Petroleum Activities Research Articles

Air Pollution Assessment of a Gas Flare Site in the Niger Delta Region

Aim: The aim of this research was to investigate the level of air pollutants generated from a gas flaring plant in Ogbogu and Ebocha communities of Rivers State, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
 Study design: Seven monitoring stations were selected for Air quality monitoring, which involved measurement of basic air quality index and meteorological parameters using standard meteorological Equipment. Monitoring locations were selected with respect to the prevailing wind direction from the flare point. The following measurements were conducted;
 
 Gas emission: CO, SO2, NO2, VOC, CH4, H2S, NH3
 Meteorological: Humidity, Wind Velocity, Wind direction, Atmospheric Pressure, Heat Radiation and Smoke density.
 
 Place and duration of study: This study was carried out in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. This area was chosen for this study because of the high volume of petroleum activities. Oil and gas processing, production, transportation and utilization for power generation occur daily in the area resulting in numerous cases of environmental degradation and pollution.
 Methodology: A multigas Detector MSA Orion is used to monitor the different gases at 20m, 50m, 100m, 500m, and 700m. A Krestel Extech model 45112 mutli-parameter air quality equipment is used to determine the direction of wind flow and speed at a particular location.
 Results: The gases flared are in decreasing order of NOx,>SOx,>CO>VOC >SMP at increasing distance. This implies that the health of the people in the study area is affected negatively especially those living very close at 20- 100m distance to the flare site since the gases are occurring at levels higher towards the allowable limits of FEPA. The quantity of carbon emitted by these flares is about 2,525,000.00 tons of carbon per day. These values portray a bad omen for the affected communities. This study recommends that gas flaring should be seen as violent action against the people and that the flared gas should be channeled to meeting the ever increasing demand for energy in the industrial sector of the economy.
 Conclusion: It is safe to conclude that gas flaring not only produces excessive heat which alters the temperature of the environment, but also causes gaseous pollutants to be present in the environment and this may have adverse effects on the inhabitants and thus on the socio-economic activities of Ebocha community. The temperature of the environment returns to normal at about 450m away from the flare stack. Residential buildings should therefore be located and agricultural activities should be encouraged within this range of distance.

Economic Feasibility Study for Petroleum Projects (Practical Aspects)

An increasing importance is given to the Economic Feasibility Study of Petroleum Projects. The reason behind that is the critical role played by the Petroleum Industry in Society, Economy and Foreign Trade. In general, Petroleum Industry is involved with the Exploitation of Oil and Gas Resources to satisfy the country's needs (households and industrial sectors) and to export these resources, in order to, gain foreign currencies which are necessary for
 funding the country's social and economic requirements. Petroleum Projects have diversity features in terms of location, size, capital, technology and risks. On the Other hand, because of the importance of the Petroleum Industry, high significance should be given to the Economic Feasibility Study, especially the necessary of good knowledge of the nature of Petroleum Activities, Projects and Contracts, as well as the fundamentals of Advanced Feasibility Study.

Correction to: Standardization and Wound-Healing Activity of Petroleum, Ethanolic and Aqueous Extracts of Ficus Benghalensis Leaves

To the article “Standardization and Wound-Healing Activity of Petroleum, Ethanolic and Aqueous Extracts of Ficus Benghalensis Leaves,” by Mohd Imran, Jyoti Nanda Sharma, Mehnaz Kamal, and Mohammad Asif, Vol. 54, No. 10, pp. 1057 – 1062, January, 2021

Environmental Risk Assessment of Petroleum Activities in Surface Sediments, Suez Gulf, Egypt

The present study focuses on the risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in aquatic ecosystems by evaluating the current situation of heavy metals in seven locations (North Amer El Bahry, Amer, Bakr, Ras Gharib, July Water Floud, Ras Shokeir, and El Marageen) along the Suez Gulf coast that are well-known representative sites for petroleum activities in Egypt. One hundred and forty-six samples of surface sediments were carefully collected from twenty-seven profiles in the intertidal and surf zone. The hydrochemical parameters, such as pH and salinity (S‰), were measured during sample collection. The mineralogy study was carried out by an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and the concentrations of Al, Mn, Fe, Cr, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, and Pb were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectra (ICP-MS). The ecological risks of heavy metals were assessed by applying the contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (RI). The mineralogical composition mainly comprised quartz, dolomites, calcite, and feldspars. The average concentrations of the detected heavy metals, in descending order, were Al > Fe > Mn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Zn > Ni > Co > Cd. A non-significant or negative relationship between the heavy metal concentration in the samples and their textural grain size characteristics was observed. The coastal surface sediment samples of the Suez Gulf contained lower concentrations of heavy metals than those published for other regions in the world with petroleum activities, except for Al, Mn, and Cr. The results for the CF, EF, and Igeo showed that Cd and Pb have severe enrichment in surface sediment and are derived from anthropogenic sources, while Al, Mn, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn originate from natural sources. By comparison, the PLI and RI results indicate that the North Amer El Bahry and July Water Floud are considered polluted areas due to their petroleum activities. The continuous monitoring and assessment of pollutants in the Suez Gulf will aid in the protection of the environment and the sustainability of resources.

Comparative Analysis of Nigeria and Malaysia’s Production Sharing Contract (PSC)

The oil and gas industry is governed by policies with the aim of smoothening the business relationship between the Government, the International Oil Companies (IOC’s) and the Host communities. Different oil producing countries have their own laws governing petroleum activities and these laws vary from country to country based on the B-PEST factors which are Biological, Political, Environmental, Social and Technology. However, reserve size and oil type can also influence petroleum laws. Countries like Nigeria relies strongly on petroleum bills such as the PIB in which this research will be analyzing the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) which is a significant subset of the PIB. Comparison between the existing PSC of Malaysia and that of Nigeria was captured in this research and the analysis of the PSC was done based on the Government Take, National Oil Company (NOC) and the Contractor’s benefits. 26.67% and 56.58% recovery cost, 28.67% and 26.28% Government revenue, 23.14% and 7.64% NOC share, 21.52% and 9.50% Contractor share of revenue per barrel was arrived at for Malaysia and Nigeria respectively, showing that the Malaysian PSC model yields more income to the country when compared to that of Nigeria without necessarily short-changing the contractors or the IOCs. Finally, the reasons behind these deficits were highlighted and recommendations made to improve the PSC and benefits for all parties to the contractual agreements.

The Undesired Impact of Petroleum Resources on Human Capital in Iran's Provinces: A Double Resource Curse?

This paper investigates the impact of petroleum resource abundance on human capital in Iran’s provinces . Using a feasible generalized least square method and panel data for 28 provinces in Iran collected between 2000 to 2014 we examine the relationship between petroleum abundance and human capital measured by education and health care. The results are identical when we apply the dynamic GMM estimation to address endogeneity issues. We contribute to the literature by distinguish ing the location of the provinces in either upstream downstream (UD) or merely downstream (D) petroleum activities. 4 The results not only confirm the crowding - out effects of petroleum resource abundance on human capital in Iranian provinces but also show that this phenomenon is exacerbated in provinces with both upstream and downstream (UD) activities compared to provinces with only downstream (D) processes. This suggests the double resource curse, which implies that regions with more involvement in oil activities accumulate less human capital . We also show the impact of two sanctions on Iran to determine whether they had a significant impact on human capital accumulation. Finally, we find mixed results concerning the impact on human capital of imposed sanctions on Iran.

AN OVERVIEW AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF CROATIAN GEOTECHNOLOGICAL HERITAGE

Industrial heritage plays an important role in the economical, historical, and cultural identity of contemporary European society. A significant part of the industrial heritage consists of historical buildings which have remained after mining and petroleum exploitation. Moreover, industrial heritage can be also nurtured in countries in which mining and petroleum activities are not fully developed. It is inevitably associated with geological heritage. Furthermore, geological heritage is essential for a better understanding of nature, its wider appreciation and better protection. Mining has always played a significant industrial role, but it has recently lost its significance due to increasing environmental requirements regarding the European green deal and transforming the economy for a sustainable future. However, old mining and petroleum heritage sites can become attractions and they can contribute to the development of tourism and the community itself. A new term “geotechnological heritage”, presented in this paper, is related to mining, geological and petroleum heritage due to their significant interaction. This paper presents the used and unused touristic potential of heritage on selected sites in the Republic of Croatia. In addition, an analysis of the Croatian undervalued geotechnological heritage has been performed after the exploitation of stone and other nonmetallics, coal, metals, and petroleum. Unlike Croatia, the potential of geotechnological heritage has been recognized and exploited in most European countries. Therefore, Croatia has a great opportunity to develop heritage based on the experience of more successful members of the European Union.

Are bonds the answer to managing environmental liabilities?

Traditionally the requirement for meeting environmental liability obligations for regulated activities has focused on financial security. A single or blanket bond covering many licenses of an operator is often used to cover a state’s financial exposure to the environmental liabilities from disclaimed licenses in the event of operator insolvency. Less attention has been given to changes in regulated activities, operator risk and market changes, and management of wells over the life cycle. The Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) in South Australia has revised its policy for managing the environmental liabilities from petroleum and geothermal activities to be more holistic, risk and evidence based. Operators are now required to account for the status of all licensed activities in annual reporting, or for any change in ownership. Wells and infrastructure that have not been in production for over 24 months require an assessment based on prescribed future use criteria. If a future use can be demonstrated with sufficient evidence, the activity is categorised as ‘inactive’. Inactive wells are subject to an annual fee that finances the rehabilitation of legacy wells that may become orphan. If no future use is established, the activity is categorised as ‘expired’, and a rehabilitation plan of a minimum number of wells, or equivalent expenditure on infrastructure rehabilitation, is required. DEM also review the inventory of licensed activities and financial capacity of operators to meet environmental rehabilitation obligations to determine the amount of financial security required. This approach allows for risk-based financial security commensurate with regulated activities.

Standardization and Wound-Healing Activity of Petroleum, Ethanolic and Aqueous Extracts of Ficus Benghalensis Leaves

Wound healing is the repair process of injury on the skin and other soft tissues. After injury, an inflammatory response occurs and tissue cells below the dermis begin to increase collagen formation. Later, the epithelial tissue is regenerated. There are three stages of wound healing process: inflammation, proliferation and remodeling. Traditionally, Ficus benghalensis plant has been used for wound healing but no clear scientific data are available related to this activity. The present work was designed to explore the wound-healing efficacy of petroleum, ethanolic and aqueous extracts of F. benghalensis leaves as evaluated on excision wound models. These leaves extracts were studied for their phytochemicals by means of different chemical tests. Parameters studied include the rate of wound contraction and period of complete epithelialization of incision wound. Student’s t-test was used to analyze the results obtained from this study and confidence level P < 0.05 was considered significant. All the petroleum, ethanolic and aqueous extracts of F. benghalensis leaves were found to possess significant wound-healing activity, which was evidenced by decrease in the period of epithelialization and increase in the rate of wound contraction. The obtained results showed that all extracts of F. benghalensis leaves were capable of accelerated wound-healing activity comparable with a control drug.

Geological and geotechnical review of gas and mudflow area as mitigation efforts in the risk of failure on Toll Road Project, Banten

The toll project in Banten shows that there is an area of gas burst at one of the locations. The embankment road passes through the gas burst. The geoelectric results that there is a silt/sandy soil layer and rock on the surface (10-20m), the second layer is soft silt to silt (20-40m), and then a rock layer. The second layer has gaps towards the first layer from the bottom layer, which is identified carrying gas and water, which is passed through the gaps to the surface. The seismic refraction also results that there are basins with gaps through the top and bottom of soil layers. The layer which indicates the gas and water carrier line is volcanic, sandy, forming a layer that has undergone deformation and partly a water-bearing layer (sand). The result of LEMIGAS explained that the gas bursts are also not methane that comes from the humus decomposition. The gas bursts are originated from depth and related to petroleum activity. The CO2 content is up to 97.87%, which is poisonous. However, the burst area is open, and the morphology is flat and does not form a cup, this gas spreads out so that the impact is not too pronounced.

Public policy, resource rent and ethics: The case of the Norwegian petroleum industry

The present paper seeks to explain how ethics and values in public policy can be result of different historical contingencies. Specifically, it explains the accomplishment of petroleum resource management in Norway. The main argument is that the success of this policy is an understanding of the ethics behind harvesting the resource rent of this non-renewable natural resource. To support the argument, the paper firstly describes a model of Recardian resource rent. Secondly, it investigates the set of values that were in place before the petroleum production started in the 1970s, as described in the influential white paper, “The role of petroleum activities in the Norwegian Society,” published in 1974. In the white paper, the government discussed the future opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities associated with the oil industry and how this would transform society. An important part of the white paper revealed the main ethical vision of the government, i.e., to build a “qualitatively better society” for the benefit of the people. Thirdly, the paper traces the historical roots of these values.

Investigating and Comparing Petroleum Contract Models from Effective Control Lens in Contracts

Selecting the suitable petroleum contract pattern is one of the most sensitive in oil activities after the initial petroleum negotiations, whereas different petroleum contracts have emerged due to the willingness of the host government to grant control and oversight of petroleum activity to the International Oil Company. The right to control effectively is the key to earning more and longer-term profit and impact on project economics for each of the parties. Occasionally, this right to effective control creates a major challenge for host countries and international and transnational oil companies. In the meantime, domestic law requirements play an important role along with the willingness of governments to maintain or grant effective control.

Interdependence of Sectors of Economic Activities for World Countries from the Reduced Google Matrix Analysis of WTO Data.

We apply the recently developed reduced Google matrix algorithm for the analysis of the OECD-WTO World Network of Economic Activities. This approach allows to determine interdependencies and interactions of economy sectors of several countries, including China, Russia and the USA, properly taking into account the influence of all the other world countries and their economic activities. Within this analysis, we also obtain the sensitivity of EU countries’ economies to the petroleum activity sector. We show that this approach takes into account the multiplicity of economical interactions between countries and activity sectors, thus providing a richer analysis compared to the usual export-import analysis.

GEOEDUCATIONAL AND GEOTOURISM VALUES OF AGGREGATE QUARRIES, MISSAN, SOUTHEASTERN IRAQ

The geoeducation and geotourism potential capabilities were quantitatively estimated in nine quarries locations in eastern Missan, SE Iraq. A quantitative approach is used to compute the scientific, educational, functional, and touristic categorises values for each quarry. categorised values were weighted for three types of audiences: university students, school pupils, and tourists then, the previous geoscientific studies about quarries areas were searches of different geoscience branches and registered. The results show that geoeducation values are greater than geotourism ones in all quarry sites. All quarries show high weight for the education values while the geotourism values are affected by functional infrastructure in each site. The diversity of scientific values of each site are also studied where the petroleum and hydrological activities increased the geoeducation weight of the specific site and supplied more geological knowledge.

UNDERSTANDING OFFSHORE PETROLEUM ACTIVITIES INDUCED SOCIOECONOMIC DYNAMICS OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN OIL-BEARING COASTAL COMMUNITIES OF NIGERIA

The study creates an understanding ofoffshore petroleum activities induced socioeconomic dynamics of rural households in oil-bearing coastal communities of Nigerias Niger Delta. It was carried out in six littoral Local Government Areas, 3 each from Bayelsa and Delta States in the Niger Delta, usinga sample size of 471 inhabitants, selectedrandomly, and are administered with astructured questionnaire each to obtain thedata required. It was analysed with the aid of SPSS to ascertain howvarying their opinions were to the issue in the region. It was discovered that offshore petroleum activitiesinducesocioeconomic changesto the age limit, sex and marital status, educational level, household size, among others of the rural households with respect toliving in the coastal oil-bearing/fishingcommunities of Nigerias Niger Delta. The recommendation is that stakeholders of the petroleum industryshould be mindful of the socioeconomic changes affecting the rural households and endeavour to create a balance betweenpetroleum exploitingand living in the region.

Assessment of the potential of combining wave and solar energy resources to power supply worldwide offshore oil and gas platforms

Offshore oil and gas platforms have very high-power demands that are usually met locally by using gas turbines. Nowadays, the industry is seeking for environmentally friendly alternatives to power supply those facilities, such as by means of marine renewable energy. Motivated by economic and environmental aspects, this paper addresses the value proposition and investigates the feasibility of implementing combined wave and solar systems for power supplying offshore oil and gas platforms. Three locations where relevant offshore petroleum activities are currently ongoing were selected as case studies and a reference oil and gas platform was assumed. At each case study location, four wave energy converters and one photovoltaic technology were analysed for three scenarios: wave power only, solar power only and both resources combined. The methodology applied, generalizable to other regions with petroleum activities and relevant wave and solar energy resources, consists in scaling the wave energy converters to match wave climate at site, maximizing their energy production, followed by an economic feasibility analysis. Results show that for all sites the combination of both renewable resources increases electricity production, reduces the intra-annual variability of energy production and intermittency issues, increases capacity factors up to 24% and consequently avoids overdesign. The obtained levelized cost of energy is in the range 131–263 €/MWh and the reduction in emissions was estimated at circa 281,915 ton/year at each site, which demonstrates the feasibility and interest of providing electricity from these combined systems to offshore oil and gas platforms. The proposed solution provides benefits that could lead to further decreases in the levelized cost of energy, enabling the entrance to new markets for both wave and solar energy, while facilitating the transition to a more sustainable energy mix. Hence, the further technology development is advocated.

Government-industry dynamics in the development of offshore waste management in Norway: from prescriptive to risk-based regulation

Petroleum activities are associated with high risks. In the 1980s, concerns arose about the environmental impacts of ‘normal’ petroleum activity. Regular operations go hand-in-hand with emissions to air and discharges to sea. Both have been subject to extensive regulation since the 1990s. This paper analyzes the design and implementation of the Norwegian system that regulates operational discharges to the marine environment. It analyzes the changing relationships among science, politics and the industry and describes how the turn from a prescriptive to a predominantly performance-based approach was fundamental in making progress toward less polluting practices. The article describes how risk regulation was institutionalized and highlights the benefits of involving the industry in the pursuit of environmental protection. It also cautions against a lax attitude toward control and oversight, as complexification of risk objects and the increase of institutional risks can lead to mismatches in risk management.

Is petroleum activity in the marine areas of Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja desirable for Norway? – a case study in the oil and gas industry

AbstractThe discussion concerning petroleum activity in the marine areas of Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja (LoVeSe) has characterized the Norwegian oil debate for many years. On one side you have the ones supporting Environmental Impact Assesment (EIA) (an assessment which by law has to be conducted prior to opening an area for petroleum activities) and subsequent opening for petroleum activity in the area. On the other hand, you have the ones supporting the current state in LoVeSe – to keep the untouched, spectacular nature closed for petroleum activities. This paper seeks to give insight into the discussion by describing both parties perspectives by the means of system thinking and system thinking tools. A stakeholder overview showing the main stakeholders key interests in the discussion, in addition to systemigrams illustrating their perspectives has been made.

CFD modelling and analysis of the trajectory and behaviour of oil pollutant particles in the ghanaian territorial waters

Petroleum activities like production, transportation and storage have placed Ghanaian waters among zones negatively impacted by human activities. These places are occupied by human occupations and its associated risks. Oil pollution in the environment affects biota and degrades human health. Predictive and descriptive tools have made the assessment of this situation possible for water quality management. In addition, these tools help in contingency planning in dealing with potential threats in the environment. In this research, the MOHID hydrodynamic numerical model was used to render forecast capacity for the possibility of finding susceptible areas to spilled oil particles in the Ghanaian waters from human activities around the region. The concept of nesting domains was used to reduce the cost and processing time (i.e. CPU) time, for computation. The hydrodynamics was modelled under three levels and validated with an average deviation of 14.00% and correlation factors above 0.80 from measured results. To locate possible shorelines susceptible to oil particles, random locations and oil exploration sites were used as discharge points for the simulations. In all, about 8 locations were included for the research and they are as follows: (2.9 oE, 4.4oN), (1.7oE, 4.6oN), (0.9oE, 4.9oN), (0.9oE, 4.6oN), (0.3oE, 5.2oN), (0.3oE, 4.6oN), (0.5oE, 5.5oN) and (0.5oE, 4.6oN). In conclusion, it took the oil particles 2 days, 6 hours; 1 day, 17 hours; 3 days; 4 days; 1 day; 4 days, 1 hour; and 22 hours for the first seven locations to get beached at the shore. For particles located at (0.5oE, 5.5oN), they were beached outside the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Ghana. The study has revealed that the territorial waters of Ghana acts as beaching sites for oil pollutants independent of the discharge location.

The use of smart remote sensing technologies in the development of master plans of cities on the example of the city of Basra

The aim of this paper is to use remote sensing data for developing smart technology in oil cities, Basra city as study area. Smart city is one of smart technology governments need to implement in oil cities to give suitable solution for audience such as easy transportation access between cities. The planning problem in oil production areas of Iraq, which is carried out on the territories of the cities is the lack of balanced policies aimed at their development, taking into account on the one hand, areas disturbed by petroleum activities on the other areas of the existing development in the settlement in other hand. Urban use of the areas disturbed by oil production requires right science-based decisions associated with the development of quantitative methods of accounting and evaluation of territorial -construction resource (TCR) in a particular urban territory. Success smart city in Basra city needs hardware, software, remote sensing data and users, network and good understanding of how smart technology working on. This research defined the required steps and roles to develop smart city technology in Basra city as one of Iraqi oil cities territories.