bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Security Challenges in Geophysical Operations
Authors: Rosenbusch Walt , Gill "Chip" G. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) industry is facing increasing threats to the security of its personnel and equipment, with many areas of the world becoming more prone to challenges such as piracy, kidnap and theft. For several reasons, the geophysical industry is uniquely exposed to these threats. It often delivers the first phase of E&P operations in remote frontier exploration regions, which are attracting increasing interest as developed areas become depleted and demand for hydrocarbons continues to rise. People involved in geophysical operations are usually continuously moving, so are hard to protect. Expensive seismic equipment is deployed over large geographical areas, and remains in place for several days so is easy to damage or steal.
The authors consider that the level of awareness and management of security in geophysical operations can be compared to that of HSE around 20 years ago. Agreed standards and guidelines such as OGP Report 432 Managing HSE in a geophysical contract (OGP 2009) do not formally address the issue. Responsibility for managing security-related risks, and meeting the costs involved, is often poorly addressed in contractual agreements between E&P companies and suppliers of geophysical services. Security risk assessment and contingency management can be non-existent or unreliable, and information is not always shared transparently between the involved parties. In addition, security risk assessment is, by its nature, based on historical data, and does not address the potential for rapid changes in political, cultural, environmental, or other factors.
This paper reviews the unique security challenges of geophysical operations both offshore and onshore. It presents examples of security threats and how they were managed by the geophysical service provider, its client operating company, and other involved parties such as security contractors and armed forces. Security threats have not only come from known high-risk areas of the world, but also from assumed secure regions where individuals and organizations opposed to hydrocarbon exploration in their neighborhood cause willful damage to vulnerable seismic equipment. The paper proposes developments to align contractual terms towards better management and sharing of security risk.
Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks
Authors: Shield Helga 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The Norman Wells Operation in the Northwest Territories, Canada, is applying for a renewal of its water licence. The facility has been in operation since the 1920s on the banks of the Mackenzie River. No changes to the water inputs and outputs, facility process, or its land use footprint are being contemplated. No significant changes to the water licence are being requested. What is new is that the regulator now requires that Traditional Knowledge studies be undertaken – even for operating facilities. Of what possible use could such a study be at a site operating for almost 100 years? Turns out, quite a bit.
Traditional Knowledge has been used in Canada for Environmental Impact Assessments for a number of years to plan new projects. This would be a first at an operating site with a static footprint. How could we make the study a useful exercise for both the local communities and the operation itself? It was decided that rather than focusing on the operational footprint itself as is the more usual approach, this study would focus on the Mackenzie River. Specifically, what did the operation need to know about the River for emergency response planning?
Traditional Knowledge workshops were held in the local town of Norman Wells and down-river in Fort Good Hope. Local organizations were asked to select elders and others knowledgeable of the Mackenzie River to participate. A detailed map of a 220 km stretch of the River around the operation was updated which highlights access points, areas of winter open water, which islands were ice-covered in winter, hunting cabins, wildlife use, sand bar movement and so on. As Traditional Knowledge is intellectual property which is often required to be held in confidence, consent was obtained from workshop participants for more open use. The map was brought to public consultation meetings to show what data had been gathered, and to provide an opportunity for all community members to add more information. At the suggestion of Fort Good Hope community members, an additional workshop was conducted by boat along the River between Fort Good Hope and Norman Wells with community elders and facility first responders. Important sites were visited, photographed and summary description sheets were prepared. Finally, members from surrounding communities were invited to observe and then provide their suggestions and observations during the de-brief of an on-river emergency response exercise workshop.
Traditional Knowledge has enhanced Norman Wells Operation’s ability to respond to incidents on the Mackenzie River by providing valuable added detail to maps and one-on-one knowledge sharing with first responders. Additionally, it has provided a meaningful forum for local communities and the operation to discuss issues and share information that is of importance to both.
Upstream Oil and Gas Industry Process Safety Event Data: A First Step
Authors: Walker Kirsty , Toutain Patrick , Poore Wendy 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) is a global forum encompassing 74 oil and gas companies, industry associations and major upstream service companies. Members identify and share best practices to achieve improvements on topics such as health, safety, the environment, security, social responsibility and operations.
In response to a number of major incidents, the downstream oil industry, led by the American Petroleum Institute (API), developed guidance on key performance indicators (KPIs) for companies to manage process plant risks. The recommendation was a four-tier framework of KPIs with Tiers 1 and 2 being predominantly lagging indicators related to loss of primary containment (LOPC).
The OGP Safety Committee recognized the need to provide further guidance on KPIs with specific emphasis on their application to upstream oil and gas activities and published a report on recommended KPIs for process safety. This paper describes how the report was built on the framework and definitions included in the API recommended on process safety indicators, for the upstream activities of drilling and production because of their inherent potential for LOPC consequences.
A formal request was issued to OGP member companies for 2010, 2011 and 2012 process safety event data based on the results of a pilot study. The process of data submission by member companies has matured with successive years of reporting, with more and more companies reporting and improvement in the consistency and quality of data submitted.
This paper provides Tier 1 and Tier 2 process safety event data submitted by participating member companies. The data presented serve as a baseline for the future with the expectation that the quality of the data set will continue to improve. The paper also describes the data validation conducted and lessons learned in the collection process.
Ecological Value of Leave-in-Place and Reefing Options in Temperate Environments: Case Studies from Decommissioning Projects in California, USA
Authors: Krause P. R. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The temperate waters of California support a number of offshore oil and gas structures including platforms, pipelines, piers, and other associated infrastructure. Temperate environments support some of the Earth’s most diverse and productive marine ecosystems found such as complex rocky reefs, vast sand flats, and dense kelp forests. As the offshore oil and gas infrastructure ages, decisions will need to be made for the decommissioning outcome for each structure. A number of options exist for operators and regulators for decommissioning offshore infrastructure ranging from full removal to various leave-in-place methods. One of the key decision points that need to be considered when making decommissioning decisions is the ultimate ecological value of the particular option chosen. This review describes the specific decommissioning options available for platforms in California, and studies specifically related to determining ecological value of those options. Several scientific studies to determine ecological value at platform and decommissioning sites have been conducted recently. These have included observations of marine communities using submersibles, remotely operated vehicles, divers, and other experimental methods. Data presented in this review support the conclusion that leave-in-place options, especially various reefing methods, can support highly valuable marine communities and further support the utility of using leave-in-place options such as reefing to determine the ultimate fate of the offshore infrastructure in California.
Assessing Substance Use in the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Celly John J. , Franca Allan 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Many societies and cultures still widely accept substance use, such as cigarette and alcohol consumption, despite the evergrowing evidence of its negative impact on health and its contribution to incidents (for example, the risks of drinking alcohol and driving).
The users of new psychotropic drugs that have been developed over the last century have become a huge concern to social and economic planners, governments, and societies. What is the impact of the use of these illegal drugs and alcohol on incident rates in the oil and gas industry? Is alcohol or drug consumption linked to these incidents? Is the industry population reflecting the alcohol and drug consumption of the general population? Or is the oil and gas industry more exposed to this particular consumption risk?
Safety-critical industries, such as the oil and gas industry, have developed robust substance testing programs for employees. Insight into such programs comes from indirect analysis through liver enzyme and function tests and direct analysis based on specific substance testing of more than 3,000 industry personnel in Brazil over a three-year period. The paper also looks at best practices such as appropriate substance abuse testing policies, respecting local regulations, and providing employee assistance programs within a proactive approach.
A Framework for Developing Mutual Aid Arrangements
Authors: Toutain Patrick 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Resources other than those immediately available to an operator (either owned, under contract or through third parties such as oil spill organisations) may be required to respond to a large scale offshore incident. Such supplementary resources may be owned or under contract to other operators in or near the affected basin. While the exploration & production industry has demonstrated that it can cooperate rapidly and effectively in response to such incidents, it is OGP’s belief that a framework to guide the consideration of mutual aid and response assistance can further improve the industry’s ability to respond.
OGP looked at the typical elements of a response to a large-scale offshore incident and concluded that it is at the local, regional or basin level that operators are more likely to face common logistical, technical, legal, regulatory environment as well as being able to quickly access resources. Therefore, the framework was developed to aid operators and industry associations in initiating and conducting mutual aid discussions at this level.
This paper describes the framework in broad terms, going through the role of mutual aid in the response to offshore incidents, it lists the ‘Guiding principles of mutual aid’ and lays out a process for scoping—through the identification of needs and opportunities for mutual aid—and developing arrangements from the opportunities identified. It concludes by describing issues that may need to be addressed when considering mutual aid arrangements and outlining some practical measures that may help to enhance the functioning and maintenance of mutual aid arrangements.
Enhancement of Corporate Operational Excellence Management System Audit Protocols to Drive Audit Consistency
Authors: Holtman Jay G. , Kalb Adam T. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
This paper discusses how Chevron enhanced its corporate Operational Excellence (OE) Management System auditing protocols to enable more effective auditing and drive audit consistency. Auditing protocols had been in place, but the protocols lacked sufficient direction and proper balance of interviews, field observations and document review. With the corporate audit program involving more operating and technology company shared auditors, the need to provide auditors specific direction was critical. Chevron’s corporate OE audit protocols were enhanced to facilitate effective evaluation of OE process design and effectiveness and drive consistency from audit to audit. An enhanced protocol design format was developed to provide auditors more specific direction regarding process requirement verification and enable effective audit documentation.
Internal and external auditing subject matter experts were engaged to develop and validate a protocol framework and format for identifying auditor expectations in all audit phases. Workshops including process subject matter experts and experienced auditors were held to develop the appropriate protocol content. Protocols were vetted by communities of practice and approved by corporate HES management prior to use.
Revised protocols addressing twenty corporate, upstream and downstream OE processes are now in use. The key components of the protocols are the Indicators of Conformance (actions, information or documentation to confirm process requirement conformance) and Verification Activities (specific actions by the auditor to verify Indicators of Conformance). Other enhancements included pre-audit expectations, process performance objectives, key audit contacts, and audit percent of effort guidance.
The revised protocols have been well received and are considered a significant advancement in OE audit performance. As auditors adapt to protocol workflow, corporate OE audits are becoming more efficient, effective and consistent in assessment of process conformance. The OE audit protocol format can provide the basis for auditing HES regulatory compliance and management performance requirements throughout all company audit tiers. The enhanced OE audit protocol is a single platform for providing audit criteria and guidance and enabling audit documentation. Further enhancement is possible to support pre-audit data gathering and regulatory testing, and the protocol is adaptable to audit-related data management systems.
Developing Effective Remedies: Five Stages of Remedying Human Rights Infringements
Authors: Natour Faris , Poynton Chloe , Raimondi Matthew 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights lay out the corporate responsibility to remedy human rights infringements associated with business activities. In cases where companies cause or contribute to human rights infringements, the absence of best practice and guidance for developing remedy programs remains a barrier to meeting the expectations outlined in the Guiding Principles.
This report aims to provide businesses and human rights professionals with a tactical overview of the stages involved in developing and delivering effective remedy programs. BSR research found that proactive engagement with rights-holders through a predictable and transparent proceeding is likely to be considered by stakeholders as more credible, and it is more likely to result in appropriate remedies for victims of infringements. While a "typical" remedy process does not exist, most remedy program undergo five key stages: »Notification of a Possible Infringement: How are companies typically alerted that a possible infringement has occurred? What is best practice in developing an alert mechanism?»Investigation of the Claim: How should a company investigate a human rights claim? What are the benefits and drawbacks of a joint investigation with the affected community and an independent investigation?»Development of the Remedy: What considerations are required when developing a remedy? How should the affected community be consulted during the development process? What types of remedies are appropriate?»Implementation of the Remedy: Who should have responsibility for remedy implementation? How should implementation be monitored?»Follow-up and Non-repetition: What responsibility do companies have to follow up? ? How can a company ensure non-repetition of the infringement?
Responding to cases of human rights infringements presents one of the greatest challenges to any company and presents particular issues for large scale oil and gas projects operating in areas lacking adequate governance mechanisms. A thorough understanding of the stages involved in developing remedies and the potential challenges and opportunities associated with providing remedies may help companies take actionable steps towards meeting the obligations outlined in the Guiding Principles.
Improving Management of Environmental and Social Impacts and Risks: Processes, Capability Development, and Tools to Help Practitioners
Authors: Wuestenfeld Karen S. , Rogers Elizabeth M. , Wild Elizabeth , Hill Robert , Watlow Annette 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Identifying and understanding potential environmental and social impacts and risks are essential in seeking to minimise such impacts. Continual improvement of practices and systems designed to identify such impacts and risks is necessary to help reduce ever-changing risk exposure. This paper describes the approaches taken by the company to identify potential planned environmental and social impacts, as well as unplanned impacts (risks), at the very early stages of new access and project decisions into operations. The processes for identifying and clarifying the nature of these potential planned and unplanned impacts as projects mature through into operations were mapped. This mapping identified potential opportunities for improvements in the risk and impact identification processes. In particular, the understanding of planned impacts separate to unplanned impacts was identified as critical to the identification of subsequent management actions. The mapping also highlighted the importance of understanding the differing risk processes and the linkages between them such as ENVIID and ISO 14001 certified environmental management. These are described in this paper and examples are provided to highlight specific findings. The types of tools and training that the company has developed and deployed are also outlined to share key learnings so far on BP’s continuing journey to seek to improve environmental and social impact and risk management.
Oil and Gas Extraction and the High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program
Authors: White Russell D. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The USEPA’s HPV Challenge Program was designed to provide health and environmental hazards data on chemical substances produced or imported into the US in quantities of at least one million pounds per year. The Petroleum HPV Testing Group was formed to provide data on HPV substances from all aspects of the petroleum industry. Eight substances produced by oil and gas extraction are included in the approximately 400 petroleum substance sponsored in the HPV Challenge Program. As a result of the Program, data on physical-chemical properties, environmental fate and effects, and human health effects relevant to crude oil, natural gas, gas condensates, and other petroleum substances are now available to companies, governments and the public. The new information is consistent with previous hazard characterizations and provides additional support for the risk management practices that the industry has historically observed. The data on petroleum HPV substances are now publically available via www.petroleumhpv.org.
A New Methodology to Predict Condensate Production in Tight/Shale Retrograde Gas Reservoirs
Authors: Yu Shaoyong 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Due to suppressed natural gas price in the past several years in North America, liquid-rich retrograde gas reservoir development has been the main focus for many gas reservoir operators in Canada. Due to the subsurface complexity of PVT behavior for condensate, liquid (condensate) production forecast has been a challenge for operators. In addition, many liquid-rich retrograde reservoirs have also encountered extremely low permeability, which makes the liquid production forecast an even more challenging task for operators.
Today, the most common methodologies to analyze production performance for retrograde gas reservoirs are limited to either numerical (simulation) or empirical (such as Arps’ decline). However, for numerical analysis, original PVT properties, special core analysis (SCAL) and pressure history are required as input data, which are usually very costly to obtain and they are, therefore, routinely ignored by operators.
This paper presents a simple way to predict condensate production from the gas production by means of readily available early years’ production data. This simple methodology includes a new specialized plot to find related parameters for condensate production forecast without any costly PVT and pressure history data. Moreover, a set of diagnostic plots has been developed to identify the degree of the blockage to the gas production from the near wellbore oil-bank.
This new methodology has been tested on more than one hundred horizontal wells that have been producing retrograde gas from several Western Canadian formations, such as the Notikewin, Glauconite, Montney, Falher as well as the Eagle Ford formation in the United States. All such tests were carried out by using only the early part of the production data to history-match the later part of the production history. The results have shown good agreement with the forecast based on the new methodology.
Both synthetic and real well examples will be presented in this paper to illustrate the use of this new methodology.