Scale Removal with Ultrasonic Waves

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hartwig Kunanz ◽  
Sylvia Wölfel
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Ultrasonic Waves ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cleaning Efficiency ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Scale Removal ◽  
Strontium Sulfate

Abstract Today, ultrasound is a widely used technology for a number of industrial applications, from processing liquids and slurries, cleaning of optical lenses and jewellery, purification of water, enhancement of mechanical and physical properties of metals, welding, dispersing, humidifiers, to material testing. In the oil and gas industry the ultrasonic technology is typically used for measurement applications. This paper describes first test and research results using ultrasonic waves to remove scaling in the borehole. So far most standard scaling treatments involve the use of chemicals. With ultrasonic treatment, it may be possible to reduce or even substitute the chemical applications. This transgression from a chemical to a physical cleaning process would most likely save costs and reduce the environmental impact. Scaling from calcium carbonate, gypsum/anhydrite or barium/strontium sulfate is considered a major issue with oil and gas production, causing the industry enormous efforts on prevention and removal. To assess the usability of ultrasound for scaling removal, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted, starting with gypsum due to its easy handling and continuing with the more critical calcium carbonate scaling. The cleaning effects could be proven and the main factors influencing the ultrasonic cleaning efficiency could be identified in the laboratory. This paper will present and discuss the findings so far and will give an outlook on future research issues with ultrasonic scale removal.

Value Co-Creation Practices in the Decommissioning of Offshore Platforms: A Case Study Approach

2021 ◽  
pp. 239496432110320
Author(s):  
Francesca Loia ◽  
Vincenzo Basile ◽  
Nancy Capobianco ◽  
Roberto Vona
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Offshore Platforms ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Collaborative Interactions ◽  
Exploratory Approach ◽  
Italian Context

Over the years, value co-creation practices have become increasingly more important by supporting collaborative interactions and the achievement of sustainable and mutual competitive advantage between the ecosystem’ actors. In this direction, the oil and gas industry is proposing a sustainable re-use of offshore platforms based on value co-creation and resources exchange between the actors involved. According to this consideration, this work aims at re-reading the decommissioning of offshore platforms in the light of value co-creation practices, trying to capture the factors that governments and companies can leverage to pursue a sustainable development of local communities. To reach this goal, this work follows an exploratory approach by using, in particular, the case study. Specifically, one of the most notably projects in the Italian context have been chosen, the Paguro platform, in order to provide empirical insights into the nature of these value co-creation processes. Five value co-creation practices have been identified which highlight the importance of synergistic efforts of institutions, companies and technology-based platforms for improving the ability to co-create and capture value in the process of decommissioning. This exploratory work establishes a foundation for future research, and offers theoretical and managerial guidance in this increasingly important area.

A Step Change in the Digital Oilfield Arena: Cloud Computing and Workflow Integration for Production Operations Solutions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditya Kotiyal ◽  
Guru Prasad Nagaraj ◽  
Lester Tugung Michael
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Dimensional Change ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
System Stability ◽  
Production Data ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Common Domain ◽  
Digital Oilfield ◽  
Workflow Orchestration

Abstract Digital oilfield applications have been implemented in numerous operating companies to streamline processes and automate workflows to optimize oil and gas production in real-time. These applications are mostly deployed using traditional on-premises systems; where maintenance, accessibility and scalability serves as a major bottleneck for an efficient outcome. In addition to this challenge, the sector still faces limitations in data integration from disparate data sources, liberation of consolidated data for consumption and cross domain workflow orchestration of that data. The dimensional change brought by digital transformation strategies has paved a path for the Cloud- based solutions, which have recently gained momentum in the oil and gas industry pertaining to their wider accessibility, simpler customization, greater system stability and scalability to support larger amount of data in a performant way. To address the challenges mentioned earlier, we have embarked on a journey with Production Data Foundation which brings together production and equipment data from across an organization. In this paper, we will highlight how Production Data Foundation, hosted on the cloud, provides the underlying infrastructure, services, interfaces required to support and unify production data ingestion, workflow orchestration, and through the alignment of the common domain and digital concepts, improve collaboration between people in distinct roles, such as production engineers, reservoir engineers, drilling engineers, deployment engineers, software developers, data scientists, architects, and subject matter experts (SME) working with production operations products and solutions.

Laboratory-Scale Investigation of the Utilisation of Multiple Flat-Fan Nozzles in Descaling Petroleum Production Tubing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kabir Hasan Yar'Adua ◽  
Idoko Job John ◽  
Abubakar Jibril Abbas ◽  
Salihu M. Suleiman ◽  
Abdullahi A. Ahmadu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Scale Removal ◽  
Petroleum Production ◽  
Well Completion ◽  
Water Jets ◽  
Well Integrity ◽  
Injection Pressures

Abstract Despite the recent wide embrace of mechanical descaling approaches for cleaning scales in petroleum production tubings and similar conduits with the use of high-pressure (HP) water jets, the process is still associated with downhole backpressure and well integrity challenges. While the introduction of sterling beads to replace sand particles in the water recorded high successes in maintaining well completion integrity after scale removal in some recent applications of this technique, it is, unfortunately, still not without questions of environmental degradation. Furthermore, the single nozzle, solids-free, aerated jetting descaling technique – recently published widely – is categorized with low scale surface area of contact, low descaling efficiency and subsequent high descaling rig time. The modifications to mechanical descaling techniques proposed in this work involve the use of three high-pressure flat fan nozzles of varying nozzles arrangements, standoff distances and injection pressures to remove soft scale deposits in oil and gas production tubings and similar circular conduits. This experiment provides further insights into the removal of paraffin scales of various shapes at different descaling conditions of injection pressures, stand-off distances and nozzle arrangements with the use of freshwater. The results obtained from this study also show consistency with findings from earlier works on the same subject.

Who Is Winning in Energy Transition?

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (06) ◽  
pp. 34-37
Author(s):  
Judy Feder
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Peer Group ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Field Energy ◽  
Carbon Intensity ◽  
Oil Companies

We talk about “the energy transition” as if it were some type of unified, global event. Instead, numerous approaches to energy transitions are taking place in parallel, with all of the “players” moving at different paces, in different directions, and with different guiding philosophies. Which companies are best positioned to survive and thrive, and why? This article takes a look at what several top energy research and business intelligence firms are saying. What a Difference a Year Makes Prior to 2020—in fact, as recently as the 2014 bust that followed the shale boom—the oil and gas industry weathered downturns by “tightening their belts” and “doing more with less” in the form of cutting capital expenditures and costs, tapping credit lines, and improving operational efficiency. Adopting advanced digitalization and cognitive technologies as integral parts of the supply chain from 2015 to 2019 led to significant performance improvements as companies dealt with “shale shock.” Then, in 2020, a strange thing happened. Just as disruptive technologies like electric vehicles and solar photovoltaic and new batteries were gaining traction and decarbonization and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues were rising to the top of global social and policy agendas, COVID-19 left companies with almost nothing to squeeze from their supply chains, and budget cuts had a direct impact on operational performance and short-term operational plans. To stabilize their returns, many oil and gas companies revised and reshaped their portfolios and business strategies around decarbonization and alternative energy sources. The result: The investment in efforts toward effecting energy transition surpassed $500 billion for the first time in early 2021 ($501.3 billion, a 9% increase over 2019, according to BloombergNEF) despite the economic disruption caused by COVID-19. According to Wood Mackenzie, carbon emissions and carbon intensity are now key metrics in any project’s final investment decision. And, Rystad Energy said that greenhouse-gas emissions are declining faster than what is outlined in many conventional models regarded as aggressive scenarios. In Rystad’s model, electrification levels will reach 80% by 2050. A Look at the Playing Field: Energy Transition Pillars In a February 2021 webinar, Rystad discussed what leading exploration and production (E&P) companies are doing to keep up with the energy transition and stay investable in the rapidly changing market environment. The consulting firm researched the top 25 E&P companies based on their oil and gas production in 2020 and analyzed how they approach various market criteria in “three pillars of energy transition in the E&P sector” that the firm regards as key distinguishers and important indicators of potential success (Fig. 1). The research excludes national oil companies (NOCs) except for those with international activity (INOCs). Rystad says these 25 companies are responsible for almost 40% of global hydrocarbon production and the same share of global E&P investments and believes the trends within this peer group are representative on a global scale.

Challenges and Opportunities for Green Hydrogen Power Supply in Oil and Gas Remote Facilities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvador Alejandro Ruvalcaba Velarde
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Power Supply ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Hydrogen Generation ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Energy Carrier ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Cost Constraints ◽  
Supply Systems

Abstract The energy transition to renewable energy and hydrogen as an energy carrier, along with low-carbon footprint production targets in the oil and gas industry act as a catalytic for exploring the role of hydrogen in oil and gas production. For upstream and midstream operations, potential opportunities for using hydrogen as an energy carrier are being developed both in hydrogen generation (X-to-hydrogen) as well as in hydrogen consumption (hydrogen-to-X), but not without series of technical and economical challenges. This paper presents potential use cases in upstream and midstream facilities for hydrogen generation and consumption, be it both from hydrocarbon processing resultant in what is called "blue hydrogen" or from integration with renewable energy to form what is called "green hydrogen". It also explains process integration requirements with diagrams for full-cycle green hydrogen use from generation to consumption and its interaction with renewable energy technologies to achieve low to zero-carbon emission power supply systems. Different hydrogen generation and conversion technologies are reviewed as part of the modeling process. Green hydrogen feasibility is assessed in terms of operational efficiency and cost constraints. Hybrid hydrogen and renewable energy power supply systems are simulated and presented according to the intended applications of use in oil and gas facilities. This paper provides a feasibility analysis and hydrogen technology integration potential with renewable energy for applications in oil and gas remote facilities power supply. It also shows emerging hydrogen technologies potential for use in upstream and midstream applications.

STUDY OF CHEMICAL REAGENTS AGAINST CORROSION PROCESSES IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE UZEN FIELD

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-195
Author(s):  
U. Zh. Tazhenbayeva ◽  
◽  
Ye.O. Ayapbergenov ◽  
G. Zh. Yeligbayeva ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corrosion Inhibitors ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Freezing Temperature ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Localized Corrosion ◽  
Laboratory Research ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Field Equipment ◽  
Long Run

One of the biggest challenges in oil and gas production projects is dealing with the various types of corrosion to which certain parts of field equipment are exposed. Selecting the right corrosion inhibitor for the specific environment is extremely important. Choosing inhibitors for a particular location can be a difficult task because there are many factors to be considered. Understanding the corrosion problems that can arise is important in the oil and gas industry, and knowledge of which inhibitors to use to deal with general and localized corrosion will save time and money in the long run. This article presents the results of studies of various brands of domestic and foreign corrosion inhibitors for use in the Uzen field: physical and chemical characteristics (density, viscosity, freezing temperature, mass fraction of active substance, compatibility with field waters, amine number), efficiency of corrosion inhibitors in laboratory conditions and on a bench simulating field reservoir conditions, taking into account pressure, temperature, fluid flow rate, as well as aggressive components - hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. In addition, studies of corrosion inhibitors' effect on the process of preparation of production are also given. The works were carried out in the center of scientific and laboratory research of KMG Engineering branch " KazNIPImunaygas" LLP.

Employee perceptions of fairness toward IoT monitoring

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 504-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Al-Hitmi ◽  
Karma Sherif
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Electronic Monitoring ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Employee Perceptions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Universal Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceptions Of Fairness ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to explore Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled monitoring in a multi-national petrochemical organization in Qatar and finds that the technology does not negatively influence employee perceptions of fairness, challenging current propositions on monitoring and highlighting the emerging role of culture, competition and paradoxical leadership in moderating the relationship between IoT-enabled monitoring and perceptions of fairness. Design/methodology/approach The authors adopted qualitative research as the methodological premise to explore the relationship between IoT-enabled monitoring and perceptions of fairness. They collected data from an oil and gas organization in Qatar to test the validity of the proposed hypotheses. Findings While I0T-enabled monitoring was perceived as pervasive, tracking every move and recording conversations, the diffusion of the technology throughout Qatar desensitized employees who felt it was the new reality around workspaces. The following three important factors reshaped employees’ perceptions toward IoT-enabled monitoring: a culture that is driven by productivity and strongly adheres by policies and standards to reach set goals; a highly competitive job market; and a paradoxical leadership who balances between the competition and lucrative rewards. Research limitations/implications The limitation of this research is that the authors conducted a case study in similar organizations within the oil and gas industry in the State of Qatar to refute the theory that electronic monitoring of employees in the workspace elicits perceptions of unfairness. Future research can conduct quantitative surveys of employee perceptions in different industries within different cultures to be able to generalize and evolve a universal theory. Practical implications The research findings shed light on the escalating pressure global competition exerts on employees that nervousness about pervasive monitoring systems is replaced with fear of job loss and analytics on monitoring data is welcomed as a means of readjusting behavior to meet performance expectations. Originality/value The case study is the first to highlight the desensitization of employees to monitoring and the increasing pressure competition plays in motivating them to exceed expectations.

scholarly journals Characterization of fatal injuries in oil and gas industry-related helicopter accidents in the Gulf of Mexico, 2004–2014

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Yeoman ◽  
Mary B. O’Connor ◽  
Sara Sochor ◽  
Gerald Poplin
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Body Region ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Safety Features

Abstract Background Transportation events are the most common cause of offshore fatalities in the oil and gas industry, of which helicopter accidents comprise the majority. Little is known about injury distributions in civilian helicopter crashes, and knowledge of injury distributions could focus research and recommendations for enhanced injury prevention and post-crash survival. This study describes the distribution of injuries among fatalities in Gulf of Mexico oil and gas industry-related helicopter accidents, provides a detailed injury classification to identify potential areas of enhanced safety design, and describes relevant safety features for mitigation of common injuries. Methods Decedents of accidents during 2004–2014 were identified, and autopsy reports were requested from responsible jurisdictions. Documented injuries were coded using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), and frequency and proportion of injuries by AIS body region and severity were calculated. Injuries were categorized into detailed body regions to target areas for prevention. Results A total of 35 autopsies were coded, with 568 injuries documented. Of these, 23.4% were lower extremity, 22.0% were thorax, 13.6% were upper extremity, and 13.4% were face injuries. Minor injuries were most prevalent in the face, neck, upper and lower extremities, and abdomen. Serious or worse injuries were most prevalent in the thorax (53.6%), spine (50.0%), head (41.7%), and external/other regions (75.0%). The most frequent injuries by detailed body regions were thoracic organ (23.0%), thoracic skeletal (13.3%), abdominal organ (9.6%), and leg injuries (7.4%). Drowning occurred in 13 (37.1%) of victims, and drowning victims had a higher proportion of moderate brain injuries (7.8%) and lower number of documented injuries (3.8) compared with non-drowning victims (2.9 and 9.4%, respectively). Conclusions Knowledge of injury distributions focuses and prioritizes the need for additional safety features not routinely used in helicopters. The most frequent injuries occurred in the thorax and lower extremity regions. Future research requires improved and expanded data, including collection of detailed data to allow characterization of both injury mechanism and distribution. Improved safety systems including airbags and helmets should be implemented and evaluated for their impact on injuries and fatalities.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Calcium Carbonate Inhibitors Using Sintered Metal Filter in a Pressurized Dynamic System

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Velloso Alves de Souza ◽  
Francisca Rosário ◽  
João Cajaiba
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Dynamic System ◽  
Heterogeneous Nucleation ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Dynamic Test ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Sintered Metal ◽  
Organophosphorus Inhibitors

Calcium carbonate scale is formed during oil and gas production. Tube-blocking tests (TBTs) are used to define the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in order to prevent scale adhesion in the petroleum production system equipment. However, non-adhered crystals may favor heterogeneous nucleation to other deposits such as calcium naphthenates, causing a more severe scale problem, increasing production losses and treatment costs. The objective of the present work was to develop a new dynamic test methodology to determine the MIC for CaCO3 using a sintered metal filter. Organophosphorus inhibitors were selected for comparison with the conventional dynamic tube-blocking system. The results demonstrated that the use of the filter allowed an MIC of the inhibitors to be obtained considering the precipitation prevention. The inhibitor concentration in the conventional tube-blocking system does not prevent precipitation, acting only on adhesion and crystal growth on the capillary wall. Tests to evaluate the potential of calcium naphthenates formation in a naphthenate flow rig dynamic system demonstrated the influence of heterogeneous nucleation from non-adhered carbonate crystals, potentially aggravating deposition problems in oil and gas production systems.

scholarly journals A Common Risk Classification Concept for Safety Related Gas Leaks and Fugitive Emissions?

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 4063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Log ◽  
Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Leak Rate ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Fugitive Emissions ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Cost Benefit Ratio ◽  
Gas Leaks ◽  
Categorization Model

Gas leaks in the oil and gas industry represent a safety risk as they, if ignited, may result in severe fires and/or explosions. Unignited, they have environmental impacts. This is particularly the case for methane leaks due to a significant Global Warming Potential (GWP). Since gas leak rates may span several orders of magnitude, that is, from leaks associated with potential major accidents to fugitive emissions on the order of 10−6 kg/s, it has been difficult to organize the leaks in an all-inclusive leak categorization model. The motivation for the present study was to develop a simple logarithmic table based on an existing consequence matrix for safety related incidents extended to include non-safety related fugitive emissions. An evaluation sheet was also developed as a guide for immediate risk evaluations when new leaks are identified. The leak rate table and evaluation guide were tested in the field at five land-based oil and gas facilities during Optical Gas Inspection (OGI) campaigns. It is demonstrated how the suggested concept can be used for presenting and analysing detected leaks to assist in Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programs. The novel categorization table was proven valuable in prioritizing repair of “super-emitter” components rather than the numerous minor fugitive emissions detected by OGI cameras, which contribute little to the accumulated emissions. The study was limited to five land based oil and gas facilities in Norway. However, as the results regarding leak rate distribution and “super-emitter” contributions mirror studies from other regions, the methodology should be generally applicable. To emphasize environmental impact, it is suggested to include leaking gas GWP in future research on the categorization model, that is, not base prioritization solely on leak rates. Research on OGI campaign frequency is recommended since frequent coarse campaigns may give an improved cost benefit ratio.

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