Battelle Memorial Research Articles

Transfer maps and nonexistence of joint determinant

Transfer Maps, sometimes called norm maps, for Milnor’s K -theory were first defined by Bass and Tate [H. Bass, J. Tate, The Milnor ring of a global field, in: Algebraic K-theory, II: “Classical” algebraic K-theory and connections with arithmetic, Proc. Conf., Seattle, Wash., Battelle Memorial Inst., 1972, Lecture Notes in Math., vol. 342, Springer, Berlin, 1973, pp. 349–446] for simple extensions of fields via tame symbol and Weil’s reciprocity law, but their functoriality had not been settled until Kato [Kazuya Kato, A generalization of local class field theory by using K-groups. II, J. Fac. Sci. Univ. Tokyo Sect. IA Math. 27 (3) (1980) 603–683]. On the other hand, functorial transfer maps for the Goodwillie group are easily defined. We show that these natural transfer maps actually agree with the classical but difficult transfer maps by Bass and Tate. With this result, we build an isomorphism from the Goodwillie groups to Milnor’s K-groups of fields, which in turn provides a description of joint determinants for the commuting invertible matrices. In particular, we explicitly determine certain joint determinants for the commuting invertible matrices over a finite field, Q , R and C into the respective group of units of given field.

Potential Nontraditional Uses for Byproduct Sulfur in Kazakhstan

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 94177, “Potential Nontraditional Uses of Byproduct E&P Produced Sulfur in Kazakhstan,” by P.W. Beall and J.M. Neff, Battelle Memorial Inst., prepared for the 2005 SPE/EPA/DOE Exploration and Production Environmental Conference, Galveston, Texas, 7–9 March. Kazakhstan oil and gas companies recover approximately 2000 to 3000 tonne/d of elemental sulfur from product streams. In Europe and the U.S., recovered elemental sulfur normally is sold into the chemical and manufacturing markets as a raw material for phosphate fertilizer, sulfuric acid, detergents, and other chemicals; metal and fiber industries; paint manufacture; rubber products; paper; and pharmaceuticals. Byproduct elemental sulfur also can be used as a binder replacement in petroleum asphalt and Portland concrete, yielding sulfur-modified asphalt and concrete that meets or exceeds American Soc. for Testing and Materials and/or American Concrete Inst. standards. Potential Uses Potential outlets for Kazakhstan produced sulfur include: sulfur/polymer concrete slabs and blocks for construction and sulfur/polymer stabilization solidification (SPSS) for radioactive- and mercury-contaminated materials. The developing Kashagan East prospect is presalt and involves drilling to a depth of approximately 5000 m. Any oil discovered in this area will likely be similar to Tengiz crude (i.e., exceptionally light with a high H2S content), requiring market outlets for recovered elemental sulfur. This field could more than double recovered elemental sulfur production in Kazakhstan. The Tengizchevroil and Kashagan East fields and treatment facilities are in a very sensitive environmental and geopolitical area with multiple important stakeholders, including consortium partners and Kazakhstan regulators. The remoteness of these sulfur-recovery facilities, the difficulties of transport, and underdevelopment of the emerging markets for sulfur have made it difficult for Kazakhstan to tap into outlets for elemental sulfur. Hence, as Fig. 1 shows, the recovered sulfur typically is stored on the ground. Tengizchevroil has started an export pro-gram in which flaked sulfur is exported to eastern Europe, Africa, and China. There are three potential nontraditional market outlets for elemental sulfur in Kazakhstan: sulfur-extended asphaltic concrete, polymer-modified sulfur concrete, and SPSS. Sulfur-Extended-Asphaltic Concrete Kazakhstan has 189×103 km of roads, of which 109×103 km are paved. Kazakhstan has three major oil refineries supplying the northern region (at Pavlodar), western region (at Atyrau), and southern region (at Shymkent), with a total refining capacity of 57 600 tonne/d. Only the Pavlodar refinery produces asphalt/bitumen material and has a capacity of 5×105 tonne/a. The petroleum asphalt can be extended by 50 wt% using elemental sulfur. The asphalt produced at the Pavlodar refinery provides Kazakhstan with enough binder material to pave or repave approximately 1000 km/a of roadway. Extending current petroleum-asphalt production capabilities with elemental sulfur would allow Kazakhstan to pave or repave an additional 250 km of roadway each year, equivalent to oil production of approximately 18 400 tonne/d. Paving or repaving 1250 km/a of road-way means that Kazakhstan rebuilds its roads every 150 years, assuming that asphalt is always used. By increasing asphalt and asphaltic-concrete production capabilities, the turnaround ratio can be reduced dramatically, providing additional outlets for elemental sulfur. Use of elemental sulfur to extend asphalt-production capabilities does not threaten an existing industry in Kazakhstan.

Overview: Health, Safety and Environment (July 2005)

It is a real challenge to summarize the three disciplines of health, safety, and environment (HSE) in just half a page. All three have important roles in the petroleum world, yet they are vastly different. Specialists in one discipline may know little about the other disciplines. Unlike most other JPT topics, regulatory issues contribute significantly to management of HSE. In March, professionals from many countries gathered in Galveston, Texas, for the biennial SPE/EPA/DOE Exploration and Production Environmental Conference. Most of the papers featured here, along with numerous other interesting papers, were presented at that meeting. This year, the conference included additional discussion on safety and security. The process of finding and producing oil and gas and bringing products to market produces many effects on the air, water, and land, as well as on plants, humans, and animals. The industry has made great strides in the past few decades through technology development and pressures from governments. Yet the public does not perceive this industry as being a “clean” industry; we have a long way to go to improve both reality and perception. Regulatory initiatives and public pressure will force new developments in managing drilling wastes, produced water, and air emissions, among other industry byproducts. The oil and gas industry has opportunities to use its vast skills and impressive technological capabilities to help society meet other health and environmental needs. Two examples that readily come to mind are injection of carbon dioxide for enhanced recovery or for permanent sequestration and treatment of produced water for beneficial reuse in arid areas. Finally, we must remember that the men and women in this industry frequently work in extreme environments and with complicated and potentially dangerous equipment. Accident rates and fatalities continue to be higher for the E&P sector than for other heavy-industry sectors. It is critical to improve the safety of oil and gas operations to protect our work force. Many challenges remain in HSE. Available from the SPE eLibrary: www.spe.org SPE 94476 - “Cost-Effective Treatment of Barium from Coalbed-Natural-Gas Produced Water,” by J.T. Cline, SPE, Anadarko Petroleum Co. SPE 93796 - “Environmental Regulatory Framework in Europe: An Update,” by E. Garland, SPE, Total SPE 88673 - “Comprehensive Solutions to Drilling-Waste Management,” by Abdullah Al-Suwaidi, ADCO, et al. SPE 94371 - “Increased Access to Federal Lands Through Data Sharing,” by S.D. Belieu, SPE, Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, et al. SPE 94177 - “Potential Nontraditional Uses of Byproduct E&P Produced Sulfur in Kazakhstan,” by P.W. Beall, Battelle Memorial Inst., et al.

Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) technology for natural gas pipeline inspection. Topical Report, November 1992: Bubenik .TA.; Nestlroth, J.B.; Eiber, R.J.; Saffell, B.F. Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio (United States), PB93-181899/GAR, 125 pp. (Nov. 1992)

Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) technology for natural gas pipeline inspection. Topical Report, November 1992: Bubenik .TA.; Nestlroth, J.B.; Eiber, R.J.; Saffell, B.F. Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio (United States), PB93-181899/GAR, 125 pp. (Nov. 1992)

Radiation Biology of the Fetal and Juvenile Mammal.

No diminished interest in the biological effects of irradiation has occurred since Muller demonstrated the mutagenic potentialities of x-rays. This volume is a collection of papers presented at the Ninth Annual Hanford Biology Symposium, Radiation Biology of the Fetal and Juvenile Mammal, cosponsored by Battelle Memorial Institute/Pacific Northwest Laboratories and the US Atomic Energy Commission. There are nearly 90 reports in just over 1,000 pages, excluding remarks of the chairmen. The reports are, therefore, generally brief. It is this necessity for brevity which may be responsible for the uneven character of the papers. More extensive development of papers could well have made many more informative. As a mutagen, ionizing radiation has potential for disease production via several effects. By solitary geneeffects it may simulate hereditary disorders, or by another mechanism affect karyokinesis and produce cytogenetic abnormalities. Effects on genes during development implies the potential for diverting differentiation. And, finally, there

Battelle Memorial Instituteの情報活動 ―その情報分析センターについて―

Battelle Memorial Instituteの情報活動 ―その情報分析センターについて―