bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Project Priority Ranking Process
Authors: Gatta S. R. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Each year the Company plans capital and maintenance programs to enhance and safely maintain the production system while satisfying all statutory regulations including employees' welfare. In fulfilling its role as the corporate level planning body of the Company, the Planning Group considers a wealth of policy issues that may influence the selection of projects. The list of proposed projects invariably exceeds financial targets. Allocating Company&#39;s finite resources is crucial to its long-term success. An annual task therefore is to reduce the number of projects to be within the total budget, while recognizing the various strategic, tactical and HSE objectives represented by these projects.
The most successful companies are those that have a formal project screening process in place: they allocate resources efficiently, and commit to stopping on-going (carry-over) projects that do not meet continuation criteria (e.g. the project objectives have undergone revision). The focus of review, however, is on new Proposals. The prioritization process is a systematic and consistent method for determining preferred order for allocating limited corporate resources to fund capital projects.
A description of the ranking system applied is furnished. It may initially appear complicated because there is typically more than one dimension for measuring the impact of each project and more than one decision maker. This paper considers a real life application of the proposed project ranking methodology, adopting Delphi approach (that is instrumental in minimizing the bias) for the assignment of scores. These scores represent the alignment of each project with one or more Corporate Objectives, risk-consequence and probability of occurrence based on the descriptions under each rating category. The final ranking is derived from the initial ranking following management review that considers all possible factors, including project description, project scope, definition of alternatives, estimates of project cost & schedule, and project readiness.
The process lends itself for enhancement, revision and further improvements.
Nondestructive Testing Technologies for the Oil Industry
Authors: Basrawi Marwan , Keck Danny 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Nondestructive Testing (NDT) is proving itself in the oil industry. Oil companies that are seriously investing in it are realizing millions of dollars per year in cost saving and/or cost avoidance. The most important investment in NDT is in the human resources. NDT is not only about equipment, but also even more about the professionals operating the equipment and interpreting the results. Proper training and certification is paramount in this aspect. Each newly developed NDT technique leads to another more effective one that may be adapted for purpose and finally implemented effectively. Effective implementation is achieved only through proper up-to-date training and certification for even the most conventional NDT techniques. Otherwise, high potential NDT technologies are procured to be doomed for failure through misapplication and then eventual surplus without the realization of any cost saving, quality and safety benefits.
After introducing the proven significance of NDT and its effective implementation, this paper presents some critical NDT technologies for the oil industry, from the most conventional to the more advanced, and their proper and appropriate application and resulting benefits.
Experience with Tripod Beta Methodology Applied to Serious Environmental Incident Investigation
Authors: Otutu F. , Agba S. A 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The aim of a facility design and mode of operation is to ensure that there is no unintentional loss of containment&lt;sup&gt;4&lt;/sup&gt;. However, despite best endeavours, loss of containment may, and sometimes does, occur and we need to understand the root causes, consequences and implications of such events.
Throughout the history of EP business, the pattern of Environmental incidents investigation had been the same: The discovery that corrosion, explosion or sabotage was the immediate cause of a spill always put an end to the investigation as if there is no need to look further-no need to see that such incidents are the effects of other causes, causes yet to be addressed. These yet-to-be-adressed causes is what this paper tends to address using the Tripod methodology (root cause analysis). Tripod is well known and widely used as a safety incident analysis tool. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate that its use can be extended to analyse Environmental Incidents as well.
Tripod analysis results will lead you to take both short term immediate corrective actions, as well as finding the underlying root causes (latent failures) hidden in the way we do our work that will cause similar problems in the future. By identifying actions to correct these underlying issues, we can continuously improve our overall business.
Asphaltene Remedial Technology Using Advanced Deasphalted Oil
Authors: Alkafeef Saad F. , Al-Medhadi Fahad , Al-Shammari Ali D. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
It is well recognised among the scientific community that resin molecules play a crucial role in the stability of colloidal asphaltene particles in petroleum oils. The de-stabilization of asphaltene/resin interaction under the influence of any change in the thermodynamic parameters can cause asphaltene to precipitate. This may significantly add to petroleum field problems such as in-situ permeability reduction, as well as by contributing to serious plugging problems in the production facilities. The latter is the case in West Kuwait Marrat deep wells.
One of the remedial technologies that is used in the oil industry is to increase the concentration of the resins&#39; chemical potential by developing synthetic resins to enhance the stability of asphaltene in the oil phase. This method sometimes can be ineffective due to the difficulty in predicting the resin chemical structure that is compatible with the asphaltene chemical structure. The objective of this paper is to introduce a method that is capable of increasing the concentration of resins in their natural state, including increasing oil&#39;s aromatic power solvency. The latter is an excellent solvent for well cleaning.
The stability of asphaltene was investigated using three different types of de-asphalted oils (DAO) derived from West Kuwait Marrat oil. The first DAO had only the asphaltene fraction removed; the second had the fractions of C5 to C9 removed, and asphaltene; the third had C5 to C15 fractions and asphaltene removed. The oil fractions were removed by a distillation process and asphaltene precipitated by n-pentane.
The results have shown that the resin concentration in Marrat oil was increased in volume by removing more oil fractions. It was observed that asphaltene stabilization is strongly influenced by the resin concentration. The influence of the aromatic power solvency has also been examined on asphaltene particles disaggregation, and it was found that disaggregation kinetic rates increase with increasing the aromatic concentration in DAO. No formation damage was observed by all DAO products during core flooding tests.
Successful Hydraulic Fracturing through Optimization Steps for High Rate Deep Gas Wells in Carbonate Reservoirs, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Ghurairi F. A. , Solares J. Ricardo 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Saudi Aramco is currently undertaking one of the largest gas development projects in the world comprising a large number of new deep wells, four world-class gas plants, and massive development of new infrastructure.
The Khuff reservoir is highly heterogeneous; thus, rendering traditional matrix stimulation treatments mostly ineffective as the development progresses to tight formation. This motivated Saudi Aramco to search for alternative cost-effective options to increase well productivity in order to meet project objectives. Hence, acid fracturing was selected as an option offering good success potential and the lowest implementation cost when compared to other evaluated alternatives.
This article describes the highly positive results achieved throughout an accelerated acid fracturing campaign, successfully implemented by Saudi Aramco, comprising more than 80 treated wells, which have yielded a two-to six-fold increase in gas rates. Details of an ongoing optimization process, combining technology and partnering with other Saudi Aramco organizations and Service Companies, accountable for the success achieved to date are also desirable.
The Damascus Study Centre
Authors: Otri Ahmad , Castelijns Joop 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Even in the relatively mature oil fields of Al Furat Petroleum Company, there is large scope for further increased recovery, predominantly related to optimisation of the waterflood sweep-efficiency through infill drilling and to application of enhanced oil recovery techniques. In either case, in-depth integrated study work using the latest subsurface technologies is required to understand the complex reservoir geology, to identify and quantify bypassed oil pockets and to propose activities for further field development with a resulting recovery improvement. In 2001, the Damascus Study Centre was set up by AFPC to create the additional study capacity required. Important advantages of a local study centre, as opposed to outsourcing of study work, are in the areas of technology transfer, communication with the company&#39;s operational departments, building-up and retaining company-specific expertise and national staff development. However, there is a risk that a local study centre gets overly involved in urgent operational activities and gets distracted from the long-term study objectives. A delicate balance between the Study Centre&#39;s short-term and long-term objectives is established through a combination of organisational ringfencing and application of a fit-for-purpose study methodology. The Damascus Study Centre, which started its activities in June 2001, has already made a significant contribution to the company&#39;s performance in terms of production, ultimate recovery, technology implementation and development of young Syrian staff.
The Nimr Story: Reservoir Exploitation Using UBD Techniques
Authors: Ramalho J. , Medeiros R. , Francis P. A. , Davidson I. A. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
In May 2002, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) embarked on a ten well, underbalanced drilling (UBD) trial campaign in the Nimr field using crude oil as the drilling fluid and membrane generated nitrogen as the lift gas. UBD was proposed as a productivity improvement technique for the Nimr field following a low risk/high reward analysis. The Nimr field is a complex of six fields. UBD was implemented in the Nimr A field consisting of two reservoirs: the Amin and Al Khlata, which are generally high permeability (±1Darcy) sandstone reservoirs containing medium gravity (21° API) viscous (300-500 cP) crude.
Horizontal wells are generally completed with a wire-wrap screen (WWS) across the reservoir section, due to sand production history in some wells, and are produced via artificial lift methods, primarily beam pump. Even though the predominant factor affecting net oil rate performance was the rate and behavior of water cut development it was suspected that drilling-induced skin, combined with mechanical skin from the completion, was a contributing factor to recent poor results from the horizontal wells.
The paper will demonstrate the value of a multi-well campaign to avoid eliminating a good candidate reservoir due to inconclusive start-up results associated introducing a new technology. It will describe some of these early start-up challenges, the equipment modifications and changes to operating procedures that have resulted in the uptake of this game-changing technology in the Nimr field. Additionally, it will emphasize the potential value of well inflow and reservoir characterization data gathered during UBD operations. This data indicated significant opportunities to improve well performance and increase ultimate recovery resulting in a potential value far exceeding those originally envisaged prior to initiating the UBD trial.
A Direct Comparison Between Conventional and Underbalanced Drilling Techniques in the Saih Rawl Field, Oman
Authors: Culen M. S. , Harthi S. , Hashimi H. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The history of UBD in Petroleum Development Oman stretches back to sporadic projects in the mid 1990's, however it has not been until recently that tangible gains have been realized using the technique.
Although the benefits of UBD are widely accepted within North America, internationally the technology has not been fully exploited for a number of reasons, namely the justification of increased drilling costs against perceived ‘intangible’ benefits. Such a justification is particularly hard for asset managers and well planners to make in the absence of any concrete industry data regarding production increases.
PDO embarked on a focused campaign to trial UB and evaluate its applicability as an enabling technology. A ‘Zero Cost Implementation’ approach was used to introduce the campaign, and drilling began in June 2002. Wells targeted in the Saih Rawl Field are under pressured oil wells, drilled as 5 legged producer-injector pairs off of a 7" backbone. The wells are normally completed by means of an Electric Submersible Pump.
Engineering for the UB project in Saih Rawl focused on the Asset Team's mandate of eliminating reservoir damage. Consequently, equipment was chosen and a program developed utilizing the injection of field natural gas via a concentric casing string to establish UB conditions.
As the technology was newly re-introduced to PDO and its local contractors, a stepwise approach to drilling underbalanced was adopted for the first well, and ultimately demonstrated the benefits of UBD. The first two legs of the first well were drilled conventionally overbalanced and stimulated, while the third leg was drilled overbalanced, stimulated and tested with the UB separation equipment. The remaining two legs were drilled underbalanced and tested.
The post drilling flow tests proved to be invaluable for evaluating the applicability of UBD, as the results showed a distinct increase in production from adjacent legs approximately 200 m apart in the same reservoir. This paper focuses on the design issues and the results of drilling SR 153 underbalanced.
Reservoir Characterization during UBD: Methodology and Active Tests
Authors: Vefring Erlend H. , Nygaard Gerhard , Lorentzen Rolf Johan , Nævdal Geir , Fjelde Kjell Kåre 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
In this paper methodologies for reservoir characterization during underbalanced drilling is presented. In these methodologies we are using a transient wellflow model coupled to a transient reservoir model, and use estimation techniques to estimate reservoir properties. Our focus is to estimate the permeability and reservoir pressure along the well, using measured data usually available while drilling. The measured data are outlet rates, pump pressure and downhole pressure. The liquid injection and gas injection rates are used as input to the model. The methodologies are applied to synthetic cases.
Using Fuzzy Logic for UBD Candidate Selection
Authors: Garrouch Ali A. , Labbabidi Haitham M. S. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
This paper describes the development of an expert system for deciding whether to drill underbalanced or overbalanced. The expert system screens rock parameters that favor the design of an effective underbalanced drilling program. Once it is concluded that a particular reservoir presents a good candidate for underbalanced drilling technology (UBD), a screening procedure is then followed to select the optimal UBD technique. The following list of underbalanced techniques is considered in our expert system: liquid drilling (flow drilling), dry air drilling, nitrogen drilling, mist drilling, nitrified mud, aerated mud, and stiff foam drilling. The system screening procedure is put in an interactive advisor system that accounts for subsurface and surface safety, minimum rock formation damage, and wellbore stability. The expert uses a set of known facts and heuristics to measure the reservoir susceptibility for damage caused by clay swelling, fines migration, lost circulation and wellbore collapse.
A knowledge base development tool (Resolver) that consists of various utilities for developing and maintaining the rules, and implementing inference mechanisms was used in developing the expert system for selecting a candidate UBD technique. The principal attractive feature of ReSolver is that it supports fuzzy logic among other confidence modes. Membership functions were defined to assist the expert system in making decisions when the decision variables fall in a "gray area". Membership functions were constructed for variables such as lost circulation, clay swelling, fines migration, hard drilling potentials, cost benefit, gas influx and water influx potentials, fire potential, and stuck pipe potential. When the final outcome consists of a set of drilling fluids rather than a single one, these drilling fluids options were even screened further by the expert system to assure that the UBD fluid density is adequate within the pressure window. If the expert system still recommends more than a single drilling fluid option, a confidence level is given with each option.
Drilling underbalanced offers several benefits compared to conventional drilling techniques. These include, increased penetration rate and bit life, reduced probability of sticking the drillstring downhole, minimized lost circulation, improved formation evaluation, increased well productivity, and the reduction of stimulation treatments. The extent to which it is possible to achieve any of these benefits is generally controlled by the properties of the target reservoir and the overlying formations, and in some instances even by the specific characteristics of the well being drilled. The need for a fuzzy expert system that guides the user to optimally drill a well underbalanced becomes evident when we consider the delicate balance between the numerous coupled factors affecting the success of this operation.
Bitterweed S. (Caballos) Field: A Case History in Changing Economics Using Underbalanced Drilling and Open Hole Completions
Authors: Jaramillo Mike 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The ultimate goal in any business is to maximize profits. In the oil industry this is done by reducing costs and/or increasing production. Increasing production rates or increasing the recoverable reserves can achieve profits from production. In this study we look at how underbalanced drilling (UBD) and open hole completions changed the economics in the Bitterweed S. (Caballos) Field.
The Bitterweed S. (Caballos) Field was discovered in 1983, in Pecos County, Texas by Tenneco Oil Company. Currently, Riata Energy Incorporated, in order to improve the economics of its wells, is using underbalanced drilling and open hole completions, as well permit in the Caballos formations. This study will look at several wells drilled in the Caballos formation with conventional or underbalanced methods. Depending on the area the Caballos formation can be found from 4500’ to 7700’.
Underbalanced drilling is used to improve well productivity, drilling performance, and an understanding of the reservoir. Well productivity is improved by minimizing formation damage caused by drilling mud, cuttings, fluids, and cement entering the formation. These items can cause skin damage and increase the cost of the well by requiring costly stimulation operations. It is believed that by minimizing formation damage reserves can be increased.
Drilling performance is improved by lowering the bottom hole pressure, which increases the penetration rate and reduces drilling costs by reducing drilling days. Lowering the bottom hole pressure also enhances bit performance. Using underbalanced drilling methods minimizes lost circulation problems and differential sticking.
By passed gas zones can be found or studied by being able to monitor the flow continuously as the well is being drilled. Uncontaminated cuttings can be obtained using underbalanced methods and evaluated within minutes of drilling.
The Caballos formation is a commercial gas zone, which has been drilled conventionally and underbalanced. In this study, the well that was drilled underbalanced is producing approximately twice as much as the surrounding wells that were drilled conventionally at a rate of 3.33 MMCF/D as compared to a rate of 1.8 MMCF/D, respectively. IP's in the field have been 10 times higher for underbalanced wells but production is currently limited by pipeline capacity out of the field.
Coiled-Tubing-Conveyed Hydromechanical Pipe Cutting Enables Removable Packer Completions
Authors: McGurk Mark , Ponder Andrew , Smith Michael , Wilson Steve 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Traditionally, completion engineers have faced a dilemma when deciding whether to run a large-bore, hydraulically set, permanent or retrievable packer completion. Thanks to advances in cutting technology, this decision is no longer an either/or proposition. The innovative alternative which has been enabled by through-tubing cutting technology is the removable packer completion.
Combining a through-tubing-conveyed hydromechanical cutter with a "cut-to-retrieve" packer had never previously been attempted. In addition to providing an innovative solution for difficult service environments, the new capabilities gained by combining these technologies has led to the development of a work-string-conveyed method of cutting and retrieving the packer, thus enlarging the scope of viable applications for the removable packer completion.
This paper will review the removable packer completion and the coiled-tubing-conveyed hydromechanical pipe cutting system and describe in detail how the technology was proven, both in the laboratory and at the rig, and how it is being used to design and complete wells in Alaska and Kazakhstan.
Inflatable CT Conveyed Selective Well Testing System for Logging Openhole and Horizontal Wellbores: Development and Use
Authors: Blount C. G. , Crabtree C. L. , Pierson C. R. , Rennie S. B. , Mackenzie G. R. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Quantitative production logging of openhole and horizontal wellbores presents a challenge for conventional logging tools and techniques. The complicating factors of horizontal logging are primarily related to low fluid velocities and stratified flow. Openhole horizontal completions further the challenge by increasing the opportunity for tool fouling and fill obstruction, creating abrasive running environments, and finally complicating interpretation with unknown hole geometries.
To address these challenges, a new diverter logging system based on inflatable packer technology has been developed. The tool is inflated at discrete locations in the horizontal section so that all flow at each stop is diverted through rock-excluding screens and past conventional memory logging tools in a carrier. Pressure drop through the tool is minimal, and the fixed internal diameter carrier allows for high resolution logging over a wide range of rates.
Developing a method to allow packer setting and resetting in wire/umbilical-free Coiled Tubing (CT), while constantly maintaining a production or injection path through the tool, called for innovative engineering. The tool has been run in nine wells to date. This paper will discuss the need, development, and field results of the new inflatable packer logging system.