bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Offshore structures – why all offshore facilities should have a demanning requirement
Authors: Keys Matt
Published: June 2019

Most offshore structure design codes focus on setting appropriate safety factors to achieve an acceptable annual level of risk. Recent work by Atkins SNC-Lavalin, together with a large number of operators in Australian waters and the North Sea, has discovered that a large number of aging assets are implementing a demanning requirement to limit the risk of platform collapse to personnel, due to changes in loading or degradation of the structure. This work has shown there are two risk scenarios that should drive this requirement. The first scenario which is intended by the codes in limiting the overall annual risk. The second is to limit the collapse risk associated with a known forecast storm, as the level of risk from helicopter demanning is much lower. For all the older offshore fixed and permanently mooring floating structures assessed for a risk level considered acceptable for a forecast storm, this risk level would govern the sea-state demanning criteria. For recently installed facilities that are compliant with current standards, the findings were the same: that all facilities should have a demanning requirement. The level of this demanning sea-state limit has been shown to be lower than expected and is likely to occur only once in the asset’s life; therefore, the cost implications of implementing demanning procedures are minor. This paper presents the basis and range of findings for calculating the risks associated with an annual occurrence and an ‘in a forecast storm’ risk. Further, this paper proposes acceptable demanning limits for facilities designed to current and historical design codes.
Walk to work systems as an enabler of reduced maintenance and manning
Authors: McCarthy David B.
Published: June 2019

Recent technological advances in the areas of personnel transfers and remote operations have opened opportunities for new and existing facilities to move towards minimum manning operating philosophies. This paper will discuss the benefits and challenges of moving from a permanently manned model with helicopter transfers to an unmanned or minimally manned facility with vessel-based support and walk to work transfers. Potential impact on manning and accommodation philosophy will be addressed, focusing on an operator’s typical decision criteria, including: workability of transfer operations; emergency response capability; maintenance workload; health, safety and environment risk; marine support vessel requirements; and compliance with safety regulations. While assessments can be made of each operating philosophy change in isolation – reduced manning, remote operations and personnel transfer method – this paper will seek to address a holistic approach potentially providing greater impact than the sum of each change. This is possible through the interdependence of manning, life support system requirements and maintenance workload; reduced manning allows reduced number and complexity of systems, which reduces maintenance workload and, in turn, further reduces manning requirements, potentially allowing a step change in operating and manning philosophy to one of a not normally manned with vessel-based accommodation.
Biofouling risk management for the importation of a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility and the central processing facility (CPF); the world's largest semi-submersible platform
Authors: Gust Nick , Coutts Ashley , Lewis Patrick , Tigges Rene , Prout Jake , Carter Shannon
Published: June 2019

Two key facilities for the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG project; the central processing facility (CPF) and floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO), were constructed in South Korean ports and towed to offshore Australian waters. To meet regulatory requirements for their importation, and mitigate potential invasive marine species (IMS) introduction, species-specific biofouling risk assessments were completed, and a series of management measures implemented. Risk assessments quantified the theoretical likelihood of the facilities introducing IMS via biofouling. The assessments considered (but were not limited to) the type of antifouling coating (AFC), time alongside, niche areas, and likelihood of IMS surviving in offshore waters at the Ichthys Field if translocated. The two facilities had different AFCs on their submerged hulls (CPF: biocidal, FPSO: non-biocidal). The theoretical risk of introducing IMS to Australian waters was considered ‘uncertain’, requiring completion of an extensive pre-mobilisation cleaning program in-water (CPF >600 dive hours and FPSO 2381 dive hours). The FPSO was cleaned twice due to a delay and recolonisation on the non-biocidal AFC. To determine the most efficient cleaning methods, various in-water cleaning technologies were trialled. Due to the size and complexity of the facilities, biofouling inspectors were deployed throughout the operation to increase confidence in the outcomes. After the arrival of the facilities at the Ichthys Field, dedicated underwater surveys were conducted to assess biofouling communities and collect specimens for molecular analysis, using a specially designed sampling tool. The associated outcomes demonstrated that the risk was acceptable and had been reduced to as low as reasonably practicable, validating the novel approach taken.
Northern Gas Pipeline project – a case study in safe, professional gas pipeline construction
Authors: Richards Leon , Green Tony
Published: June 2019

Construction of the Northern Gas Pipeline (NGP) is a case study in safe, professional gas pipeline construction. Beginning with comprehensive and collaborative pre-planning to de-risk the project before construction; through to the holistic safety and wellbeing culture created and nurtured on site, every facet of the project has been subjected to strategic safety thinking, strong safety leadership and uncompromising safety management. And the results speak for themselves:
• more than 400000 man hours and more than 280 days of physical construction activity with a total recordable frequency rate of zero (0) – no medical treatment or lost time injuries;
• more than 5 million kilometres driven on the project (excluding third party transport) with no significant vehicle incidents; and
• more than 53000 pipe joint movements with no dropped pipe.
Through comprehensive upfront planning, strategic industry partnering and a relentless focus on safety leadership and management, this high-speed cross-country pipeline project has been successfully constructed through some of the harshest physical locations in Australia and achieved outstanding results in safety, productivity and quality. The construction of the NGP has set new benchmarks in pipeline safety performance and this paper is in recognition of our team, our customer, and the many project partners and suppliers that have helped make this possible.
New insights on Upper Cretaceous stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Bight Basin, Australia from IODP Site U1512
Authors: Wainman Carmine , McCabe Peter , Holford Simon ,   the IODP Expedition 369 Scientific Party
Published: June 2019

The Bight Basin, on Australia’s southern margin, is one of the world's most prospective deepwater frontier basins. The 10 offshore wells drilled in the basin had limited success or yielded disappointing results. There has been a strong dependence on seismic data to interpret stratal ages and the regional depositional history because of the limited number of wells, which are all in the more proximal region. In October 2017, the International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 369 drilled a hole at Site U1512 that straddled the Australian Geological Survey Organisation Survey s065 line 06 on the continental slope, ~67 km south-east of the Jerboa 1 well. The recovered core is the most extensive lithological dataset acquired from the basin and consists of a 10 m thick Pleistocene ooze overlying a 690 m succession of Turonian–Santonian strata. The Cretaceous strata consist of silty claystone with a few thin beds of glauconitic and sideritic sandstone (<32 cm thick). The Tiger Supersequence is substantially thicker than had been anticipated. Preliminary palynofacies analysis indicates a prevailing dysoxic marine environment, with the assemblage dominated by phytoclasts (40–90% of the assemblage). This may have been a consequence of high rates of freshwater runoff into the restricted basin. Rapid sedimentation rates (up to 260 m/Myr), the silt content (2–25%) and the palynofacies suggest the strata were deposited primarily by hyperpycnal and hypopycnal flows. These new datasets will provide a means to re-evaluate the palaeogeography of the basin and its resource potential.
Coal permeability stimulation by NaClO oxidation
Authors: Balucan Reydick , Jing Zhenhua , Underschultz Jim , Steel Karen
Published: June 2019

Many prospective coal seams have limited permeability and are thus marginal for economic coal seam gas (CSG) extraction. To enhance seam permeability, various CSG stimulation techniques, including hydraulic fracturing, cavity well completions and horizontal wells, have been used commercially, but these techniques are not successful everywhere. Alternately, oxidant stimulation to enhance coal seam permeability may have potential benefit. In this paper, we report the oxidation of a cubic coal sample from the gas-bearing Bandanna Formation with 1% NaClO. Permeability variation were measured over time with core stimulation/flooding tests. Coal structural changes, captured via X-ray microcomputed tomography (µCT), were used to analyse and model the impact of oxidant stimulation on coal permeability. We found that NaClO stimulation was able to widen fracture aperture and generate additional cracks and/or void space. Analyses of the coal after reaction indicated improved pore connectivity. This resulted in a significantly higher permeability, as shown by both core flood tests and flow modelling/simulations using GeoDict’s FlowDict module. Although this paper confirms oxidant stimulation has the potential to improve coal seam permeability, the optimum volume and reaction time, pressure and temperature conditions and suitability for use in various coal types requires further research.
Opportunities for collaboration in the Australian oil and gas industry: learning lessons from more mature basins and international best practice (North Sea, Norway, Gulf of Mexico, Onshore US)
Authors: Peacock Jonathon , Dow Steve
Published: June 2019

As many Australian assets move from ‘project’ to ‘operate’, the challenge is to ‘sustainably optimise’ to provide value to shareholders and attract continued investment. There is an opportunity to learn the lessons of more mature regions and accelerate improvements now, rather than wait. The North Sea, Norway, Gulf of Mexico and Onshore USA provide insights and opportunities for improvement, from operator and supplier collaboration, through optimised operating models and the critical role of government and regulators in improving industry development. These opportunities require key Australian industry stakeholders to be adaptable. They require humility and strong listening skills, steady hands and a keen focus on long-term value. For example, the Efficiency Task Force of Oil & Gas UK launched the Industry Behaviours Charter in 2015, a collective commitment to encourage companies in the offshore industry to work effectively, efficiently and co-operatively. Forty companies signed up and that number continues to rise. Firms are sharing cost cutting initiatives under the Rapid Efficiency Exchange scheme. A second initiative encourages companies to share spare parts. Amec Foster Wheeler has brought in a More for Less scheme to eradicate processes that are superfluous to final outcomes. Operating costs across the UK North Sea dropped by 14% in 2016, operators saving over US$1.5 billion, and this progress continues. The OGA runs an asset stewardship program, sharing best practice across operators and encouraging collaboration. Collaboration there is itself maturing, still with a keen focus on cost reduction, but drivers now include sharing knowledge, new ideas and solutions, not just transferring risk.
Building regional strength through supporting social and economic activity in Queensland's gasfield communities
Authors: Quinn Tom
Published: June 2019

Queensland boasts a rich endowment of resource wealth, which has seen the state develop a world-class industry that contributes in many ways to the quality of life for our local communities. The development of the coal seam gas industry has become an integral part of regional Queensland, playing a pivotal role in the economic prosperity of local towns. Building regional strength is achieved by providing employment and training, using and building the capability of businesses and supporting community projects. Local recruitment strategies include regional recruitment roadshows, Yarn Ups and partnering with local labour hire agencies. For the sustainment of local employment over the long term, companies must build processes to develop our skilled workers of the future, investing in initiatives such as apprenticeship programs. Maximising local economy interaction is achieved by prioritising local procurement, using local Chambers of Commerce to build strong local supplier networks and committing to supporting and developing local business capability through mentoring, business incubation and training and competency development to improve the ability of local businesses to meet contractual commitments. Investing in and supporting local grass roots community groups, clubs and associations that provide important services to their communities through a community grants program provides lasting benefits for community members who count on the vital support of these organisations in their day-to-day lives. The oil and gas industry brings value to local communities and it is imperative that we are collectively focused on building positive relationships and supporting local economic sustainability.
Asset management: listening to your asset
Authors: Walker David
Published: June 2019

The ability to measure large amounts of data at high frequency, and the increasing ability to process these data close to the source at the edge, has opened up a new frontier in asset management. Until now, analysis of high-frequency data in real time has been the domain of a few, very expensive devices. However, this is rapidly changing, with the increasing capabilities of sensors and edge devices providing flexible, low-cost solutions that can be deployed across all site machinery to provide predictive and detailed information about these assets. All machinery vibrates at multiple frequencies when running. If you listen to this vibration, it can tell you a lot about the condition of the machine and its components. In fact, it is surprising how rich and detailed this information can be. Cavitation, insufficient lubrication, failing bearings and faulty impellers all have different vibration signatures, and by listening for these signatures it is possible to identify issues before they occur, and even predict when they will occur. It is also possible to feed this information (e.g. cavitation) to the control system so that process decisions can be made to avoid machine damage. This paper discusses solutions that are available now and currently being developed in terms of edge computing devices and advances in the algorithms that analyse the vibration data, and how they can be applied in the oil and gas industry to ensure assets are optimised and downtime is minimised.
Diversity and inclusion – moving the needle in Indigenous employment and engagement
Authors: Williamson Mark , Wilson Mark
Published: June 2019

With global exposure, a combined revenue of over AU$60 billion and total employees in excess of 250000, it could be construed that supporting the maintenance services to the newly commissioned Ichthys LNG plant in Darwin, Northern Territory, would be ‘business as usual’. However, committing to diversity and inclusion targets, which include indigenous employment of 15% within 3 years, dictate a rethink and a breakaway from tried and tested approaches. Despite advancement in technology and the ability to reach large audiences through social and other media sources, it was apparent that a different approach would be required in order to successfully attain such targets and to create sustainable relationships within the community. The powerful effect of direct communication, together with the recognised need to apply a positive bias has seen the initial targets exceeded within the first year of operation: the indigenous engagement level being in excess of 20% and, more importantly, trust and strong ties being established within the community. Not so much an accomplishment in itself, but a work in progress, the benefits of adopting such an approach are being felt not only in the NT but across the whole of Australia, Europe and the world.
Enhancing Indigenous partnerships in an increasingly digitised oil and gas industry
Authors: Lynn Michael , Wirrpanda David
Published: June 2019

As oil and gas operators and service providers look to embrace automation and analytics, many of the traditional partnerships with Aboriginal communities relating to employment and career pathways are likely to be challenged. The paper explores how digital trends are affecting, and are likely to affect, Indigenous communities in their partnerships with oil and gas organisations. Workplace roles and activities are evolving in our increasingly digitised world, causing a perceived threat to employment for minority groups such as Indigenous communities. In order to ensure the ongoing presence of opportunities for Indigenous workers in the ‘future of work’, oil and gas organisations will need to augment digital technologies to cater for and enhance existing and future roles. This paper presents a framework for Indigenous communities, governments, oil and gas operators and service providers to embrace digitisation and create sustainable relationships. An approach is considered to engage with Indigenous communities with objectives of executing on their Reconciliation Action Plans and addressing culture and employment challenges that arise through digitisation. The framework positions oil and gas operators and service providers to pivot themselves not only to sustain, but also to enhance Indigenous employment opportunities in a digital workplace. Digitisation is here, but with the right approach it can positively affect and shape partnerships between oil and gas organisations and Indigenous communities.
What's your gas worth: a thrilling or a taxing matter?
Authors: Wee Kenneth
Published: June 2019

Australia is poised to imminently become the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer. The prices realised for Australia’s natural gas, whether for export LNG or domestic consumption, dictate the level of revenues and, ultimately, the profitability and returns, of the gas producers. A rational producer will seek to maximise the price or return for the gas it supplies. A portion of a producer’s remuneration for its gas is then shared with the community via taxes and royalties. In Australia, these imposts are triggered at different taxing points, hence necessitating a determination of what the gas is worth at each point. Typically, for royalties, it is the wellhead value; for the petroleum resource rent tax, it is either the value at the domestic gas processing plant outlet or the value of feed gas just before liquefaction; and, for income tax, it is the proceeds or consideration for the gas when sold or exported. Wherever related party transactions occur, the price must be set at arm’s length and reflect market realism. Where gas must be valued at a point devoid of an actual sale, finding a suitable comparable price can be challenging. In such circumstances, pricing options include the cost-plus, the netback and the profit-split methods. Each has its own merits and limitations, and incorporates elements that are susceptible to disputation. Gas producers should consider engaging proactively with the revenue authorities to agree a gas pricing model upfront to mitigate latent tax liabilities if the pricing approach adopted is subsequently challenged.
Big data for smart safety: applying engineering control analytics to predictive safety
Authors: Tay How Boon , Marshall Nicola , McColm Andrew , Wood Michael
Published: June 2019

Traditional health, safety and environment (HSE) reporting communicates the ‘what’ but not the ‘why’ of safety events. Organisations’ operations-data footprints are growing in volume and velocity but data are often siloed and can be of poor quality. This results in an inability to connect the dots and see through the ‘noise’, to identify patterns of high risk behaviour and root causes of high risk incidents to fully realise the true value of available data and deliver well informed decision making. Deloitte has been working with large organisations across the energy and resources industry, connecting traditional HSE data with contextual data, including employees, contractors, rosters, timesheets, training, and environmental and operational data to surface insights that would otherwise be hidden. By applying exploratory machine learning techniques to these datasets, the sector can gain new insights that were previously ‘hidden’ in data siloes. Drawing on lessons learnt, the paper explains how predictive analytical techniques can enable organisations to identify groups of employees at the highest risk of incidents and, critically, what differentiates these groups, to design tailored interventions and optimally allocate finite resources to manage HSE risk. The paper also describes key factors found to be driving high severity or repeat incidents and details how data conventionally used for asset management and operations optimisation can be analysed alongside HSE data to characterise potential control failures. The outcome is a framework that can be applied to provide continuous controls monitoring of material risks and critical assets.
The emergence of China as an LNG super user
Authors: Norman Jane
Published: June 2019

China has recently undergone a period of rapid industrialisation and growth. In 2009 the country became the world’s largest energy consumer, with much of this demand being historically met by coal. This heavy reliance on coal, coupled with rapid urbanisation, resulted rising smog levels and deteriorating air quality. In response to public health concerns, the Chinese government introduced several policies to transition to lower polluting fuels, with natural gas being the main beneficiary. In 2017 China’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports grew by an enormous 46%, to 38 Mt, as the government ordered heavy manufacturers in two provinces and 26 cities to switch from coal to gas and households to cut coal use for winter heating. Although government air quality targets were met, it resulted in severe winter gas shortages particularly in northern China. A more measured coal-to-gas switching program was undertaken in 2018 and LNG imports continued to surge reaching 54 Mt, another 41% year-on-year increase. Going forward Chinese LNG growth is expected to face competition from increased pipeline gas imports and indigenous gas production. However, there are still many risks to these forecasts, and much to play out as the market continues to be liberalised. As such, Chinese LNG demand presents an enormous opportunity for LNG suppliers both now, and well into the future.
Safe autonomous systems require changes to business relationships
Authors: Shadbolt Martin
Published: June 2019

Autonomy offers significant benefits to many industries, especially those operating in dangerous environments. Autonomous systems offer improved safety and repeatability. The technical and organisational challenges of autonomy are usually managed very carefully, but commercial relationships need to change as systems become more complex. Current suppliers are unwilling to share IP for the design, analysis and testing behind a system. In the absence of this information, customers may not be able to meet their obligation to provide a safe workplace. Business, technical and safety principals need to lead this discussion and lift the engagement between customers and suppliers; otherwise safety of the systems, workplace and personnel cannot be assured.
Digitalisation driving competitiveness
Authors: Royston Steve
Published: June 2019

Digitalisation allows industrial companies to get a highly granular view of their assets which, when viewed in conjunction with data from more traditional business systems, can generate quicker and better insights to drive competitive advantage. Companies will be poised to take their performance and productivity to the next level of efficiency, safety and security. Case studies increasingly show that cost-effective digital technology facilitates improve monitoring, and more collaborative operations drive greater productivity at reduced costs and risk. Using oil, gas and chemical industry examples, this paper discusses the vertically integrated data model from edge devices to cloud data repositories and presents how analytics and big data technologies gain insights into production, maintenance efficiency and safe operations, and enable efficient business processes. Significant competitive advantage will fall to companies that are able to develop an end-to-end digitalised ecosystem that delivers timely, manageable data-driven insights to optimise decision-making. Being able to leverage insights from big data models will help savvy operators steal a march on competitors that are slower to read the market signals because of an outdated method of forecasting.
Reducing the complexity of environmental approvals: learnings from an industry-wide collaborative effort
Authors: Smith Matthew
Published: June 2019

This extended abstract uses the reference case project, initiated by National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority, now led by National Energy Resources Australia, to delve into the underlying issues in the environmental approvals process and propose the root causes that have influenced this flagship collaborative effort. Collaboration for competitors is inherently difficult. The basis for meaningful collaboration is to find intractable problems that are better solved by a collection of participants with a common purpose. The environmental approvals process has evolved into an intractable problem that is adversely affecting the oil and gas industry’s ability to explore by becoming a barrier to investment and a source of uncertainty in project execution. Successive Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association conferences, and oil and gas industry leaders, have frequently promoted the collaboration imperative to the industry. Indeed, there is broad agreement, and many international examples on matters of health, safety and environmental management, that there is no value in competition. Why then is meaningful collaboration so difficult to deliver in an environmental management setting in Australia? This paper explores the successes and failures of the reference case project to illuminate the realities of collaboration in the Australian offshore petroleum industry. The paper shares insights from project leads, participants, decision makers and stakeholders and covers how collaboration can unlock barriers to investment and deliver greater certainty to the oil and gas industry and the Australian community.
‘Back to the Future' A review of Australian reservation and other natural gas export control policies
Authors: Plumb James
Published: June 2019

Despite record levels of domestic production, forecasters are predicting that the east coast Australian gas market will remain tight in 2019. The introduction of the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism (ADGSM) by the Federal Government in 2017, and the proposal announced by the Australian Labour Party (ALP) to bolster the mechanism, have again thrust the issue of political intervention in the export gas market into sharp focus. This paper provides an overview of the current regulatory intervention at the state and federal level, and looks back at the history of controls imposed upon the Australian gas export market. The paper is divided into two parts: Part 1, which looks at current regulatory controls engaged by various State and Federal governments: (a) the development and implementation of the ADGSM; (b) the development and implementation of the Queensland Government’s Prospective Gas Production Land Reserve policy (PGPLR); and (c) the Government of Western Australia’s (WA Government) domestic gas policy. The paper also reviews policy announcements made by the ALP in the lead up to the 2019 Federal election. Part 2 provides a broad overview of the history of controls on gas exports in Australia, from the embargo on exports from the North West Shelf between 1973 and 1977, through the increasing liberalisation of Australian energy policy during the 1980s and 1990s (and the associated conflict with state concerns of ensuring sufficiency of the domestic supply of gas), up to the removal of federal controls on resources exports (including liquefied natural gas) in 1997.
Queensland State Government Address
Authors: Lynham MP Anthony
Published: June 2019

There is not an abstract available for this presentation. To view the video, click the link on the right.
The role of gas in transforming energy
Authors: Calabria Frank
Published: June 2019

Energy is undergoing the most significant transition since the alternating current – allowing energy to be generated in large, centralised power stations and safely sent to homes and businesses via thousands of kilometres of high voltage wires – was invented nearly 150 years ago. Energy is increasingly decentralised and low emissions – in Australia, renewables will double from 15 TWh today to 30 TWh by the end of this year.
Globally, we are also seeing a major shift. The International Energy Agency forecasts that global population is set to increase by 1.7 billion by 2040, which will see demand for energy rise by about a quarter. This will be driven by the emerging economies of Asia, which are commendably tackling emissions far earlier in their history than today’s established economies.
Gas is the key to managing the transition at least cost and least impact to reliability – it is more flexible and able to step in quickly when renewables aren’t generating.
Renewables will grow to 40 per cent of the global energy mix under the IEA’s new policies scenario and gas will overtake coal by 2030 to be the second largest source of energy after oil to support this.
For Australia, which became the world’s largest exporter of LNG this year, the opportunity to facilitate the global shift to lower emissions as well as maintain a competitive price for domestic users is clear, but depends on policy continuing to support the development of gas resources. With unconventional gas set to become increasingly important in meeting global energy demand, it is also time for the gas industry to step up and ensure that gas is seen as nation building for the Australian economy as coal was in the 20th century.
To view the video, click the link on the right.
Opening comments from facilitator
Authors: Welton Paul
Published: June 2019

There is not an abstract available for this presentation. To view the video, click the link on the right.
The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative – delivering solutions for a sustainable low-emissions
Authors: Hill Gardiner
Published: June 2019

There is not an abstract available for this presentation. To view the video, click the link on the right.
State of the east coast gas industry
Authors: Sims Rod
Published: June 2019

There is not an abstract available for this presentation. To view the video, click the link on the right.
Onshore gas industry coexistence in Queensland
Authors: Barrett Damian
Published: June 2019

Modern onshore gas development in the Surat Basin, Queensland, coexists with communities who have farmed land for multiple generations. Both agriculture and the gas industry bring different values, methods and cultures to these communities. CSIRO GISERA’s social research over the last six years in this region has documented community attitudes towards development of the industry. We have found that communities which adapt relatively well to industry development and operation are characterised by high quality environmental stewardship, abundant economic opportunities, strong community cohesion, and, trust in local decision making where information is transparent and shared. Conversely, adaptation by communities is relatively poor where procedural fairness is perceived to be distorted in favour of governments and the industry, governance procedures are not trusted, and, economic opportunities are not realised. These measures of acceptance of the gas industry change very slowly over time – on decade timescales rather than years and, hence, our work falsifies the misconception that it is possible to ‘manage’ community perception of the industry in the short term. Social acceptance of the gas industry is a complex interaction between perceived benefits and impacts of the industry, distributional fairness of those benefits and strong governance; particularly with regard to environmental regulation and protection of water resources. Robust, world class and trusted science has an important role to play in informing community understanding of the impacts and benefits of the industry and through this influencing the gas industry’s social acceptance.
To view the video, click the link on the right.
An effector from cotton bollworm oral secretion impairs host plant defense signaling
Authors: Chen Chun-Yu , Liu Yao-Qian , Song Wei-Meng , Chen Dian-Yang , Chen Fang-Yan , Chen Xue-Ying , Chen Zhi-Wen , Ge Sheng-Xiang , Wang Chen-Zhu , Zhan Shuai , Chen Xiao-Ya , Mao Ying-Bo
Published: June 2019

Significance

Plants recognize insect-derived molecules and make the accurate defense response during herbivory. However, insects release effectors that disturb host plant defense responses for fitness. Effectors are crucial components in biotic interactions. We identified a caterpillar-derived effector (HARP1) from oral secretion of cotton bollworm, a devastating agricultural pest. HARP1 is released from larvae to plant leaves during feeding and is able to migrate from wounding site into plant cells automatically. HARP1 interacts with JASMONATE-ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins, the suppressor of Jasmonate (JA) pathway, and blocks signaling transduction by preventing JAZ degradation. HARP1-like proteins are widely distributed and have conserved function in noctuids, and they may contribute to insect adaptation to host plants during coevolution.
Translation, a Tudor political instrument
Authors: Valdeón Roberto A.
Published: June 2019

Starting with an overview of F. O. Matthiessen’s work on the role of translation during the Elizabethan period, this article delves into the paratexts of the translations of Spanish colonial texts by Richard Hakluyt, Edward Grimeston, Michael Lok and John Frampton to discuss the underlying reasons why Spanish accounts of the conquest were rendered into English. The analysis of the dedications and addresses shows that, although these translations may have served to express admiration for the Spanish conquerors or to criticize their actions, the ultimate goals of these texts were to encourage England to replicate the Spanish empire in the Americas, on the one hand, and to obtain social, political and economic benefits for the translators, on the other.
Sex work-based livelihoods in post 2000 in Zimbabwe
Authors: Kapodogo Abel , Chiweshe Manase Kudzai , Muparamoto Nelson
Published: June 2019

The paper examines the role sex work played as a livelihood opportunity for women to meet short and long term needs. Post 2000 Zimbabwe underwent a major socioeconomic crisis which culminated in world record inflation rates, widespread poverty, high unemployment, food and cash shortages. This culminated in 2008 where the country suspended its currency and adopted a multi-currency system with the American dollar gaining prominence as the mode of exchange. Sex work has a long history in colonial and post-colonial Zimbabwe but post 2000 period requires a nuanced analysis of how this livelihood activity has evolved in response to the ever-changing macroeconomic context. Participant observation and unstructured interviews with female sex workers point towards their ability to actively respond to macroeconomic changes. Agency demonstrated by sex workers characterizes how they adjusted through the context of crisis and hyperinflation in Zimbabwe. The findings point to an increased inflow of income for sex workers which have translated to an improved livelihood despite poor working conditions which are reinforced by criminalization and penalization of sex work in Zimbabwe. The paper thus argues that sex work is an occupational sector with participants who make rational choices in joining sex work.
Land rents drive oil palm expansion dynamics in Indonesia
Authors: Lim Felix K S , Carrasco L Roman , McHardy Jolian , Edwards David P
Published: June 2019

Increasing global demand for oil palm drives its expansion across the tropics, at the expense of forests and biodiversity. Little is known of the dynamics that shape the spread of oil palm, limiting our potential to predict areas vulnerable to future crop expansion and its resulting biodiversity impacts. Critically, studies have not related oil palm expansion to the role of agricultural rent and profitability in explaining how and where oil palm is expected to expand. Using a novel land rent modelling framework parameterised to oil palm expansion across Indonesia between 2000 and 2015, we identify drivers of crop expansion and evaluate whether Indonesia's Forest Moratorium might reduce the rate of future oil palm expansion. With an overall accuracy of 85.84%, the model shows oil palm expansion is driven by price changes, spatial distribution of production costs, and a spatial contagion effect. Projecting beyond 2015, we show that areas under high risk of oil palm expansion are mostly not protected by the current Forest Moratorium. Our study emphasises the importance of economic forces and infrastructure on oil palm expansion. These results could be used for more effective conservation decisions to manage one of the biggest drivers of tropical biodiversity loss.
Dynamics of Microbiological Water Quality Indicators in the North Caspian Sea
Authors: Sokolova I V , Kolotova O V , Vodovsky N B
Published: June 2019

Microbial researches of water sampled in summer period of 2015-2017 years in the North Caspian Sea around prospecting wells were held. Sampling realized according to conventional methods in area of five oil fields. There are Rakushechnaya, Sarmatskaya, West-Sarmatskaya, and, Khvalynskaya areas. Relative abundance of saprotrophic microorganisms and total number of bacteria found in water samples were studied. There are three indexes were used for quantity evaluation: Razumov index, water purity level and saprobity index. Study had shown non-uniformly distribution of different groups of microorganisms and their concentrations in the water samples from fields. At the same time the water monitoring had shown the existence of very purify (xeno - and oligosaprobic) and dirty (poly - and hypersaprobic) zones in the Northern Caspian Sea. However, the population dynamics of the saprotrofic microorganisms and the total number of bacteria in summer period of 2015-2016 years around oil fields indicate about successful processes of self-purification of waters and recover of ecosystem after human impact.
Justification of the Application of Engineering Protection Methods for Territories Subject to Erosion Processes
Authors: Slepnev P A
Published: June 2019

The urgency of the problem of the development of erosion processes is substantiated. Existing methods of engineering protection of territories from the development of erosion are considered. Indicated areas of the urban environment, most prone to the development of erosion processes. The practical significance of the research was determined. The mathematical model of the development of erosion processes on slopes is given, which makes it possible to carry out a preliminary assessment of the erosion resistance of soils and on the basis of this assessment determine the need for additional measures for their consolidation. Based on the mathematical model, the criteria for assessing the risk of erosion processes are defined. On the basis of the selected criteria, the main conditions that modern methods of protecting territories from erosion processes should meet. Innovative methods of protecting slopes from the development of erosion processes are presented. Systematization of existing and innovative methods of engineering protection of territories from erosion processes is carried out. Geosynthetic materials are considered that are an integral part of geocomposition systems, allowing to protect slopes from erosion processes. The main criteria to be met by geocomposition systems are determined. The practical application of geocomposition systems in various areas of construction is considered: civil, transport, hydraulic engineering, special. The directions of further research are determined. Conclusions are drawn on the results of practical application of geocomposition systems to protect slopes from erosion processes. The article contains mathematical model of the development of erosion processes on slopes of roads allowing a preliminary assessment of erosion control soil stability and on the basis of this assessment to determine the need for additional measures for their fastening.
Detailed Seismological Studies the Junction of Different landscapes in South Yakutia
Authors: Grib N N , Siasko A A , Imaev V S , Grib G V , Imaeva L P
Published: June 2019

Research objective - determination of the quantitative indicators of seismic wave attenuation on the area of geotechnical landscapes with contrasting properties and the forecast of the seismic intensity impact within the area of study of the linear engineering structure in conditions of permafrost zone. During the research tasks were performed: study of the geotechnical structure of the area, registration of the microseismic disturbance, acceleration graph of the industrial explosions and powerful man-caused sources of the seismic waves. Main hypothesis of the study - contrast saving of the seismic properties of for-mation from geotechnical landscapes of rooted slopes and above floodplain river terrac-es in conditions of the permafrost zone. During the research complex of geophysical and seismological researches was performed, drawing of the geotechnical section confirmed by the drilling data. Results of the study confirmed main hypothesis - major difference of seismic properties of frost soils foundations for joint landscapes has been established.
Waste Management as Functional Part of the Social Responsibilities of Business
Authors: Bashkirova N N , Lessovaia S N
Published: June 2019

Despite increase in scales and intensity of involvement of natural resources in the zones of direct and indirect anthropogenic influence, now there is no unified approach to assessment of impact on ecosystems of various levels from local to Biosphere in general. Nowadays it is necessary to stress the existence of the conflict between the ability of ecosystems to develop sustainably and environmental management in connection with the growing needs of the person and society, providing destruction of the ability of environment in future affected by economic and social development. Thus uncontrollable waste emission as well as scantiness of natural resources becomes an essential factor which is slowing down development of not only industry and technology itself but all socio-economic system. Solid waste led to poisoning of fertile lands including soil, water, and biota makes the research in the fiekd of waste management highly essential. To disclose various approached to developing social responsibilities of business in the field of waste management and concentration of financial resources on different level of the budgetary system for economic and ecological sustainable development. Analytical research and critical analysis of the positive international experience of creation of the system of business and government shared responsibilities in the field of waste management. The directions of realization of the principle of expanded social responsibility of business in modern conditions are revealed. Recommendations about providing financial sources of waste management within the system of business and government shared responsibilities and partnership in the field of waste management are developed.
Efficiency of Inhibitive Mud Application in Horizontal Wells
Authors: Khuzina L B , Golub S I , Usmanov R A
Published: June 2019

Currently, we have been witnessing the increasing number of problems in drilling caused by certain challenges in drilling through depleted reservoirs, complicated geological settings, and fast-growing technology of extended reach drilling. One of the methods used to solve the problems is casing-while-drilling. The authors have been studying the difficulties occurring while using this method with a special focus on the issue of torque increase while rotating a casing string at an excessive speed. The paper presents calculations of the torque taking into account the friction coefficient. As an effective solution to reduce the torque a new centralizer has been designed in the laboratory of the Department of Oil and Gas Well Drilling of Almetyevsk State Oil Institute. While performing casing drilling operations a new centralizer with roller balls attached makes it possible for rolling friction to be replaced with sliding friction and, thus, prevent thread stripping.
The Poultry Waste Management System
Authors: Antonov A , Ivanov G , Pastukhova N
Published: June 2019

Wastes Management System is a set of measures to collect, transport, recycle, reuse or dispose of wastes, as well as control over implementation of these processes. In agriculture, the system primarily aims at environmental safety of production by recycling agricultural wastes. Disposal of organic animal wastes is main task of the system. Fresh bird excrement from poultry farms is unsafe for human, being the 3rd class environmental hazard. Proposed by us technology of bird excrement utilization is new, having no analogues in Russia. Based on process of excrement bioconversing by Black Soldier Fly’s larvae (Hermetia illucens L.), it solves a number of problems: environment protection from toxic poultry farming’s wastes (bioconversion speed: 3.7…7.6 kg/m2/day), production of ecologically clean fertilizers – zoohumus (output: 11.3…14.8% per 1 kg of wastes), and obtaining high-protein food additive for poultry (1.9…3.5 kg of larvae/day/m2). The system is profitable and of low costs: adding Fly’s larvae to the poultry’s food, consumption of combined feeds can be reduced by 49%; 360 kg of zoohumus per 1m2 is produced by recycling 3 tons of excrement by larvae; selling larvae as high-protein food additive is 28 times as much in contrast to selling excrement as granular fertilizer.