bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Value of Periodic Fitness for Work Evaluations in Disease Prevention, Disease Burden Reduction and Promotion of Public Health Initiatives among the Local Workforce of an Offshore Drilling Company an a Developing Country: A Case Study
Authors: Awotula Patrick Oluwole , Pelat Francois 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Fitness for work evaluations though, the subject of much debate in the medical community find particular relevance in the oil and gas industry. The peculiar and demanding nature of this industry imposes restrictions on medical conditions that may pose a threat to the safety of individuals and their colleagues at work; consequently the primary purpose of medical evaluations in this context is to determine fitness to perform the tasks at work in a safe and effective manner without risks to the health and safety of the employee and others.
There is a significant overlap in fitness for work assessments and health screening. Some of the processes involved in general health screening are inherent in the medical assessment for fitness to work. This potential can be profitably utilized in the delivery of simple but effective health initiatives at little or no extra cost; this can enhance long term prevention of ill-health and maintenance of fitness to work. There is significant added value to the employer in terms of possible reduction in sickness absence and increased worker efficiency.
The process of the examinations, the ancillary investigations, assessment of risk factors, and the actual consultations provide a unique opportunity to review the health impact of lifestyle choices and promote healthy behaviors. In developing, infectious diseases are a significant cause of increased morbidity and mortality. Many of these conditions are both preventable and treatable; awareness to this can be significantly enhanced by capitalizing on the opportunity provided by the fitness evaluations to educate employees and disseminate awareness materials.
This paper intends to demonstrate how fitness for work evaluations can be optimized to meet the challenges of implementing work place health initiatives, health education and promotion. It will also cover the delivery of low-cost but effective primary public health interventions that have the potential to impact employees, their families and by extension the larger community.
Do You See What I See? Viewing Safety from the Lens of a Contractor
Authors: Brown Michelle , Krauss Autumn D. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
In the oil and gas industry, contractors serve critical roles during construction, production, and maintenance. With how imperative contractors are for effective operations, it might be assumed that they are enabled to flawlessly accepted and integrate into not only the company’s practices, but also its culture. Unfortunately, research has shown that this is often not the case, with an "us vs. them" mentality existing even for long-standing contractors.
One area where differing views may be particularly prevalent is workplace safety. While some historical stereotypes, such as bringing in contractors to do the particularly dangerous work or not providing them with sufficient personal protective equipment, may now be outdated, it is possible that contractors and permanent employees continue to have different perceptions about safety onsite. These differences could hinder the ultimate goal of a strong cohesive safety culture, so they are important to measure and understand. With this objective, perceptions of organizational and team safety climate dimensions along with safety performance metrics were gathered from contractors and permanent employees working across industries, including the oil and gas sector.
Research findings included the following: After controlling for company, age, tenure in industry, and tenure with current employer, contractors were 33% more likely to be involved in a safety incident than permanent employees.Contractors possessed significantly more favorable perceptions of organizational safety climate, with the largest differences being observed for perceptions of on-boarding and safety training quality.Contractors possessed significantly less favorable perceptions of work-safety tension and supervisor production pressure.
Overall, the findings from the study show the complexity of contractor safety; it is not overall worse or better than permanent employees. The paper and associated presentation will offer further explanation and interpretation of the sample results above as well as additional results from the study.
This study highlights the intricate nuances of the psychological aspect of contractor safety management. With the goal being a strong positive safety culture onsite, the alignment between contractors and permanent employees is critical. Through this type of research, the oil and gas industry can identify the largest areas of misalignment, those that significantly predict safety performance, and target these for intervention and improvement.
Hydraulic Fracturing: Tools for Successful Engagement With Fence-Line Communities
Authors: Kinslow Carla J. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Being frightened of the unknown is a natural and essential human response. Most people in the US have never seen a hydraulic fracturing facility and know relatively little about their operations, and yet many have already developed opinions about their safety and environmental impact based on reports in the media. Energy companies must recognize and prepare for this reality when approaching communities where the development of hydraulic fracturing facilities is now being proposed.
Dr. Kinslow presents several examples of community engagement strategies as they relate to the energy industry, specifically hydraulic fracturing, in Texas and other states. Through these examples, she illustrates how applying the three tools of commitment, transparency and dedicating the right people for this type of engagement are critical to addressing community concerns and to the economic success of hydraulic fracturing.
Commitment to the community involves a proactive response to questions and concerns of the community. Interestingly, many concerns from fracking communities do not coincide with those concerns illustrated in the media. Proactively recognizing and addressing these issues learned from past experiences places the industry in a solid position to build a trusting relationship. Transparency is essential in this relationship. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has developed an outstanding and transparent system of engagement, datasharing and strong community outreach. This Agency-wide attitude has gained the TCEQ standing as a science based, strategic, and trust worthy group to turn to when human health impacts are an issue in state and federal regulatory decision making. Having the right people to bring these tools forward is essential for successful engagement. This team must involve a set of communicators that are ready to apply their scientific, business, and regulatory knowledge in order to help people in the communities understand the safety and environmental issues. Communities know when someone is not genuine. Having the right people at the front lines to build and maintain that genuine relationship through knowledge sharing will gain respect and trust on all sides.
The Use of a Weight-of-Evidence Approach in Assessing the Ecological Effects of Produced Water Discharge Offshore Nigeria
Authors: Richardson N. A. , Tilstone A. M. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
A weight-of-evidence (WOE) approach was used to evaluate whether produced water (PW) discharges in the Gulf of Guinea, offshore Nigeria were having an undesirable effect on the marine ecosystem. The Nigeria study comprised an evaluation of PW constituent fate and effects in biotic (tissue) and abiotic media (receiving water and sediment), and laboratory bioassays of PW effluent. Lines of evidence (LOE) included: 1) laboratory toxicity testing, 2) assessment of chemical constituent spatial and temporal trends, 3) background comparisons and 4) toxicological benchmark comparisons. The LOE were evaluated based on data quality, consistency, degree of severity, and relevancy, and then integrated to arrive at an overall conclusion. The WOE approach concluded that potential incremental ecological risks associated with the discharge of PW constituents were inconsequential and no unacceptable risks were predicted to occur beyond the prescribed mixing zone boundaries. The study demonstrated the value of the WOE approach in evaluating potential environmental effects such as those associated with oil and gas development and operations.
Health Impact Assessment For Global Oil & Gas New Major Capital Projects: Developed Versus Undeveloped Regions
Authors: Welsh Rick 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
An environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) is typically a regulatory, and often internal company, requirement for global oil and gas (O&G) new major capital project (MCP). Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is generally less understood, yet is also becoming a common requirement for global O&G MCPs. A common acronym now is environmental, social and health impact assessment (ESHIA). HIA generally refers to potential health impacts to nearby local communities (e.g., refer to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards). Worker ("inside the fence") health and safety if typically not a part of the ESHIA process, and is addressed under separate processes. That said, there are great differences between HIAs in developed versus undeveloped regions of the world. In developed regions of the world, ESHIAs for unconventional O&G are typically focused on characterization of preexisting baseline conditions and continued monitoring of those conditions during and after O&G operations. For example, many regions now have groundwater baseline and monitoring requirements for unconventional and conventional O&G developments. In contrast, global O&G developments often occur in remote, undeveloped regions. Here, the focus for the social and health impact assessment is typically on impacts to the nearby communities, potentially sensitive populations, and particularly aboriginal groups. An example would be the influx of thousands of workers during construction phase and the potential introduction of communicable diseases into the local communities. Hypothetical case studies will be presented to further explore these topics.
Organizational Ownership of an Interdependent HSE Culture Yields Quantifiable HSE Performance
Authors: Breitsprecher K. , Ndahbros S. , Hinton J. J. , Jacques P. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
A major oilfield service company began the journey to create a stronger safety culture in its organization. This journey was rooted in the belief that if a company has a mature, interdependent HSE culture, its employees are more likely to recognize and act upon hazardous work conditions than at a company without this culture. It was also firmly believed that HSE leadership skills and operational HSE ownership are important tools in achieving this HSE culture shift. Therefore, to facilitate the cultural shift, an HSE leadership program was developed and instituted.
This paper describes the case study of the Africa region of this oilfield service company following a two-year time period of implementing the HSE Leadership Program. It was expected that the implementation of the HSE Leadership program would lead to HSE culture improvements and furthermore result in HSE performance improvements. Results of the program implementation were highly successful. In addition to a genuine concern for the employee workforce from senior and middle managers, the performance improvements have been remarkable in both leading and lagging indicators.
Factors Controlling the Simultaneous Propagation of Multiple Competing Fractures in a Horizontal Well
Authors: Shin Do H. , Sharma Mukul M. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The use of multiple clusters per stage can reduce the number of stages needed to place a given number of fractures in a horizontal wellbore. However, there is concern that some of the perforation clusters may not propagate fractures at all as the fractures compete for frac fluid and fracture width. In this paper, the influence of various hydraulic fracturing design parameters and in-situ conditions on the resulting fracture dimensions and propagation patterns is studied. A 3D geomechanical model was built using ABAQUS to simulate the propagation of multiple competing fractures in a horizontal well. The reservoir was modeled as a porous elastic medium using pore pressure stress elements, and a plane of pore pressure cohesive elements was inserted at each perforation cluster to model fracture propagation. Also, flow distribution among perforation clusters was simulated using a parallel resistors model.
Using this model, a number of simulations were run with a combination of perforation cluster spacing, number of perforation clusters, fracture height, frac fluid viscosity, pumping rate, Young's modulus of the target formation, and formation heterogeneity. The results demonstrated that increasing perforation cluster spacing or decreasing the number of perforation clusters reduced stress interference between the fractures, and more fractures propagated. A high frac fluid viscosity increased fracture widths and led to more stress interference. Higher pumping rates led to longer and wider fractures, and to an increase in the number of propagated fractures. Thicker target formations and taller fractures required wider perforation cluster spacing. Additionally, a higher Young's modulus of the target formation led to more fracture interference, suggesting wider cluster spacing. Lastly, the introduction of any degree of heterogeneity significantly altered the fracture propagation patterns noted above.
Based on the results of these simulations, the following recommendations are made. First, there exists an optimum number of perforation clusters per fracture stage. This optimum depends primarily on the fracture design, the stage spacing and the mechanical properties of the formation. Second, slick water fracs have a better chance (compared to more viscous fluids) of propagating uniform multiple fractures when closely spaced multiple perforation clusters are used. Third, higher pumping rate should be adopted to ensure that a fracture propagates from all perforation clusters. Fourth, even small scale heterogeneities should be considered, as they can significantly alter the fracture propagation pattern. Lastly, when the target formation is relatively thick or has a high Young's modulus, a wider fracture spacing, a higher pumping rate, and a lower viscosity frac fluid should be used.
Using Distributed Optical Sensing to Constrain Fracture Models and Confirm Reservoir Coverage in the Permian Basin
Authors: Holley E. H. , Jones T. A. , Dodson J. , Salazar J. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Low-permeability basins present a tremendous challenge to effective completion and reservoir drainage, especially in known heterogeneous environments that present additional complexity. Several robust diagnostic techniques exist in the market currently that are identified as guides to improve completion and stimulation efficiency in basins that require hydraulic fracturing to make low-permeability environments viable. Some of these techniques include fracture modeling, microseismic mapping, diagnostic fracture injection test (DFIT) analysis, radioactive and chemical tracers, and pressure matching. During the past decade, fiber-optic sensing has been identified as an additional tool that can provide significant benefit to complement the more traditional approaches listed previously. In current commercial applications, this includes distributed temperature sensing (DTS), distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), distributed strain sensing (DSS), and optical point pressure and temperature solutions that can define wellbore characteristics through the entire well life cycle.
This case study focuses on optical data acquired from a vertical well drilled in Ector County, Texas in the Permian Basin. The well was stimulated using a limited entry approach as a cased and cemented completion. The project attempted to resolve questions pertaining to the distribution of stimulation fluid to each interval, total hydraulic height growth association to each stimulation treatment, and total production contribution from each interval. This paper focuses on using the fiber-optic results in conjunction with other tools to define the stimulation treatment and completion effectiveness.
A fiber-optic cable was deployed permanently behind the casing to acquire both DTS and DAS data during stimulation treatment, flowback, and production to review the entire well life cycle. Complementing the distributed optical measurements, fracture modeling was performed using data acquired by fiber optics to constrain the model, as well as openhole logging results to compare to the distributed optical results. A review of the post-job fracture model was compared to the DTS fracture height estimates. If a large discrepancy was observed between these two values, the post-fracture model was revisited to assess if other interpretations of the fracture model were reasonable. Distribution of fluid along the near wellbore was also assessed using DTS results to define hydraulic fracture height growth.
Actual and Optimal Hydraulic Fracture Design in a Tight Gas Reservoir
Authors: Zhang T.. , Pang W.. , Du J.. , He Y.. , He Q.. , Liu H.. , Feng X.. , Song B.. , Ehlig-Economides C. A. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Designing hydraulic fracture stimulation to optimize well productivity requires knowledge of the initial reservoir pressure and permeability, the closure stress magnitudes in the reservoir and in bounding formations, a carrier fluid with a suitable leakoff coefficient, and rock properties such as the Young's modulus and the Poisson ratio that can be determined from a core sample. When key parameters are left unknown, the hydraulic fracture stimulation is likely to be severely suboptimal.
This study integrates pressure buildup and production transient analyses with microseismic surveys and the recorded pumping schedule to estimate the above-mentioned parameters in previously fractured wells on production for up to 7 years from a tight gas reservoir.
The first well drilled and completed in the block included a pressure buildup test that enabled accurate estimation of the initial reservoir pressure and permeability. A post-fracture buildup test was also conducted, and annual pressure buildup tests in 6 subsequent years showed continuous changes in the fracture morphology with fracture conductivity decreasing by a factor of 3 and fracture length increasing by about 50%. Many of the subsequent wells were drilled in 2 pattern well clusters, each designed to account for fracture propagation behavior indicated from a microseismic survey. A comparison with an optimal hydraulic fracture design intended to maximize well productivity indicates that most of the well stimulations were suboptimal with rate and cumulative production about ½ that of an optimized design based on the same proppant mass.
The observed changes in fracture conductivity and length over time were unanticipated. Because such data are rarely recorded the variations in fracture morphology may be fairly typical and should be of considerable interest to pressure transient analysts. The production data analysis shows the difficulties in determining formation and fracture parameters when the transient response lacks radial flow. The fracture treatment analysis shows a comparison between the actual fracture treatment and one designed to maximize well productivity and clearly illustrates the potential for well improvement using modern hydraulic fracture design principles.
Effect of Dissolved Solids on Reuse of Produced Water and Proppant Handling in Hydraulic Fracturing jobs in Tight Sand Gas Reservoirs
Authors: Haghshenas Ashkan , Nasr-El-Din Hisham A. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing is the most common stimulation treatment in unconventional resources. One of the most important challenges in fracturing operations is the large volumes of water consumption and waste water disposal. Environmental and economical attributes of flowback fluids in the oil industry make water treatment an inevitable decision. Applications of produced water in hydraulic fracturing jobs result in low quality fracturing fluid. This is especially true for flowback fluids, which contain high polymer loading. Currently, no practical operating range for produced water content is available, and applied methods are individually developed for specific jobs.
This paper focuses on the analysis of the dissolved solid contents of produced water, which affects the application of flowback fluids and the capability of prepared fluids in proppant transport and handling. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted on a high-pH borate crosslinked guar-based polymer to determine the effects of salt species on the prepared polymer, ranges of acceptable salts contents, and ability to transport proppant. For this purpose, analyses of 36 flowback fluid samples from the West Texas region have been collected, and the maximum and minimum values of all of the contents have been determined to investigate the impact factor of each component. Dynamic rheology tests, traditional changing shear rates, the steady-shear viscosity, and small-amplitude oscillation rheology, were the methods used to evaluate prepared samples.
The prepared polymer shows high sensitivity to the change of some ions such as calcium and magnesium, and the maximum acceptable values were lower than 90% of reported ones in field analysis. Some others such as sodium and potassium were tolerable at higher concentrations, and more than 70% of samples do not need to be treated for these ion contents. On the other hand, there are other ions in different samples, which have ranges of concentrations that were very similar at low concentrations. Although no significant variation in fracturing fluid properties were detected when the different concentrations of them were applied in experiments, their presence can affect post-treatment jobs. The fluids prepared with the determined ranges of dissolved solids showed reasonable rheological stability and proppant handling characteristics.
MPD Automation and Competency: Meeting Training Challenges for New Technologies
Authors: Johnson Austin , Orbell Charles , Leuchtenberg Christian 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The general form of drilling rigs has remained relatively unchanged for decades. Yet equipment, systems, and methods of a modern rig would be unrecognizable to crews of 20 years ago. In structured tasks, manual controls have largely yielded to automated control systems that require minimal crew intervention. Automation has increased the feasibility of many projects through the use of managed pressure drilling techniques which were previously impractical, if not impossible. But this separation of crew from manual controls, especially with the introduction of new MPD methods, has changed the role of the operator and has invited questions regarding competency and how it is achieved.
Automation has benefitted the industry, but to properly adjust to these changes, it must be recognized that the role of the driller and crew has changed not only in degree but also in kind. This paper is meant to highlight the growing gap between conventional and future competency requirements by discussing new challenges which exist between the driller and the rig brought on by automation as well as difficulties related to the expanded use of new MPD methods. Similarities exist with pilot awareness in the aviation industry that will be discussed along with potential solutions. However there are a unique set of challenges will be addressed which face the drilling industry presenting greater difficulty. Ultimately, a portrait of a future competency program will be presented.