Oil Discoveries Research Articles

Oil discoveries and political windfalls: evidence on presidential support in Uganda

AbstractOil discoveries, paired with delays in production, have created a new phenomenon: sustained post-discovery, pre-production periods. While research on the resource curse has debated the effects of oil on governance and conflict, less is known about the political effects of oil discoveries absent production. Using comprehensive electoral data from Uganda and a difference-in-differences design with heterogeneous effects, we show that oil discoveries increased electoral support for the incumbent chief executive in localities proximate to discoveries, even prior to production. Moreover, the biggest effects occurred in localities that were historically most electorally competitive. Overall, we show that the political effects of oil discoveries vary subnationally depending on local political context and prior to production, with important implications for understanding the roots of the political and conflict curses.

Deterritorialization in the context of cultural heritage and globalizing Msheireb downtown Doha

The State of Qatar has witnessed rapid urban activity and development in the decades since the discovery of oil, which has led to a large-scale change in the local cultural heritage and behavior of its residents. This uncontrolled rapid urbanization, along with the acceleration of globalization and modernity that has encompassed all areas, especially the city of Doha, has led to the deterioration and destruction of the downtown area of Msheireb. These transformations threaten the identity and local culture of Qatari society, affecting the place's sense of identity. The country's authorities have rushed to implement strategies and development plans aimed at redeveloping the old city center and improving the environment by creating innovative and inspiring living spaces that enable both locals and foreigners to communicate and integrate with one another to restore a sense of community. This study addresses the “Msheireb Downton Doha” project and the consequences of globalization. The study examines the concept of “deterritorialization” as a cultural condition that has pushed Msheireb Downtown Doha from modernity to postmodernism as an element of globalization. In this study, we will analyze the reconstruction of Msheireb, which helped to move the city toward cultural universality while simultaneously reducing regional borders. The study will analyze the extent to which this process succeeded or failed in preserving the spirit of the area's traditional architectural heritage and cultural identity in a manner that reflects the genuine sentiments and values of Qatari society.

COVID-19 AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION: A STATISTICAL REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA

Nigeria depends on agriculture in sustaining the economy. Over 70% of Nigerians are employed directly or indirectly in the agricultural sector which provides raw materials, employment, food and income and serves as a foreign exchange earner. The discovery of crude oil in the late 1950s dwindled government attention on agriculture. This has left the Nigerian economy with shortage of food production to feed the growing population. The agricultural business environment in Nigeria is frustrated by series of inhibiting factors; poor income, inadequate access to loan and credit facilities and insufficient legislations and government policies. The incidence of pandemic presented new dimension of challenges. The outbreak of the virus placed restrictions such as isolation, quarantine and total lockdown that invariably affected agricultural output. Research is being conducted in the academic world focusing on the pandemic. This research lends contribution in this regard to ascertain the effects of the pandemic on agricultural production. This research adopted a desktop approach in reviewing the documents of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Centre for Disease Control, online statistical repositories and literature used as secondary sources of data. The review made conclusion and recommendations based on empirical review

MAIN PIPELINES AND THEIR MEASUREMENT METHODS

Today it is difficult to imagine the development of modern society without the discovery of oil and gas fields, the development of ways to transport these products, their processing and the full use of these products in various industries. The general problem of the functioning of the pipeline system is complicated by the fact that the existing firefighting equipment and technologies cannot reliably ensure safety, as evidenced by the growing number of emergencies associated with fires at facilities. The existing control systems for the operation of main oil pipelines require revision and modernization in terms of automation, the introduction of innovative technologies and computer systems. The leak detection method described in the paper is the most promising both for upgrading the leak detection system and for the oil pipeline safety management system as a whole. The leak detection system under study is based on the work of microscopic robots that move along the pipeline along with the oil product. The correct operation of microscopic robots requires a careful approach to the development of their control algorithms. Currently, oil (its products) and gas are the main energy carriers and are considered mass cargoes, so it is of particular importance to transport them continuously with minimum losses, in a short period of time, relatively inexpensively and safely. Oil and oil products are mainly transported by rail, water, road and pipelines. In some cases, oil products can be delivered to operators by air transport methods. The selection of each mentioned transportation method depends on the size and nature of the products to be transported, as well as the location of oil fields, oil refineries, oil bases, and consumers. One of the most important conditions is to minimize costs in all cases and prevent irrational situations. In recent years, the focus on environmental protection, as well as the need to ensure the safety of pipelines and surrounding communities, has intensified the search for innovative solutions to minimize risks and optimize the transportation process. The implementation of advanced leak detection systems, like the one based on microscopic robots, demonstrates the growing emphasis on proactive measures to address pipeline safety concerns. These microscopic robots, also known as nanobots, can be designed with specialized sensors to detect changes in pressure, temperature, and chemical composition within the pipeline. By continuously monitoring the conditions inside the pipeline, the nanobots can quickly identify any deviations from the normal operation and alert the control systems about potential leaks or other issues. This real-time data can then be used to implement timely interventions, preventing catastrophic failures and minimizing environmental impact. Keywords: Pipeline, oil, development, product,

Exploration and appraisal year in review 2022

Petroleum exploration activity in Australia decreased in 2022. The total number of exploration wells drilled and expenditure across Federal offshore and state jurisdictions decreased from 2021 levels. The number of exploration permits awarded and acreage made available for exploration was also lower than that of 2021. However, more appraisal wells were drilled in 2022. Onshore exploration expenditure in Australia has exceeded that of the offshore since 2019 and remains the focus of exploration activity. Exploration activity and expenditure has not followed the increase in oil and gas prices of recent years, suggesting external factors are suppressing and impeding exploration activity. Twenty-six exploration wells were drilled in the year compared to 29 in the previous year, resulting in one offshore and eight onshore petroleum discoveries. The Pavo oil discovery in the Bedout Sub-basin and in the same exploration play as the Dorado oil discovery of 2018, was the only offshore discovery in 2022. Onshore exploration ‘hot-spots’ include the Northern Perth Basin and the Cooper–Eromanga Basin. The Permian Kingia Sandstone play of the Northern Perth Basin yielded the South Erregulla and Gynatrix gas discoveries, and the Jurassic Namur Sandstone play of the Cooper – Eromanga ‘Western Flank’ was extended yielding the Bangalee-1, Coorong-1, Magic Beach-1 and Rocky-1 oil discoveries.

Underexplored but not forgotten: assessing the energy resources potential of the greater Pedirka Basin region through play-based mapping

The Pedirka, Simpson and western Eromanga basins in central Australia have had a chequered exploration history which has seen only 42 wells drilled across a study area of ~210 000 km2. Exploration initially focused on conventional hydrocarbons from the 1950s–1980s, before shifting towards coal seam gas (CSG) opportunities in the mid-2000s. Active petroleum systems have been proven in the region by a non-commercial oil discovery at Poolowanna 1 in 1977, and by several wells that showed evidence of residual oil columns. CSG exploration programs have confirmed the presence of thick, marginally mature coal intervals on the flanks of the basins, but are yet to evaluate the CSG potential of the deeper troughs. Geoscience Australia, the Northern Territory Geological Survey and the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining have been collaborating on the Australia’s Future Energy Resources project to undertake an assessment of the resource potential for conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons, and the geological storage of CO2 (GSC) potential of the greater Pedirka region. The project has applied a play-based exploration approach to qualitatively assess the resource potential of the region. The Carboniferous to Cretaceous stratigraphic interval was divided into 14 plays which were evaluated for the presence of sediment-hosted energy resources through post-drill analysis, gross depositional environment mapping and common risk segment mapping. The analysis identified energy resources and GSC potential across multiple plays and locations within the study area. These results demonstrate, that while the region is underexplored, it should not be overlooked by future exploration activities.

Giant oil discoveries and conflicts

This study investigates the effects of oil discoveries on conflict. We propose that the effects from oil discoveries may differ depending on types of conflicts, mainly interstate versus intrastate. Using a measure for oil discoveries for a global panel of countries between 1970 and 2012, we find a positive association between oil discoveries and both conflict types, controlling for other conflict determinants and unobserved heterogeneity. However, we observe that the effects on intrastate conflicts are evident within a year of discovering the oil, while the effects on interstate conflicts only become evident after five years of the discovery. We also find that within intrastate conflicts, the results are mainly driven by the effects on ethnic conflicts. The findings imply that there may be different mechanisms at play for interstate versus intrastate conflicts related to resource discoveries. For example, resource-induced inequality can aggravate already existing tensions between groups in society, which can result in internal conflict soon after discovering the resource. On the other hand, the feasibility of engaging in conflict with a neighbouring resource-rich country depends on fighting capacity and mobilising resources, which can delay interstate conflicts. Overall, we believe the results from this study will provide some further understanding to the dynamics involving natural resources and types of conflict.

Factors Affecting Urbanisation in Iraq: A Historical Analysis from 1921 to the Present

This article conducts a historical analysis of urbanisation in Iraq and identifies three factors for its unsustainability—political instability, rapid population growth and oil discovery—which are discussed and analysed. In 1930, only 25 per cent of Iraq’s population lived in urban areas. This figure rose to 71 per cent in 2020 due to rural to urban migration, forced migration and internal displacement due to ethnic and sectarian conflicts and wars. Oil has brought economic development, but it has also led to militarisation and wars, which diverted authorities’ attention from the rapid urbanisation and led them to miss opportunities to deal with it in a timely manner. A reversal of the unsustainable urbanisation in Iraq would require genuine political reform, ending corruption and preparing a national development plan that deals with the crucial challenges brought on by urbanisation.

Guiana: petróleo, disputas internas, EUA e Venezuela

Abstract Abstract: Guyana has a strategic geographic position in the Amazon and the Greater Caribbean area, as revealed in the strategic thinking and military presence of the United States (USA). Its territory also possesses abundant natural resources, especially after the recent and significant oil discoveries, having the American company ExxonMobil as protagonist. Meanwhile, the country is characterised by a domestic political and ethnic cleavage. In addition, Venezuela and Guyana are in a historical dispute for the Essequibo area, which is potentially endowed and surrounded by areas with strategic resources. The main argument of the paper is that the oil discoveries in Guyana are leading to geopolitical and geoeconomic impacts regarding the intensification of domestic and foreign disputes, involving American and Venezuelan interests and recent state actions. More broadly, it points out that the north of South America has become one of the stages of the global power strife, in view of the Sino-Russian and American presences, in a context of Brazil’s absence. To survey and evaluate the actors’ actions resulting from the oil findings in Guyana, the paper is based on geopolitical and geoeconomic concepts, energy data, specialised academic and journalistic bibliography.

The resource base of hydrocarbons in the territory of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra and ways of its development

The goal of the article was to analyze the mineral resource base of hydrocarbons of zones promising for the discovery of hydrocarbon deposits, located mainly on the periphery of the territory of the Khanty-Mansy Autonomous Okrug – Ugra. The second, no less important goal was to analyze the efficiency of exploration work in Ugra. Sites of subsurface resources were identified, for which an assessment of the resource base of pre-Jurassic formations and sedimentary cover was given. The most promising prospecting zones in terms of the state of reserves and resources are proposed for their inclusion in the licensing programs of the subsoil fund at the expense of all sources of funding. Information about the prospects for the preparation of «new» oil reserves through exploration drilling is given. This work is the result of the authors’ own research, including a retrospective analysis of unpublished material and available material of the V.I. Shpilman Research and Analytical Centre for the Rational Use of the Subsoil and the Department of Subsurface Management & Natural Resources of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra geological and on this topic for the history of discovery and development of subsoil West Siberian oil and gas province.

Toward a Petro-Developmental State? Merits and demerits of the Chadian rentier state.

The discovery of oil in Chad in the 1960s and its subsequent exploitation triggered the idea by international institutions that oil extraction would lead to sustainable development. Furthermore, Chad in tackling the resource curse would use rents to solve social, economic and security challenges on its territory. I argue that the state is the main actor in the resource curse, and its power derives rents from natural resources extraction. The curse emerges under local or international institutional pressures even if political outcomes are contextual and based on local norms. Drawing on theories of rentier state and developmental state, this paper seeks to critically explore local and international pressures that pull the state towards rentier behaviors resulting in poor local development outcomes.

The Gas Pandemic in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

The article deals with the role of hydrocarbon resources in the Mediterranean Sea. The discovery of oil and gas deposits in this region in recent decades has significantly increased its role in the energy security of Europe. Due to the transformation of the world energy map, the Mediterranean region has been the focus of attention of many European states. At the same time, a large number of projects on promising fields, as well as the laying of new oil and gas pipelines have been developed. The implementation of many pipeline projects can dramatically change the European gas market, which is of great interest to many countries In addition, the European gas market is under extreme pressure because of the supply of liquefied natural gas, and its volume is gradually increasing. This means that in the long term the development of hydrocarbon resources can significantly enhance the role of the Mediterranean and affect the development of the European oil and gas market.

Design of New Dispersants Using Machine Learning and Visual Analytics

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology that is revolutionizing the discovery of new materials. One key application of AI is virtual screening of chemical libraries, which enables the accelerated discovery of materials with desired properties. In this study, we developed computational models to predict the dispersancy efficiency of oil and lubricant additives, a critical property in their design that can be estimated through a quantity named blotter spot. We propose a comprehensive approach that combines machine learning techniques with visual analytics strategies in an interactive tool that supports domain experts' decision-making. We evaluated the proposed models quantitatively and illustrated their benefits through a case study. Specifically, we analyzed a series of virtual polyisobutylene succinimide (PIBSI) molecules derived from a known reference substrate. Our best-performing probabilistic model was Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART), which achieved a mean absolute error of 5.50±0.34 and a root mean square error of 7.56±0.47, as estimated through 5-fold cross-validation. To facilitate future research, we have made the dataset, including the potential dispersants used for modeling, publicly available. Our approach can help accelerate the discovery of new oil and lubricant additives, and our interactive tool can aid domain experts in making informed decisions based on blotter spot and other key properties.

High-resolution sequence stratigraphy applied to reservoir characterization of the Brazilian Cretaceous pre-salt section, Campos Basin: Guidelines for geological modeling and reservoir management

The giant accumulations in the pre-salt section of the Brazilian sedimentary basins stand out among the recent world discoveries of oil and gas provinces. The purpose of this case study was to provide inputs to refined 3D geological modeling and reservoir management by characterizing a pre-salt reservoir in the Marlim and Voador fields in the Campos Basin using high-resolution sequence-stratigraphic methodology. This methodology was strong enough to combine different data types, such as seismic and well data, into a high-resolution chronostratigraphic framework. The investigation classified the geological record of the reservoir within a sequence-stratigraphic framework with at least five hierarchies. The 1st- and 2nd-order sequences relate to distinct phases of the Basin's tectonic evolution. Sequences of carbonate lake sedimentation within the post-rift tectonic configuration, where the reservoir is found, were attributed to multiscale transgressive-regressive (T-R) cyclicity. Lake T-R cycles observed in any hierarchical setting are generally governed by faciological tendencies that determine petrophysical features. Regressive tracts produce a more significant proportion of facies with high porosity, whereas transgressive tracts produce facies with reduced porosity. The proposed detailed stratigraphic zoning satisfactorily explains the depletion behavior of the reservoir, revealing that high-resolution sequences condition the fluid flow. Several recommendations for 3D geological modeling, development planning, and reservoir management are made based on these results. The detail highlighted in this study is fundamental in searching for additional oil reserves, production factors, and final recovery.

Oil extraction and the changing dynamics of pastoral conflicts: a conjoint experiment in Turkana, Kenya

AbstractCommunities inhabiting the arid and semi-arid areas of eastern Africa have long suffered from and engaged in pastoral conflicts. However, since some countries in the region became oil producers, the conditions affecting pastoral conflicts have changed. This study examines how oil extraction may influence pastoral conflicts by using a survey experiment conducted in Turkana County, Kenya, on a sample of 801 respondents. The study finds that overall, respondents’ perceived risks of pastoral conflicts decrease when they are primed about the consequences of oil extraction leading to fundamental changes in pastoral livelihoods, such as an increase in employment opportunities in the oil sector and rapid social changes. The residents of Turkana view pastoral conflicts as customary as long as pastoralism continues and fundamental changes to pastoralism-based livelihoods originating from oil discovery and extraction may lead to a decrease in the pastoralist population engaging in pastoral conflicts.

HETERO- AND HOMOGENEOUS STATES OF HYDROCARBON FLUIDS IN THE EARTH’S INTERIOR (FROM THE DATA OF THE STUDY OF SYNTHETIC FLUID INCLUSIONS)

We performed the experimental study combined with in situ investigations of the phase composition and states of water-hydrocarbon fluids in synthetic inclusions in quartz. Thermometric data indicating of heterogeneous state of fluids at shallow, medium and large depths of oil and gas strata were determined. It has been shown that even at depths up to 10–12 km at temperatures of 250–290°С, water-hydrocarbon fluids with an oil content of 10 or more vol. % retain a heterogeneous state. Homogenization in such fluids, as have shown experimentally, is achieved at temperatures above 380–400°C only. However, such temperatures have not yet been detected in any of the real oil and gas basins of the world. The results of performed study allow predict the future discovery of homogenous oil and other hydrocarbon deposits.

Climate Change, Air Pollution and the Associated Burden of Disease in the Arabian Peninsula and Neighbouring Regions: A Critical Review of the Literature

A narrative review on the interlinking effects of climate change and air pollution, and their impacts on human health in the Arabian Peninsula and its Neighbouring Regions (APNR) is provided. The APNR is experiencing the direct impacts of climate change through increasingly extreme temperatures in the summer season, increasing maximum and minimum temperatures, and increased frequency and severity of dust events. The region is also experiencing significant air pollution, of which particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) are of specific concern. Air pollution in the APNR is mainly caused by unprecedented industrial, population and motorization growth. The discovery of oil in the early 20th century has been the major economic driving force behind these changes. Climate change and air pollution impact human health in the region, primarily respiratory and cardiovascular health. Despite an increase in research capacity, research intensity was found to be inconsistent across the APNR countries, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iraq publishing more research articles than the other countries. In this review article, the existing research gaps in the region are investigated and the lack of synthesis between the interacting effects of air pollution and climate change upon human health is highlighted.

Structural deformation and its implication for hydrocarbon accumulation in the Wuxia fault belt, northwestern Junggar basin, China

Abstract With the great discovery of unconventional oil in the Fengcheng Formation in the Mahu sag, the Wuxia fault belt, which shows similar lithological characteristics and lithofacies, is considered the most favorable area for future petroleum exploration. However, the complicated structural patterns remain unclear and restrict the petroleum exploration and development. In this study, combined with new seismic data and some borehole data, we conclude the structural styles in the Wuxia fault belt and analyze their distribution characteristics, and further investigate their implications for tectonic evolution and hydrocarbon accumulation. Five typical seismic sections are captured from the west to the east of the fault belt. Decollement folds and fold accommodation faults superimpose on the underlying basement fault related folds. Structure patterns also show a zonation in S–N direction and a segmentation in E–W direction. The balanced section reveals that the present-day structure features were fundamentally formed by Late Permian. The structural deformation shows distinctive features of a foreland basin which may develop in Early Permian and continue until the Late Permian. The oil reservoirs in the Fengcheng Formation in deeper detachment fold and the autochthonous Fengcheng Formation in fault propagation folds are the most favorable regions for further unconventional petroleum exploration.

Of Oil and Agency: Scotland and the Material Conditions of National Imagining

AbstractNorth Sea oil discoveries introduced a qualitative divide that gave rise to at least the prospect of an economically viable Scottish independence, insofar as it made the “Scottish economy” a legitimate point of contestation on constitutional lines. In turn, this problematised the nature of minority nationalism in advanced, developed, post‐imperial capitalist regional economies. The research assesses how economic factors – most notably oil – materially affected the prospects of asserting power, and thus the possibilities for imagining collective agency as a national (i.e. Scottish) project. Oil helped shift “New Left” thinking away from assimilationist and modernising projects of assimilating regional consciousness into “national” projects, while also inspiring outright nationalists to define their own project in relation to the earlier phases of nationalism. The study thus contributes to recentring the study of Scotland, with a smaller emphasis on the local dimension and identities, as against the role of national actors in untangling relationships with wider geopolitical and geo‐economic forces. The claim is not simply that global forces formed the qualitative divide that made nationalist action possible; but also that these were conscious considerations of actors in the aftermath of North Sea discoveries.

How to Cross the Chasm for the Electric Vehicle World’s Laggards—A Case Study in Kuwait

Ever since the discovery of oil in 1938, the State of Kuwait has increasingly sought out international brands in the car market due to the high purchasing power of Kuwaiti nationals. However, the makers of electric vehicles (EVs) have not been able to penetrate this market, with the exception of innovators and early adopters. The phenomenon in disruptive innovation theory—called “Crossing the Chasm”—regarding a mass market appeal has not yet occurred in Kuwait. Through deep interviews with 12 Kuwaiti owners of EVs and automotive dealers who sold either EVs or Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), 10 key reasons for this phenomenon have been previously revealed, which were used to develop an extensive questionnaire. A total of 472 car drivers aged from 18 to 30, identified as the “early majority”, completed the questionnaire to achieve the objective of identifying the factors required to create a mass market for EVs in Kuwait. The results demonstrated that potential customers highly preferred three different types of attributes of EVs: environmental, financial, and technological. There were significant differences in the identified attributes preferred by Kuwaiti individuals for EVs in terms of the number of cars owned and the sector of employment. Moreover, the results of our study indicate that potential customers are very willing to buy EVs in the future, considering both their financial and infrastructure attributes. There were further significant differences in the identified necessary conditions to buy EVs in terms of educational level and monthly income. This study discusses a variety of valuable promotional tactics, which may be implemented in conjunction with public incentives and policy changes in the State of Kuwait. This information is considered useful for marketers and designers who wish to tap into this lucrative market, which is significantly different from that in the global North.