bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cost Reduction Method for the Replacement of a Riser Bellmouth
Authors: Yoshioka R. , Thorne D. , Kovacs A. , Maier D. , Mineiro F. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Offshore constructions costs can be very high when the operation requires the use of additional vessels and support tugs. This was the case in 2016, when some of the riser bellmouths needed to be replaced on one FPSO located offshore Brazil. The initial bellmouth change-out plan included an installation vessel plus support tugs to hold the turret moored FPSO in position. As a result of the current cost constraints in the offshore industry, it was necessary to challenge the conventional way of working and to re-evaluate the construction methodology. This paper presents the methodology used on the FPSO bellmouth change-out, where all operations were conducted from the FPSO, without the need for the installation vessel or support tugs.
The FPSO for this case study is located in the Campos Basin deepwater, in 1485m water depth, and approximately 70 kilometers east of Victoria, Brazil. The FPSO started production at its current location in May 2010. The unit has a maximum oil production capacity of 100,000 bopd, and a gas processing capacity of 70 mmscfd. Oil is stored onboard and offloaded through a tandem moored shuttle tanker. The gas is compressed and exported from the FPSO via a flexible riser, which connects into the Petrobras gas export system. The bellmouth change-out operations consisted of replacing the bellmouths of each of the 8 production risers. The paper will focus on engineering design and offshore operation phases to implement the bellmouth change-out in a safe, cost effective manner.
Oil-Water Pipe Flow Dispersions - From Traditional Flow Loops to Real Industrial Transport Conditions
Authors: Shmueli Andrea , Schümann Heiner , Unander Tor Erling 
Published: October 2017

This paper is focused on studying oil-water pipe flow dispersions. There are two main objectives of this work: First is to gain more knowledge on the behaviour of oil-water dispersions in pipe flow. Second is to provide validation of a new methodology to characterize dispersion properties at realistic industrial conditions. The characteristics of oil-water flows such as the development of the phase fraction profiles, droplet chord lengths and pressure gradient were studied in a 0.069 m diameter and 50 m long horizontal pipe at the Multiphase flow laboratory of SINTEF in Norway. The fluid system consisted of a model oil (Exxsol D80) with and without surfactants, and tap water. A comparison of the experiments with and without a mixing valve was performed. The experiments were conducted at different superficial liquid velocities and five different watercut values (The water cut is defined as the ratio between the superficial water velocity to the liquid superficial velocity).
In addition, experiments on a wheel-shaped flow loop were conducted at selected conditions. The wheel mimics realistic pipe flow conditions for the oil-water dispersions. This methodology allows identifying flow developing time scales and long-term behaviour, which are not possible to study in a shorter test sections. Furthermore, it is possible to have an indication of the viscosity increment when dispersions form.
The results from the pipe flow experiments show that: The effective viscosity of the mixture increases by the dispersion formation promoted by the valve. As a result, the pressure gradient increases dramatically in comparison to the same conditions without premixing. For the studied cases, the surfactant concentration did not have any significant effect on pressure drop in the pipe. However, differences in the phase fraction profiles were observed especially with respect to flow development along the pipe. A possible explanation is that the effective viscosity of the created dispersion is not high enough to produce an increase the pressure drop. Flow development along the pipeline (oil-water separation) is observed just for selected cases without surfactant. For the rest of the experiments, especially with surfactant, the length of the test section was not long enough to observe flow development. With the wheel, it is simple and fast to study both formation, and stability of dispersions with real fluids at realistic conditions. There are indications that the energy dissipation rate could be used as scaling parameter between pipe flow experiments and the wheel experiments. Wheel experiments can be used to cost-efficient investigate dispersion characteristics and long-term flow development, which cannot be observed in traditional pipe flow loops due to their restrictions.
Effects of Calibrated Water into Carbonate Dissolution
Authors: Nuñez R. B. , Koroishi E. T. , Trevisan O. V. , Gadelha de Freitas Filho R. D. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Brine with designed ionic composition has been shown by many authors as a technique that improves oil recovery, allowing an increase of up to 20% of the total oil saturation of carbonates rocks samples during laboratory experiments. The main objective of this research is the development of an experimental methodology to assess the impact of the dissolution of carbonate rocks due to brine with designed ionic composition in high pressure environments, such as the ones found in Brazilian pre-salt reservoirs. This work reports the temporal effects of dissolution of outcrop carbonate rocks while in contact with water of different total salinities (38 kppm, 16 kppm, 8 kppm and 2 kppm) at 10,000 psi and 110° C, in terms of changes in mass, porosity and permeability. The experimental setup was composed of: positive displacement pump (DBR System), fluid injection cylinder, sample carrier cell, transducer pressure and oven to maintain the temperature of the system. The aforementioned samples were cleaned and dried in order to proceed with basic petrophysical characterization (porosity, permeability and weight). Outcrop rocks were placed inside pressure vessels containing water at the specified salinity and held under pressure for determined periods of time (168 hrs). At time intervals, the rock specimens were taken for evaluation of mass, porosity and permeability. Five cycles were repeated for different water total salinities. Changes on porosity and permeability were evaluated by gas porosimeter and gas permeabilimeter, respectively. Mass of the outcrop rocks were determined using analytical scale. Experiments showed that modifying water salinity can induce the carbonate dissolution which may be related with an ionic exchange between the ions present on the rock surface and the ions in the brine. A non-thermodynamic equilibrium state is created which results in chemical interactions in the aqueous phases as well as interactions between water and rock in terms of precipitation/dissolution of rock minerals and/or changing the rock surface charge resulting in loss of mass and changes on porosity and permeability of the samples. The research innovative approach consisted in the development of an experimental methodology to evaluate the effect of brine with designed ionic composition on the dissolution of outcrop carbonate rocks at high pressure and temperature in static conditions.
Application of a Methodology to Incorporate Probabilistic Data from Two Technologies: Reservoir Simulation Models and 4D Seismic
Authors: Assunção Germano S. C. , Davolio Alessandra , Schozer Denis J. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
There are several methodologies that use 4D seismic (4DS) information as deterministic dynamic observed data to improve the accuracy of reservoir simulation models. However, 4DS data also have uncertainties due to errors caused by resolution, acquisition, processing and interpretation. Deterministic 4DS information does not consider these uncertainties properly. Thus, the objective of this work is to evaluate the application of a methodology that incorporates 4DS and simulation data probabilistically, considering uncertainties from both data sets.
Through the combination of uncertain reservoir parameters, multiple simulation models are generated/simulated, providing multiple pressure change (ΔpSIM) maps. In this study, the available 4DS data are multiple pressure change (Δp4DS) maps yielded from a probabilistic seismic inversion. We first transfer the Δp4DS maps to the simulation scale and then, for each reservoir position, we build two probabilistic density functions: (1) PDFSIM using ΔpSIM maps and (2) PDF4DS from Δp4DS maps. We then compare PDFSIM and PDF4DS, establishing which one is the most precise in each reservoir position, and use this information to select the most precise ΔpSIM and ΔpSEIS maps.
We used a synthetic reservoir with moderate complexity, eight predominant uncertainties (such as permeability and porosity), 11 producers and eight water injectors. Two sets of ΔpSIM were studied: (a) 500 ΔpSIM maps generated from 500 simulation models at the beginning of a probabilistic history-matching procedure using wells and (b) 97 ΔpSIM maps from history-matched models using well production data. Two sets of 4DS data were considered: (c) 125 Δp4DS maps yielded from a probabilistic inversion considering reservoir uncertainties and noiseless synthetic seismic data (d) 500 Δp4DS maps from a probabilistic inversion considering reservoir uncertainties and noisy synthetic seismic, representing a more realistic 4DS data. Using as input data (a) and (c), we identified positions where Δp4DS maps were more precise. We then selected the ΔpSIM maps using Δp4DS values at these positions. As result, selected ΔpSIM maps presented more precise estimates of pressure than the initial ΔpSIM maps. Applying (a) and (d), more precise estimates of ΔpSIM were also obtained. Using (b) and (c+d), we identified, through our methodology, reservoir positions where simulation data are more precise than 4DS data. The selected Δp4DS maps using ΔpSIM values presented more accurate and precise estimates then the initial Δp4DS maps.
The main contribution of the work was to apply a methodology incorporating simulation and 4DS data, considering uncertainties from both. Applying the studied methodology, we can use seismic information to update simulation models, as well as simulation data to reinterpret 4DS data (employment of engineering data to constrain 4DS).
Effect of Microstructure on Hydrogen Diffusivity, Trapping and HIC Resistance in Two API X65 Steels
Authors: Pereira Viviam Serra Marques , Hincapie-Ladino Duberney , Nishikawa Lucas Pintol , Goldenstein Helio 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
The paper compares Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC) resistance and Hydrogen Permeation (HP) results for two API X65 microalloyed steels, with different contents of Mn and Nb: one containing low Mn and high Nb (L-Mn) and the other, high Mn and low Nb (H-Mn). The main objective is to correlate the microstructural differences between these steels with hydrogen diffusion and trapping behavior and hydrogen-induced cracking resistance.
Both steel plates were characterized with optical and scanning electron microscopy in their transverse sections, in relation to the rolling direction. HIC resistance tests were made in accordance with the NACE TM0284-11 standard; samples obtained from the transverse section were also submitted to Hydrogen Permeation tests, based on the ASTM G148-97 standard. NACE solution A saturated with H2S was used in the two procedures. Besides, Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy measurements were made, in order to show which steel trapped more hydrogen atoms, and carbides/carbonitrides volume fractions were estimated with ThermoCalc software. The L-Mn steel presents a homogeneous microstructure through the plate thickness, composed of refined ferrite and small pearlite islands. The H-Mn steel has a heterogeneous microstructure through the plate thickness, composed of ferrite and pearlite bands, and presents centerline segregation. Hydrogen permeation tests showed that, despite all the microstructural differences, the hydrogen effective diffusion coefficient (Deff) was almost the same for both steels – the Deff obtained for the L-Mn steel is slightly higher than for the H-Mn steel. Contrary to expectations, the L-Mn steel presented higher hydrogen subsurface concentration (C0) and number of trapping sites per unit volume (Nt) values. Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the L-Mn steel traps more H atoms than the H-Mn one. These results, along with the similar Deff values, can be explained by the presence of nanoprecipitates of microalloying elements, which, according to ThermoCalc simulations, appear in higher volume fraction in the L-Mn steel. Finally, the HIC tests results showed that the L-Mn steel has a better performance in sour environments; this behaviour is related with its special microstructural features.
Investigation of Electroless Nickel-Phosphorus Coating as an Alternative to Corrosion/Fouling Resistant Alloys in Downhole Service
Authors: Zhu Da , Uzcategui Alberto , Gong Lu , Qiu Xiaoyong , Huang Jun , Sun Chong , Luo Jing-Li , Zeng Hongbo 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Harsh physical and chemical environments found in downhole operations have traditionally required the use of exotic corrosion-resistant materials, which are expensive, difficult to source and challenging to machine. This paper evaluates high-phosphorous electroless nickel (EN) coating as an alternative to these materials. The performance of this coating on carbon steel is compared to the performance of corrosion resistant alloys for fouling and surface characterization, and adhesion of inorganic and organic materials in a series of laboratory and field tests. In this paper, we first describe the complex and hostile thermal-chemical environment that exists for well completions commonly used in oil and gas production. The chemistry, physics and engineering governing principles of corrosion and fouling are reviewed. The set-up of the laboratory facilities and test procedures for fouling are described in detail. The performance of EN coated carbon steel is compared to several corrosion resistant alloys commonly used in downhole operations: 13Cr-L80, 28Cr-L80, 316L stainless steel, and Inconel 625. Examination of these specimens indicates the extent of corrosion and accumulation of fouling substances on EN coated and uncoated carbon steel at each time point.
Chokes in Series Provide Safe Testing Operations in Wells with Abrasive Solids
Authors: Margotto Romulo , Cunha Jeferson , Miranda Reginaldo , Ribeiro Daniel da Cunha , Benedito Ully Misse Moreno , Meneguelo Ana Paula 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Solids production has been an issue in the oil and gas industry for years. Several materials and configurations have been tested under different conditions to determine how to produce fluids more efficiently when abrasive solids are present. This paper discusses well-testing operations involving formations with the potential for solids production. The discussion focuses on the choke manifold, which is a crucial piece of equipment used during testing operations.
The choke manifold facilitates dual-flow paths that control the well flow at surface from the upstream control equipment to the downstream process equipment and allows the operator to perform choke changes without interference to operations or test objectives. It is responsible for controlling the flow rate, upstream choke pressure, downstream choke pressure, and for maintaining critical flow. These tasks are easily achieved using a single choke when no solids are produced. However, when solids are present during the flow through the choke manifold, erosion can occur in the choke body and beans. When these parts are damaged, the well should be shut-in and all operations suspended to repair the damaged equipment.
Previous experience shows that the use of chokes in series combined with a high-resistance material (tungsten carbide) improved the choke manifold capacity to work with abrasive solids with less erosion issues. Such capability relies on the lower velocity and pressure changes provided by chokes in series. The choke configuration was tested in the field with a high abrasive flow (gas with solids) and resisted, as expected.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were used to analyze the flow-velocity profiles in the flow path of the choke manifold. This study presents a comparison of these results with actual field data (pressure upstream and downstream of the choke manifold during different flows) to demonstrate how the three-choke system can provide safer operations with abrasive flows.
The Use of Design of Experiments for Development of Flocculating Agents for Treatment of Crude Oil Emulsions
Authors: Rezende F. C. , Rabelo R. B. , Filho P. J. C. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Emulsions are formed during crude oil production due to the presence of natural surfactants and brine in the petroleum fluids. In addition, turbulence wich the produced fluids are subjected to, either initiated by differential pressure in the drawdown region near the wellbore or in presence of a pumping system, also exacerbates the emulsion problems. Water-in-oil emulsions are the most common type of colloidal dispersion experienced in oilfields. The stabilization mechanism for those dispersions are not fully understood and, overcoming all the stabilization mechanisms present, make the selection of the desired demulsifier for breaking the water-in-oil emulsion very challenging. The use of the right treater, also known as dryer or flocculating agent, is paramount in order to achieve the requirements such as less than 1% BS&W. On the other hand, the standard procedure in the Oil and Gas industry widely used today for screening emulsion breaker intermediates and final demulsifier formulations is still a trial-and-error methodology, which does not correlate the physical-chemical properties to the application performance. For this reason, a Design of Experiments study was used for the development and selection of amine-based flocculating agents, based on relevant parameter investigation, such as Surface Tension (ST) and Relative Solubility Number (RSN). The objective was to use statistical treatment to optimize the flocculants agent molecules aiming to obtain relevant improved results concerning petroleum dehydration during emulsion breaker studies.
Laboratory Validation of Engineered Composite and High Fluid-Loss Materials to Help Cure Severe Losses in Fractured Formations
Authors: Obando David , Fornasier Frank 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Circulation losses are frequently encountered during drilling operations. Therefore, the availability of various sizes and types of lost circulation materials (LCMs) to mitigate these losses are crucial to minimize nonproductive time (NPT) and costs related to the severity of fluid lost to the formation. This paper presents extensive laboratory testing performed to validate the effectiveness of novel LCMs intended for severe-to-total drilling fluid-loss control in overburden and reservoir formations.
Two different families of LCMs were tested in a particle plugging apparatus (PPA) using metallic disks with various slot sizes that simulated different fracture widths under defined pressure and temperature conditions. Initially, low pressures were applied to validate the materials ability to form a plug over the slots. Next, high pressures were applied to validate the deposited plugs ability to maintain their shape, which indicates the fractures plugging effectiveness. Both LCM families easily released the continuous phase at differential pressures of 100 psi and deposited a uniform and firm wall cake that can rapidly seal a wide range of apertures (4 to 7 mm). The LCM plugs deposited on the simulated fractures provided effective pressure containment, withstanding differential pressures as high as 2,000 psi. Additionally, the evaluated materials were visually inspected, and their ability to release water and form a dry wall cake over any high-permeability slot was validated.
Circulation losses are generally countered by mixing various types of LCMs to achieve a defined particle size distribution (PSD), which might only seal one size of fracture. This paper presents laboratory test results, which indicated the two LCM families could seal a wide range of fractures effectively. The first application of the studied LCMs in a naturally fractured ultradeepwater well is also presented.
Reservoir Development with OCTOPUS: Drainage Plan Decisions Supported by an Artificial Intelligence System
Authors: Cardoso Marco Antônio , Pacheco Marco Aurélio , Abreu Ana Carolina , Mendonza Leonardo 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
In this work, we demonstrate the application of OCTOPUS system to support the decision on drainage plan considering multiple reservoir cases (CARDOSO et al., 2017). Octopus employs a technology based on Artificial Intelligence to guide the process of high-VPL drainage plan. This work reveals OCTOPUS'S performance in supporting E&P experts by proposing drainage plan under reservoir uncertainty conditions. OCTOPUS interacts with a reservoir simulator to search the best well allocation scenario that maximizes the reservoir net present value (NPV). It uses mathematical methods to deal with constraints, and has a Genetic Algorithms (GA) optimizer to determine the optimal number, type (injector or producer), trajectory (vertical, horizontal or directional) and location of wells. Among the significant results, we highlight 2 main cases in which the increase in NPV achieved by OCTOPUS is over 4%. The first case is the optimization under geological uncertainty of an oil field during 35 years and the second case is a mesh densification study on a field under production for 16 years.
Inhibition of IRAK1 Ubiquitination Determines Glucocorticoid Sensitivity for TLR9-Induced Inflammation in Macrophages
Authors: Kong Fansheng , Liu Zhiwei , Jain Viral G. , Shima Kenjiro , Suzuki Takuji , Muglia Louis J. , Starczynowski Daniel T. , Pasare Chandrashekhar , Bhattacharyya Sandip 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Inflammatory responses are controlled by signaling mediators that are regulated by various posttranslational modifications. Recently, transcription-independent functions for glucocorticoids (GC) in restraining inflammation have emerged, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we report that GC receptor (GR)–mediated actions of GC acutely suppress TLR9-induced inflammation via inhibition of IL-1R–associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) ubiquitination. β-TrCP–IRAK1 interaction is required for K48-linked ubiquitination of IRAK1 at Lys134 and subsequent membrane-to-cytoplasm trafficking of IRAK1 interacting partners TNFR-associated factor 6 and TAK1 that facilitates NF-κB and MAPK activation. Upon costimulation of macrophages with GC and TLR9-engaging ligand, GR physically interacts with IRAK1 and interferes with protein–protein interactions between β-TrCP and IRAK1. Ablation of GR in macrophages prevents GC-dependent suppression of β-TrCP–IRAK1 interactions. This GC-mediated suppression of IRAK1 activation is unique to TLR9, as GC treatment impairs TLR9 but not TLR4 ligand–induced K48-linked IRAK1 ubiquitination and trafficking of IRAK1 interacting partners. Furthermore, mutations in IRAK1 at Lys134 prevent TLR9 ligand–induced activation of inflammatory signaling mediators and synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines to an extent comparable to GC-mediated inhibition. Collectively, these findings identify a transcription-independent, rapid, and nongenomic GC suppression of TLR9 ligand–mediated IRAK1 ubiquitination as a novel mechanism for restraining acute inflammatory reactions.