bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Direct Lithium Extraction from Geothermal Brines: The New Oil
Authors: Lebit Hermann , Brunner Benjamin , Kharitonova Natalya , Deemer Eva 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The energy transition is an inevitable global development driven by geopolitical, environmental, economic and societal factors. It will fundamentally change how we access energy resources and how we will rebalance the growing demand in critical commodities.
The global mobility sector consumes about 2/3 of the world crude oil production, which stands currently at or above 105 million barrels of oil per day (mmbopd). Even a minor reduction, for instance by increasing the electric vehicle fleet, would reduce greenhouse gas emissions but further stress our power grids along with an increasing demand in critical minerals, required by clean tech manufacturing. Industry strategies and technology developments have to address this conundrum.
Renewable energy sources already significantly contributing to the domestic electricity grid (13% in US in 2021) but are dominated by intermittent resources like wind and solar energy, whereas dispatchable, clean energy resources are neglected. The potential of dispatchable geothermal energy is undisputed, though challenges in subsurface risk assessment, completion technologies, upfront investments and lengthy permitting processes impact the economic potential of this technology.
Lithium is the key critical mineral in clean tech, particularly for batteries in the mobility sector due to its excellent energy density to weight ratio. Environmental impact of invasive lithium mineral mining or large evaporation ponds can be avoided by Direct Lithium Extraction from brines. It is a valuable solution particularly when deployed in proximity to mature hydrocarbon basins, attributed to a wealth in subsurface data, existing infrastructure, and qualified human resources. DLE technologies are facing some challenges in terms of freshwater usage, the application of chemical agents, excessive land usage and reliance on external energy supply. Finally, not every brine chemistry is suitable for the envisaged DLE technology.
Direct lithium extraction based on electrodialysis employs ion-selective membranes in a clean, emission free process. The technology is robust and takes advantage of successful membrane applications at multiple desalination plants around the world. Along with battery-grade lithium the electrodialysis produces green hydrogen, outputs freshwater and sequesters CO2 as by-products. When combined with a geothermal power generation the technology uses onsite energy and the produced brine in a clean and environmentally friendly process.
Lithium-rich reservoirs with a favorable geothermal signature have been reported from mature hydrocarbon basins across the United States and their direct lithium extraction offers attractive economics, given the growing lithium demand forecasted for the next decades. The operations are 100% green and self-sustainable when combined with novel low enthalpy geothermal power production technology. It opens a new running room to rejuvenate mature hydrocarbon basins into energy super basins.
Reducing Carbon Footprint by Using Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) in FPSOs
Authors: Eves S. , Souza G. G. , Filho D. F. , Neto C. Jarreta 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials, including structural products and Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) pipes, offer significant carbon footprint reduction when compared to traditional steel alternatives. This is because of the lower energy requirements needed for manufacturing and the lower energy use throughout the product's service life cycle. Global warming and the energy crisis make the use of FRP an attractive material of choice because its use results in less carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere.
Climate change affects our competitive landscape in many ways. Businesses face higher raw material prices, rising energy costs, and increasing awareness of manufacturers' and suppliers' environmental impact. Companies that focus on managing and mitigating their carbon footprint will have a competitive advantage over rivals in a carbon-constrained future. They will also be able to conduct their operations in an environmentally sustainable way.
The focus of this paper is to compare glass-reinforced epoxy (GRE) pipes and FRP offshore handrails with their steel alternatives, to illustrate the relative energy necessary to manufacture, transport, install, use and "through life maintenance" of the products. The critical success factors of FRP with respect to their carbon footprint will be highlighted to advance the case for this type of material in the offshore industry.
This paper is development on an original paper by NOV authors in this paper which includes new supportive technical data and research analysis put in place by two major industry operators MODEC and PETROBRAS.
Observations of New North Brazil Current Rings Profiles Offshore Guyana
Authors: Gosain Gagandeep , Schiller Rafael Vergara , Esenkov Oleg E 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The North Brazil Current Rings (NBCRs) are a dominant phenomenon in the Atlantic Ocean offshore Guyana, which introduces substantial challenges and risks to offshore activities. Gaining a comprehensive grasp of the vertical current structure and variations linked to NBCRs is important for design and safe operations in the region. This study addresses the intricate attributes of NBCRs, utilizing data acquired from two deepwater moorings offshore Guyana. These moorings, equipped with current measuring instruments, were stationed along the pathway of NBCRs with the goal to capture their dynamic behavior and inherent variability.
One mooring was deployed in the water depth of about 1600 meters for 18 months. During this time, a total of seven NBCRs were observed, which were sorted into distinct categories based on their temporal and vertical characteristics. Four of these rings displayed surface current intensification, with peak near surface currents reaching 1.62 m/s. These rings were confined to the uppermost 200 meters of the water column. Diverging from this pattern, two rings exhibited a distinctive attribute—both surface and subsurface intensifications—with peak subsurface currents reaching ~1 m/s at a depth between 200 and 300 meters. Finally, one ring lacked the typical surface intensification and only exhibited subsurface intensification (currents reaching ~ 1 m/s at 300m below the surface). Throughout the measurement period, a prevailing southwesterly-directed reversal current persisted within the lower part of the water column.
The second mooring was positioned in the water depth of around 1850 meters. Its 12-month deployment period overlapped with the final year of the first mooring’s deployment, therefore this secondary mooring witnessed the occurrence of four rings observed by the other mooring. The observations confirmed the occurrence of the distinctive current profiles: two rings with surface plus subsurface intensification and one ring with subsurface intensification only. The second mooring also demonstrated the spatial and temporal variability of those rings.
This study’s significance extends beyond mere rings’ identification and description, unveiling the presence of novel current profiles with simultaneous near-surface and subsurface intensifications of comparable magnitudes. Additionally, it brought to light increased subsurface current speeds and distinct temporal behavior of these currents. These findings demonstrate the need for continuing measurements and modeling of circulation in the area to better understand and predict the events.
Use of Distributed Buoyancy as Lateral-Buckle Mitigation in High-Pressure High-Temperature Flowlines
Authors: Brunner M. S. , Desiraju A. , Ferdous R. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The use of distributed buoyancy modules as a lateral buckle mitigation device in High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) flowlines requires consideration of a range of parameters to ensure a successful solution. An investigation into several of these parameters and their impacts on lateral buckling behavior is explored.
Buoyancy module spacing, the submerged weight in buoyancy sections, the buoyancy section configuration and length, and soil-pipe interactions at end modules are explored via the finite-element method. Sensitivities on these parameters for a single pipe diameter are explored as they relate to the lateral buckling behavior and associated industry-imposed limit states.
A rigid 8-inch HPHT production flowline is investigated for each of the parameters described. Finite-element models are used to investigate the lateral buckling behavior in virtual-anchor-spacing (VAS) models.
The VAS modeling of various distributed-buoyancy system parameters provides results that confirm the importance of adequately assessing these parameters in the design process.
VAS modeling demonstrates that buoyancy-module spacing, and buoyancy-section submerged weight, configuration, and length can all materially impact lateral buckling behavior and flowline integrity. It is found that each of these parameters needs to stay within a certain range for satisfactory performance, based on industry guideline VAS acceptance criteria and model stability, and going outside that range can yield unreliable and potentially risky lateral buckling behavior.
Ranges for the various parameters used in the design of distributed buoyancy sections are offered that will help ensure a robust and reliable distributed buoyancy solution.
Innovative Drilling and Completion Technologies for Economic Development of Offshore Unconventional Heavy Oil Thermal Recovery
Authors: Huo Hongbo , Zhang Xiaocheng , Zhang Lei , Hou Xinxin , Lin Jiayu , Chen Kejin 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Bohai Oilfield is rich in unconventional heavy oil reserves where the viscosity of formation crude oil is more than 50000 cP and mobility are poor. To produce heavy oil from formation to the surface and transport it to processing terminal is recognized as a worldwide challenge, especially for offshore oilfield for development cost.
Taking the development idea of "Overall deployment, Step-by-step implementation, and Test first" for technical research, the pilot test of thermal recovery was successfully carried out in Bohai Oil fields for the first time. Facing well head elevation and annulus pressure build up problems caused by high injection temperature (350°C), the low-density cementing slurry system is developed to ensure the cementing quality; Casing material and sand control method are optimized and selected to ensure wellbore integrity and sand control effectiveness, and other down hole safety control tools have also been optimized for high pressure and temperature.
The results show that after 28 days of bath at 350°C, the uni-axial compressive strength of the newly developed cement stone can basically be stabilized, which indicates that the cement stone has good high-temperature stability and well head evaluation problems have been mitigated. The proposed injection-production jet pump integration process is that the heat injection process and the production process use one set of production strings to realize the efficient connection between heat injection and production, and the operating cost is reduced. The long-term sand control technology for thermal recovery wells has been proposed, and 8 rounds of field tests have been completed with the sand content of the produced fluid is less than 0.3‰; The high-temperature down hole safety control system including high-temperature down hole safety valve, high-temperature thermal production packer and other key tools have been developed to build a safety barrier.
These technologies have been successfully applied in Bohai Oilfield, helping Bohai Oilfield achieve a breakthrough in the large-scale and economic development of ultra-heavy oil.
AI-Based Cement Bond Quality Assessment: A First Step for Optimizing P&A Design
Authors: Correia Tiago M. , Camerini I. G. , Hidalgo J. A. S. , Ferreira G. R. B. , de Souza L. P. B. , Rodrigues A. S. , Penatti J. R. R. , Braga A. M. B. , Almeida R. V. 
Published: April 2024

Summary
As decommissioning operations continue to expand, the challenges associated with evaluating the integrity of the cement layer and its bond to casing and formation become more pronounced. Ensuring hydraulic isolation of the wellbore from the surrounding environment is crucial before permanently sealing the well. However, the current methodology relies on the expertise of specialists who interpret extensive and intricate data obtained through logging operations. Recognizing the challenges inherent in cement evaluation, Ouronova, in collaboration with Repsol Sinopec Brazil, is developing a computational solution to help specialists interpret cement integrity logging data. Simultaneously, the developed tool aims to assist operators in optimizing the planning and management of decommissioning campaigns. The innovative software employs machine learning techniques that have exhibited significant promise in enhancing accuracy, reliability, and efficiency in the analysis of cement sheath integrity. Thus, the objective of this paper is to present some results obtained with the software by using Convolutional Neural Networks to predict the cement condition in two wellbore regions. The acquired dataset was used to generate Variable Density Logs diagram and plots here referred to as 2D Combined Signals, which were used as inputs to train the model. The main results indicate good accuracy in predicting the cement condition using the Variable Density Log and the 2D Combined Signals. In special, the latter showed to be a more promising option because its accuracy value tended to be more stable as the database was increased, in comparison with the Variable Density Log case. As a metric for the comparisons, the Balanced Adjacency Accuracy was used. For the results based on the Variable Density Log, we found a value of 0.810, while for the ones based on the 2D Combined Signals, we found 0.958.
Assessment of the Safety of Fishing Using Various Types of Fishing Gear in California Offshore Wind Lease Areas
Authors: Stahl C. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
More than 300 offshore wind hull and mooring designs have been reviewed by classification societies. With the recent auction of lease blocks offshore of California, five offshore wind developers have site control and are evaluating the various hull and mooring concepts. Members of the fishing industry are interested in the potential effects of these future wind farms on their ability to fish safely within the leased areas. The following paper investigates the effects on fishing risk from the range of floating foundations currently being proposed by designers and includes: the implications of mooring design, turbine spacing, and the depth of array cables.
The implications of design choices on the safety of specific fishing gear are discussed. For example, interconnected mooring lines within 25 m of the surface present challenges for midwater trawling. The various hull and mooring concepts pose different levels and types of risk. For instance, a tension leg platform (TLP) with taut mooring lines has a lower likelihood of contact with fishing gear than a semi-submersible hull concept with catenary mooring lines. The TLP concept encapsulates much less underwater volume and has a smaller footprint on the seabed. In addition, TLP mooring lines are anchored to the ocean floor without significantly diminishing underwater clearance for fishing between turbines.
In addition to hull and mooring design, other aspects discussed are turbine spacing and the depth of the array cable. These three aspects provide a comprehensive perspective on how floating offshore wind may affect fishing safety in the waters offshore of California.
Horizontal Capacity of Suction Anchor with Retrievable Cap in Clay for Floating Wind Turbine
Authors: Wang H. , Wang Y. , and Pisanò F. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Recently, the offshore wind industry is transitioning from the fixed-bottom in shallow waters to the floating in deep waters. This shift requires station-keeping anchors to stabilize turbines. Maximizing the cost-effectiveness and installation efficiency of anchor foundations is critical for project success. Suction anchors offer an efficient installation method by creating an underpressure to penetrate the seabed without noise from hammering like driven pile anchors. This foundation concept, well-established in the oil and gas industry, holds promise for floating offshore wind applications. Traditionally, the top cap is fixed on the suction anchor after installation to provide a sealed condition inside for better vertical holding performance. However, in the case of a catenary mooring system in soft clay, where horizontal loads dominate, the conventional fixed top cap may not be necessary. Instead, a retrievable top cap can be designed, offering cost savings and ensuring full embedment of the anchor in the seabed, enhancing its capacity, and mobilizing more soil in deep areas. This study presents a series of numerical modelling to investigate the horizontal capability of the suction anchors in clay with retrievable top caps. Comprehensive numerical simulations were performed, which were validated first against the existing studies in literatures for traditional suction anchor with fixed top cap. A parametric study was then carried out to assess the effects of the retrievable top cap length, anchor length to diameter ratio (L/D), padeye location, and loading angle on the anchor horizontal capacity. Consistent with the existing studies, the failure mechanism of horizontally loaded suction anchor change with the padeye location, which transforms from a rotation failure to horizontal translation failure as the padeye location increase from seabed to around 0.6L (anchor length) and provides the highest horizontal capacity, although it should be noted that the padeye location is also affected by the loading angle. For the anchor with retrievable top cap, almost the same horizontal capacity was observed when the L/D ratio is larger than 1. In addition, when the retrievable top part extends to upper part of anchor, a higher capacity factor can be obtained due to the increased embedment and the mobilization of deep soil. Compared with the anchor with fixed top cap, the optimum padeye location of anchor with retrievable top part will also change to a shallower depth at around 0.5L.
Reducing the Environmental Impact of Seismic Acquisition While Improving Operational Efficiency by Incorporating New Technologies
Authors: da Silva A. A. C. , da Silva R. C. , Lopez J. L. , Grandi S. , Cortes P. N. , Apolonio F. A. , Ramos Filho W. L. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Three R&D initiatives in seismic data acquisition are presented focusing on the reduction of environmental footprint while reducing the operational cost and increasing the efficiency in offshore field operations. The first initiative is the development of a new seismic sensor that can remain on the seafloor for up to five years, the On Demand Ocean Bottom Node - OD OBN (Lopez et al., 2023), helping to decrease the cost of seismic monitoring surveys. The second initiative is a new type of seismic source with lower environmental impact, the Marine Vibrator, which improves the usage of the available energy of the seismic source within the most useful frequency band for seismic acquisition, suppressing higher frequencies potentially harmful for marine mammals (Wartzok and Ketten, 1999). The third initiative is a pilot 3D seismic acquisition in deep-offshore Brazil using fiber optic cables, originally installed on the seafloor as part of a Permanent Reservoir Monitoring (PRM) system, which will be interrogated using Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) while recording shots from a seismic streamer vessel present in the area. It is expected that the 3D seismic data acquired in this manner will offer a good understanding of the potential for DAS application for seismic data acquisition using fibers laid on the seafloor, considering the fiber's limitations in sensitivity and angular response. In addition to conventional applications for reservoir monitoring, these technologies are promising for applications linked to the energy transition, such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects, where the expected low commercial value of the sequestered CO2 requires low-cost monitoring methods to be affordable.
Numerical Study on the Impact of Advanced Phenomena in a Fractured Carbonate Reservoir Subjected to WAG-CO2 Injection
Authors: Menezes D. E. S. , Botechia V. E. , Schiozer D. J. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Advanced phenomena related to water-alternating-gas (WAG) injection are usually neglected in numerical simulations. This work evaluates the impact of different physical phenomena on field indicators, considering a typical pre-salt carbonate reservoir (UNISIM-II-D-CO, a dual-por dual-perm compositional case) subjected to WAG-CO2 injection. Additionally, the computational cost incurred by each of these phenomena is evaluated, since it represents a great challenge in optimization and probabilistic studies. The following phenomena are evaluated considering a nominal base case: (i) matrix-fracture transfer calculation, (ii) relative permeability hysteresis, (iii) CO2 and CH4 solubilities in aqueous phase, (iv) diffusion, (v) numerical dispersion control models, and (vi) velocity-dependent dispersion. CO2 and CH4 solubilities in the aqueous phase, as well as molecular diffusion, did not have a significant impact on field indicators, but they increased simulation runtime more than two times. Matrix-fracture transfer modeling was the most impactful factor, followed by hysteresis and velocity-dependent dispersion. Therefore, the impact of these phenomena was also investigated in a probabilistic approach, considering an ensemble of 197 geostatistical scenarios under uncertainty. Risk curves revealed that the advanced matrix-fracture transfer models improve sweep efficiency. This effect is mainly due to gravity force which acts as a driving mechanism for the oil moving from the matrix to fractures. The capillary effect, in turn, was small compared to gravity. The impact of dispersion and hysteresis on risk curves were smaller than the effect of matrix-fracture transfer modelling. However, these phenomena are particularly interesting in UNISIM-II-D-CO due to the presence of Super-K facies. Hysteresis, when applied to low and high permeability layers, reduced gas mobility and, consequently, the gas produced, contributing to the NPV for most models under uncertainty. On the other hand, the velocity-dependent dispersion mainly affected fluid flows in the regions adjacent to Super-K layers, promoting better oil recovery. The inclusion of advanced phenomena related to WAG-CO2 injection can hold importance when modeling fractured carbonate fields, like those found in the Pre-Salt in Brazil. Nevertheless, computational costs might make their inclusion impractical in full-field simulation models employed for optimization and probabilistic studies. In such cases, it is recommended to assess low-fidelity models or alternatives to accelerate simulations, focusing mainly on the most impactful phenomena related to WAG-CO2 injection.