bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Utilizing What We Know To Develop a New Source of Energy
Authors: Key Francis S. , Arnold Kenneth E. 
Published: July 2008

Summary
There are growing incentives to develop offshore wind farms. As with the early oilfield developments of 1900 to 1920, most of the wind developments to date have extended onshore designs and construction techniques to shallow waters. It is time to apply what we in the offshore oil and gas industry have learned to arrive at truly fit-for-purpose offshore solutions for wind-farm development.
This paper describes the needs of a typical wind farm and how these differ from those of a typical offshore oil and gas project. It draws on recent AMEC experiences in the design and installation of offshore wind turbines in Europe and studies performed in Houston.
Information and expertise exists within the current oil and gas industry to allow safe and economical designs of offshore wind farms in depths where bottom-supported structures are economical choices. Consideration of the following, however, will lead to different solutions: each installation may require 100 or more structures, the ratios of axial loads to lateral loads are much lower, torsion loads are considerable, and rotating blades will have significant dynamic effects. A proper design must take into account economics of scale ("design one, build 100") and assembly-linetype planning for component fabrication, transportation, assembly, and installation.
The methods and application of technologies successfully used by the offshore oil and gas industry can advance the development of offshore wind-energy projects. The tremendous amount of expertise, data, design technology, and construction knowledge accumulated by the offshore oil and gas industry has the potential to aid a great leap forward for wind energy. While future research and data collection can help optimize the designs, there is no need to further delay projects by waiting on these results.
Converting the Pécorade Oil Field Into an Underground Gas Storage
Authors: Coffin Philippe , Lebas Geneviève 
Published: July 2008

Summary
The need for additional underground gas storage (UGS) in Europe and in France is increasing. TOTAL has therefore undertaken feasibility studies to convert the depleted Pécorade oil field, situated in South West France, into an UGS.
The Pécorade field offers a number of positive characteristics which make it a good candidate for UGS, but it is also deep at 2500 m and contains hydrogen sulphide.
This paper describes some of the challenges faced by the project, including:
The sizing of the working volume (volume of gas which can be stored and cycled each year), which required the acquisition and processing of a new 3D seismic program, and the construction of specific geological and reservoir models. The safety and environmental issues related to caprock integrity and sour-gas production. The conversion of existing oil and gas wells into gas injection and production wells. The processing of cycled gas (including sour-gas treatment). The cost of the project compared to more conventional UGSs. The main benefits expected from the project are: The development of a sizeable working volume, in the order of one billion cubic meters, in an ideal location to serve the French and possibly Spanish market. An improved oil recovery, as the annual cycling of the gas would induce production of an additional 20 to 30% over current projections.
These studies also confirmed that the development of a sizeable UGS is a lengthy, difficult, and complex project.
The decision to launch the project is mainly dependent on the results of the future preproject studies, regulations, and market conditions.
Water-Based Insulating Fluids for Deepwater Riser Applications
Authors: Javora Paul H. , Wang Xiaolan , Stevens Richard , Pearcy Rick 
Published: July 2008

Summary
Uncontrolled heat transfer from production tubing to outer annulus—especially in deepwater riser sections—can cause the deposition of sludge, paraffin, and asphaltene materials; contribute to the formation of gas hydrates; and limit shut-in time for unplanned downtime or remedial operations. Generally, deepwater risers can be insulated externally or insulated by placing nitrogen gas into the riser annulus. In recent years, a new water-based thermal-insulating fluid system has been developed and used in field applications. This new system reduces convection and provides a rheological profile to facilitate fluid placement into the riser annulus. This system has been successfully used in deepwater risers in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM).
Laboratory-scale equipment and a full-scale test well were constructed to evaluate the thermal-insulation properties of fluids. This paper details the testing procedures and methods. Steady-state heat-transfer- and cool-down-test results on the new insulation fluid were determined and compared to conventional fluids. These superinsulating fluids were found to be vastly superior to brine and measurably better than conventional water-based insulating fluids. Surprisingly, when compared to nitrogen (air) or argon, the superinsulating fluids provided enhanced protection during cool down. Field cases in the GOM are summarized to demonstrate the effectiveness of this fluid system.
Minimum-Cost Platform Designs—Cook Inlet, Alaska
Authors: Visser Robert C. 
Published: July 2008

Summary
The paper describes two minimum-cost, self-erecting platform designs and one caisson structure design that can be installed in Cook Inlet, Alaska, without the need for heavy lifting equipment. The Cook Inlet environment is characterized by 30-ft tides and during the winter months by fast-moving ice floes. The area is remote from other offshore operating areas, and there is no heavy lifting equipment. One of the designs has been built: Platform Osprey was installed in Cook Inlet in 2000. The paper will describe how it was designed, constructed, and installed. A second, different design concept allows platform installation in deeper water, again without the need for heavy lifting equipment. The third design concept is an outrigger caisson design that can be installed with a jackup drilling unit. It would be applicable as a satellite platform structure.
Use of these minimum-cost platform and caisson designs would enable development of marginal fields in Cook Inlet that heretofore could not be developed because the high cost of mobilizing and demobilizing heavy lifting equipment to and from Cook Inlet would have made development uneconomical.
Automated Production Surveillance
Authors: Oberwinker Christian , Mayfield David , Dixon Dave , Holland Jeff 
Published: July 2008

Summary
"Real time" is the new buzz in the upstream petroleum industry. So far, operators at the lease locations have been the main users of real-time data measured at second or minute increments to manage wells and keep them on production. Engineers usually see only a subset of the data—the daily production volumes and rates, along with a few selected gauge-pressure and temperature readings. The engineers’ access to limited data means that they typically see only the result—the production volumes—and not the high-frequency data that may be the reason for a certain production parameter (e.g., choke size, pressures, and temperatures).
Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) is the system that connects to the production facilities’ controllers and data sources and collects the measured data and stores them in a database. Operators on the platform have direct access to these data and use this information to control the wells and the process equipment. If the engineers see these data at all, they usually get them through a Web-browser interface and in a format they cannot directly use for their analysis.
This paper will introduce a new concept of integrating high-frequency real-time data to the oil company's business office, making those data available to engineering staff and operations management, even up to the senior management level. Each level of the organization sees as much of the high-frequency data as it needs or wants to see. The engineers and management have exactly the same view as the operators at the platform and at the same time. This might seem to be a problem at first, but in the long term, it is an empowerment of the operators and brings engineers and operators closer together by working as a team to manage the wells. The data also allow management to monitor the oil and gas production leaving the platform to see if the target business plan volumes are reached or if a well is shut in.
This paper will give insights on how access to high-frequency data changed the way of doing the daily work and how it changed the way operators work together with engineers. (Note: All values in the figures within this paper are manipulated and do not necessarily represent reality).
Tougher Concrete Structures for LNG Facilities
Authors: Moncarz Piotr D. , Krstulovic-Opara Neven 
Published: July 2008

Summary
Large onshore and offshore facilities for production, loading and unloading, and storage of petroleum products are being constructed with reinforced concrete. Recent examples include the monumental platforms associated with the Sakhalin II development and the development of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. The political climate of the 21st century dictates a much higher attention level to questions concerning the safety and security of these facilities. While the existence of terrorism danger is unquestionable, the magnitude of threat to industrial facilities is seldom explicitly addressed in structural design and material selection. Terrorist threat requires not only heightened surveillance and threat-response readiness, but also the incorporation of design features that make the success of such threats less likely. These design features include both structural- and material-level considerations. The authors discuss some of the current approaches to making concrete structures more resistant to terrorist attacks while simultaneously rendering them more serviceable and long lasting. Research and field studies on fiber-reinforced concrete, slurry-infiltrated mat concrete, and Kevlar* wrapping of critical concrete structure elements in high-seismicity areas are some of the discussed topics. Suggestions are made as to how these examples could lead to the toughening of oil and gas concrete facilities or the construction of concrete protective barriers.
Oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability of EAA/PEO blends and microlayers
Authors: Pethe V. V. , Wang H. P. , Hiltner A. , Baer E. , Freeman B. D. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe goal of this study was to broaden the spectrum of gas permeability and selectivity characteristics of poly(ethylene‐co‐acrylic acid) (EAA) by combining it with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), which has a high selectivity for CO2. To obtain films that differed substantially in their solid state morphologies, EAA was combined with PEO as melt blends and as coextruded films with many alternating, continuous microlayers of EAA and PEO. The solid state structure and thermal behavior were characterized and the permeability to O2 and CO2 was measured at 23°C. When the PEO was dispersed as small domains, the particles were too numerous for most of them to contain a heterogeneity that was sufficiently active to nucleate crystallization at the normal Tc. The rubbery, amorphous nature of the PEO domains enhanced the gas permeability of the melt blends. In contrast, the constituent polymers maintained the bulk properties in 5–20 μm‐thick microlayers. The series model accurately described the gas transport properties of microlayered films. Comparison of blends and microlayers revealed that the high CO2 selectivity of PEO was most effectively captured when the PEO phase was continuous, as in the microlayers or in the cocontinuous 50/50 (wt/wt) melt blend. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008.
Use of postconsumer polyethylene in blends with polyamide 6: Effects of the extrusion method and the compatibilizer
Authors: Araújo J. R. , Vallim M. R. , Spinacé M. A. S. , De Paoli M.‐A. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBlends of polyamide and high‐density polyethylene show adequate properties for a large range of applications: they are used for the production of filaments, containers, and molding resins. The effect of the addition of 2 wt % of a compatibilizer, maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene, to the blend was studied and compared to the use of postconsumer polyethylene. The samples were extruded with single‐ and twin‐screw extruders with 25, 50, or 75 wt % f polyethylene, and the test specimens, molded by injection, were characterized by stress–strain tests, thermal properties, and morphologies. Processing the blends with postconsumer polyethylene in both extruders improved the mechanical properties in comparison to the blends processed with high‐density polyethylene and the compatibilizer. The morphologies of these blends showed that there was a decrease in the domain size of the disperse phase with the use of the compatibilizer or postconsumer polyethylene. The results indicate that for this blend, postconsumer polyethylene substituted, with advantages, for the necessity of a compatibilizer and the use of the high‐density polyethylene. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008.
Compatibility and viscoelastic properties of brominated isobutylene‐co‐p‐methylstyrene rubber/tackifier blends
Authors: Kumar K. Dinesh , Gupta Sanjiv , Tsou Andy H. , Bhowmick Anil K. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBrominated isobutylene‐co‐p‐methylstyrene (BIMS) rubber has been blended with hydrocarbon resin tackifier and alkyl phenol formaldehyde resin tackifier, and the compatibility between the blend components has been systematically evaluated. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies show that BIMS rubber and hydrocarbon resin tackifier blends are compatible at all blend proportions studied. However, BIMS rubber and phenol formaldehyde resin blends exhibit very limited compatibility with each other and phase separation even at very low phenolic tackifier concentration. Morphological studies of the rubber–resin blends by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) corroborate well with the DMA and DSC results. From the DMA frequency sweep and temperature sweep studies, it is shown that the hydrocarbon resin tackifier acts as a diluent and causes a decrease in the storage modulus values (by reducing the entanglement and network density) in the rubbery plateau region. On the other hand, phenol formaldehyde resin behaves in the way similar to that of the reinforcing filler by increasing the storage modulus values (by increasing the entanglement and network density) in the rubbery plateau zone. The relaxation time estimated from the different zones of frequency sweep master curves provides information about the influence of the two tackifiers on the viscoelastic properties of the BIMS rubber in the respective zones. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Separation of the polysaccharides in Caulerpa racemosa and their chemical composition and antitumor activity
Authors: Ji Hongwu , Shao Haiyan , Zhang Chaohua , Hong Pengzhi , Xiong Haoping 
Published: July 2008

AbstractCaulerpa racemosa was extracted with the combined procedure of neutral protease and boiling water to yield a water‐soluble polysaccharide coded as CRP. The obtained C. racemosa polysaccharide (CRP) was fractionated with DEAE‐52 cellulose, which led to two soluble polysaccharide fractions designated as CRPF1 and CRPF2. CRP, CRPF1, and CRPF2 were chemically determined and their antitumor activity was assayed. Results showed that they were all mixtures composed of sulfated polysaccharide with 3.9–7.9% uronic acid and protein, and had similar amino acid composition, but CRP was more than CRPF1 and CRPF2 in total sugar and uronic acid content, and less in sulfate group content. Two main sugars, glucose (Glu, 56.8%) and galactose (Gal, 31.8%), of CRP were enriched to CRPF2 (Glu, 89.1%) and CRPF1 (Gal, 99.2%) respectively; Bioassay indicated that all CRP had strong antitumor activity in both in vitro and in vivo, and its inhibition rate of K562 cells in vitro at the concentration of 6.0–10.0 mg mL−1 and of H22 tumor transplanted in mice at a dose of 100 mg kg−1 day were 59.5–83.8% (48 h) and 53.9% (14 days), respectively. Moreover, at a lower dose (0.05–0.2 mg mL−1) and longer time (72 h), CRP exhibited stronger inhibition effect on K562 cells than CRPF1 and CRPF2. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Adsorption of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution onto chitosan entrapped CM‐cellulose hydrogels synthesized by irradiation
Authors: Zhao Long , Mitomo Hiroshi 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe application of novel environment‐conscious hydrogels as an adsorbent for heavy metal ions adsorption from aqueous solutions was examined. Chitosan was blended with highly concentrated carboxymethylated cellulose (CM‐cellulose) solution to form CM‐cellulose/chitosan physical hydrogels, which were crosslinked by additionless irradiation technique. The adsorptive properties of the blend hydrogels against some divalent heavy metal ions were investigated by batch adsorption method. It was found that the addition of chitosan increased the crosslinking degree and the adsorption capacity of the blend hydrogels. As a typical example, experimental data of Cu(II) ion were exploited for kinetic and isothermal evaluations. Copper adsorption process was found to be initially transport‐controlled, and its adsorption isotherm can be fitted well into the Langmuir equation. Cu(II) adsorption mechanism can be viewed as the complexation of the Cu(II) with carboxyl groups and amino groups on the CM‐cellulose/chitosan gel during the adsorption. From these preliminary evaluations, it is possible to conclude that the CM‐cellulose/chitosan blend hydrogels have great potential for applications in water treatment for the removal of heavy metal ions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Overrepresentation of mood and anxiety disorders in adults with autism and their first‐degree relatives: what does it mean?
Authors: Mazefsky Carla A. , Folstein Susan E. , Lainhart Janet E. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractResearch indicates that relatives of individuals with autism have higher rates of affective disorders than both the general population and families of children with other developmental disabilities. In addition, individuals with autism have high rates of co‐morbid mood and anxiety disorders. This study sought to identify possible reasons for these previous findings by documenting the presence of affective disorders in both probands (the individuals with autism) and their family members. A sub‐sample of 17 adults with autism and their first‐degree relatives from the Baltimore Family Study of Autism completed a structured psychiatric interview. The results indicated that the rates of mood and anxiety disorders were 35 and 77%, respectively, for probands, and these disorders were present in at least one first‐degree relative at rates of 71 and 29%, respectively. Exploring patterns within families revealed that 80% of probands with a mother who had a mood disorder history also had a mood disorder themselves, compared to only 16% of probands whose mothers did not have a mood disorder history. The results must be considered preliminary given the small sample size. Replicating these findings in a larger sample would help clarify whether a true increased risk of mood disorder exists, which would have potential implications for prevention efforts and understanding possible genetic mechanisms.
Adipose‐derived stem cell: a better stem cell than BMSC
Authors: Zhu Yanxia , Liu Tianqing , Song Kedong , Fan Xiubo , Ma Xuehu , Cui Zhanfeng 
Published: July 2008

AbstractTo further study the proliferation and multi‐differentiation potentials of adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs), the cells were isolated with improved methods and their growth curves were achieved with cck‐8. Surface protein expression was analyzed by flow cytometry to characterize the cell phenotype. The multi‐lineage potential of ADSCs was testified by differentiating cells with adipogenic, chondrogenic, osteogenic, and myogenic inducers. The results showed that about 5 × 105 stem cells could be obtained from 400 to 600 mg adipose tissue. The ADSCs can be continuously cultured in vitro for up to 1 month without passage and they have several logarithmic growth phases during the culture period. Also, the flow cytometry analysis showed that ADSCs expressed high levels of stem cell‐related antigens (CD13, CD29, CD44, CD105, and CD166), while did not express hematopoiesis‐related antigens CD34 and CD45, and human leukocyte antigen HLA‐DR was also negative. Moreover, stem cell‐related transcription factors, Nanog, Oct‐4, Sox‐2, and Rex‐1 were positively expressed in ADSCs. The expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was detected in the early osteogenic induction and the calcified nodules were observed by von Kossa staining. Intracellular lipid droplets could be observed by Oil Red staining. Differentiated cardiomyocytes were observed by connexin43 fluorescent staining. In order to obtain more stem cells, we can subculture ADSCs every 14 days instead of the normal 5 days. ADSCs still keep strong proliferation ability, maintain their phenotypes, and have stronger multi‐differentiation potential after 25 passages. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of endurance training upon lipid metabolism in the liver of cachectic tumour‐bearing rats
Authors: Lira F. S. , Tavares F. L. , Yamashita A. S. , Koyama C. H. , Alves M. J. , Caperuto E. C. , Batista M. L. , Seelaender M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe syndrome of cancer cachexia is accompanied by several alterations in lipid metabolism, and the liver is markedly affected. Previous studies showed that moderate exercise training may prevent liver fat accumulation through diminished delivery of lipids to the liver, increased hepatic oxidation and increased incorporation of triacylglycerol (TAG) into very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). Our aim was to examine the influence of moderate intensity training (8 weeks) upon TAG content, VLDL assembly and secretion, apolipoprotein B (apoB) and microsomal transfer protein (MTP) gene expression in the liver of cachectic tumour‐bearing rats. Animals were randomly assigned to a sedentary control (SC), sedentary tumour‐bearing (ST) or exercise‐trained control (EC) or to an exercise trained tumour‐bearing (ET) group. Trained rats ran on a treadmill (60% VO2max) for 60 min day−1, 5 day week−1, for 8 weeks. TAG content and the rate of VLDL secretion (followed for 3 h), as well as mRNA expression of apoB and MTP, and total cholesterol, VLDL‐TAG, VLDL‐cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐cholesterol) and tumour weight were evaluated. VLDL‐cholesterol showed a decrease in ST (p < 0.05) in relation to SC. Serum TAG, VLDL‐TAG and tissue TAG content were all increased in ST (p < 0.01), when compared with SC. ST showed a lower rate of VLDL secretion (p < 0.05) and reduced expression of apoB (p < 0.001) and MTP (p < 0.001), when compared with SC. These parameters were restored to control values (p < 0.05) when the animals were submitted to the exercise training protocol. Tumour weight decreased 10‐fold after training (p < 0.001). It is possible to affirm, therefore, that endurance training promoted the re‐establishment of lipid metabolism in cachectic tumour‐bearing animals, especially in relation to VLDL secretion and assembly. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.