bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Case Study of Greenhouse Gas Emission Measurements and Reduction Potential Evaluation during Oil & Gas Production in China
Authors: Weng Yibin , Xue Ming , Cui Xiangyu 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
The reduction of greenhouse gas emission in oil and gas production could bring several benefits including energy conservation, cost reduction and economic returns. The direct emission measurements and reduction potential evaluation is the prerequisite to achieve an effective reduction goal on greenhouse gas emission. Based on the survey of production processes and related parameters, a series of greenhouse gas emission sources were identified and measured. The emission sources including production processes, leakage-prone facilities such as dehydrator, boilers, heaters, associated gas treatment plant, light hydrocarbon recovery unit, storage tank, and gas flaring were measured. A series of leakage detection and measurement instruments were applied as well, such as Hi-Flow™ Sampler, impeller flowmeter, Bascom-Turner gas sentry and gas flow probes, etc. Based on the measured emission data, a simulation model was then used to evaluate the specific forms, sources and the reduction potentials of the greenhouse gases. The measured greenhouse gas emissions showed that: evaporation and flashing losses from storage tanks were the largest source, accounting for 86% of the total methane emission, and 42% of the total greenhouse gas emissions. The contribution of methane emissions from heaters and boilers during incomplete combustions was less than 1% of the total methane emissions, and about 16% of the total greenhouse gas emissions. When controlling technology on storage tank losses was applied, methane emission could be reduced by 81.7%, and the greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 39.9%. Furthermore, such controlling technologies also presented substantial economic benefits through the recovery of fuel gas. In this study, the recovery potential of various greenhouse gas emission sources were analyzed. In addition, a preliminary cost-benefit analysis was performed per the emission categories, reduction potentials, and the feasibility of reduction technologies. Finally, the probability on the application of such reduction technologies were evaluated.
Well Integrity Life Cycle
Authors: Gouda Mohamed Hassan , Aslam Ismail 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Have we learned from historical major incidents in the industry?
We are working in a learning organisation equipped with structures and procedures to ensure that lessons from major incidents are incorporated as organisational changes. The following lessons were captured; apply HSE case regime; adapt process safety concept to drilling operations; create and sustain well integrity throughout the entire well life cycle and choose the right leading and lagging indicators to measure and promote continuous improvement.
The heart of these lessons learnt are to establish a process of managing the major accident hazard risks throughout well life cycle. In effect, identify hazards, define safety critical elements, develop performance standards and establish the assurance and verification process. Ultimately, the records of these steps have been demonstrated in safety case document. All steps have been monitored, tracked and audited through the Well Integrity Management System (WIMS). In execution, the conducted program was an assessment of our current situation, taking into account lessons learnt from historical major incidents, close gaps and sustain performance. The deployment was conducted through four distinct phases: Assess, Define, Intervene, and Sustain.
The outcomes of execution of the program in our wells stock are managing and preserving well integrity throughout well life cycle phases rather than operation phase only; the percentage of non-healthy wells are reduced from 25% in 2013 to 5% in 2015; all contracted rigs have verified HSE Cases; new well integrity measures are applied. Moreover, all are contained, tracked and audited in WIMS.
The application of WIMS combines technical, operational and organizational barriers to prevent the uncontrolled flow of fluids to the surrounding environments or across subsurface formations throughout well life cycle.
Desalination of Produced Water of Asab Oil Field Abu-Dhabi to Enhance its Oil Recovery and Water Injectivity
Authors: Khurshid Ilyas , Hossain Md Monwar , Alraeesi Abdulrahman , Fares Ameera , Albalushi Fatima , Alhammadi Amina 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Produced water is the largest waste stream generated in oil and gas industries. It is a mixture of different organic and inorganic compounds. Global produced water production is estimated at around 280 million barrels per day compared with around 97 million barrels per day of oil. As a result, water to oil ratio is around 3:1 that is to say; water cut is 70%. Due to the increasing volume of waste all over the world in the current decade, the outcome and effect of discharging produced water on the environment has lately become a significant issue of concern. In certain fields like Asab oil field Abu Dhabi UAE, the produced water is re-injected in the field through injection wells. However, it is found that the concentration of salt in injected formation water in Asab field is 150,000-262,000 ppm and this high saline water is injected in the reservoir. Where it may cause severe formation damage: pore plugging, water injectivity and oil productivity problems. Our objective is to develop a cost effective technique to reduce the salinity of this produced water to control formation damage.
We used a couple of chemicals/reagents to reduce the salinity of injected water in Asab field, to increase oil recovery and minimize formation damage such physico-chemical and/or pore blockage. This research examines the sources, characteristics, and extent of different chemicals specially fatty acids and different other techniques that can be used to reduce the salinity of water because no single technology can meet suitable effluent characteristics, thus two or more treatment systems might be used in series operation. However, we were successful to reduce the salinity of brine to approximately 64-74%, where it can be re-injected into the reservoir with minimum formation damage and maximum injectivity.
Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems Reduces HES Risks
Authors: Hoffmann Rob , McAllister Ian 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are lightweight, low-cost aircraft platforms operated from the ground which can be outfitted with imaging or non-imaging payloads (‘drones’). UAS offer Health Environment and Safety (HES) professionals a promising opportunity to reduce health, environmental and safety risks by keeping people out of harm's way, reducing exposure to potential health hazards, and for performing non-invasive surveys of ecological features.
A certified operator and unit were retained in the field full-time to support a greenfield gas development in a rugged, remote area. Ready access to a UAS provided timely data to inform field decision making. "If in doubt, put the drone up" became a common phrase in the field, affirming the value of UAS imagery as an information-providing and risk-mitigating tool during site development. UAS collected the data and information that would have otherwise put people on aerial work platforms, in helicopters or on the ground in remote, rugged locations, avoiding thousands of safety-critical workforce hours.
UAS were employed to perform reconnaissance, monitoring and data collection for a wide range of HES applications: Safety: reconnaissance of potential high-consequence situations (landslides, road washouts, avalanche assessment) and access to difficult locations (stack and powerline inspections, landfill slope stability assessment)Environmental: non-invasive environmental monitoring of wildlife (raptor nests, large mammals) and environmental features (marine eelgrass, forest)Health: hazardous materials (hazmat) surveys of legacy facilities to support decommissioning (asbestos-containing roofing materials)
In addition to enabling information-based decision-making in the field by providing real-time imagery, UAS visually conveyed information that was useful for communicating with stakeholders and regulators. This paper will demonstrate that onsite UAS can provide timely, cost-effective information and reduce HES risks in the field by replacing the human element for some safety-critical tasks.
Barrier-Based Approach in Monitoring Risk Reduction Measures Associated with Major Accident Scenarios
Authors: Aberenika P. T. , Wokomah A. L. , Anozie I. A. 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
This paper describes an approach adopted in monitoring Safety Critical Barriers (SCBs) associated with oil and gas production in Total's AKPO Floating Production and Storage Offloading (FPSO) facility located in OML 130 offshore Nigeria. The scenario-based Technological Risk Assessment study of AKPO FPSO provides a catalogue of major risks, with risk reduction measures developed into standard safety barriers and in some cases incorporated into existing barriers to improve their reliability. There are a total number of 366 SCBs being monitored using the approach described in this paper.
The status of SCBs described as"Very Good", "Good", "Fair"or "Poor"is determined by systematically aggregating the test and maintenance results of relevant equipment items (functional locations), as well as results from audit checks of operational and management activities of the SCBs. The status of SCBs, so determined, is quantified and used to determine the risk portrait of the installation.
Over 8,500 functional locations are linked to barriers based on their potential to contribute towards the control of one or more of the fourteen major accident scenarios identified from the major risk study. Test and maintenance records from UNISUP (Unified Information System for Upstream) are exported to a visual risk assessment tool for aggregation, based on a pre-set logic, to determine the status of SCBs that are dependent on equipment items. The application of this methodology enables the timely identification of barrier defects at the level of functional locations for a given safety critical equipment.
The visual risk management tool deployed for the implementation of this process has proven to be of great benefit: i) diagrammatic view of potential accident path; ii) quick identification of failing barriers; iii) estimation of extent of failures in barriers; iv) understanding of the criticality of barriers in relation to a potential accident path; v) dynamic profiling of risks based on changes in barrier status.
The implementation of this methodology contribute to savings in resources spent on safety inspections and audits by leveraging the information provided on the status of the barriers to determine the best approach and areas to assess during such exercises. In addition, records such as number of unavailable barriers per period, frequency of barrier failures etc can be obtained and used as metrics to determine Integrity Management performance on an operating facility.
Contract Safety Pre-Qualification; Experience in a Reactive Safety Culture Environment
Authors: Ezeaku Emeka 
Published: April 2018

Abstract

Objectives/Scope
With increasing number of new entrants in the Nigerian Oil & Gas industry, there has been a visible challenge with Contract Safety Pre-qualification management, often leading to poor quality service delivery, increased cost, lost business time, incidents, contract cost/time variations, etc.
This paper is an attempt to further improve on safety of personnel and asset as well as increase productivity via improved HSE and Supply Chain processes during Contract Pre-qualification exercises.

Methods, Procedures, Process
Experience from various organizations in Nigeria were analyzed viz-a-viz review of existing Safety Management System and Supply Chain delivery strategies.
Attempt is also made to identify common Contract Safety Pre-qualification challenges/gaps and to proffer strategies that could help organizations improve Contract Safety Pre-qualification processes.
HSE Management System performance of selected organizations were reviewed using internal & external Audit outcomes and other indicators as yard sticks. Extents of HSE and Supply Chain process interface benchmarked with leading and lagging indicators such as; 1Cost & Time variation for contracts2Rate of Reworks3Number of Incidents (including Near Misses).

Results, Observations, Conclusions
Effective delivery of Oil & Gas Contracts is largely dependent on efficient Safety Management. Contracts are the key means by which known and unknown, wanted and unwanted risks come into an organization. Entry of Unwanted risks can be checkmated via contracts by deploying effective ‘Contract Safety Pre-qualification’ process as an integral part of Supply Chain Management.
It was found that in most reactive safety culture environment, the following challenges affect Contract Safety Pre-qualification;Non-existent/Ineffective Safety Management SystemIneffective Supply Chain Management processesShort term cost focusIneffective Social Responsibility delivery strategy
The findings from this study could be an eye opener for investors currently working or planning to work in any environment where Regulatory enforcement and Safety culture is still developing.
Addressing these gaps as identified above is a sure way to improve Contract Safety Pre-Qualification. Recommendations from this study details strategies and tools for ensuring organizational effectiveness, eliminating unwanted risk, improving productivity and cost optimization.

Novel/Additive Information
This resultant effect of reactive safety culture on Contract Safety Pre-qualification, with respect to its consequences on Supply Chain management processes, is here looked at from a new perspective and emphasis. Tools and techniques that have worked for for some organizations in Nigeria, are discussed for consideration by organizations facing such challenges.
Shetland Gas Plant Waste Water Treatment Systems - Achieving Compliance in a Fragile Ecosystem
Authors: Bain Andy , Ferguson Rachael 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
The Shetland Gas Plant (SGP) is a large gas processing site built in a very fragile ecosystem (blanket bog) at Sullom Voe on the Shetland Islands.
There are multiple environmental designations in the surrounding environment (RAMSAR, SSSI - Site of Special Scientific Interest, MPA, …). The site processes gas and liquid, the produced water effluent from these operations are then fed to the Effluent Water Treatment Plant (EWTP) for processing prior to being discharged to Yell Sound via a 3.75 km pipeline.
There are numerous defined pathways and very sensitive receptors in the area which both the produced water and drainage water could directly impact in a short period of time.
The regulatory regime is very intensive & wide ranging, this allied to the high societal expectations, especially socio-economic, meant that careful design and construction criteria, along with very reactive operational control methodologies, were required to manage the need for continuous monitoring and modifications.
Best Available Technique (BAT) assessments were carried out to determine a predicted contaminant level; actual recorded levels were then compared to the predicted level. Over the course of a lengthy construction and commissioning period, it was found that the output contaminant balance was very complex and susceptible to large movements with small input changes; these were recognised as associated issues (multiple determinands and management of trigger levels).
This required prolonged and intensive adjustment to the process to ensure that the regulator agreed Environmental Limit Values (ELV's) were met. This process had a multi analysis approach to allow for the many different variables which required to be controlled in tandem to meet the ELV's. Final environmental sign off from commissioning was achieved in July 2017 and even with the higher than anticipated usage and the legacy construction issues, the site continues to improve its performance and protect the receiving environment from process contaminant problems.
It was found that engagement with the regulator at an early stage and regular/informed updates, good baseline assessments, a solid understanding of stakeholder management issues and initial and ongoing biodiversity identification allowed the project to manage this very sensitive development in a very fragile and reactive ecosystem.
Business Improvements through Implementation of International Investors’ Standards
Authors: Amirkhanova E. A. 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Environmental and social standards of the international investors (e.g. World Bank Group, The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, the Asian Development Bank, Export Credit Agencies and others) have been actively evolving over the last 20 years. These standards have been initially developed as a risk management tool for international lenders. With time they have become a representation of good practices in environmental, health, safety and social management. Standards are widely used both within financing and non-financing context. However it is difficult to find practical examples in the existing body of literature which describe whether and how application of these standards is actually beneficial for companies and their projects.
The objective of the paper is to analyse the experience of several companies in applying international environmental and social standards and identify how they benefited from their use. This paper also discusses reasons for use of the standards, key challenges encountered by the companies and solutions they implemented.
International investors’ standards are different from most domestic regulatory requirements. Firstly, they aim to meet long-term sustainability objectives rather than deliver short-term compliance-based outcomes. In practice this means ongoing improvement rather than pure compliance with certain regulations. Secondly, they cover a broad scope of sustainability issues, e.g. human rights, safety culture and social licence to operate and many others. Often this requires very efficient collaboration between internal and external stakeholders. Thirdly, they rely on risk-based approach often taking owners out of their comfort zone by calling for a change in a decisionmaking process.
The paper demonstrates how companies managed to overcome the challenges and benefited both within a financing and non-financing context: from contributing to longer-term sustainability of businesses, to unlocking an access to different investment options.
Working in Partnership to Deliver Oman's Solar into Schools Project
Authors: Robinson J. T. , Abu Rumman M. M. 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
Oman arguably has some of the best solar resources in the world. However, unlike growth in photovoltaic (PV) trends seen elsewhere, there has been very little penetration of PV or establishment of PV-related businesses, to date. Key reasons for this include: a market absence for solar demand largely inhibited through the provision of heavily subsidized electricity generated from fossil fuels, an immature solar regulatory framework and a lack of a locally skilled and experienced solar workforce. The value and importance of entrepreneurship is recognized as a core element of Oman's longer term strategic vision, with SMEs (small-medium sized enterprises) being identified as key potential contributors to the country's future economic growth and diversification. The ‘Solar into Schools’ Project was borne from a 5-yearly corporate social responsibility initiative called Gift to the Nation, that aims to create benefit for Oman and Omani's. Through the ‘Solar into Schools’ Omani based solar entrepreneurs learn to develop and grow their PV capabilities to help them prepare to competitively compete for future growth in Oman's PV market. At the same time, by installing small scale PV systems into public schools across Oman, the project provides a platform to engage Oman's youth on the country's potential future alternative energy transition pathways and the role that entrepreneurs can play in this change
Continuous Improvement in Environmental Performance: A Case Study in an Oilfield Services Company
Authors: Sealy Ian , Scott Hannah 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
This paper describes a seven-year program in an oilfield services company that has been incorporating sustainability into internal business processes and improving environmental performance through the application of continuous improvement (CI) techniques.
The description of the global program is illustrated with examples that exhibit substantial performance improvements in energy, water and waste. In each year throughout the life of the program several facilities were given specific, quantified objectives to implement a CI project that would deliver enhanced environmental quality and efficiency. The projects use an incremental, data-driven process called define, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC). Projects are reported and reviewed via a centralized repository, and supervisory management implements a standard validation process designed to ensure consistency and accuracy in the quantification of improvements.
The control phase of the DMAIC process facilitates the sustainability of each project, beyond the calendar year in which it is launched, as models for preserving short- and long-term improvements are required. Since the start of the program in 2010, more than 280 projects have been completed in over 25 sites in 13 different countries. Environmental impact improvements have included reductions of 383,66 MWH of electricity, 102466 Klitres of water and 2,615 Tonnes of waste eliminated, reused or recycled across an average of 25 sites participating each year.
The program results have been shared in the company's sustainability reporting, and used to support submissions to external sustainability benchmarking and disclosure indexes. The results have also been used to engage employees and to share innovations and environmental best practices at the facility level. The initiative has stimulated forward-thinking management decisions on sustainability within the organization. Each of these aspects is discussed in the paper.
This program demonstrates that the quality management based concept of systematic elimination of waste can be successfully applied to environmental management in a diverse, multi-site global organization. Process checkpoints ensure that the project remains on track and provide data that can be used to measure continuous improvement actions towards sustainability.