bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Knowledge Transfer-Lessons Learnt - A Case Study of Kuwait Oil Company
Authors: Al-Daihani Eisa Hadi , Nandi Arun Kumar , Raza Syed Mohammad 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Competent Manpower always considered as a big challenge in rapidly transforming business environment. Traditionally, most of the National Oil Companies are dependent on training providers for their technical staff development. However, most companies are judicious in identifying the competency gaps within their employees through either available Competency Management System or customized system. Once they identify the gaps, various training options like basic, advance courses, workshops etc. are being delivered through training providers. However, there are concerns related to the quality assurance and competency gap fillings (for selected learning options) keeping in view of the company's strategic business needs and vision.
In order to make the competency development process more effective with quality assurance on their gap fillings, Kuwait Oil Company in the past three to four years has come out with a new approach of engaging their internal resources for knowledge transfer. These internal resources are subject Discipline Experts (DEs) available within the company who knows the business needs of the company. Human resource development is a business-driven function and its effectiveness depends on thorough understanding of organization's strategic direction.
The present paper focusses on an approach of knowledge transfer and lessons learnt through identification and engagement of senior employees as DEs with proven track record of coaching/mentoring abilities. The DEs are being proved as most effective and powerful resource to develop not only the new hires but also the mid-career employees. DEs have established a comprehensive job family wise customized competency matrix based on critical business need of the company. The approach has also helped the company in fast track development of technical manpower and filling generation gaps between large number of new hires and aging available technical expertise. This has proved to be a cost effective approach with win-win situation for the employer and employees.
The Influence of Pressure on the Low Temperature Oxidation (LTO) of Heavy Oil During the High Pressure Air Injection(HPAI)Process in Tahe Oilfield
Authors: Li Yi-Bo , Cheng-Yuan Dong , Pu Wan-Fen , Jin Fa-Yang , Chen Ya-Fei , Li Dong , Zhao Jiang-yu , Zhao Jin-Zhou 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
With the decline of conventional oil production, developing and producing heavy oil resources efficiently are becoming more important. High pressure air injection (HPAI) is generally considered as an efficient method to drive the crude oil in light oil reservoir. But there is a debate about whether the released heat from oxidation reaction is able to activate the heavy oil effectively. Comparing to the in-situ combustion (ISC) technique, air injection without ignition will reduce the operation difficulty and eliminate the security risk. Thus studying the changing of the oil property in presence of injected air is the prerequisite to apply the HPAI technique in heavy oil reservoir. For this purpose, the constant temperature oxidation experiments have been carried to study the influence of pressure on heavy oil in the air injection process at reservoir condition of Tahe oilfield.
The results showed that the pressure has obvious influence on the crude oil property. By the increment of pressure, the oxygen in the air presented a decreasing trend while the amount of carbon dioxide did not exhibit an increasing trend. The oxidation addition reaction dominated the reaction type. For the oil phase, the viscosity of the oxidized oil presented a slight decrease under relative low pressure condition. When the pressure reached 50MPa, the crude oil has transferred into coke completely. During the oxidation process, the property and amount of the coke directly related to the released heat amount in the high temperature oxidation (HTO) stage. According to the thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results, the oxidized oil achieved lower HTO trigger temperature. So it is believed that the higher pressure has a positive influence on the coke deposit process. The formation of sufficient coke will bring the possibility for the application of HPAI technique in heavy oil reservoirs.
Gravity Drainage Effects on Compositional Displacements in Fractured Reservoirs
Authors: Alhamdan Mohammed R. , Cinar Yildiray 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
This paper investigates the effects of gravity drainage on non-equilibrium compositional displacements in naturally fractured reservoirs (NFRs) by presenting an experimental and numerical simulation study. A quasi 2-D glass bead pack is used to represent a NFR. The matrix and fracture are represented by glass beads and a grooved glass strip, respectively. Conductive fractures are studied. An analogue ternary fluid system (isooctane, brine and isopropanol) is used to control the interfacial tension (IFT) between the phases at ambient conditions. Immiscible, near-miscible and miscible floods are studied. Recovery of phases, compositional analysis and snapshots of saturation distributions are reported. Numerical simulations are used to interpret experimental observations.
In immiscible displacements, capillary forces are found to be the main controlling factors for the vertical cross-section reservoir model while a balance between capillary and gravity forces governs gravity drainage displacements. In miscible displacements, the balance between gravity and viscous forces controls sweep efficiency and recovery factor for both reservoir models. Near-mmiscible miscible floods give higher recovery than first-contact miscible floods under gavity drainage. This opposes to the observation made for the horizontal floods. This is in line with the finding reported in the literature using numerical simulations.
Force-balance scaling criteria (i.e. capillary, gravity and Bond numbers) diagnose flow regimes during displacements satisfactorily. Black oil simulations sufficiently predict experimental observations of all displacements examined provided that history-matched capillary pressure and relative permeability are used. Compositional analysis of the effluent indicates that the compositional path changes between tie-lines of initial and injection liquids based on saturation profile development.
Successful Partnership to Rejuvenate a Mature Field
Authors: Zubari Hisham , Kershaw Andrew , Qassab Mohammed Al , Muhanna Nadeem 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
The Bahrain field, first discovery in the southern part of the Arabian Gulf region, has been on continuous production since 1933. Production peaked at 78,000 bopd in 1970. Although many reservoirs have reached mature stages, considerable volumes of oil resources remain unexploited due to the difficult nature of the rock and fluids, complicated by heterogeneities, complex fluid distribution, unfavorable rock-fluid characteristics and compartmentalization, to name a few.
The keys to unlock the potential of the Bahrain field lie in 1) understanding surface and subsurface production problems of each of the reservoirs1, 2) attracting the right expertise in the field of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), and 3) attracting large investments to debottleneck and expand facilities, test EOR pilots, and implement new technologies2.
PCPs Coming of Age as a Viable Artificial Lift Solution for Low API Crude Fields
Authors: Agarwal Soham , Aggarwal Avi , Kumar Avinav 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Majority of the Indian Oil Fields have gone well past the age of self-flow, with only a very few select wells currently producing crude utilizing the natural reservoir energy. It is a well-documented fact that the age of easy, light oil has passed and that, most of the new discoveries being made are those of either heavy or ultra-heavy crude oil types.
SRPs, ESPs, Jet pumps, Gas lift are the various modes of artificial lift currently under employment. However, all these methods fail when heavy oils are encountered. In such cases, these methods of artificial lift fail to provide the requisite lift for the crude to reach the surface. However, the Progressive Cavity Pumps (PCPs) have found great utility under conditions of heavy crude production. The spiral motion of the Pump cavity from suction to discharge causes jerk-free motion of the crude.
PC Pumps have distinctive advantage over the other methods, when heavy crudes along with significant sand cuts are to be produced. PC Pumps are also used on a large scale for de-watering of CBM wells.
In this paper, an extensive review of the available literature was done to study PC Pumps and the various advancements achieved through the years. Artificial lift selection methods were investigated and a comprehensive procedure enlisted to select the right type of lift which best suits the field/well.
Fracturing Design Optimization through Dimensionless Productivity in the South Sulige Field
Authors: Wong A.K. , Judd T.C. , Palacio J.C. , Wong K. , Fan W. , Grimbert B. , Wang Q. , Hu L. 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
A field development project in the central part of the Ordos Basin began in 2011 with the intent to develop commercial production from the two main gas producing intervals. The gas layers within the Shihezi and Shanxi Formation within the South Sulige field are low permeability (0.1 mD) with moderate volumes of gas in place that require hydraulic fracturing to be commercially viable. The early application of technology to minimize development costs and surface impact included multiwell pad-drilling to enhance drilling, completion, and operational efficiency. Fracturing cycle times were reduced by the implementation of multiwell hydraulic fracturing processes, while not compromising well productivity.
To date, 33 well pads have been completed which represents more than 280 vertical wells and 13 horizontal with more than 600 hydraulic fracturing stages being done within the previous three years. The wells completed have encountered a largely heterogeneous field that has resulted in a sizable amount of data being collected.
To improve on this phase of the project, a fieldwide study of fracturing performance has been performed and includes the quantification of dimensionless productivity index (JD), dimensionless fracture conductivity (CfD), and dimensionless proppant number (Np). This analysis was performed on various well types, completions types, and fracturing design approach to benchmark performance. Analysis shows some improvements were made since the initial years of the project with designs starting to approach an optimum, but more significant advances can be made. Subsequent design adjustments and well optimization were done with improved understanding of postfracture performance derived from fracturing performance type curves.
This paper will discuss the optimization of the fracturing design through use of JD. The discussion will mainly focus on the use of the JD type curves and accumulated production performance to determine optimal proppant and half-length for improvements in future fracturing designs.
CO2 Injection Project Analysis Using Application of Integrated Model and Optimization
Authors: Rahmawati Silvya Dewi , Hoda Mohammad Faizul , Kuntadi Arif 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) injection is a common process used to increase hydrocarbon production in oil and gas fields, which is known as the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process. This paper presents modeling of a carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) project using an integrated operation and optimization approach.
In this case study, the subsurface system consists of two different reservoirs, a gas condensate and an oil reservoir. The products from the two reservoirs are processed in a single surface processing facility. The CO2 will be captured from both reservoirs and injected into the oil reservoir after being processed in the surface facility. The CO2 from various capture processes will produce different types of residual components, and the effects of different compositions of the injected CO2 stream on field economic revenue will be studied. The verification of extra cost by increasing the CO2 mole fraction in the recycle system is modeled in the economic cost equation. The final surface separation products will be condensate (oil), natural gas liquid (NGL), and sales gas.
Various derivative-free optimization methods will be used to maximize the net present value (NPV) of the CO2 EOR project. The decision variables are the multi-stage separator pressure conditions (surface parameters) and the CO2 injection rate (sub-surface parameter). Optimization results using different optimization methods will be compared to determine the best field operating parameters. The possibility of combination with water injection will also be investigated to determine the best injection scenarios.
An integrated analysis of the CO2 injection process provides a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the performance of the complete CO2 injection value chain. Optimization at the field scale provides insights into the subsurface response to field scale parameter variations. The integrated approach presented in this paper will provide a basis to evaluate CO2 EOR scenarios compared to other injection strategies, such as surfactant or polymer injections.
Productivity Index Prediction for Oil Horizontal Wells Using different Artificial Intelligence Techniques
Authors: Alarifi Sulaiman , AlNuaim Sami , Abdulraheem Abdulazeez 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
In the production aspect of petroleum engineering, Productivity Index (PI) is considered as a key parameter to develop the inflow performance relationships (IPR). It estimates and forecasts the well productivity and production efficiency. The current practice to obtain PI is to conduct a rate or well test in a producing well after which the PI can be calculated. Many correlations have been developed to predict PI for horizontal oil wells using reservoir and well properties before drilling wells for planning purposes to effectively build and estimate the production system of the well.
Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have been used in the industry to enhance the engineer's ability to forecast and predict the many different and high uncertain outcomes of many of the petroleum industry aspects. AI methods have proven its accuracy for many cases and have been used as successful tools by many oil and gas companies. Prediction/forecasting using AI is a well-known practice and very essential requirement toward a better and more productive industry.
This paper discusses and shows the ability of three artificial intelligence methods (Neural Networks, Fuzzy Logic and Functional Networks) to predict productivity index of horizontal oil wells with very good accuracy as compared to several well-known correlations in the industry (Borisov, Giger-Reiss-Jourdan, Renard-Dupuy, Joshi and Economides, Butler and Furui). It discusses, for the first time in the oil industry, the application of the Functional Networks AI techniques in prediction PI of the horizontal oil wells. The models are built using several real field rate tests collected from more than 100 different horizontal oil wells from a field in the Middle East. Also, models showed to overcome the limitations of existing horizontal wells' correlations with high validity of the prediction due the presence of actual field data, not just assumed/simulated data.
Characteristics and Inversion Point of Heavy Crude Oil Emulsions in Kuwait
Authors: Ghloum E.F. , Rashed A.M. , Al-Attar M.A. 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
This paper presents an experimental study on how to characterize the heavy crude oil emulsion necessary for the development of design basis. Heavy crude oil emulsions (as oil-in-water or water-in-oil) are generated through the production system starting from well bottom pump, gathering flow line network and fittings all the way to the process facility. Most of the cases, these emulsions are very challenging to be broken and this challenge could be very sharp with the presence of higher asphaltene content. Emulsions nature is an important aspect in the heavy crude business to look at it as this will determine the project feasibility (in terms of $/barrel oil treated).
The paper shows the stability and rheological properties of hot and cold-produced heavy crude oil emulsion samples over a wide range of operation and field conditions. Emulsion samples were first characterized including physical properties for both water and oil phases. A comprehensive testing program has considered a number of sensitivities such as: temperatures, demulsifiers dosage, mixing and shear rates and water cuts.
Through the lab results, it can easily be seen that cold-produced heavy oil emulsion (CP-HO) is very stable over the tested sensitivities. However, the addition of chemical dispersants has accelerated the water separation regardless the presence of demulsifier. Another important finding is that the inversion point of the CP-HO emulsion could not be seen over the water cut range tested while the hot-produced heavy oil emulsion (HP-HO) inversion point has been noted at around 60% of Water cut. Moreover, five different viscosity correlations were validated against the experimental data for one HP-HO emulsion sample at different water cuts. The results showed that the correlation described the experimental data quite adequately at low shear rate and low temperature.
Measures Not Monitored Cannot Be Controlled
Authors: Mirza Faisal A , Mohiuddeen Mohammad K 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Most of us know the famous quote of Mr. Ducker “You can't manage what you can't measure”. This is very much applicable to every industry. Evaluation/Assessment and monitoring are important steps to ensure better performance for any activity. Likewise, for Health, Safety, Environment (HSE) there are different performance assessment parameters, monitoring methods, procedures and the related Management aspects. Selection of the performance parameters and assessment system is required to be more elaborate and comprehensive and must be on the risk-based system. Careful selection of HSE measures based on Risk-based approach is the stepping stone to achieve good HSE performance of any organization on continual basis.
Even today, it has been observed that organizations are evaluating/monitoring their respective HSE performance through only indicator i.e. Lost Time Injuries (LTIFR). Considering the current scenario in which the Industry continues to encounter new horizons and environmental pressures that are changing and challenging day after day, it is highly essential to choose indicators through which an Organization can benchmark its' own HSE performance. This technical paper deals about the processes introduced by Kuwait Oil Company in with an analytical and practical approach which systematically covers to a large extent the whole range of issues involved regarding performance parameters, assessment/monitoring, controlling in the area of HSE management. Achievements made in the performance of the company, trends of all leading/lagging indicators, etc. It also summarizes with approach to be adopted by the industries in selecting right HSE measures for measuring/monitoring and controlling.
The conclusions are that while selecting and finalizing the HSE performance measures, assessment, monitoring methods, procedures and the related management aspects, it is necessary to view it objectively, and on risk-based approach. Besides, management review is an important tool ensuring Management by Objectives.
Novel Laboratory Measurement for the Characterization of Tight and Shale Formations during Transient (Unsteady State) Flow Regime
Authors: Amro Mohammed , Freese Carsten 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
To provide a more reliable assessment of tight and shale formations, it is essential to know their physical properties as they immensely affect the economic production of hydrocarbons from these reservoirs.
In this paper, emphasis will be laid on determining the permeability and porosity of these formations based on laboratory investigation.
To determine the permeability of tight samples, instationary test equipment has been developed and built, including the transient measurement principle. The interpretation of data using this method allows the permeability, effective porosity and Klinkenberg effect to be quantified by means of just a single measurement run. The evaluation of the measured data is carried out numerically via the inverse solution of the differential flow equations. Evaluation procedures and experienced gained in determining the permeability and porosity of various tight materials such as caprock, salt rock samples, tight gas and shale gas cores are fully addressed. In addition, the sophisticated experimental setup will be presented.
Together with the determination of the pure density of samples by helium pycnometer, reliable statements can be derived about the properties of the pore space of the material. Furthermore, the use of mercury porosimetry in determining the porosity and pore radius distribution of the tight samples is also highlighted.
The detailed analysis of the results of the porosity and permeability measurements provide valuable insight for the evaluation of the reservoir with valuable information such as dual porosity behavior.
A Practical Approach for Modeling Low Salinity Waterflooding in Carbonate Reservoirs
Authors: Althani Mohammed G. , Hoffman B. Todd 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Improving oil recovery by low salinity waterflooding (LSWF) has gained a lot of attention in the last two decades. The effect of LSWF was demonstrated by coreflooding experiments in several core samples from sandstone and carbonate reservoirs around the world. Also, this effect has been shown at the field scale by some field trails.
While the exact mechanisms that cause increased recovery due to LSWF are not fully understood, most agree that changes in wettability and interfacial tension are the reasons that LSWF perform better than high salinity waterflooding (HSWF). Therefore, LSWF can be modeled by changing the property that determines the effect of wettability in fluid flow equations, which is the relative permeability. In this paper, coreflooding results from a carbonate reservoir are used to find the relation between the relative permeability curves for HSWF and LSWF. A numerical simulation model of the coreflooding experiment showed that the relative permeability for the LSWF in carbonate reservoirs can be estimated by changing only one parameter in the Corey-type relative permeability equation of the HSWF: residual oil saturation.
An application of this result was performed on a full-field simulation model to evaluate the effect of LSWF using simulation and economics. The field model was built for a carbonate reservoir in the Madison formation of Wyoming. The simulation results showed an increase in the recovery factor of more than 5% by using LSWF instead of HSWF. Furthermore, an economic analysis was performed to determine if the additional oil would justify the expense of making low salinity water. With proper assumptions of the construction and operating costs of a water desalination plant, a development plan with LSWF showed a higher net present value than a development with HSWF.
This research provides a practical approach to evaluate the effect of LSWF on certain fields using simulation. It provides a screening tool to evaluate quickly the oil gain from the LSWF before spending money on core samples testing for further research.