bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Building an Enhanced Oil Recovery Culture to Maximise Asset Values
Authors: Rotondi M.. , Lamberti A.. , Masserano F.. , Mogensen K.. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractGlobal energy demand is forecasted to rise by over one-third from now until 2035. As the relatively easy oil reserves deplete, focus will shift to development of extremely complex reservoirs in challenging environments including those in ultra-deepwater and the Arctic. Another source of supply to fill the void will be from Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques applied to existing fields. The current global ultimate average recovery factor for oilfields is roughly 35%. This means that about two-thirds of the already discovered oil is left within the reservoir. Pushing the recovery factors from 35% up to 45% would bring an additional one trillion barrels of oil to an energy-hungry world. Even though the EOR prize is high, many oil companies are still struggling to build an EOR culture. The lack of a systematic approach, costs and time-to-market of EOR projects and the general belief that EOR should only be applied to mature fields are preventing a wider spread of EOR deployment. In order to promote a new wave of EOR applications, it was decided at Top Management level to restructure the EOR Unit by creating a multidisciplinary team of laboratory, subsurface, production, project and procurement personnel. New best practices were also circulated in order to force reservoir engineers to evaluate the benefits of EOR techniques for every new green and brown field reservoir study. This was a breakthrough that facilitated the changing mindset of company professionals as EOR may be applied from the beginning of a field's life and not only in maturity stages. The EOR workflow from laboratory to field implementation was duly revised in order to try to shorten the time-to-market of EOR projects by means of: a faster screening phase due to a new in-house tool; the deployment of a quicker and high resolution simulator for full field cases and ad-hoc simulators for more detailed sector models; the use of single well chemical tracer tests to promptly prove the effectiveness of EOR agents; and finally, standard practices for pilot implementation and monitoring. A strong focus on containing costs was proposed to explore cheaper and more promising EOR techniques such as Low Salinity. The whole company reservoir portfolio was screened at a high level to identify the most prominent EOR techniques to focus on and the unconstrained additional EOR RF calculated. Finally, some interesting cases on water-alternate-gas projects for mature fields, chemical EOR and water conformance by means of thermally activated particles will be presented. The adoption of the new workflow showed a great time reduction from screening to pilot phase and that in some cases EOR techniques are still viable even in a low oil price scenario.
Progress of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery in China
Authors: Guo Hu , Li Yiqiang , Yiran Zhao , Wang Fuyong , Wang Yansheng , Yu Zhaoyan , Haicheng She , Yuanyuan Gu , Chuyi Jin , Xian Gao 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Compared with other EOR technique like gas flooding, chemical flooding, and thermal production in heavy oil, the prominent advantages MEOR has environment-friendliness and lowest cost. MEOR has various applications not only in sandstone but also carbonate reservoirs, light oil reservoirs as well as heavy oil reservoirs.
This paper mainly reviewed progress in laboratory studies and MEOR field tests including six big successful field tests in China. Present focus on MEOR has been changed from qualitative analysis to quantitative characterization, and high-tech like 16S rDNA and advanced method has being tried to investigate its mechanism on molecular level. The mechanism of microbial effects on making oil emulsification and wettability alternation was the main interest of recent study. Application of high resolution mass spectrum (HRMS) on MEOR mechanism has revealed the change of polar compound structures before and after oil degradation by the microbial on molecular level.
MEOR could be divided into indigenous microorganism and exogenous microorganism flooding. The key of exogenous microorganism flooding, was to develop effective production strains, and difficulty lies in the compatibility of microorganism, performance degradation and high cost. Indigenous microorganism flooding, has good adaptation but no follow up process on production strains development, thus it represents the main direction of MEOR. China has some of the most complex and diversified reservoirs and was notable for the scale of MEOR field tests since there has been six big MEOR field tests since 1998 after many precious small-cale tests. All field tests have shown positive results in incremental oil and water cut reduction. The combination of indigenous microorganism and exogenous microorganism flooding was adopted because of the cost and difficulty of exogenous microorganism flooding.
MEOR screening criteria for reservoirs has been improved. The parameters include temperature, salinity, oil viscosity, permeability, porosity, wax content, water cut, and microorganism concentration in which production fluid, temperature, and salinity were the most important three parameters. MEOR was suitable in reservoirs of which temperature lower than 80°C, salinity less than 100,000 ppm, and permeability above 50 mD. MEOR experience and study in reservoirs of 120°C, salinity more than 350,000ppm and permeability of 10 mD has expanded the reservoirs range suitable to carry out MEOR.
Logistic Considerations for Safe Execution of Offshore Chemical EOR Projects
Authors: Baginski Victor , Larsen Dan , Waldman Tom , Manrique Eduardo , Ravikiran Ravi 
Published: August 2015

AbstractChemical EOR technologies used offshore can either be short term reservoir conformance treatments such as Marcit Gels for near-wellbore and BrightWater® for in-depth permeability modifications or long term floods such as mobility control improvements utilizing polymers (latex emulsion or powder). Each offshore EOR technology has significant logistical challenges for successful implementation that ultimately impacts the oil recovery performance. This paper will present a project management plan and logistics using existing offshore facilities, which needs to be considered well in advance of project execution for a successful field implementation for both conformance and mobility control programs.Synthetic polyacrylamides for offshore mobility control applications are limited in practice but interest in offshore applications is increasing rapidly. Polyacrylamides are commercially available in two forms, latex emulsion (liquid) and powder. Each product form has unique benefits and challenges for effective field execution that will be discussed here. The project execution management plan encompasses global supply chain activities (logistics, imports, regulatory) as well as design, construction, and installation of custom facilities. In addition, field execution requires detailed project management including safety and HazID visits, pre-job site visits, pumping services, and surveillance programs. This management plan can be furhter complicated by the type of completion (i.e., dry or wet tree), chemical tie-in location to water injection, neat or slipstream chemical injection, deck space for injection equipment and chemical base tanks, hydration or inversion equipment, and size of transport vessel for chemical transfer offshore.Offshore EOR projects are not generally planned during initial field development. Rather, EOR projects are considered add-on technologies that have to fit existing facilities and operations. This add-on approach increases the complexity and risks of EOR projects and Offshore Operations. Lessons learned and some tools that we have utilized to plan and implement offshore chemical EOR projects are discussed.
Dalia/Camelia Polymer Injection in Deep Offshore Field Angola Learnings and In Situ Polymer Sampling Results
Authors: Morel D. C. , Zaugg E.. , Jouenne S.. , Danquigny J. A. , Cordelier P. R. 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The Polymer Injection Project on Dalia field, one of the main fields of Block 17 in deep offshore Angola, is a world first for both surface and subsurface aspects. Thorough geosciences and architecture integrated studies led to decide to phase the project, with a polymer injectivity test on one single well, followed by a continuous injection of polymer on one of the four subsea lines delivering water to the field.
The single well injectivity test on DAL-710 was completed first quarter of 2009, just two years after first oil. Very successful results led to launch a polymer injection pilot on the full injection line of the Camelia reservoir.
The main objectives of the single line Camelia pilot were to confirm long term operability and injectivity of polymer in the specific conditions of this deep-offshore development, and measure the in situ viscosity (sampler well) of the injected polymer solution away from the injector, as key inputs to the evaluation of an extended project.
From February 2010 to August 2012, a 900 ppm polymer solution was injected through the three wells of the line. In summer 2012, a sampler well was drilled 80 m far from one of the injector, located behind the polymer front thanks to 4D seismic monitoring. MDT and bottom hole samples were done and analyzed.
The paper describes the main results of the pilot phase on injectivity, operability and polymer sampling. The pilot answered its objectives, but still a lower viscosity than expected was measured in the sampler well. Key deliverables were: How to operate the whole process chain of viscosified water at topsides levelBetter knowledge of polymer degradation from topside to deep into the reservoirData required to properly size an extended polymer project.
Workflow Application for Advanced Well Completions to Meet IOR/EOR Challenges in Malaysia
Authors: Masoudi Rahim , Chan Keng Seng , Karkooti Hooman , Soni Sumit , Jalan Shlok , Shahreyar Noman , Kalyani Tejas , Finley Douglas 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Advanced well completions in Malaysia have been installed since 2003. Recently, advanced well completions have been gaining increased attention for possible deployment in improved oil recovery/enhanced oil recovery (IOR/EOR) projects. This attention has resulted from recognition of values, such as reduced capital cost, improved productivity, operational flexibility, well/reservoir management/monitoring, and increased ultimate recovery.
Controlled and selective injection and production through advanced well completions improve the conformance control and the sweep efficiency in IOR/EOR projects. The technology implies the application of an inflow control device (ICD) or intelligent completion or a combination of both. Application of intelligent and ICD completions have been identified and evaluated by multiple operators for multiple fields under IOR/EOR in Malaysia.
This paper addresses field-wide challenges and proposes advanced completion technology solutions for productivity enhancement and improvement in ultimate recovery from these fields. The focus of completion technologies’ evaluation was to determine the need for zonal flow control requirements for multizone and multilateral applications for producer and injector wells. Further evaluation was performed to determine fit-for-purpose flow control equipment for individual well applications. Detailed well and reservoir modeling was performed to demonstrate added value with application of advanced well technologies (Kokal and Al-Kaabi 2010). Moreover, a quantitative value screening was performed to assess productivity/injectivity gain and estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) from the fields.
A selection and design methodology is presented for advanced well completion with flow performance modeling and anticipated results with proposed completion technologies. Two advanced completion designs were proposed for these offshore wells that intercepted stacked or compartmentalized reservoirs, thin-oil rims, and water zones being used for IOR. Additional consideration was given during completion design for water injectors to accommodate switching to water-alternating-gas (WAG) flooding techniques during later well life if required. The need for appropriate sand control methods were identified and presented to meet sand control challenges in these fields.
Treatment Technology of Steam Breakthrough for Offshore Heavy Oil Reservoirs Developed by Huff and Puff with Multi-Component Thermal Fluid
Authors: Liu Yigang , Zou Jian , Meng Xianghai , Han Xiaodong , Sun Yongtao , Zhang Wei , Zhou Fayuan , Fang Jichao 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The multi-component thermal fluid huff and puff pilot for offshore heavy oil has been conducted in Bohai Oilfield since 2008. Currently, part of the wells has entered the second cycle of the huff and puff. With the increase of the stimulation cycles, the steam breakthrough becomes serious due to the steam fingering and overlapping.
In order to further improve the oilfield development performance, technology that could impede the steam breakthrough is developed. Experiments are designed and carried out for selection of suitable foam systems and the optimization of injection parameters in laboratory. And the temperature-sensitive gel is also developed for the steam breakthrough treatment which presents as liquid at normal conditions, begins to solidify at about 70°C and could become liquid again when the temperature decreases below 70°C. Then technology based on these two plugging agent are applied in the actual wells.
The experimental results indicate that the selected foam system could meet the requirement of high temperature resistance and plugging strength. The injection mode of the foam system are all studied and optimized. Based on the experimental results and reservoir simulation, a project for steam breakthrough treatment in Bohai Oilfield has been designed by using both the selected foam system and the temperature-sensitive gel. The simulation prediction shows that this technology could achieve high oil increment for single cycle which indicates that this technology is efficient for impeding the steam breakthrough and improving the oil production rate. The actual field implementation has been conducted.
This is the first time that this technology is applied for steam breakthrough treatment in Bohai Oilfield. This technology could provide useful guidance for treatment of steam breakthrough in offshore heavy oil reservoirs.
CDG in a Heterogeneous Fluvial Reservoir in Argentina: Pilot and Field Expansion Evaluation
Authors: Diaz D.. , Saez N.. , Cabrera M.. , Manrique E.. , Romero J.. , Kazempour M.. , Aye N.. 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The Loma Alta Sur (LAS) field is a multi-layer fluvial sandstone reservoir in the Neuquén Basin, Argentina. Reservoir heterogeneities and adverse mobility ratio (30 cp oil) led to an early water breakthrough short after water injection started. After the evaluation of different IOR/EOR methods, the evaluation of Colloidal Dispersion Gel (CDG) was considered as a strategy to improve oil recovery in the field.
CDG pilot started in July 2005 in well pattern LAS-58. Pilot considered the injection of two slugs (≈ 190,000 bbls each) separated by one year of water injection at the same injection rate (≈ 1,000 bbl/d). Injected CDG used 300 ppm of an HPAM and Chromium as a crosslinker with a polymer:crosslinker ratio of 40:1. CDG pilot was concluded in October 2007. Pilot monitoring was supported by a comprehensive injection/production data analysis, tracer and injection profiles before and after CDG injection.
Projected ultimate incremental oil recoveries estimated in 2008 were approximately 62,000 m3 (2.9 % of the OOIP). Incremental recoveries were reasonably validated as October 2014. Oil production response in some of the wells of pattern LAS-58 can be correlated with tracer injection before and after the first CDG slug. These changes were also corroborated by time-lapse injection profiles run over the period of the pilot tests. Most recent injection profiles suggest that possible permeability reduction generated by CDG was removed after several years of water injection. Based on the pilot reassessment, CDG injection is under evaluation in the same and different patterns of LAS field. Ongoing CDG evaluation is supported by detailed laboratory and field scale numerical simulation studies.
This study provides an updated evaluation of LAS CDG pilot validating projected ultimate recoveries, recent laboratory evidences of size distributions of CDG injected, rheologic measurements, and preliminary results of pilot history matching. Lessons learned during pilot evaluation and monitoring strategies will be also presented.
Markers of β-Cell Failure Predict Poor Glycemic Response to GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Jones Angus G. , McDonald Timothy J. , Shields Beverley M. , Hill Anita V. , Hyde Christopher J. , Knight Bridget A. , Hattersley Andrew T. 
Published: August 2015

OBJECTIVE
To assess whether clinical characteristics and simple biomarkers of β-cell failure are associated with individual variation in glycemic response to GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We prospectively studied 620 participants with type 2 diabetes and HbA1c ≥58 mmol/mol (7.5%) commencing GLP-1RA therapy as part of their usual diabetes care and assessed response to therapy over 6 months. We assessed the association between baseline clinical measurements associated with β-cell failure and glycemic response (primary outcome HbA1c change 0–6 months) with change in weight (0–6 months) as a secondary outcome using linear regression and ANOVA with adjustment for baseline HbA1c and cotreatment change.

RESULTS
Reduced glycemic response to GLP-1RAs was associated with longer duration of diabetes, insulin cotreatment, lower fasting C-peptide, lower postmeal urine C-peptide–to–creatinine ratio, and positive GAD or IA2 islet autoantibodies (P ≤ 0.01 for all). Participants with positive autoantibodies or severe insulin deficiency (fasting C-peptide ≤0.25 nmol/L) had markedly reduced glycemic response to GLP-1RA therapy (autoantibodies, mean HbA1c change −5.2 vs. −15.2 mmol/mol [−0.5 vs. −1.4%], P = 0.005; C-peptide &lt;0.25 nmol/L, mean change −2.1 vs. −15.3 mmol/mol [−0.2 vs. −1.4%], P = 0.002). These markers were predominantly present in insulin-treated participants and were not associated with weight change.

CONCLUSIONS
Clinical markers of low β-cell function are associated with reduced glycemic response to GLP-1RA therapy. C-peptide and islet autoantibodies represent potential biomarkers for the stratification of GLP-1RA therapy in insulin-treated diabetes.
Image Denoising via Residual Kurtosis Minimization
Authors: Hearn Tristan A. , Reichel Lothar 
Published: August 2015

AbstractA new algorithm for the removal of additive uncorrelated Gaussian noise from a digital image is presented. The algorithm is based on a data driven methodology for the adaptive thresholding of wavelet coefficients. This methodology is derived from higher order statistics of the residual image, and requires no a priori estimate of the level of noise contamination of an image.
Immunoadsorption and Hemodialysis as a Tandem Procedure: A Single-Center Experience of More than 60 Procedures
Authors: Maggioni Sébastien , Allal Asma , Kamar Nassim , Hermelin Martine , Faubel Eric , Rostaing Lionel 
Published: August 2015

Purpose We have designed a desensitization program that gives good results and is cost effective for kidney-transplant patients who have a potential living donor, who are ABO incompatible (ABOi), and who may or may not have donor-specific alloantibodies (DSAs). Methods Desensitization at pretransplant is based on immunosuppressants (such as rituximab, tacrolimus, and mycophenolic acid) and apheresis to retrieve potentially detrimental isoagglutinins and DSAs from blood. In 2011, we implemented immunoadsorption (IA) instead of plasmapheresis in our center as part of the desensitization protocol. Because IA is very tedious and time-consuming, we decided to perform IA and hemodialysis (HD) in tandem instead of performing these methods sequentially. Herein, we report on more than 100 of these tandem procedures and compare the results to those obtained when IA was performed before a HD session. Results The tandem process resulted in nursing time being cut by half: from almost 10h30 min/patient to 6 h/patient. When IA was performed alone, body-weight gain was 1 kg (range 0 to 1.75) and the median volume of plasma treated per session was 6500 mL (range 4500 to 10 600). Conversely, during a tandem IA + HD session, the net median weight gain was −1.5 kg (range −4.1 to 0) and the median volume of plasma treated per session was 5000 mL (range 4000 to 8600). In addition, the tandem procedure was as well tolerated as that for IA followed by HD. Conclusions Tandem IA plus HD is a safe and cost-effective procedure.
Ethics of embryonic stem cell research according to Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic, and Islamic religions: perspective from Malaysia
Authors: Sivaraman Mathana Amaris Fiona , Noor Siti Nurani Mohd 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Background: The use of embryos in embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) has elicited ethical controversies as it entails the destruction of 5-day old human embryos to harvest stem cells.
Objective: To explore the ethical positions of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Catholicism concerning the use of (1) left-over embryos from in vitro fertilization (IVF) also known as ‘surplus’ embryos and (2) ‘research embryos’ which are created by scientists to conduct research using embryonic stem cells.
Methods: The opinions of religious leaders of Buddhist, Hindu, and Catholic faiths in Malaysia pertaining to ESCR were examined via in-depth, semi-structured interviews while Islamic responses are collected from local writings related to the derivation of fatwa on this issue. Participants’ responses on the ethics of human stem cell research are presented as a reflection of various scriptural texts of these four religions. These are presented and supported with the help of international bioethics literature and focus on the use of ‘surplus’ embryos and ‘research’ embryos.
Results: Islamic ethics deviate from Hindu and Buddhist teachings regarding saving of research embryos that have been created specifically for research and are considered as human lives only after 120 days fertilization. Hindu and Buddhists also underscore the sanctity of human life, but give priority to the alleviation of suffering in living adult humans. They generally encourage ESCR. Research is a knowledge-seeking endeavor considered noble by Islam. This is also a concept within Hindu and Buddhist philosophy; in particular, when potentially beneficial research goals are the basis. Catholicism also emphasizes sanctity of human life, but stresses also the inviolability of embryos from the moment of conception.
Conclusion: Embryonic stem cell research is permissible and encouraged according to Hindu and Buddhist perspectives in view of the potential benefits of such research to society, with some reservations. This is similar to Islamic views on the ethics of ESCR. However, Catholicism differs from all the other three religions; it appears to discourage research in this field because of the likely violation of a sacred principle in Catholic teachings.