bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The EnviroHub: An Intranet Tool for Culture Change and Information Management
Authors: Kubala Gregory , Carey Annette 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Sharing information, as an effective way of conducting business, is not a new concept; however, the communication tools we use to deliver this information have significantly evolved over the past 10 years. Today, sharing expert knowledge can be performed at the click of a mouse. Intranets, located within a corporation's firewalls, provide the potential for an ongoing, free exchange of both confidential and nonconfidential information. Yet the simple posting of information to the intranet often leaves the intended beneficiaries inefficiently mining for information, which they may or may not eventually locate.
The EnviroHub is an intranet web site designed to disseminate information to promote cultural change, integration of the Environment (E) into the Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) management system (MS), and beyond-compliance environmental performance. Developing The EnviroHub involved standard web-design activities, as well as information-management maximization strategies, an organizational structure for information and data creation, identification of new resources and increased user functionality.
The EnviroHub affords easy access to information so that it is readily available for uniform implementation throughout a global organization. Information and data managed within The EnviroHub include Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) laws and regulations in more than 100 countries worldwide, multilingual/multinational resources, and tools for compliance with a corporation's environmental standards. This paper presents the strategies used for maximizing information management, such as user requirements, web page design and management system integration. Finally, it discusses increased functionalities, such as secure workrooms, which provide confidential work areas for designated users, and subscription capabilities, which allow users to receive automatic e-mail alerts.
Working Toward Zero Automotive Accidents in the Niger Delta
Authors: Jutten Jacques J. , Ndubisi J. J. , Regnault Philippe , Abifarin O. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Oil and service companies have made massive efforts to minimize the risks associated with driving in Nigeria. Despite these efforts, most companies still record major accidents, including fatalities. Recently, a major service company implemented an active journey management system that has proved very effective in eliminating driving-related fatalities and accidents. The journey management system combines specific training, the use of driving monitors and risk-reward schemes for all the drivers.
Major companies operating in Nigeria recognized the exceptional driving performance record resulting from this system in 2000. Subsequently, several companies initiated a cooperative program to implement the same journey management system. All participants observed a rapid driving performance improvement. The trend of the number and severity of all categories of driving-related accidents from all participating companies is shown. It compares favorably with statistics from other geographical areas and demonstrates that commitment and leadership deliver results, even in the most difficult conditions.
Technical Integrity. Implementation of a Fully Integrated and Risk Based Management System
Authors: Wiig Erik , Schumacher Robert 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
A common challenge facing many operators is to maintain the technical integrity as facilities age. There are challenges in maintenance as well as keeping updated on minor upgrades and modifications.
Production modes also change as facilities age, e.g. water production increases while oil/gas production decreases. The operational modes change from manual to automatic, often resulting in fewer operations personnel.
How do you operate this safely and knowing where you are in relation to your "operational envelope"?
After several years in operation we experience that the assumptions made and precautionary measures taken in the engineering phase of the platform development are not often commonly shared knowledge.
Vital technical "history" can also become obscured after some years of operation, often due to changing of personnel, cumbersome and voluminous documentation etc.
An HSE Management System (HSE-MS) was established from first operation, but does it reflect all minor upgrades and modifications over time? This uncertainty resulted in a perceived increase of risk.
This was the situation, which justified launching a project to define and assuring the technical integrity of an offshore platform.
The presentation will provide examples of a successful revamp of the HSE-MS, leading to a fully integrated risk based MS. The philosophies and strategies behind the implementation will be discussed, and examples of easily accessible information and tools to control the technical integrity and operation will be provided.
Environmental Impact Assessment and the Nigerian Oil Industry: A Review of Experiences and Learnings
Authors: Agha G. U. , Irrechukwu D. O. , Zagi M. M. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Since the issuance of Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industry in 1991, over 200 pre-development Environmental Impact Assessment and post-development Environmental Evaluation Studies have been carried out by Oil and Gas Operators. This is in compliance with the relevant part of the Environmental Guidelines and Standards and other legal/administrative framework governing EIA in Nigeria. Thus, EIA has become a standard practice in environmental and project planning on some major exploration and project development activities. However, our experiences in Nigeria suggest that not much is achieved in terms of environmental management despite the increase in the number of EIA studies being carried out. The reason for this is not far fetched since it is universally accepted that EIA as a planning tool is saddled with so many weak points. Some of the major weak points associated with EIA in Nigeria include the sparsity of baseline information against which the environmental impacts are measured; lack of budgetary allocations from the operators to implement mitigative measures and monitoring plans; lack of human resources and political commitment to enforce the environmental management plan amongst others. Consequently, oil operators carried out EIA in Nigeria to a larger extent, to satisfy regulatory requirements for the obtention of environmental permits. It is against this backdrop that the process of
EIA of E&P activities have been reviewed with a view to blocking some of the weak points thereby making the EIA process a worthwhile affair. Measures are now being put in place to ensure the implementation of the EIA findings throughout the project cycle including planning, design, construction, testing, operation and post operational phases. it is therefore, the aim of this paper to discuss the past and present approaches to EIA processes of E&P activities in Nigeria.
Safety Performance of the E&P Industry – Year 2000
Authors: Smith D. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers1 (OGP) has been reporting the safety performance on behalf of the upstream oil and gas industry since 1984. Over that period there have been significant reduction in the fatal accident rate (FAR) and improvements in the lost time injury frequency (LTIF).
This paper presents the results from the year 2000 data collection programme. The database for this period represents over 1.6 billion hours worked, an increase of 36% compared to the 1999 dataset. Thirty-nine companies contributed data, from operations in 71 countries.
It is shown that although there has been an increase in the total number of reported fatalities, the FAR remains similar to previous years due to the increase in the number of working hours reported. The LTIF has continued to show improvements compared to previous years, with the year 2000 data showing the lowest value recorded to date.
The most common type of incident leading to fatalities were vehicle related incidents, and persons being struck by moving or falling objects.
The paper goes on to review briefly efforts by the industry aimed at further improving its safety performance.
Environmentally Friendly Well Testing
Authors: El-Khazindar Y. , Darwish M. Ramzi , Tengirsek A. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Burning hydrocarbons during cleanup and well-testing operations produces toxic gases, soot, acid rain, unburned hydrocarbons and noise. Not only do these emissions have a damaging impact on the environment, but they also impose an economic impact: the cost of the oil and gas flared and the cost of the equipment used during the flaring operations.
A joint task force between two offshore operating companies in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), with the help of the contracted service provider, worked to implement innovative solutions to achieve flaring-emission elimination targets and eliminate environmental risk.
Innovative equipment modifications and design, coupled with new operational procedures, were implemented to neutralize the fluids used to prepare the well for production (allowing well effluents to flow through the test separator during the cleanup phase) and to use a boosting system to pump the oil into the sealine (fully eliminating oil flaring).
The initial stages of the solution neutralized the acid flowed back to surface and eliminated the oil flaring. A multiphase flowmeter was then introduced to the system. Not only did the multiphase flowmeter enhance operation flexibility, confidence in the information acquired, and accuracy of the results, but it also eliminated gas flaring after the cleanup period. The minimal pressure drop across the meter and the high-pressure rating of the meter allow well effluents to flow naturally through the sealine without separating the well-effluent phases. Deployment of the multiphase flowmeter in the system reduced the gas flaring by about 60% during the overall job.
Tuberculosis: Return of the White Plague. Medical and Laboratory Strategies for E&P Projects
Authors: Krieger Gary R. , Moreau Jean-Marie 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Along with HIV/AIDS and malaria, tuberculosis is increasingly recognized is a major resurgent disease in developing countries. In locations that have substantial levels of HIV/AIDS (greater than 5% prevalence), tuberculosis is a significant source of difficult to diagnosis co-morbidity. Traditional diagnostic methods such as chest x-ray have poor sensitivity and specificity. Consequently the predictive value of the chest x-ray is quite poor. This problem has been accentuated by HIV/AIDS since disseminated TB is more common in the presence of full-blown AIDS and is frequently chest x-ray negative. The traditional diagnostic mainstay for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) is bright field microscopy of Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) sputum. The ZN method is less sensitive and slower than the use of fluorescence microscopy (FM), particularly when bacilli counts are less than 10 per 100 fields. The yield in collected sputum samples can be further enhanced by pre-staining sample separation and centrifugation. All of these techniques require the presence of an appropriately trained laboratory technician but are not dependent on more sophisticated culture techniques.
Recently, a series of amplified mycobacterium tests have been developed and introduced. These tests, particularly, the Mycodot ® test are simple, rapid and conducive to remote field operations. However, the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of the amplified test methodology has been challenged in a number of recent papers, particularly involving Sub-Saharan populations with high HIV/AIDS prevalence rates. The data surrounding the use of amplified test methodology will be reviewed; in addition, a proposed cost-effective laboratory-testing algorithm will be discussed.
Documentation of Environmental Performance in the E&P Industry Through Use of Indicators, Based on Experience from the Danish Sector
Authors: Valeur Jens Rosendal , Tüxen Elsebeth , Raagard Sven 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Use of indicators for showing environmental performance is widespread used both on a corporate level and for analysing whole sectors and societies. When carrying out environmental management, demonstration of continuous improvement with respect to environmental performance is a requirement. But the contents of this concept are often not clearly defined.
Air emissions from the offshore oil and gas production in the Danish part of the North Sea has been used to exemplify the use of environmental indicators. The emissions have been compared with the total emissions from the Danish society, in order of indicating the relative significance of the various emittants. It has been shown that it is necessary to distinguish between emissions with a global environmental impact from emissions with a regional or local impact. In the first case the relative environmental effect is simply proportional to the relative contribution to the total emission of the pollutant. In the second case, the location of the emission source, and also the variation in emission with time, is necessary to take into account when evaluating the environmental impact.
The analysis of emissions to air from the offshore oil and gas production has highlighted the need for a common calculation basis. Even for calculation of an essential parameter as the emission of CO2 various calculation methods used in various countries showed large differences. Comparison of environmental performance in between the various countries is therefore difficult, until common calculation methods possibly are agreed on.
Planning for Improved Health, Safety, and Environmental Performance: How Management Ownership Drives Continuous Improvement
Authors: Knode Tom , Cook Pat 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Essential to the success of any Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) program is the commitment of management to continuous improvement. With that commitment, manifested by direct involvement in the planning process, changes can be made that affect the culture and performance of the company.
The Performance Improvement Initiative (PII) demonstrates how a company can involve all levels of management in the HSE planning process, and provides a vehicle for the introduction of tools, goals, and targets. PII is an annual planning process that includes a review of past performance, assessment of currently available tools, and development of strategies to introduce the tools globally. PII helps ensure organizational alignment in the quest for continuous improvement and has yielded demonstrable results since its introduction.
Extending Production Through Seismic Imaging and Optimal Reservoir Drilling
Authors: Whitney S. A. , Challis M. I. , Dickinson J. K. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Cost effective application of 3D before stack depth migration (BSDM) in the Lobo gas fields of south Texas has resulted in increased confidence in reservoir structure maps. Successful infill development locations have been drilled as a result of improved reconciliation of existing production with fault block area. The improved image has also led to the identification of new fault blocks and improved well locations. The case history of one area will illustrate how the program has generated value of over 40 times the initial investment in seismic processing. To date, nine depth migration projects have been completed.
Optimizing Synthetic Oil Based Fluids for Milling Operations in Deepwater Wells
Authors: Martins A. L. , Aragão A. F. L. , Moura E. M. , Leal R. A. F. , Sansoni U. , Bove A. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
This paper deals with the adaptation of synthetic drilling fluid for use in milling operations in offshore wells. Main topics covered include: a discussion on the fundamentals of solids transport highlighting the critical aspects of transporting iron particles in offshore wells; a computer simulation task, based on solids transport mechanistic models, to define minimum requirements for fluid flow rates and rheological properties; an extensive experimental work comparing the carrying capacity of water and synthetic based fluids and; the process of field implementation concentrating on well succeeded experiences in the offshore fields operated by PETROBRAS.
Limited Entry Techniques Prove Successful in Simultaneously Stimulating the Fruitland Coal and Pictured Cliffs Formations in the San Juan Basin
Authors: Bazan L. W. , Larkin S. D. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The manuscript will outline limited entry design techniques for the simultaneous fracture stimulation of the Fruitland Coal and Pictured Cliffs sandstone in the T28N - R7W Federal Unit of the San Juan basin, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. The discussion will focus on the initial perforation design, stimulation parameters, flowback and post audit analysis. Brief discussion on operational issues and cost savings resulting from these techniques will be presented.
Geologically, the Fruitland Coal above the Pictured Cliffs formation may be separated by as little as three feet of shale in the T28N - R7W Federal Unit. It is possible when stimulating the lower formation that the shale is not a ‘fracture barrier’ and communication with the upper formation, the Fruitland Coal, can be established. In these cases, because of zonal communication, reserves from the Fruitland Coal cannot be accessed.
Utilizing limited entry techniques and incorporating stress and leakoff data from offset wells, both formations have simultaneously been fracture stimulated effectively. This methodology allows accessing reserves in the Fruitland Coal that may otherwise not be produced. Radioactive tracer and production logs will be presented as supporting evidence to validate the successful well completion design and stimulation of both formations. Subsequent completion design changes resulting from the log review will be discussed.
Efficient Global Optimization for Hydraulic Fracturing Treatment Design
Authors: Queipo Nestor V. , Verde Alexander , Canelón José , Pintos Salvador 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
This paper presents a methodology for the optimal hydraulic fracture treatment design. The methodology includes, the construction of a "fast surrogate" of an objective function whose evaluation involves the execution of a time-consuming computational model, based on neural networks, DACE modeling, and adaptive sampling. Using adaptive sampling, promising areas are searched considering the information provided by the surrogate model and the expected value of the errors.
The proposed methodology provides a global optimization method, hence avoiding the potential problem of convergence to a local minimum in the objective function exhibited by the commonly Gauss-Newton methods. Furthermore, it exhibits an affordable computational cost, is amenable to parallel processing, and is expected to outperform other general purpose global optimization methods such as, simulated annealing, and genetic algorithms.
The methodology is evaluated using two case studies corresponding to formations differing in rock and fluid properties, and geometry parameters. From the results, it is concluded that the methodology can be used effectively and efficiently for the optimal design of hydraulic fracture treatments.
An Investigation into the Technical Feasibility of Gas Injection into Fractured CHUC Reservoir in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Daltaban T. S. , Noyola A. , Trejo G. , Toledo R. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Many prolific oil reservoirs in the Mexico part of the Gulf of Mexico are fractured Carbonate systems. Their hydrocarbon production mechanisms generally include combination drive of aquifer, gas cap, and oil expansion and rock compaction. In some cases water injection is used as an additional means of energy. At late production life of these reservoirs where production decline is experienced, the usual problems are the lack of well potential, increased water production, or combination of the two. In such cases, it is imperative to find out efficient techniques of maintaining the pressure at reasonable levels for improving production while minimizing the water withdrawal rates.
One of the techniques to challenge the decline in production may be gas injection in the form of Nitrogen or re-injection of produced gas and additional make up gas when necessary. However, the possibility of premature breakthrough due to the fractures may result in low sweep efficiencies in these reservoirs.
This paper presents our investigation into the applicability of gas injection into Chuc reservoir located at Campeche Bay of Mexico, and that contains vugular and fractured Breccia and generally fractured sequences of Upper, Middle and Lower Cretaceous, which is typical to many reservoirs in the region. The methodology developed during this work is used to examine the relative contributions of pressure maintenance by gas injection; formation of secondary gas cap as an additional source of energy; immiscible and miscible displacement of the in situ oil; controlling the advancing water; molecular diffusion; reduction of the interfacial tension resulting in the improvement of relative flow characteristics of oil and gas; and gravity drainage, through a series of comparative case studies based on a real field data.
In our methodology, we developed a systematic procedure of attaining an appropriate characterization of the fluid PVT and molecular diffusion. We also demonstrated by a number of numerical experiments that even for simpler cases where miscibility is not possible, the simplifications in the modeling could result in severe under estimation of the reservoir performance. With the comparative case studies we present, we show that even under adverse reservoir heterogeneity conditions, if the process is carefully designed and some of the key reservoir parameters are taken into advantage, it is possible to increase the recovery well over the expected recoveries from the conventional techniques.
The methodology we designed and demonstrated in an application to real field cases is believed to be a useful vehicle for technical feasibility evaluation of other possible candidates in the region.
Analysis of Long-Term Performance in Tight Gas Wells: Field Examples
Authors: Arévalo-Villagrán Jorge A. , Ganpule Sameer V. , Wattenbarger Robert A. , Samaniego-Verduzco Fernando , Yañez-Mondragon Maclovio , Serrano-Lozano Jose R. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Production analysis of actual data shows long-term transient flow geometries with boundaries in a large number of gas wells which are produced from tight gas reservoirs. In this paper, long-term linear and bilinear flows caused by the presence of natural fracturing are discussed. Linear and bilinear flows as a source of matrix block drainage are investigated. Systematic methodologies to analyze production data for estimation of reservoir properties and OGIP under linear, bilinear, and boundary dominated flows in tight gas wells are described. Application of these methodologies in various actual tight gas wells from industrial sources and validation of these procedures by using numerical simulation are shown. Long-term transient flows and short fracture half-length in various post hydraulic fractured wells suggest the convenience to develop tight gas fields with a tighter spacing between wells.