bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mental Health of Expatriate Oil Workers on Extended Twelve Hour Shifts in a Desert-Based Oil Field
Authors: Jackson C. A. , Spurgeon A. , DeJong G. , Haag Den 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The mental health of workers who are exposed to extended twelve hour shifts in a hostile desert environment for periods of 28 consecutive days and 56 consecutive days (standard vs. extended "hitches") was assessed. Measurement of short term mood showed that workers operating under both work schedules underwent significant increases in fatigue over the duration of a hitch. Standard hitch workers also reported increased confusion, with extended hitch workers reporting increased anger and decreased vigor. Extended hitch workers showed greater somatic symptoms, anxiety / insomnia, and overall psychiatric state at hitch end than hitch start. At hitch end, extended workers also had a global psychiatric state above the clinical threshold that indicated clinical significance. There were no such mental health effects for standard hitch workers. After adjusting for covariates of actual hours worked, pay rating, and stressful events in personal life, it was found that there were no differences between standard and extended hitch workers on measures of mood state or mental health at either hitch start, hitch end, or hitch start six months later. These results suggest that there are detrimental short term consequences of the current work schedules, more so for extended than standard hitches. No long term mental health effects were identified as a result of hitch schedule, and any short term mental health and mood state differences found between workers under different hitches were negated after adjustment was made for the psychosocial modifying factors outlined above. Other lifestyle factors that were identified as being beneficial to workers’ mental health and short term mood states were exercising during hitch, and a feeling of low stress and annoyance during hitch. Workers who were parents also showed short term benefits in selected mood states at the start of hitch. Long term mental health effects of increased social dysfunction (possibly poor adjustment at hitch start) were shown in workers with low occupational satisfaction, and greater short and long term depression was found in those workers with no previous experience of working away from home.
CO2 Recovery for Sequestration from a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Power Plant
Authors: Li K. J. , Haines Mike , Heidug Wolf K. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Norske Shell plans to develop and demonstrate a new technology for power generation from natural gas, which allows efficient and economic capture of the exhaust CO2 for subsurface sequestration. The technology will be suitable for deepwater offshore deployment on floating production facilities. The demonstration project will be a showcase for sustainable development principles, as it will provide power, heat and nutrients to a fish farm
Key Themes
CO2 capture allowing sequestration Development of high efficiency fuel cells Integration with another key Norwegian Industry – fisheries
A Decision Support Framework for Greenhouse Gas Abatement in the LNG Industry
Authors: Waller Steven L. , Bennett Allan T. , Baskind Pamela 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The outcome of the Kyoto Protocol has placed emission limitations on the countries of Annex B to the Protocol, in the case of Australia the assigned amount is 108% of its 1990 emissions. Industries intensively producing or using fossil fuels may chose to undertake voluntary action to reduce emissions or they may be subject to mandatory measures imposed by governments as they seek to meet the Kyoto target. Such measures should be demonstrably least cost or ‘no-regrets’. There is a need to address the range of possible technological abatement measures undertaken by companies in a structured manner so the whole range of possible measures are identified, the marginal cost and the emission abatement potential of each option is evaluated as a necessary precursor to a systematic strategy for emission abatement being formulated. Described in this paper is a process utilised by Woodside Energy Ltd, the operator of the North-West Shelf Venture LNG Project in Australia to systematically identify options available to reduce greenhouse emissions. The paper describes the methodology to calculate the net benefit of each option, including a Benefit/Cost Analysis that utilises 3 distinct cases against a ‘business as usual’ baseline. The cases considered are with no greenhouse values, with private values only and finally with private and societal costs included. The final step is to rank alternatives according to cost and emission effectiveness. The process is then applied in a case study looking at the alternatives for co-absorbed hydrocarbon venting reduction measures from an acid gas removal process.
The outcome of the process provides a clear view of the private and societal values of greenhouse and other emission abatement measures on LNG facilities.
Laboratory Assessment of Biodegradation of Non Soluble Drilling Mud Base Fluids Under Nigerian Environmental Conditions
Authors: Imevbore V. O. , Nwankwo J. N. , Ifeadi C. N. , Ladan M. D. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
In Nigeria today, the environmental acceptance of a non water-soluble drilling mud base fluid depends not only on its toxicity as measured from traditional bioassays, but also on its biodegradation under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Presently, however, there is no widely accepted laboratory method for biodegradability assessment of drilling fluids.
Based on its relevance to environmental conditions affecting the biodegradation of drilling fluids, the recently developed Solid Phase Biodegradation Test Method was chosen for assessment of drilling fluids in Nigeria. The test was modified, essentially to ensure better simulation of Nigerian environmental conditions. Thus, the Nigerian version of the method is a 60 day "closed system" Test that entails the assessment of a given sample in both fresh and brackish/marine water simulated environmental conditions.
The biodegradation assessment of three drilling fluid types: an ester, an olefin and a mixture of both was carried out using the Nigerian version of the Solid Phase Test. The results obtained are presented in this paper. They compare favorably with and validate other Solid Phase Test results, which show olive oil to be a ready degradable substance and esters as having a generally higher percentage degradation than other synthetic base fluids. In this test, percentage biodegradation was observed to be higher in the brackish/marine water than in the freshwater simulated environment.
Use of Fuzzy Sets Theory in Qualitative and Quantitative Risk Assessment
Authors: Zolotukhin A. B. , Gudmestad O. T. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Risk analysis has become a powerful tool for identifying technical solutions, procedures and operations with high risk and is extensively used in the offshore industry. Risk analysis is also used to identify, assess and compare risk reducing measures such that the operations can be carried out within the acceptance criteria set. These analyses can thus be used by company or project management for decision support.
For operations or events where a data base exists, which is representing the probabilities of the different accidental events, the risk figures estimated in a quantitative risk analysis can be considered to represent fairly accurately the risk involved when carrying out said operations.
In the case of special operations where little previous experience exists, however, one has to rely on the experience and belief of experts in order to establish probability figures. In a Bayesian risk analysis approach, the values suggested by the experts represent the uncertainty in the expert's estimate. The risk values calculated may not accurately represent the full risk involved in carrying out the operations, but use of specialists is thought to be a useful tool to rank different options and is applicable for selection of the most proper risk reducing methods.
The objective of this paper is to show how the information and assessment provided by the experts can be used in the most proper way to quantify possibilities for accidents in a risk analysis. We will use fuzzy sets theory, which is a tool that is mathematically stringent and well established to quantify possibilities of accidental scenarios relying on the experts' assessments. We will show how this theory in practice can be used as an elegant method in both qualitative and quantitative risk analyses.
The paper illustrates the use of fuzzy set method by assessing the risk for offshore tow operations and by comparing the results obtained with the data of a conventional risk analysis for a complex tow of the deck of an offshore platform.
Health and Safety Performance in Design Management
Authors: Findlay K. , Al-Hassan T. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Since the introduction of the Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 1992 and other goal setting legislation such as the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Design and Construction) Regulations 1995, the HSE OSD has undertaken the examination of a number of new projects undertaken by dutyholders. During 1998 and 1999 a number of design management theme audits (design reviews) were undertaken with a view to determining the key processes which have an impact upon health and safety performance during design management from conceptual selection through to detailed design, construction and commissioning. This paper discusses the principal findings from the audits. It also describes how HSE OSD is taking forward the findings through the various tools it has at its disposal.
Helicopter Safety Study 2 - A Report on North Sea Helicopter Operations
Authors: Hokstad Per , Jersin Erik , Sten Terje 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The helicopter transport represents one of the major hazards in North Sea oil and gas production. Seven oil companies have therefore initiated a helicopter safety study, carried out in 1997-1999. Main objectives were to assess the present risk level of this helicopter traffic, and to predict the effect of possible operational and technical changes (e.g. risk reducing measures).
Making In-Vehicle Monitoring Systems Work
Authors: Twilhaar Dick Nijen , van Schagen Ingrid , Kassar Bassam 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Syria Shell Petroleum Development is a joint venture partner in major EP activities in Syria. Many road transport fatalities were associated with these activities and therefore it was decided to try to improve this grim state of affairs by executing a dedicated road safety program fully funded by Shell. Drastic improvements in the road safety statistics were seen since then. The average number of fatalities dropped from more than 5 per year to 1. This paper gives you some brief highlights of the various initiatives aimed at reducing road transport fatalities. In spite of the drastic improvement in road safety it was recognised that the unsupervised driver in his vehicle remained the weakest element in ensuring safe road transport. In-Vehicle Monitoring Systems (IVMS) are often seen as the solution for this problem as it offers a means to supervise drivers. Unfortunately, the application of the "conventional" IVMS technology is often less effective. As part of the road safety program a novel method aimed at aligning drivers’ short-term benefits with long term safety interests by using IVMS was developed. The second part of the paper describes this novel approach and gives the encouraging result of a field trial as carried out in Syria. It is shown that substantial improvements in accident potential can be accomplished by using this novel way of applying IVMS. These results were accomplished without the usual problems associated with using IVMS and with hardly any noticeable burden on the organisation.
Measuring Very Low Residual Oil Contents on Cuttings: A Challenging Approach of the Zero OPF Discharge Option.
Authors: SAINTPERE Stéphane , MORILLON-JEANMAIRE Anne 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The discharge of waste containing OPF (Organic Phase Fluid including Low Toxicity Fluids and esters) such as drilling cuttings will gradually be banned from a number of regions throughout the world. In the North Sea, by the end of year 2000, dumping into the sea of OPF drilling cuttings will definitely be prohibited. Nevertheless, as wells are becoming more and more sophisticated, the use of OPF as drilling fluid is actually the only viable option to succeed.
For the time being, cuttings re-injection and ship-to-shore appear to be the most probable options, but they involve a significant increase in operating cost, unless R&D efforts on new separation treatments enable cuttings to be cleaned to an extremely low residual oil content.
If a major breakthrough that could decrease the final residual oil content to around 0.5% or less (0.5 g of oil by 100 g of dry cuttings) can be envisaged, what will be the position of the authorities regarding cuttings discharge? Is "zero %" OPF content on cuttings before discharge reasonable and achievable? But first of all, is such a very low content measurable with precision on the rig site?
This paper provides answers regarding the sensitive problems of measuring a very low oil content on a mineral substratum. A comprehensive study has been performed aiming at comparing the performances of 2 different methods used in the oil industry: direct distillation with visual reading, and distillation/pyrolysis followed by an evaluation of the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) by a Flame Ionization Detector (FID). The conclusion is that the distinction has to be made between TOC and residual oil content (ROC). The method based on thermal extraction with control of the temperature slope, enables the determination of the different origins of the organic matter and clearly demonstrate the need for criteria: even Water Base Mud (WBM) cuttings can contain organic matter (from 0 to 3%), such as kerogen, that should not be taken into consideration when evaluating oil content by thermal methods.
The authors hope that the presented results could help to define a set of standard procedures to evaluate the residual oil content on cuttings.
Introducing Sustainability into your Business Plan
Authors: Allam H. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The Royal Dutch Shell Group's 1997 policy on Health, Safety and Environment included a commitment to sustainable development. Since then there has been a struggle to grasp the concept and to identify areas in which our inherently unsustainable business can make its mark. Shell has interpreted the Brundtland Commission's definition of sustainable development in terms of three fundamental pillars: economic growth, environmental conservation and societal gain.
This paper follows ‘Shell in Egypt's journey from making the commitment, through a phase of ad hoc contributions, and to a stage where sustainability is managed as any other business item.
The ultimate aim of the paper is to demonstrate how sustainability will be introduced into the corporate business plan, as a measurable item against which we can measure our performance, be audited and benchmark. Also to offer ideas as to how this can be achieved in other companies.
Sustainable Development - Implementation Strategy for a Global Exploration and Production Business
Authors: Bradley A. S. , Hartog J. J. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Since the Royal Dutch/Shell Group made a public commitment to contribute to sustainable development (SD), extensive work has been undertaken to turn this into practical reality and integrate the concept into business activities. In Shell EP, a framework has been produced to guide the development of the business in line with the concept of SD. The cornerstone of the approach is six sustainability principles, applicable from the corporate to site level. Each Shell EP company has used the principles to frame a strategy and assess their own course and contribution to SD, reflecting their individual operating environments, culture and stakeholder values.
The paper provides a background to the approach developed and discusses progress to date. Examples from several Shell operating companies illustrate how SD considerations are being integrated into activities and how work is being taken forward. The focus is on the ways that the EP business may contribute towards sustainability goals. Movement by EP companies into other energy sectors such as renewables is not considered.
Well-Testing Fluid Disposal in an Environmentally Sensitive Offshore Area
Authors: Doring U. K. , Le Foll P. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Exploration well testing in an environmentally sensitive offshore area presents technical and economic challenges to the oil and gas industry. This paper presents the approach recently taken in the La Vela Costa Afuera concession, an offshore block in an environmentally sensitive area, located off the northeastern coast of Falcon State in Venezuela. Given the very strict guidelines enforced by the Venezuelan environmental authorities, and the waxy nature of the crude expected, the initial choice at planning stage was to opt for a zero-liquid flaring solution. This meant mobilizing a floating production storage and off-loading (FPSO) system or a rig supported crude stabilization process and a suitable transport vessel. There was also the Venezuelan Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) desire not to waste the commercial value of Hydrocarbons.
Such solutions imply substantial operating costs, in particular with respect to the short duration of the exploratory well-testing activities. These costs justified investigating alternate, more cost-effective solutions that would also meet the environmental requirements.
An environmental impact study was conducted by an independent consultant that included an evaluation of fallout from oil flaring, impacts of emissions and heat radiation. Inputs from the operator, the local environmental authorities and the well-test oil burner manufacturer were used to evaluate the environmental effect of burning the waxy crude oil.
The study covered health, safety and environment (HSE) considerations such as hazard identification, pollutant dispersion study, oil-spill contingency plans, and rig and personnel safety.
The results were presented to the Venezuelan authorities, and permission to flare was granted by the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Energy and Mines and the national oil company Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA).
Oil with a 35 to 40°C pour point, 33°API gravity and containing as much as 35 to 40% paraffin was successfully flared using a new well-test oil burner. Thorough observation confirmed that no oil fallout occurred during the continuous flaring operations, some of which lasted up to 23 hrs.
Careful analysis of the risks, use of the latest flaring technology, and early coordination with the environmental and other governing authorities demonstrated that even the most stringent environmental requirements can be met without incurring high operating costs.
Well-testing fluid disposal using latest flaring technology can be a viable, cost effective, and environmentally sound solution.
Assessing Cost Effectiveness of Environmental Control Measures
Authors: Powell S. M. , McKelvie S. , Blanchard J. R. , Payne M. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
A practical methodology has been developed to assist project managers in the oil and gas industry identify the appropriate level of expenditure on control measures to achieve a significant improvement in environmental performance. The methodology is envisaged as a high-level, quantitative screening tool which can be supported by detailed studies where required.
The methodology is based on the existing principles of cost-benefit analysis. Within the industry, these methods are used for risk assessment and are therefore consistent with accepted practices. The method is able to quantify environmental impacts from all major hazards and identify environmental improvement resulting from the introduction of a control. It has been developed to be relatively easy to apply by non-environmental specialists and sufficiently flexible to allow application within a wide range of situations, worldwide.
A spreadsheet has been developed based on a series of environmental value and environmental impact cost matrices. These provide estimates of the costs of potential environmental damage within a variety of ecosystems ranging from open ocean to estuaries, wetlands to desert and urban areas to tropical forests. To refine the assessment, site specific estimates of the costs of environmental effects can be used.
The costing tool allows environmental risks and impacts to be quantified and places them within a monetary framework where they can be assessed alongside other technicological and financial project drivers.
Harmonization of Russian and Western HSE Norms and Standards
Authors: Nikitin B. , Jouravel V. , Mansurov M. , Mirzojev D. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Growing activities for oil&gas exploration and production on the Russian continental shelf marks last decade. Most executed and planned projects are presumed to be developed by international technical and financial participation. There is historical difference between Russian and Western approach to safety regulation and procedures regarding offshore oil and gas activities, causing problems in joint activities. Bearing this in mind several co-operation projects are carried out in Russia, both on governmental level and by oil&gas companies. The paper describes new step-by-step approach developed and applied in Russia to enable timely regulatory preparations for endorsing acceptable HSE requirements in the conditions of existing legal climate. The approach means two activities performed in parallel: (i) analysis of existing regulatory problems, gaps and discrepancies and elaboration of first order norms and standards within the specially established Technical Committee under the umbrella of State Standard Committee, and (ii) development of Special Technical Conditions to prevent potential risks and delays for specific projects. Reported approach is described in details and endorsed by some examples showing its practicability during overcoming period. Authors represent their vision of expected progress in HSE harmonization.
The Life of a Great Old Lady and Workforce Involvement During the Life of the Frigg Field
Authors: Atkinson A. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The Frigg Field, is an offshore oil and gas production complex in the North Sea, lying on the boundary between Norway and the UK. Since the start-up of the field in 1977, the operator of the field, Elf Norge has believed in workforce involvement and has actively facilitated this process. Over the years, Elf has provided for full-time salaried employee representatives to deal with union and safety, health and welfare matters, which has enabled the operator to keep an open dialogue with it's employees.
It is important to mention, that on only a very, very few occasions, over more than twenty years of operation, the daily nomination of gas production for the customer, has not been met.
From the start of the decline of the Frigg Field in the late eighties, workforce involvement was seen as an important issue when it came to achieving the best results for the future, for both the operator and for the employees involved. Re-organization and down-manning projects have actively used workforce representatives as a valuable resource to produce the best solutions.
This paper will attempt to show how the active involvement of the workforce during the life of an offshore installation has benefited both the operator and the employees in areas such as safety related matters, flexibility of operations and personnel and cost reduction.