A Study of the Effects of Petroleum Production on Selected Soil Fertility Attributes in Ogoni Land, Rivers State Nigeria

The physical, chemical and biological properties of soil in Khana and Gokana LGAs of Rivers State Nigeria were investigated. The main aim was to determine to what extent the soil fertility attributes in Ogoni land had been negatively affected by petroleum production in the area. Soil samples were collected from scientifically delineated spots in the study area and analyzed in the laboratory at the Institute of pollution studies, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt. All the data obtained from the laboratory were analyzed statistically using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results show that soil characteristics show evidence of variation attributable to influence of petroleum production activities. It is hereby recommended that in the oil production business, government should supervise the operation of the oil companies strictly and with due regard to the welfare of the inhabitants of the communities. The oil companies should carry the host communities along in their activities. The host communities should forget the past, rely more on facts and show readiness to move forward. Oil production can still go forward to the benefit of all.

A Petrostate’s Outlook on Low-Carbon Transitions: The Discursive Frames of Petroleum Policy in Norway

Norway is a petroleum exporting country that, simultaneously, is at the forefront of implementing ambitious climate policy measures. Through a discourse analysis of official documents that address petroleum policy, this article examines how the Norwegian government justifies a place for Norwegian petroleum in a low-carbon future. Our findings show that the frames used to justify continued petroleum production between 2011 and 2018 remains predominantly stable, despite the growing opposition to this official discourse in relation to climate change and the societal dependence on petroleum revenues. This article highlights the tension that Norway, as a petroleum-producing country, face in an increasingly carbon-constrained world, and how this is handled in the official petroleum discourse. It shows how the official discourse portrays continued petroleum production and exploration as both valid and necessary and how this framing is discursively linked to a strong commitment to mitigate climate change.

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

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.

Dissolution of Sulfates and Sulfides Field Scales by Developed Scale Dissolver

Oil and gas industry deals with fluid streams with different ions and concentrations that might cause scale precipitation. The scale precipitation, will thereafter, affect the fluid flow characteristics. Many problems will be raised by the scale deposition that affects the overall petroleum production. This paper aims to develop a non-corrosive acid system with high dissolution efficiency for field complex scales that have sulfates and sulfides minerals. The paper provided a series of lab analysis that covers the compositional analysis for the collected scale sample, and evaluating the developed acid system for compatible and stable properties, dissolution efficiency, and the corrosive impact. A field scale sample that has a composite chemical composition of paraffin, asphaltene, sulfides and sulfates compounds with different weight percentages by employing the diffraction of X-ray technology. Developing the new scale dissolver was achieved by specific compositional study for the organic acids to achieve high dissolution efficiency and low corrosive impact for the field treatment operations. The study results showed the successful scale removal for the developed dissolver at low temperature of 95 and 113 °F for surface treatment jobs. The dissolution efficiency recorded 62 and 71 % for 17 hours at the temperature levels respectively. The fluid showed a stable and compatible performance and has a pH of 12. The corrosion test was conducted without any scale inhibitors and the results showed the low corrosion effect by 0.0028 lbm/ft2. The obtained successful results will help to dissolve such complex field scales, maintain the well equipment, and maintain the petroleum production from scale issues.

Investigation of Risk and Safety Scenario in Risk Matrix of Petroleum Production System of Three Gas Fields, Bangladesh.

The economic growth of Bangladesh largely depends on the petroleum industry. The most important part of petroleum industry is the production system. However, accident is a common scenario in the petroleum industry. In fact, several risks may be involved during the drilling, production, and transportation phase of this industry. In the case of comprehension, these risks associated at an early stage may acquire the appropriate measures aligned to them. This study investigates personnel perceptions about risk and safety involved in production system of the petroleum industry. To perform this research, the data were collected from three fields Kailashtila, Haripur & MSTE Plant operated by Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SFGL), Bangladesh. The collected data were analyzed by IBM SPSS 20. The frequency analysis performed and risk matrix generated in this study. The Frequency analysis shows that the overall safety situations. Moreover, the results of the risk matrix pointed out the risk level as low, medium or high. At the end of study, based on the implicit risks, the necessary measures are recommended for the future security of the industry.