First Successful Pilot Testing of Unconventional Reservoir in North Kuwait from Scratch to Productivity

Jurassic's kerogen shale-carbonate reservoir in North Kuwait is categorized as a source rock exhibiting micro- to Nano Darcy permeability and is Kuwait Oil Company's focus in recent years. Although the challenges are significant (formation creep, fracturing initiation, etc.), the efforts toward producing from unconventional reservoirs and applying experience from both USA and Canada in this field are ongoing. As a step toward development, the gas field development group selected a vertical pilot well to measure the inflow of hydrocarbon from a single fracture while minimizing formation creep (flowing of particulate material and formation into the wellbore that blocks the production). This step was required prior to drilling a long horizontal lateral wells and completing it with multiple hydraulic fractures to confirm commercial production. A comprehensive design process was executed with the full integration of operator and service company competencies to achieve the three main objectives: First, characterize the kerogen rock mechanics which allows selection of the most competent kerogen beds to prevent collapse of the hole during fracturing (creep effect) by conducting scratch, unconfined stress, proppant embedment, and fluid compatibility tests. Then, prepare a suit of strength measurements on full core samples to help in fracturing design and minimize creep effect. The second objective was to design and implement a robust proppant fracturing program that avoids the kerogen concerns after selecting the most competent reservoir unit and suitable proppant type. Third, perform controlled flowback to unload the well and attempt to establish clean inflow unlike previous attempts that failed to either suitably stimulate or prevent solids production (deliver clean inflow). After analyzing the lab test results, choosing the optimal fracturing design, and preparing the vertical well for proppant hydraulic fracturing, the treatment was performed. In December 2019, the hydraulic fracturing treatment with resin-coated bauxite proppant was successfully pumped through 6 ft of perforation interval and followed by a controlled flowback. Resin-coated bauxite proppant was specifically selected to overcome the creep and embedment effects during the fracture closure and flowback. Moreover, a properly designed choke schedule was implemented to balance unloading with a delicate enough drawdown to avoid formation failure. This paper discusses in detail the lab testing, evolution of fracturing design, treatment analysis, and the robust workflow that led to successfully achieving all main objectives, paving the way for long horizontal lateral wells. This unconventional undertaking in Kuwait presents a real challenge. It is a departure from traditional methods, yet it points toward a high upside potential should the appraisal campaign be completed effectively.

Real-Time Fault Detection to Ensure the Safe Operation of the Single-Phase Five-Level VIENNA Rectifier

This work aims to explore and evaluate the nonreversible AC/DC five-level structure from the point of view of its operational safety: high electrical security on internal destruction and continuity in operation. It only has low-voltage monotransistor cells (Si and SiC 600 V max) and is intrinsically tolerant to imperfection control and parasites, therefore naturally secure. The design and lab-test of fault monitoring and fault diagnosis with just one voltage sensor of a single-phase five-level VIENNA rectifier were proposed. This real-time diagnostic method allows for a safe stop or corrective control strategy based on the reconfiguration of the modulation. The reconstruction strategy allows for optimization of the current and voltage signals as well as power factor. A continuous post-fault operation can be achieved for critical applications. An experimental prototype 3 kW/230 VAC/800 VDC/32 kHz was created to validate the proposed fault diagnosis method and reconfiguration control method.

Frequency of different symptoms in patients with COVID-19

Background: COVID-19 is a wide spreading disease starts from Wuhan a city of China in east. Earlier symptoms include fever, cough and fatigue later on patients may present with loss of smell and taste, sore throat, nasal congestion and muscle or joint pain. Its long term effects may include respiratory distress and neurological symptoms. Aim: To determine the frequency of different symptoms in patients with COVID-19 presenting at outpatients department of Nishtar Hospital Multan. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted at department of medicine, Nishtar Medical University, Multan, from September 2020 to September 2021. This study was carried out on 200 patients presenting with symptoms of COVID-19 and diagnosis was confirmed after admission. Main variables of study were symptoms of COVID-19 like cough, fever, running nose, breathlessness, headache and palpitations. SPSS version 22 was used for data analysis. Results: Majority of the patients were (60.0%) between age group 46-60 years. The most common symptoms were fever and cough, (79.0%) and (65.0%), respectively. The symptoms recorded between both male and female were almost equal, (standardized residuals<1.96 and p>0.05). But, fever and running nose were most common among the females, (p=0.028) and (p=0.050), respectively. Conclusion: COVID-19 presents with variety of symptoms and fever and cough were most common among these symptoms. COVID-19 positive patients can be present asymptomatically. All persons who come into contact with COVID19 patients should be go through the PCR lab test. Keywords: Novel COVID 19, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Contagious, Pandemic

The elevation of Creatine kinase in acute pancreatitis: a case report

Creatine Kinase (CK/CK-MB) testing is an essential lab test approaching patients with chest or epigastric pain. we report a 38-year-old man with acute pancreatitis and elevated CK/CK-MB level without myocardial involvement. Acute pancreatitis may be considered as a false positive cause of CK/CK-MB test in patients presenting with chest pain.

Covid-19 in the Phase 3 Trial of mRNA-1273 During the Delta-variant Surge

BackgroundFollowing emergency use authorization in December 2020, the Coronavirus Efficacy (COVE) trial was amended to an open-label phase, where participants were unblinded and those randomized to placebo were offered vaccination. Emergence of the delta variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been associated with increased incidences of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) among unvaccinated and vaccinated persons. This exploratory analysis evaluated the incidence and genetic sequences of Covid-19 cases in the ongoing COVE trial during the open-label phase, with a focus on July-August 2021, when delta-variants surged in the US.MethodsCovid-19 cases were identified in participants initially randomized to mRNA-1273 (vaccinated from July-December 2020) and those initially randomized to the placebo (vaccinated December 2020-April 2021) who received at least one dose and were SARS-CoV-2-negative at baseline in the modified-intent-to-treat population were analyzed. Included were Covid-19 cases occurring after 26-Mar-2021 with positive RT-PCR results in nasopharyngeal samples (central lab test) and reported Covid-19 symptoms. Genetic sequencing of Covid-19 cases was also performed.ResultsThere were 14,746 participants in the earlier mRNA-1273 (mRNA-1273e) group and 11,431 in the later placebo-mRNA1273 (mRNA-1273p) group. Covid-19 cases increased from the start of the open-label phase to July-August 2021. During July and August, 162 Covid-19 cases occurred in the mRNA-1273e group and 88 in the mRNA-1273p group. Of the cases sequenced, 144/149 [97%]) in the mRNA-1273 and 86/88 (99%) in the mRNA-1273p groups were attributed to delta. The incidence rate of Covid-19 was lower for the mRNA-1273p (49.0/1000 person-years) versus mRNA-1273e (77.1/1000 person-years) group [36.4% (95% CI 17.1%-51.5%) reduction]. There were fewer severe Covid-19 cases in the mRNA-1273p (6; 6.2/1000 person-years) than mRNA-1273e (13; 3.3/1000 person-years) [46.0% (95% CI −52.4%-83.2%) reduction]. Three Covid-19 related hospitalizations occurred with two resulting deaths in the mRNA-1273e group.ConclusionIncidence rates of Covid-19 and severe Covid-19 were lower during the months when delta was the dominant variant (July/August 2021) among COVE participants vaccinated more recently. Analysis of COVID-19 cases from the open-label phase of the COVE study is ongoing.

Use of large scale EHR data to evaluate A1c utilization among sickle cell disease patients

Background The glycated hemoglobin (A1c) test is not recommended for sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. We examine ordering patterns of diabetes-related tests for SCD patients to explore misutilization of tests among this underserved population. Methods We used de-identified electronic health record (EHR) data in the Cerner Health Facts™ (HF) data warehouse to evaluate the frequency of A1c and fructosamine tests during 2010 to 2016, for 37,151 SCD patients from 393 healthcare facilities across the United States. After excluding facilities with no A1c data, we defined three groups of facilities based on the prevalence of SCD patients with A1c test(s): adherent facilities (no SCD patients with A1c test(s)), minor non-adherent facilities, major non-adherent facilities. Results We determined that 11% of SCD patients (3927 patients) treated at 393 facilities in the US received orders for at least one A1c test. Of the 3927 SCD patients with an A1c test, only 89 patients (2.3%) received an order for a fructosamine test. At the minor non-adherent facilities, 5% of the SCD patients received an A1c test while 58% of the SCD patients at the least adherent facilities had at least one A1c test. Overall, the percent of A1c tests ordered for SCD patients between 2010 and 2016 remained similar. Conclusions Inappropriate A1c test orders among a sickle cell population is a significant quality gap. Interventions to advance adoption of professional recommendations that advocate for alternate tests, such as fructosamine, can guide clinicians in test selection to reduce this quality gap are discussed. The informatics strategy used in this work can inform other largescale analyses of lab test utilization using de-identified EHR data.

Building a Predictive Model for Gynecologic Cancer Using Levels of Data Analytics

The four levels of data analytics techniques (descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and perspective) were used as a methodology. We also used data mining techniques to predict Gynecologic cancer before any lab test or surgical intervention. Influencing and associating between factors are used to cover hidden relationships or unknown patterns. We focused on three types of Gynecologic cancer (cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancer). We collected an initial examination of 513 (228 benign and 285 malignant) patients from King Abdulaziz University Hospital (Saudi Arabia). Data were collected during the period of 16 years (2000-2016). After examining many models, we found that the classification trees C5 and CHAID beside the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm give the highest accuracy, with the values of 87.33 %, 79.53%, and 78.36 % respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were found to be 86.18 % and 89.00 % for C5. The corresponding values for CHAID were found to be to equals to 82.20 % and 76.72 % while for support vector machine (SVM) the values were found to be 83.74 % and 77.10 %.

Yaws: The forgotten tropical skin disease

Yaws is a rare skin disease endemic to tropical countries caused by Treponema pertenue. It is highly infectious and spreads through physical contact. In Malaysia, it was presumably eradicated during the 1960s, with the last reported case published in 1985. Due to its rarity, the disease often goes unrecognised and misdiagnosed. Here, we report the case of a 5-year-old aboriginal boy diagnosed with secondary yaws who presented with fever and an incidental finding of chronic painless ulcerated nodules and plaques on his lower limbs and gluteal region. His diagnosis was confirmed serologically with a venereal disease research laboratory lab test and he was successfully treated with a single dose of intramuscular benzathine penicillin G. Primary care physicians should not ignore this disease since its early recognition and appropriate treatment is vital to its eradication, especially in high-risk communities.