in the recreational Summer Flounder fishery. To estimate the size- and sex-specific vulnerability, we sampled the landed and discarded fish (n = 3,290) caught by recreational anglers on select party boats from New Jersey to Rhode Island during the 2016 recreational fishing season. We then examined the performance of a wide array of slot limits to estimate which would have promoted a more sex-balanced harvest while maintaining a fixed fishing mortality given the observed catch composition. We demonstrate that slot limits applied to the recreational Summer Flounder fishery have the potential to simultaneously meet multiple management objectives, including the conservation of female biomass while maintaining a fixed fishing mortality; however, no single slot limit performed best at all sampling locations. Results should therefore be viewed as optimal given the observed catch composition for the year, fishing mode, and locations that were observed, and further evaluation of interannual, spatial, and fishing mode variability is warranted.

Received March 17, 2017; accepted July 26, 2017Published online October 20, 2017
Deconvolution of multiple infections in Plasmodium falciparum from high throughput sequencing data
Authors: Zhu Sha Joe , Almagro-Garcia Jacob , McVean Gil
Published: August 2017

Motivation

The presence of multiple infecting strains of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum affects key phenotypic traits, including drug resistance and risk of severe disease. Advances in protocols and sequencing technology have made it possible to obtain high-coverage genome-wide sequencing data from blood samples and blood spots taken in the field. However, analyzing and interpreting such data is challenging because of the high rate of multiple infections present.

Results

We have developed a statistical method and implementation for deconvolving multiple genome sequences present in an individual with mixed infections. The software package DEploid uses haplotype structure within a reference panel of clonal isolates as a prior for haplotypes present in a given sample. It estimates the number of strains, their relative proportions and the haplotypes presented in a sample, allowing researchers to study multiple infection in malaria with an unprecedented level of detail.

Availability and implementation

The open source implementation DEploid is freely available at https://github.com/mcveanlab/DEploid under the conditions of the GPLv3 license. An R version is available at https://github.com/mcveanlab/DEploid-r.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Enhanced cross-modal activation of sensory cortex in mouse models of autism
Authors: Hattori Ryoma , Südhof Thomas C. , Yamakawa Kazuhiro , Hensch Takao K
Published: August 2017

Synesthesia is a condition wherein one sense is evoked by another. Recent studies suggested a higher incidence of synesthesia among people with autism. However, the underlying circuit mechanism of the comorbidity remains unknown partly due to lack of animal models. Here, we measured auditory response of primary visual cortex (V1) in mouse models to estimate the mixture level of their senses. We found that the V1 auditory response exhibits bidirectional cross-modal plasticity and depends on the level of GABA-mediated inhibition. Analysis of the V1 auditory response in autistic BTBR strain revealed its contralateral bias as in primary auditory cortex, and the auditory evoked field potential was enhanced at gamma range. Furthermore, early sound-driven spike modulation of V1 was commonly shifted toward enhancement in three different autism models (BTBR, NL3 R451C, SCN1A R1407X). Disruption of excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) circuit balance is prevalent among autistic people and mouse models. Thus, our results suggest that E/I imbalance may be the common circuit dysfunction for both autism and synesthesia.
Awake fMRI Reveals Brain Regions for Novel Word Detection in Dogs
Authors: Prichard Ashley , Cook Peter F. , Spivak Mark , Chhibber Raveena , Berns Gregory S.
Published: August 2017

How do dogs understand human words? At a basic level, understanding would require the discrimination of words from non-words. To determine the mechanisms of such a discrimination, we trained 12 dogs to retrieve two objects based on object names, then probed the neural basis for these auditory discriminations using awake-fMRI. We compared the neural response to these trained words relative to “oddball” pseudowords the dogs had not heard before. Consistent with novelty detection, we found greater activation for pseudowords relative to trained words bilaterally in the parietotemporal cortex. To probe the neural basis for representations of trained words, searchlight multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA) revealed that a subset of dogs had clusters of informative voxels that discriminated between the two trained words. These clusters included the left temporal cortex and amygdala, left caudate nucleus, and thalamus. These results demonstrate that dogs’ processing of human words utilizes basic processes like novelty detection, and for some dogs, may also include auditory and hedonic representations.
Trajectories of Alcohol Use Initiation and Risk to Develop an Alcohol Use Disorder During Adolescence: A Role for Stress and Amygdala Activity
Authors: Elsayed Nourhan M. , Justin Kim M. , Fields Kristina M. , Olvera Rene L. , Hariri Ahmad R. , Williamson Douglas E.
Published: August 2017

Early alcohol use initiation predicts onset of alcohol use disorders (AUD) in adulthood. However, little is known about developmental trajectories of alcohol use initiation or their putative biological and environmental correlates. Here we report the results of latent class analyses identifying two trajectories of alcohol use initiation in a prospective study of adolescents selected for the presence or absence of familial risk for depression at baseline. The latent class analyses identified two distinct patterns of initiation: early initiators (EI; n=32) who reported greater baseline alcohol use (M = 1.12, SE = .35) and exhibited a more rapid rate of change in use between baseline and each follow up wave (M = 4.43, SE = .94); and in contrast, late initiators (LI; n=298) who reported lower baseline use (M = .23, SE = .03) and exhibited a slower rate of change between baseline and each of the subsequent follow up waves (M = .12, SE = .03). Early initiators had more positive expectancies regarding alcohol (p = .002 – p = .005) and reported higher levels of stressful life events during the year prior to baseline assessment (p = .001). Additionally, fMRI analyses revealed that EI displayed heightened threat-related amygdala activity at baseline compared to LI (p = .001), but no differences in reward-related ventral striatum activity. Lastly survival analyses revealed that EI initiators were 6.7 times more likely to develop an AUD by age 19 when compared to the LI (p = .005). These patterns, which were independent of broad familial risk for depression, suggest that early initiation of alcohol use during adolescence associated with later risk for AUD is reflected in both higher levels of stressful life events and higher neural reactivity to threat, the combination of which may inform ongoing efforts to prevent persistent dysfunction.