bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Capillary Pressure and Relative Permeability Effects on the Productivity of Naturally Fractured Gas-Condensate Reservoirs
Authors: Al Ghamdi Bander N. , Ayala Luis F. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Productivity of gas-condensate reservoirs can become severely impaired due to the appearance of condensate near the production channels, which in turn reduces the overall flow of fluids to the surface. The deliverability of gas-condensate reservoirs is controlled by transport properties, which include capillary pressure and relative permeabilities between the fluids in a pore-scale. In this work, the productivity of naturally fractured gas-condensate reservoirs is studied using a compositional simulation model that examines the effects of capillary pressure and relative permeability values on the recovery of gas-condensate fluids. A compositional simulation model was utilized for the evaluation of the influence of fluid characteristics on the severity of condensate coating while assigning tight matrix permeability of 0.001 md. The study utilized different reservoir fluid composition found within the gas-condensate spectrum and examined the performance behavior with and without capillary pressure effects. The parametric study showed that for the conditions under examination, capillary pressures did not significantly affect performance in terms of fluid distribution, movement, condensate evolution, and recovery. Relative permeability effects showed dependency on condensate content of the reservoir and extent of reservoir condensation
Enhanced Coiled Tubing Intervention Practices on Extended-Reach Open-Hole Completion in a Field in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Meshal Fahad , Sabut Bangkong , Bawaked Waleed , Beheiri Faisal , Al-Mubairik Abdulrahman 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
The new generation of Power Water Injectors (PWI) wells with longer open-hole (OH) horizontal section has been grown significantly in Saudi Arabia especially in the new development fields. One of these new complex fields have been developed with over 120 PWI wells with OH sections in the range of 2,000-10,000 feet. While the long OH horizontal wells have several advantages, they also have a challenge for the rig-less intervention. This paper summarizes the development and enhancement of techniques implemented during the acid stimulation treatment of extended-reach wells using CT without mechanical assistant tools like vibration or CT tractors.
During the initial CT interventions in this field, several challenges were encountered, e.g., stuck CT due to pressure differentials and slack-off weight due to sudden dogleg or azimuth changes. Previous simulations and studies resulted to a combination of techniques to the CT intervention procedure to extend the CT reach and minimize the operational problems and costs. Remarkable improvements were achieved by performing additional simulation runs, correlating the CT weight loss vs. the horizontal sections geometry and analyzing all available operational data.
By incorporating enhanced intervention procedures based on the lessons learned from the previous jobs, a new reach records were achieved successfully on the wells with over 7,000 ft. As a result, additional cost savings were realized since most of the extended reach wells were stimulated without using CT tractor. One of these wells reached a total measured depth of 5 km and horizontal OH length of 3 km, which is the longest record in the region.
Effective Crude Oil Export Sales Management Towards a Robust Economy
Authors: Siddiqui M. Hameed , Rodricks Franklin 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Saudi Aramco is a global supplier of crude oil and refined products whose mission continues to be the most reliable supplier of Hydrocarbons. Such a supplier needs a comprehensive supply chain management system to service its global customers with objectives to meet the reliability, safety, flexibility and cost-effectiveness. The key to success for developing and maintaining such an all-inclusive and 24/7/365 reliable supply chain management system must include a wide array of well defined and well tested processes that describe the business logistics, scheduling, inventory management alongside the finance and treasury critical processes with adequate details and checks and balances. There must be a robust verification and confirmation of all transactions that must obtain the necessary approvals with pre-determined workflow across different functional organizations and departments to safeguard the corporation and its business.
The business of crude oil export sales includes a wide array of business activities that goes on both in sequential and in parallel processes. The Information Management is the key to all critical decision making. The complex role of Information Technology Management includes the logistics of supply, transportation and distribution - terminals in and out-side Kingdom, ports, and pipelines.
This paper describes Saudi Aramco's Hydrocarbon Supply Chain Management (HSCM) system that is comprehensive, fully integrated and efficient solution, covering the entire gamut of crude oil and refined products export business process chain from sales contract creation and management to the final settlement. It has covered many organizations of the oil business such as oil supply planning, domestic and international sales & marketing, finance, accounting & billing, cash management & treasury, logistics, inventory management, corporate planning, overseas offices, inspection companies and overseas storage. Furthermore, it covers certain specific operations such as target production avails management and OPEC production limit compliance, loss control and potential demurrage control.
The HSCM system provides various crude oil lifting reports by customers, by country, by region, by crude grade - which is used as an efficient tool for market analysis - and pricing recommendation.
Successful Isolation of a Water Contribution Zone Using Fiber Optic Telemetry Enabled Coiled Tubing Conveyed Inflatable Packer Capped with Cement (Case Study)
Authors: Shawly Alaa S. , Dashash Alaa A. , Khateeb Bander F. , Muhammadi Ahmed H. , Bugrov Vsevolod , Kharrat Wassim , Bolarinwa Simeon 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
High water production may cause adverse effects on reservoir performance, which can result in production losses. To mitigate this situation it is crucial to utilize water management to reduce water production, optimize oil production, increase the well life and revive dead wells. One feasible option to isolate the water producing zone is a rigless water shut off (WSO) using mechanical isolation. This kind of operation is more challenging for horizontal wells with open hole completion.
This paper will demonstrate the impact of a successful WSO on overall performance of a horizontal open hole producer with 4,600 ft of reservoir contact. The well produced with 58.5% water cut and the production log showed that most of the water was coming from the toe of the horizontal section.
This paper highlights a mechanical rigless WSO method used to isolate a water contribution zone using a fiber optic telemetry enabled coiled tubing (CT) conveyed inflatable packer capped with cement. Fiber Optic Coil Tubing (FOCT) provides real- time downhole temperature, pressure (inside and outside the CT) and casing collar locator (CCL) measurements used to achieve accurate packer setting depth, confirm packer setting and ensure the suitability of the cement recipe. The complete cycle of candidate selection is addressed.
Best Practices in Khurais Complex Development
Authors: Al-Mulhim Waleed A. , Al-Ajmi Fahad A. , Al-Shehab Mahdi A. , Pham Tony R. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
This article discusses the upstream development of Khurais field, referred to here interchangeably as the Khurais complex, consisting of several fields and reservoirs with a capacity of 1.2 million barrels per day (MMBPD) of Arabian Light crude. It describes the planning, execution and leveraging of technologies coupled with best industry practices to deliver the target rate while reducing the unit development cost, increasing the well productivities and expanding the reserves base. At the beginning of the project, a high resolution 3D seismic program was successfully performed to characterize the reservoir structure and geological features. Coupled with vertical-horizontal delineation wells, additional reserves were delineated and added to the development. To reduce the unit development cost, this article will show that the project utilizes a complex well architecture with a combination of maximum reservoir contact (MRC), multilateral, and horizontal wells, as well as smart completion (SC), smart electrical submersible pump (ESP), and passive inflow control devices to achieve and sustain the target rates. The development also sets the stage for technology leveraging in the future by drilling wells with large wellbores, allowing flexibility for the next-generation of complex well architecture while pursuing fit-for-purpose technologies through joint ventures and Saudi Aramco’s Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center - Advanced Research Center (EXPEC ARC).
The article illustrates that the Khurais development is unique not only in terms of its size but also in terms of special technology applications, and its complexity with respect to the development of multiple fields and reservoirs with proper utilization of many complementing technologies. Through Saudi Aramco best practices, all of these are part of the development plan, which utilizes applications of advanced mathematical models in the form of multi- objective functions and probabilistic modeling techniques, such as Experimental Design and Monte Carlo simulations. The final development plan mitigates the development risk and optimizes oil off-take from different reservoirs and areas with respect to well placement, ESP design, depletion rates, injection production ratio, number of injectors and producers, pressure support, sweep efficiency, flood front conformance and oil recovery. The best practices also include real-time geosteering to ensure the horizontal laterals are directed through the best pay possible.
The efforts have paid off as field-tests of the producers, at the time this article was written, show three to five times productivity improvement compared to existing vertical wells in the fields. The development also goes beyond the initial stage of the production as Khurais is the company flagship for intelligent field (I-Field) technologies in real-time data gathering, transmission and operation remote controlling to enable continuous monitoring and optimization of the field development and reservoir performance.
Maximizing Recovery of Attic Oil from Highly-Fractured Crestal Area Using Horizontal Skimmers: A Case Study
Authors: Al-Julaih Ali , Fischbuch Brett , Pinero Nelson , Al-Zahrani Tareq 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
This paper presents the re-development strategy employed to recover attic oil from the highly-fractured crestal area of a carbonate reservoir. Optimum re-development strategies for the crestal area, along with planning and execution incorporating Best in Class (BiC) reservoir management practices are discussed.
The crestal area was previously developed using full penetration vertical wells. After many years of continuous production and nearby injection, oil production rates in these crestal wells have declined with increasing water cut.
The re-development strategy has been tailored to exploit this challenging opportunity and to maximize the production efficiently with selective placement of horizontal skimmer wells at the very top of the structure. Fit-for-purpose completion technologies were deployed to address the effects of the extensive fractures. Tapping oil continuously flowing into the crestal area by displacement, gravity, and capillary mechanisms, this re-development strategy has resulted in efficient and sustainable production.
Incentive Effect of Piece-Rate Contracts: Evidence from Two Small Field Experiments
Authors: Shi Lan 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
We conducted two field experiments in a tree-thinning setting. In one experiment, we switched the pay of a randomly chosen half (the treatment group) from hourly wages to piece-rate pay. Workers in the control group were paid hourly wages throughout. In the second experiment, workers were switched from hourly to piece-rate pay all at once. The difference-in-difference and before-after estimates suggest that the productivity increase was on the order of 20-23 percent. Although the sample size is small, the estimates are statistically significant and robust. While the quality did not drop, the study highlights the measurement costs in setting up the right level of piece rates. We also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of using randomized control (and treatment) groups or not in conducting field experiments within firms.
Variation in morphology of Teucrium polium aggr. populations in Bulgaria
Authors: Pavlova Dolja , Vasileva Magdalena 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate natural serpentine and non-serpentine populations of Teucrium polium aggr. and to document the differences in their morphological traits, as well as estimate which characters are most likely contributing to differentiation of the populations. Nine populations distributed both on and off serpentine soils were investigated, and 12 different morphological features of 270 individuals were studied by univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. The results did not demonstrate clear delimitation of the serpentine from the non-serpentine populations. Using these ecotypes as classification factors in the discriminant analysis, it can be stated that stem height, leaf length in the fifth leaf pair, internode length between the fourth and the fifth leaf pairs, and corolla tube length are features with the greatest discriminant ability. The character variation was generally higher for the vegetative features, while reproductive features failed to demonstrate clear differences. The similarity groupings indicated by the cluster analysis were synchronous with groups distinguished by both the discriminant and PCA analyses. Significant differences were observed between sets of vegetative characters in all populations investigated.
Extract from Conyza canadensis as a modulator of plasma protein oxidation induced by peroxynitrite in vitro
Authors: Saluk-Juszczak Joanna , Olas Beata , Nowak Paweł , Wachowicz Barbara , Bald Edward , Głowacki Rafał , Pawlaczyk Izabela , Gancarz Roman 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
The antioxidative activity of the extract from Conyza canadensis in plasma treated with peroxynitrite (ONOO−) (0.1 mM) was studied. C. canadensis is known to possess a broad set of pharmacological effects because of content of various antioxidants, antiplatelet and anticoagulant compounds. The aim of our study was to assess if this extract protects plasma proteins against oxidative/nitrative damages induced by ONOO−. The plasma components are continuously exposed to reactive oxygen/nitrogen species action. Peroxynitrite evokes oxidative stress and induces undesirable effects in biological systems and causes damage to biomolecules. The extract from Conyza (50–2500 mg/ml) caused a dose-dependent reduction of protein nitration by 90%. The oxidation of plasma proteins was diminished by about 75%. ONOO− oxidized the plasma thiol groups and this process was inhibited by tested extract. The level of reduced protein thiols was increased thrice at the lowest concentration of extract (50 mg/ml). The highest concentration of extract decreased twice the level of protein thiols in reduced forms and increased the homocysteine level about 4.5 times. The obtained results demonstrated that the extract from Conyza possesses antioxidative properties in vitro, protects plasma proteins against toxicity induced by peroxynitrite and has modulating effects on thiol/disulfide redox status.
Effect of newer oral antiviral agents on future therapy of chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Perrillo Robert P , Marcellin Patrick 
Published: July 2010

The authors would like to report an error that appeared in Figure 1 of a recently published article [1]. There should be no indication of a substitution at M204V/I associated with tenofovir. The corrected version is shown below (Figure 1). The authors apologize for this mistake.
Modeltests and simulations on a wave energy converter based on inverse offshore engineering
Authors: Buchner Bas 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
This paper presents the initial simulations and model tests into the ‘Green Water Concept’ for wave energy conversion. Instead of reducing the motions and green water as is done in normal offshore hydrodynamics, the ‘Green Water Concept’ tries to maximise the motions and green water through ‘inverse engineering’ to generate electric energy from the waves. First, results are presented of frequency domain calculations for the motion (de-) optimisation. Second, pilot model tests on the ‘Green Water Concept’ are presented. These tests also included the initial modelling of an electric and hydraulic Power Take Off (PTO). The accurate modelling of a PTO is an important aspect in testing of wave energy conversion concepts numerically and in a wave tank: at the moment that energy is converted into electricity in the PTO, the hydrodynamic behaviour of the structure is changing. The tests confirmed the high motions and large amount of green water of the Green Water Concept as predicted in simulations. The application of a real PTO gave important insight in the possibilities and challenges of PTO modelling at model scale. For the present concept a mean Power (at full-scale) close to 1MW was generated in a regular wave of H=3.0m for the maximum possible setting in the chosen test set-up. This setting was limited by the chosen mechanical and electronic motor set-up in this pilot test series, not the actual maximum of the Green Water Concept itself. Considering the test results, it is clear that the potential of the system is significantly larger.
Figure 1

Background
Wave energy is a concentrated form of wind energy: the wind transfers energy into the waves over a long fetch. Cruz [1] has estimated that Europe has an average wave power of 50kW per metre width of wave front [1]. Others [2] indicate that worldwide the economically exploitable amount of wave energy is estimated at 2,000 TWh/year, an average power of 200GW over a year. This is equivalent of 200 large power stations. The challenge is to generate a predictable amount of energy, in a reliable way, at a reasonable cost.
Fatigue Life Extension Procedure for Offshore Structures by Ultrasonic Peening
Authors: Martinez Luis Lopez 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
The service life of a FPSO is limited by the structural integrity of the ship's hull. Furthermore the structural integrity is mainly governed by the fatigue resistance of critical welded details. In a FPSO installation these details are among others pallet stool brackets welds and longitudinal weld connections to web frames and to bulkheads in ballast tanks.
Ultrasonic Peening can improve the fatigue resistance of welded joints. Fatigue test results show a life extension of four times for high stress ranges and up to ten times for high cycle fatigue. For weld details which have already consumed half of their fatigue life ultrasonic peening treatment resets the clock to zero, as a minimum value.
Consequently ultrasonic peening treatment was applied on FPSO Triton on fatigue sensitive weld connections with the objective to extend the service life of this offshore installation.
The economical benefits due to reduced maintenance as a result of the ultrasonic peening treatment include:Avoidance of a long term plan for extensive hot workAvoidance of long and unscheduled operational disruptionsIncreased structural safety for the installation during the remaining service life

1. Introduction
The application of fatigue life improvement techniques is gaining popularity in the last years. Classification Societies have been focusing more and more on these and the latest document dealing with it [1] presents recommendations for weld toe profiling by machining and grinding, weld toe grinding, TIG-dressing and hammer peening. The other important document in respect to the execution of improvement techniques is the IIW Recommendations, which contains extensive reference data for various fatigue life improvement techniques and quality assurance and control of their application [2]. Besides these documents an evaluation of different fatigue life improvement techniques including their interaction with parent plate strength showed that ultrasonic peening is a promising method due to achieved improvement combined with its simple application [3]. As late as November 2009 ABS presented Notice No. 3 to its Guidance Notes where a general acceptance of ultrasonic peening for reconditioning of structures is stated [4].
Fatigue life improvement techniques can contribute to reduce maintenance cost by avoidance of recurring weld repairs. Furthermore life extension techniques are the only remedy when higher stresses and/or fatigue cracks occur in a structure with many years remaining service life. One of the most promising techniques currently used to extend the fatigue life of welded joints is ultrasonic peening. The technique consist of introducing a groove at the weld toe, " cleaning?? the weld toe from possible crack sites as well as introducing compressive stresses during the same and solely working operation. The effect of " cleaning?? the weld toe region as well as the introduction of a weld toe groove, which decreases the geometrical stress concentration, have undisputed benefits which are also easy to quantify.