bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
'Argatroban' Monitoring in Human Plasma: aPTT and PiCT Studies on QCM-D vs 'Gold Standard'
Authors: Munawar Hussain  
Published: February 2016

Low-molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) are used as effective and safe alternative anticoagulants to unfractionated heparin (UFH) in surgery. Argatroban is an important example of such kind of anticoagulant and is the most-used anticoagulant in surgery after UFH. This is first report of comparative study of argatroban on quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) platform via activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombinase induced clotting test (PiCT). The QCM-D platform has been comparatively studied with ‘gold standard’ (i.e. mechanical coagulometer). Human plasma samples of healthy donors (n=20) spiked with different doses of argatroban were subjected to these measurements. QCM-D yields information of aPTT or PiCT and total coagulation points from frequency and dissipation signals. Overall PiCT data yielded lower variability as compare to that of aPTT. QCM-D platform provides the additional advantage of cost-effectiveness in the perspectives of the lowest sample (and reagent) volume consumption of 1.66 µL.
An Object in Motion Stays in Motion
Authors: Dragani Jarrett 
Published: February 2016

What’s Ahead–From TWA’s Editor-in-Chief
Being a young professional working in the oil and gas industry right now means learning a lot of things the tough way. Our business is changing rapidly, working to reflect the changing realities of a cyclical commodity, changes to environmental legislation, and increased technical rigor required to explore for and produce oil and gas. This means that for many young professionals, the required skill sets are changing quickly as is the need for certain expertise.
I suspect many people have gone through some major career transitions in the last year, or at minimum, have association with individuals that have gone through one. The simple truth is that we all go through major transitions during the course of our life, whether it is at work or in our personal lives. Some transitions are memorable, others are noble, and some are regrettable, but all of them provide you with an opportunity to reflect, learn, and adapt.
I can think of several major transitions that I have gone through in my life, and all of them have provided me with an opportunity to grow as a person. One of the more memorable ones was moving to Christina Lake, Alberta—located in the boreal forest of the Canadian North—where I lived for 18 months supporting the construction and commissioning of a major oil sands facility. The experience I gained on site was both rewarding and exhausting. We worked long hours, lived in an on-site camp (the baked goods always get you), and spent evenings catching up on current events. Fortunately, our camp had a great recreational center which allowed me to keep in shape and inhibit the weight gain that almost seems inevitable at such times.
I made some great friends at the site and I would say that the experience was well worth it for my career development, helping me understand our business and later transfer to more subsurface-based roles. But there was also an impact on my personal life. I was separated from the ones I loved and lost touch with many people over the 18 months. In many respects, I put my life on hold during the time I was up there.
Working in the field as a young engineer provides development opportunities that are hard to replicate elsewhere—seeing well and field operations in action, conducting inspections, troubleshooting on the fly, and most of all, working with field personnel who have a plethora of experiences and wisdom to share.
I suspect that many readers have their own stories of career transitions in the field, office, or academia. I would encourage you to share stories of your career transitions on SPE platforms like SPEConnect or SPE social media sites for the benefit of other young professionals.
Keeping the Bridges Intact While Blazing Your Trail
Authors: Dang Angela , Morgan Colter , Offurum Chieke 
Published: February 2016

Technical Leaders
Millennials, loosely defined as individuals born between the 1980s and 2000s, now make up the SPE young professional demographic. We are known for many things, both good and bad, but perhaps most notably, we are not satisfied with putting our heads down and waiting our turn to climb the corporate ladder. Millennials desire challenging and impactful careers. We have come to expect exceptional reward for exceptional work. As a result, we are rarely satisfied staying in one role or at one company for too long. So, the question is, how do we keep our careers exciting and dynamic? Kim McHugh, general manager of drilling and completions for Chevron Services Company, and Jake Howard, operations supervisor for Chevron, weigh in on how to manage these transitions gracefully and strategically.
What was the motivation for your transitioning of roles?
Kim McHugh (KM): Operations is such an exciting part of our business. I love being a part of the day-today operations at the rig, delivering production for the business plans, all at a very fast pace. That being said, the motivation to change to a corporate role is that I get to know what is happening around the world for Chevron. This is a role of influence with industry interaction outside of Chevron. Being able to travel is also a plus, as I get to visit operations around the world.
Jake Howard (JH): I have always been excited to take on new challenges. Moving into operations as a production team lead, then as an operations supervisor presented a number of new development opportunities.
With prior engineering experience in carbon dioxide flooding, waterfloods, and heavy-oil steamfloods, this move gave me an opportunity to learn the frontline challenges that come with our modern day unconventional tight oil play. This transition would also give me the chance to learn the core of the business from the ground floor, spending time at the wellhead learning. Yet, the biggest opportunity I saw was to begin expanding my scope within a technical role to a leadership role.
Being responsible for a team to accomplish results through motivating and developing others was the biggest driver for taking on this transition. Being able to do so in a company such as Chevron, knowing I would never have to compromise my integrity or values, made the opportunity even more attractive.
SPE eMentoring: Expert Career Guidance Across Boundaries and Borders
Authors: Gill Aman , de Almeida Tiago 
Published: February 2016

SPE 101
If you are, or soon will become, a young member of the oil and gas industry and have questions about which career path to choose, and are looking for guidance in setting and reaching your professional goals, an excellent resource to use is the SPE eMentoring program. For students, mentors can provide academic and career direction. Young professionals (YPs) can receive guidance on how to orient their career progression and diversify their skill sets to speed up their career growth. YPs also have the opportunity to serve as mentors to students.
With an online approach, this program helps mentees benefit from the knowledge of experienced professionals from around the world, irrespective of the distances that might separate a mentor and mentee.
“Being a mentor in the SPE eMentoring program has been a good and rewarding experience for me,” said Brett Levy, who recently mentored two students, one from Penn State University, and another from Tufts University. “During my mentoring period, I have lived in Denver and Worland, Wyoming, working for Schlumberger, and the program has allowed me to build relationships with my mentees in spite of being thousands of miles away from them.
We would communicate regularly via email and LinkedIn to check in on how their classes and projects in school were going, what internships they were interested in, and what career paths they were looking at pursuing after their graduation. I provided as much insight as I possibly could to help them start their careers.”
Pillars of the Industry (February 2016)
Authors: Barba Bob , Guerrera Lupo 
Published: February 2016

Pillars of the Industry
An Energy Career Compass
Bob Barba, Integrated Energy Services
After graduating from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, I spent 6 years in the US Navy and decided to move on when my obligation was over. After finishing my MBA, I began to look for a job. With an Annapolis degree, 6 years of management experience, and an MBA, I had numerous job offers from a wide variety of companies. In 1981, the oil and gas business was in full swing and many firms were hiring. The process of searching for and producing oil and gas was fascinating, and it called on a lot of the skill sets that I had acquired in my career.
The job Schlumberger offered me provided a unique work environment and paid better than most of the jobs I was being offered by other industries. The position came with my own logging truck and crew of two operators. Each job was a technical and logistical challenge to accomplish successfully. I was able to work with oil and gas operators directly and received an excellent education in how a critical portion of the business ran.
Going the Extra Mile
Over the course of my career, I have found that the traffic on the extra mile is pretty thin. It is possible to survive most of the time without going the extra mile, however, your chances increase significantly if you constantly strive to be the best at what you do. The “only” constant I have observed in the industry is change, and adapting to change requires a constant effort. This involves attending a lot of conferences and staying current with new technology. When you are self-employed, this often requires a significant investment of time and money.
What Inspires Me in My Career in Oil and Gas
Lupo Guerrera, Woodside Energy
It is actually quite humbling to think about the scales that we deal with in the oil and gas industry. At the most fundamental level, we are making something dynamic that has been static for eons of time, unleashing the energy harnessed from ancient sunshine captured by trillions of simple versions of the earliest forms of life. But think, too, of the industry in its complex current configuration. It is probably the most pervasive human endeavor of our time, involving staggering quantities of human, industrial, and financial capital, across all continents and their waters. It all points to huge responsibilities for those of us who work in and aspire to have an influence in this industry. We need to respect the resources that are at our disposal and understand the potential impact of exploiting them. This continues to inspire me in my career in oil and gas. As a reservoir engineer, I am passionate about the stewardship of hydrocarbons that ancient processes have provided us, and am driven to working with others to use more efficient ways of recovering them.
Pressure to Reduce Methane Emissions Highlights the Need for Better Monitoring
Authors: Rassenfoss Stephen 
Published: February 2016

Methane Emissions
The US government is working on regulations to reduce oil industry methane emissions by more than 40% over the next 10 years.
Meanwhile, it is making a large investment in research seeking reliable ways to measure how much of the methane in the atmosphere is from natural gas production versus other sources of the gas that can lead to global warming and smog.
“We can tell how dirty the air is. What is really tricky is ‘where it is coming from.’ ” said Susan Stuver, a senior research scientist at the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, who was among the first persons to begin gathering emissions data in unconventional gas plays.
There are a growing number of estimates published and they vary wildly, with studies estimating natural gas losses ranging from 1% to 7% of US production, according to a summary in a US Department of Energy research grant.
The methods, the math, and the politics of methane measurement are complex and changing. What once was an economic question facing the natural gas business—how to cut losses of a valuable product—has become a contentious environmental issue of how to reduce emissions of a gas that is able to warm the Earth far more than carbon dioxide?
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that nearly 29% of all methane emissions in 2012 came from oil and gas industry activity. It is the largest source, followed by enteric fermentation, at 25%, which is the digestive process used by grazing animals, such as cattle, producing methane as a gassy byproduct. Those animals also produce manure, which is responsible for an added 9% of methane emitted.
Other estimates suggest far higher industry emission levels. That matters to the oil and gas business because those numbers will guide future emissions rule making.
The public furor several years ago over whether fracturing polluted water supplies led to studies of how unconventional exploration and production (E&P) affects air quality. Some high-profile academic studies said methane leaking from gas operations are far higher than thought, challenging industry claims that natural gas is the cheaper, cleaner fuel option.
Review of Downhole Wireless Communication Techniques
Authors: Carpenter Chris 
Published: February 2016

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 171706, “Review of Downhole Wireless Communication Techniques,” by Muhammad Arsalan, Talha J. Ahmad, and Mohamed N. Noui-Mehidi, Saudi Aramco, prepared for the 2014 SPE Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, 10–13 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
For openhole horizontal wells, providing power and data through an umbilical is very challenging. Wireless communication is the essential component of any downhole monitoring-and-control solution. A wireless solution can also significantly reduce the complexity and cost associated with the wired solutions. In this paper, various wireless communication techniques are classified and an extensive review of state-of-the-art downhole applications is presented.
Introduction
Long-term reservoir monitoring remains one of the critical requirements for the effective development and optimization of oil and gas reservoirs. Frequent monitoring and control are equally important for both new and mature fields. Many new well completions now include sophisticated permanent monitoring systems that can transmit data to the surface through an electrical or fiber-optic cable, associated with other downhole tools such as clamps, wellhead and packer penetrations, surface power supply, and surface data- acquisition and -transmission systems. These systems require significant capital expenditure (CAPEX) in both components and rig time and are prone to premature failure. A downhole wireless communication system can help resolve many of the problems associated with wired well- monitoring and -control solutions by avoiding the difficulties, costs, and maintenance associated with the wired infrastructure. A wireless system can potentially be retrofitted on demand to avoid upfront CAPEX and operational expense (OPEX) associated with traditional wired advanced-completion monitoring-and -control systems. Any downhole wireless system, however, will require a power source or needs to generate its own power, which may limit its use and its operational life.
This paper is focused on comparing a wide range of wireless communication techniques for downhole environments and exploring the possibilities and limitations of using those techniques in restrictive openhole-well configurations with no infrastructure (i.e., no umbilicals for power, control, and communication, and no production tubing and liners) (Fig. 1).
Analysis of Steam/Solvent-Coinjection Processes by Use of Dynamic Gridding
Authors: Carpenter Chris 
Published: February 2016

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 169075, “A Methodological Analysis of the Mechanisms Associated With Steam/Solvent-Coinjection Processes by Use of Dynamic Gridding,” by A. Perez-Perez, M. Mujica, and I. Bogdanov, CHLOE, and J. Hy-Billiot, Total, prepared for the 2014 SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, 12–16 April. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Hybrid steam/solvent processes have gained importance as a thermal-recovery process for heavy oils in recent years. Among the identified physical mechanisms that play a role during these processes are heat-transfer phenomena, gravity drainage and viscous flow, solvent mass transfer, and mass-diffusion/-dispersion phenomena. In this paper, a study of sensitivity to grid size is described. Ideally, this work will provide some insight into methodological aspects to be considered when hybrid steam/ solvent processes are modeled.
Introduction
Recent studies concerning the size of the liquid-solvent-rich zone where molecular diffusion and dispersion occur have implied that a detailed representation of the solvent/steam- chamber edge is necessary in the numerical model. To represent this front appropriately, the authors propose application of fine-grid models to represent the steam/ solvent condensation zone and, in parallel, activation of the adaptive-mesh refinement (AMR) option for amalgamating the internal and external portions of the steam chamber zone. It is expected that, with this simulation strategy, a detailed representation of the front will be caught by a fine model, while a coarse model will be sufficient to represent the heat-transfer phenomenon that dominates in the noncritical zone. For a discussion of the amalgamation process, please see the complete paper.
Model Description
Synthetic Reservoir Model. A synthetic reservoir representing a generic formation of Athabasca oil sands (western Canada) is used in this work. The reservoir consists of a pay zone rich in oil. The pay zone is 45.5 m in length (x-direction) and 50 m in thickness (z-direction).
Blended-Source Ocean-Bottom Seismic Acquisition
Authors: Carpenter Chris 
Published: February 2016

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper OTC 25226, “Blended-Source Ocean-Bottom Seismic Acquisition,” by C.D.T. Walker, FairfieldNodal; D.J. Monk, Apache Corporation; and D.B. Hays, FairfieldNodal, prepared for the 2014 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 5–8 May. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
The offshore application of blended, or simultaneous-source, seismic acquisition has been comparatively limited. For ocean-bottom seismic (OBS) applications, survey durations can be almost halved with a modest increase in costs by firing more than one source into the receiver spread simultaneously. In this paper, the authors describe the acquisition of what is believed to be the world’s largest ocean-bottom survey—more than 2200 km2—by use of two blended sources and a very large receiver spread.
Introduction
Blended, or simultaneous, sources have been introduced recently in land seismic operations, with dramatic improvements in both crew productivity and data quality. Their application offshore, however, has been relatively limited. For towed-streamer surveys, the firing of more than one source at a time increases the fold of coverage and hence data quality but does not reduce acquisition time; for OBS, however, the use of two or more blended sources can have a dramatic impact on survey duration and hence cost. The challenge has been how to ensure not only that data quality is not lost when multiple sources are fired at once but also that technical downtime of the equipment on the seafloor is minimized.
Traditionally, the performance of OBS systems has been hampered by the inherent technical downtime experienced by all contractors operating ocean-bottom systems; the terminations, connectors, power distribution, and data-telemetry components within a traditional ocean-bottom- cable (OBC) system are inherently prone to failure because of the intrinsic nature of the cable-deployment-and- recovery cycle, during which the cables are stressed and destressed every time they are laid onto or recovered from the seabed. It is akin to recovering the full streamer spread at every line change for towed-streamer operations.
The desire to improve operational performance was the driving force behind the development of autonomous nodal systems, and the extreme reliability of these systems has allowed ever larger seafloor spreads to be operated, with multiple benefits.
Intensive care unit surveillance of influenza infection in France: the 2009/10 pandemic and the three subsequent seasons
Authors: Bonmarin Isabelle , Belchior Emmanuel , Bergounioux Jean , Brun-Buisson Christian , Mégarbane Bruno , Chappert Jean Loup , Hubert Bruno , Le Strat Yann , Lévy-Bruhl Daniel 
Published: February 2016

During the 2009/10 pandemic, a national surveillance system for severe influenza cases was set up in France. We present results from the system's first four years. All severe influenza cases admitted to intensive care units (ICU) were reported to the Institut de Veille Sanitaire using a standardised form: data on demographics, immunisation and virological status, risk factors, severity (e.g. acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) onset, mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal life support) and outcome. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with ARDS and death. The number of confirmed influenza cases varied from 1,210 in 2009/10 to 321 in 2011/12. Most ICU patients were infected with A(H1N1)pdm09, except during the 2011/12 winter season when A(H3N2)-related infections predominated. Patients' characteristics varied according to the predominant strain. Based on multivariate analysis, risk factors associated with death were age ≥ 65 years, patients with any of the usual recommended indications for vaccination and clinical severity. ARDS occurred more frequently in patients who were middle-aged (36–55 years), pregnant, obese, or infected with A(H1N1)pdm09. Female sex and influenza vaccination were protective. These data confirm the persistent virulence of A(H1N1)pdm09 after the pandemic and the heterogeneity of influenza seasons, and reinforce the need for surveillance of severe influenza cases.