Amount Of Crude Oil Research Articles

Development of acoustic remote sensing techniques for sea ice, oil under sea ice, and oil encapsulated in sea ice

Recent decreases in sea ice cover have provided new opportunities for the shipping industry and stimulated further interest in hydrocarbon extraction in Arctic waters, thereby also increasing the risk of an oil spill in ice covered waters. To support oil spill response there is a need to develop practical remote sensing techniques to detect, quantify, and map oil that is under or encapsulated in sea ice. To address this need, a series of experiments were conducted at the Cold Regions Research and Environmental Laboratory (CRREL, Hannover, NH). During these experiments, different amounts of crude oil were injected underneath artificially grown sea ice of different thicknesses. The ice and oil were monitored by a suite of instruments located in the water column, including cameras, laser fluorometers, and multibeam, narrowband, and broadband acoustic backscattering systems. In addition, temperature and salinity profiles were conducted routinely, and ice cores were collected and imaged using a micro-CT scanner. Results from the broadband acoustic backscattering system are presented, and the relative merits of this approach for the remote detection and quantification of oil under and in sea ice are discussed. In addition, the utility of the acoustic systems for studies of ice physics are also discussed.

Accumulation of Hydrocarbons by Maize (Zea mays L.) in Remediation of Soils Contaminated with Crude Oil

This study has investigated the use of screened maize for remediation of soil contaminated with crude oil. Pots experiment was carried out for 60 days by transplanting maize seedlings into spiked soils. The results showed that certain amount of crude oil in soil (≤2 147 mg·kg−1) could enhance the production of shoot biomass of maize. Higher concentration (6 373 mg·kg−1) did not significantly inhibit the growth of plant maize (including shoot and root). Analysis of plant shoot by GC-MS showed that low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected in maize tissues, but PAHs concentration in the plant did not increase with higher concentration of crude oil in soil. The reduction of total petroleum hydrocarbon in planted soil was up to 52.21–72.84%, while that of the corresponding controls was only 25.85–34.22% in two months. In addition, data from physiological and biochemical indexes demonstrated a favorable adaptability of maize to crude oil pollution stress. This study suggested that the use of maize (Zea mays L.) was a good choice for remediation of soil contaminated with petroleum within a certain range of concentrations.

MODELLING OF SEAWATER POLLUTED BY LIGHT AND HEAVY CRUDE OIL DROPLETS

Significant amounts of crude oil transported from offshore fields to the refineries using tankers or pipelines, demand increased control of seawater pollution. Tanker accidents resulting in oil spills drive much attention, as they influence local marine life and coastal industry. However, the most significant annual amount of crude oil enters the sea in the form of oilin-water emulsion as a result of standard tanker operations, offshore oil extraction and daily work of refineries. Many branches of science are challenged to provide new methods for oil detection, less expensive, more sensitive and more accurate. Remote satellite or airborne detection of large oil spills is possible using joint techniques as microwave radars, ultraviolet laser fluorosensors and infrared radars. Some methods are capable to deal with oil streaks detection and estimation of oil thickness. Although there is currently, no method to detect small concentration of oil droplets dispersed in seawater. Oil droplets become additional absorbents and attenuators in water body. They significantly change seawater inherent optical properties, which imply the change of apparent optical properties, detectable using remote sensing techniques. To enable remote optical detection of oil-in-water emulsion, a study of optical properties of two types of crude oil was conducted. Radiative transfer theory was applied to quantify the contribution of oil emulsion to remote sensing reflectance (R rs ). Spectra of R rs from in situ measurements in Baltic Sea were compared to R rs spectra of seawater polluted by 1 ppm of crude oil emulsion, collected using radiative transfer simulation. The light crude oil caused a 9-10% increase of Rrs while the heavy one reduced R rs up to 30% (model accuracy stayed within 5% for considered spectral range). Results are discussed concerning their application to shipboard and offshore oil content detection.

Some chemical and mechanistic aspects of petroleum formation

Selected organic reactants, including n-dodecanol and stearic acid adsorbed on clays at low temperature (300 K), decomposed on heating (>400 K) to yield alkane product mixtures: thermal desorption reactions. These products showed that, while adsorbed, reactant hydrocarbon chains underwent cracking, isomerisation and hydrogen transfers. Because product distributions obtained from several different reactants were closely similar, it is concluded that these reactants extensively rearranged to form similar mixtures of surface-bonded species. From this evidence, we suggest that thermal desorption provides a realistic chemical mechanism for natural petroleum formation: it is well-known that some minerals promote kerogen breakdown. To investigate the feasibility of this mechanism in nature, the following comparisons were made. Qualitative: Our model thermal desorption reactions yielded alkanes in the C5–C8 range that are usual constituents of crude oils. Quantitative: Product yields were sufficiently large to explain the amounts of crude oil found in natural reservoirs. Kinetic: Extrapolation of our measured alkane thermal desorption rates, to lower temperatures, confirmed that long (geological) time intervals are required to accumulate the amounts of crude oils found in reservoirs. We conclude, therefore, that initial adsorption of organic compounds on suitable acid catalysts, e.g. the clay montmorillonite, with subsequent slow hydrocarbon desorption after burial, is a realistic and feasible mechanism for petroleum formation in natural sediments. Thermoanalytical rate data obtained for geochemical pyrolysis reactions are critically appraised in the context of some representative kinetic studies in the literature. Furthermore, deactivation on adsorption may preserve the organic precursors of oil from rapid, early decay.

QuEChERS sample preparation followed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry for rapid screening of dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium salt in avian egg tissue

A quantification method was developed for the determination of dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium salt (DOSS) in avian egg samples based on a QuEChERS extraction technique followed by UPLC-MS/MS analysis. DOSS is an anionic surfactant that is part of the Corexit® 9500 dispersive mixture that prevents the formation of oil slicks on water bodies. It was extensively used when the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and a large amount of crude oil was released into the Gulf of Mexico. QuEChERS provided a simple, effective and time saving sample preparation method prior to analysis without reducing analytical sensitivity and became an excellent substitute to lengthy traditional extraction methods. Weak anionic exchange cleanup significantly reduced matrix effects and improved analyte sensitivity. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography provided an effective separation method, while MS/MS provided the necessary selectivity and increased sensitivity. Our method achieved baseline separation of DOSS, surrogate (sodium octyl sulfate – d17) and the internal standard (sodium dioctyl sulfate – d25), with limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantitation (LOQ) for DOSS being 260 and 500 pg/mL, respectively. Quality control recoveries were 70.5 ± 7.3% (mean ± standard deviation, n = 3) for the laboratory control sample and 72.4 ± 4.9% (n = 3) for the matrix spike. The extraction efficiency was monitored by adding surrogate compound to every sample with recoveries of 104.6 ± 14.1 for SDS-d1 and 81.8 ± 6.8 for SOS-d17. Currently, limited peer reviewed scientific data are reported on the effects of oil dispersants on the environment. Our analytical method for the determination of DOSS in avian egg matrix can be used to provide reliable data on the fate and effects of DOSS in biological systems.

Comparisons of Chemical and Physical Properties of Hybrid Strains of <i>Pangasianodon gigas</i> and <i>Pangasianodon hypothalamus</i> Prepared from Different Extracting Processes

Three different catfish oil extraction processes were used to extract oil from catfish viscera: process P1 involved a mixture of ground catfish viscera and water, no heat treatment and centrifugation; process P2 involved ground catfish viscera (no added water), heat treatment and centrifugation; process P3 involved a mix true of ground catfish viscera and water, heat treatment and centrifugation. Chemical and physical properties of the resulting of catfish oils were evaluated. The P3 process recovered significantly higher amounts of crude oil from catfish viscera than the other extraction methods. The P3 oil also contained a higher percent of free fatty acid and peroxide values than P1and P2 oils. Oleic acid in catfish oil was the predominant fatty acid accounting for about 50% of total fatty acids. The apparent viscosity at-5 and 0 C was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 C.

The Economic and Environmental Impact of Applying Minimum Energy Performance Standards to the Residential Refrigerators in Saudi Arabia

The main purpose of this article is to present the results of an investigation on the economic and environmental impacts of applying Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) to the residential refrigerators in Saudi Arabia. The results are based on literature and market surveys conducted for this purpose. The energy consumption of different types of refrigerators in common use in Saudi Arabia were calculated and compared with those pertinent to the most energy efficient refrigerators that comply with the MEPS proposed by the Saudi Standards Organization (SASO) as well as that comply with Energy Star Standards. The possible energy savings over the next 20 years are estimated to range between 36.6 and 70.74 TWh depending on the scenario adopted to implement and enforce a MEPS program in Saudi Arabia. The associated possible reduction in carbon dioxide emission ranged between 22.24 and 42.97 million tonnes and results from avoiding burning an equivalent amount of crude oil that would have been burned to produce the saved energy. The amount of saved oil ranged between 61 and 117.92 million barrels of oil which worth an amount ranges between $ 6.77 and $ 13.09 billion.

Effects of CO2 Injection on Phase Behavior of Crude Oil

CO2 flooding is a win-win technology, sequestrating greenhouse CO2 while producing a significant amount of crude oil to help defray the cost of CO2 sequestrating and enhancing oil recovery. However, due to the difference of sedimentary environment and poor properties of formations, physical properties of the crude oil and the effect of CO2 flooding are not always satisfactory in most oilfields of China. Therefore, in this article, to improve the understanding of the oil recovery mechanisms and feasibility of CO2 flooding in China, based on the oil and gas of Mao-3 oilfields, phase behavior of the CO2 and crude oil system was investigated. Parameters like saturated pressure, volume factor, gas oil ratio, and viscosity were measured and their relationships analyzed. Results show that crude oil of Mao-3 reservoir and CO2 has good mutual dissolution under reservoir conditions, and CO2 could expand the oil and reduce the oil viscosity greatly. As a result, formation energy could be enhanced and flow characteristics of the oil could be improved by CO2 flooding.

Error in calculation of degree of flooding with the use of a pipe device for measurements of the quantity of crude oil and gas

A pipe plant for measurements of the quantity of crude oil and gas that assures a high precision in measurements of the volume flow rate of liquid is developed. The error of the computed degree of flooding is determined.

A Study on Influence Factor of Steam Flooding Development Effect in Heavy Oil Reservoir

Steam flooding is an important method to improve the recovery factor heavy oil. Produce energy would consume a certain amount of crude oil in steam flooding; as a result, the evaluation of development effect of steam flooding should consider not only the degree of reserve recovery but also the heat utilization. In this paper, through the analysis of the mechanism of steam flooding, using reservoir engineering and numerical simulation methods, research the deposition, strata dip, steam injection rate, steam quality, production injection ratio and well completion method on the impact of steam flooding development effect in heavy oil.

The Effect of Oil Contamination on the Geotechnical Properties of Fine-Grained Soils

Every day, petrochemical activities, oil spills, and pipeline or reservoir leakage contaminate the ground. In addition to environmental concerns, such as groundwater pollution, the alteration of geotechnical properties of the contaminated soil is also cause for worry. Contamination has been proven to alter the geotechnical properties of soil, and researchers have extensively studied the properties of contaminated granular soils. However, the effect of oil contamination on the geotechnical properties of fine-grained soils has not yet been well evaluated. Therefore, a comprehensive set of laboratory tests has been conducted on both uncontaminated and contaminated fine-grained soils containing different amounts of crude oil. The soil samples were taken from the lands in the vicinity of the Tehran oil refinery site where there is a vast area subjected to this problem. The results of this study indicated that an increase in the angle of internal friction, maximum dry density, compression index, and Atterberg limits as well as a decrease in optimum water content and cohesion occur as the oil content increases. Moreover, aging caused a further decrease in cohesion but had no specific effect on the internal friction angle. These effects should be taken into consideration in the oil refinery site development programs. In addition, because treatment technologies for site clean-up are expensive, by investigating the geotechnical properties of contaminated soil, we are planning to develop methods of utilizing the soil as construction material.

A Comparative Study of Biosurfactant Synthesis by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Clinical and Environmental Samples

Evaluation of emulsifying activities indicates that biosurfactants were produced by an environmental (strain EP1) and a clinical (strain CP1) species of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. During growth on hydrocarbons, the organisms produced biosurfactants. Both strains grew luxuriantly on motor oil and readily synthesized abundant surfactants at the expense of easily metabolizable substrates. During a 12-day cultivation on motor oil, the organisms produced growth-associated extracellular surfactants with emulsification activities of 71 and 38% for EP1 and CP1, respectively. The generation times obtained for EP1 and CP1 were 1.74 and 2.66 days. The biosurfactants that could not be secreted on glucose were partially purified and putatively identified as rhamnolipids. The surface-active compounds present high emulsification activity and stability in the pH range of 3.0–10.0, temperature range of 4°C–100°C, and salinity range of 16–44% and are capable of stabilizing oil-in-water emulsions with several hydrocarbons. Typical emulsions produced were stable for several weeks. The results also showed that the biosurfactants were able to remove a significant amount of crude oil from contaminated soil; for instance, strain EP1 surfactant removed 54%, CP1 41%, detergent 42%, and water 30%. The rhamnolipids from these strains represent a new class of biosurfactants that have potential for use in a variety of biotechnological and industrial applications where extremes of pH, thermal, and saline conditions would have little or no effect on activity.

Organic Aerosol Blowout

On 20 April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling installation began to spew enormous quantities of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Much of the oil that escaped floated to the sea surface, where it began to evaporate. Based on airborne measurements of the gaseous and aerosol composition of air above the oil spill, de Gouw et al. (p. [1295][1]; see the Perspective by [Coe][2] ) demonstrate the heretofore poorly documented importance of compounds of intermediate volatility in secondary organic compounds in secondary organic aerosol formation, a process that has been suggested to be a significant source of organic aerosols in the atmosphere. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1200320 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1203019

Characteristics of Formation Damage and Variations of Reservoir Properties during Steam Injection in Heavy Oil Reservoir

Steam stimulation and steam flooding are two kinds of effective processes of enhanced oil recovery for a heavy oil reservoir. But steam can lead to severe and permanent formation damage due to interactions between injected fluids and reservoir rock and liquids. This article presents the laboratory studies undertaken to evaluate the influence of fluid composition, temperature, salinity, pH, dissolution and transformation of minerals, and asphalt deposition on formation damage during steam injection. The degree of damage during steam injection is observed to be dependent on pH and temperature. The technology of casting samples micrographs and scanning electron micrographs is employed to study the variations of reservoir properties after steam injection in each experiment. The mechanisms of formation damage and the characteristics of reservoir property variations are analyzed in heavy oil reservoirs during steam stimulation or steam flooding. The results show that the solubilities of rock and clay increase with increasing temperature and pH. Formation pores are blocked and plugged due to migration and precipitation of new minerals and asphalt deposition away from the steam injection well due to temperature drop and pH reduction in reservoirs. A great deal of asphalt deposition alters formation wettability to increase seepage resistance. Average porosity and average permeability increase near the steam injection well due to the generation of earthworm holes and steam channeling zones under the effect of high pH and elevated temperature. But a large amount of crude oil is left in large and mid-size pores during steam injection in heavy oil reservoirs.

Biochemical assessment of the effects of crude oil contaminated catfish (Clarias gariepinus) on the hepatocytes and performance of rat

Biochemical investigations were carried out to assess the effect of consumption of crude oil contaminated catfish on the hepatocytes and performance of rat. Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) (n = 120) were grouped into 6 of 20 catfish each and held for 30 h in 5 different mixtures of crude oil polluted water (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1% v/v). Catfish in the control group were held in borehole water. At the expiration of 30 h, the catfish were harvested and used to formulate diet. Albino rats (n = 60) were grouped into 6 of 10 rats each and fed on the formulated diet for a period of 30 days. Compared with the control, the result showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the average daily feed intake in all the groups of rats. However, a significant reduction (p<0.05) was observed in the overall body weight, the liver-to-body weight ratio as well as the serum concentrations of albumin and globulin of rat as the amount of crude oil in the diet increased. A significant increase (p<0.05) was also observed in the serum bilirubin concentration of rats fed on diet formulated with crude oil contaminated catfish when compared with the control. Histological analysis also revealed that the architectural arrangement of the liver was altered following the consumption of diet containing catfish exposed to crude oil polluted water. Overall, the data obtained indicate a possible adverse effect on the performance and impaired liver function in the rats fed on diet containing catfish exposed to crude oil polluted water. Key words: Crude oil, hepatocytes, catfish, albumin, globulin, bilirubin.

Dorothea Rockburne: Intersection

OCTOBER 122, Fall 2007, pp. 31–52. © 2007 October Magazine, Ltd. and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In March 1972, Dorothea Rockburne described Intersection (1971) as part of a ten-page feature on her work in Artforum. Here is her full account of the piece: “The work is the intersection of Group and Disjunction. I synthesized the parts of Group and the remaining parts of Disjunction to form Intersection. I had always used a level line in my work and I decided to make it apparent as an autonomous element.”1 As Mel Bochner explained a few pages earlier, Rockburne “has found that rigorous algebra of thought, Set Theory, to be an intellectually unifying premise for determining the diversity of her operations.”2 In set theory, the term “intersection” denotes the area of commonality between two overlapping sets: that which is both A and B. Rockburne’s piece used the elements shared by two previous works, Group (1971) and Disjunction (1970).3 The result was a sheet of plastic attached to the wall at a level line and rolled down onto the gallery floor, where a piece of paper and a smaller rectangle of cardboard were placed on top of it. These had been covered with a measured quantity of crude oil and another sheet of plastic, which was rolled around the paper at each end, causing the dark, viscous oil to cling to the plastic and sink into the paper. When Intersection was shown at the Katonah Gallery the previous year, Robert Pincus-Witten observed that it was “even more intellectually stringent” than Rockburne’s earlier work, “impressive and sober.”4 Through her use of set theory, Rockburne’s practice was aligned with

Determining the tolerance level of Zea mays (maize) to a crude oil polluted agricultural soil

This research sought to investigate the tolerance level of Zea mays (maize) on a crude oil contaminated soil using indices of plant performance such as plant height, leaf area and fresh cob yield. In the experiments described, conditions of a major spill were simulated by pouring different amounts of crude oil on experimental pots containing agricultural soil. Maize seeds were then grown amidst adequate fertilizer application and irrigation. The results of the study revealed that maize can survive soil contamination of about 21% (similar to 177 000 mg/kg) and still produce fresh cob yield of about 60% than on normal soil. There was a stimulated increase in fresh cob yield, than that obtained on normal soil at 12.5% soil contamination (similar to 112240 mg/kg). Hence, contaminant concentrations of 112 240 mg/kg and 177 000 mg/kg are identified as the ‘optimum yield limit’ and ‘lethal threshold’ respectively for maize growing on crude oil polluted soils. These results highlight the fact that, while concerted efforts should be made to remedy petroleum-contaminated agricultural soils, certain crops like maize can still produce beneficial yield in the presence of good soil management practices.

Valuing a multi-product mining project by compound rainbow option analysis

Resources development projects, including the early stage of exploration, can be regarded as a type of R&D project that consists of multiple stages. In each stage there is an option to proceed to further stages at an appropriate time after a certain period needed to complete the ongoing stage. The value of a resources development project in general depends on the price of the main product and the prices of several by-products; these are usually correlated to some extent. A development project of a gas field, which also produces a certain amount of crude oil as a by-product, has been evaluated by an extended multi-stage SSA (stratified state aggregation) method. The project was treated as having a compound rainbow option, whose underlying asset prices correlate with each other, and also as having geological and technical uncertainties that decrease according to the project stage. Consequently, the expected value of the project with compound rainbow option and the expected optimal timing to exercise the investment option to proceed to the following stages were obtained.

DEVELOPMENT OF A SURFACE WASHING AGENT EFFECTIVENESS PROTOCOL

ABSTRACT The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is developing a protocol for testing the effectiveness of surface washing agents (SWAs) in a laboratory setting. The criteria for evaluating SWA effectiveness is based on the amount of crude oil that can be removed from a substrate with a specified amount of test cleaner. For protocol development and testing, acid washed sand was used as the shoreline substrate. Prudhoe Bay Crude, a medium weight EPA/American Petroleum Institute (API) standard reference oil, and three SWAs were tested. Oil was applied to the sand in 2″ x2″ x2″ stainless steel mesh baskets and allowed to weather for a period of time before the SWA was applied. SWA was applied as a neat solution at a product to oil volume ratio of 2:1. The baskets were then submerged in seawater in 1-L beakers and agitated on a rotary shaker table. The effects of testing variables, including substrate hydration, mode of oil application, oil-weathering time, oil-SWA contact time, mixing speed, and mixing time were evaluated. The wash water and sand were extracted separately with DCM and the quantity of oil in the extracts was measured by UV-visible spectrophotometry. The efficiency of the SWA was determined based on the mass of oil released into the wash water relative to the total mass of oil applied.

Amelioration of a Crude-Oil-Polluted Soil with Poultry Manure and the Effects on Growth of Maize and Some Soil Properties

ABSTRACT This field experiment, conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria, was designed to assess the effects of using poultry manure as a bioremediation agent in ameliorating crude-oil-polluted soils. Four quantities of crude oil (0, 100, 200 and 300 mL) and four concentrations of poultry manure (0, 200, 400, and 600 kg/ha) were used. There were 16 treatment combinations, each replicated thrice. The total number of plots studied was 48, each measuring 1 × 1 m. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block. Physico-chemical properties of the soils were determined before pollution, two weeks after pollution and at the end of the experiment. Results obtained showed that application of crude oil to the polluted soils and amelioration with poultry manure significantly affected soil properties and maize (Zea mays) yield parameters. Increases in pH, carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio and organic carbon (C) were observed. Phosphorus (P) decreased as the level of crude-oil pollution increased despite remediation with poultry manure. Percentage crop emergence, plant height, dry matter yield, and leaf area also increased at each level of crude-oil pollution as the level of manure increased up to 400 kg/ha. Generally, the application of poultry manure resulted in an enhancement of the parameters studied.