First Year Of Production Research Articles

Redevelopment of the Brazeau River Nisku A And D Vertical Miscible Floods With Horizontal Wells

Abstract A 400 m long horizontal well was drilled in both the Brazeau River Nisku A and D pools at a true vertical depth of 3,200 m. Both pools have been under vertical hydrocarbon miscible floods for over ten years. The purpose of these horizontal wells was to increase ultimate pool recovery by reducing well drawdown leading to improved GOR behaviour. The location of the horizontal well in the Nisku A pool was selected based on the existing 2-D seismic data in an effort to further exploit the undeveloped portion of the reservoir. Two side track horizontal holes were drilled to search for the porous zone in the bottom of the reservoir prior to drilling the final horizontal hole approximately 2m above the base of the porous zone. In the Nisku D pool, vertical seismic profiling was conducted to locate the porous zone and to aid in the design of the length, depth and azimuth of the horizontal wellbore. Both wells were open-hole completed. The initial oil rates were 300 - 400 m3/d, and the expected incremental reserves are approximately 300,000 m3 for the Nisku A pool and 260,000 m3 for the Nisku D pool, or 4 and 10% of their respective OOIP. Because of the relatively high initial oil rate of the horizontal wells, the high expenditures of $ 5 million for the Nisku A pool and $3.4 million for the Nisku D pool were paid out during the first year of production. Introduction The Brazeau River Nisku A and D pools are located approximately 150 km southwest of Edmonton, Alberta. Figure 1 shows the location of the Brazeau River Nisku A and D pools along with other producing Nisku reefs in the area. The first A pool well, 11- 31–48-12 W5M, was drilled in January 1978. The Nisku D pool was discovered in June 1978 with the drilling of well 7–33-48–12 W5M. The A and D pools are both sweet oil reservoirs containing light, volatile oil having a density of approximately 800 kg/m3. The respective solution GORs were 180 and 140 m3/m3. Average porosity ranges from 7 to 10% and the respective net pays are 80 m and 40 m. Average pool permeability of the A pool is 330 mD while the D pool is significantly lower at 50 mD. Table 1 summarizes the reservoir properties of the Nisku A and D pools. The oil properties and pressure information are described in Table 2. The Nisku reefs are of the Upper Devonian Winterburn group at a depth of 3,200 m. The base of these reefs covers approximately one section (259 ha) in areal extent. The Nisku A pool is almost entirely dolomitized containing moldic vuggy pores. In the Nisku D pool, sparry calcite cement results in porosity and permeability reduction by complete or partial plugging of both intercrystalline and moldic vuggy pores. The reefs are extremely variable in terms of primary facies and diagenetic modifications; therefore, reservoir properties are difficult to correlate between wells.

Styrene-lined and Copper-coated Containers Affect Production and Landscape Establishment of Red Maple

Growth response of two red maple cultivars (Acer rubrum L. `October Glory' and `Northwood') to styrene lining or copper hydroxide coating of 23.3-liter black plastic containers was evaluated. After the first growing season, plants were left in their original container, repotted into 51.2-liter nontreated containers, or transplanted into the landscape. Copper hydroxide effectively reduced circling of roots of both cultivars at the medium–container interface during the first year of production, but was less effective during the second growing season. Repotting from copper-treated containers into 51.2-liter containers or transplanting into the landscape resulted in more fibrous root development and enhanced root regeneration outside the original rootball relative to transplanting from nontreated containers. However, when copper hydroxide was applied to styrene lining, root regeneration after transplanting was reduced. Roots of plants grown in styrene-lined containers covered the medium–container interface more thoroughly than those in nonlined containers, but height, trunk diameter, and root regeneration were similar. `October Glory' had a larger trunk diameter, more branching, and better root regeneration than `Northwood'.

Site management factors influencing mortality rates in Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) during marine production

Mortality rates of up to 48% have been experienced in Irish farmed Atlantic salmon during their first year of production at sea with disease outbreaks making a significant contribution to these mortalities. In this study, epidemiological techniques were used to elucidate any associations between site management practices and mortality rates. Mortality, management and disease data were collated from 11 marine Atlantic salmon farms in Ireland over the period 1988–1992 and include 34 years of production at sea. To enable routine analysis of this large data set, the data were configured on the relational database system ORACLE. Analyses of the database indicated that total mortality was significantly higher in years where sites were not fallowed ( P < 0.05), where more than one generation of fish were reared on site ( P < 0.05), where slaughtering of fish occurred on site ( P < 0.05) or where farm staff moved between farm sites ( P < 0.05). The individual effect of each of these practices on mortality rates could not be determined as farmers generally practice all four methods in conjunction. There was no association between mortality rates and the number of years of production on site, site depth or net clearance of the sea bed. The results suggest that the interruption of parasitic life cycles and/or the reduction in pathogenic organism load on site by fallowing, single generation rearing, and the practice of basic hygiene methods could be used as significant control measures for reducing the severity of disease outbreaks in populations of Irish farmed Atlantic salmon.

Alfalfa/grass response to nitrogen and phosphorus applications

Abstract Alfalfa/grass (Medicago sativa/Dactylis glomerata, Bromus) yield and quality responses to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer applications are well documented. The magnitude of the P response and in turn N, may however, be limited by the relative immobility of P in the soil. A two‐year field study was conducted to determine the response of an established alfalfa/grass stand to combinations of a one‐time broadcast application of N, P, and sulfur (S) rates with fall or spring applications of P. Nitrogen and P applications increased forage production, nutrient concentration and nutrient content, particularly in the first production year. No S response was observed. Fall P applications were superior to spring applications only in the first year of production. If annual broadcast applications of P are made to existing alfalfa/grass stands in Intermountain areas, fall applications are recommended.

The Ivanhoe/Rob Roy Fields: Operational Innovation on a Major Subsea Development

Summary The Ivanhoe/Rob Roy development consists of a floating production facility(FPF) serving two remote subsea production/injection production/injectionmanifolds and well clusters. These clusters, about 2 miles apart, consist ofnine production and six injection wells depleting five separate hydrocarbonaccumulations. The field development philosophy has centered on usingstate-of-the-art hardware and techniques to achieve optimum exploitation ofreserves. A strong emphasis on safety is reflected in all aspects of theproject from design to operation. This paper describes the development after 1year in operation. The approach taken will be of interest to other North Seaoperators contemplating marginal subsea tiebacks or stand-alonedevelopments. Introduction The lvanhoe and Rob Roy fields are located in the U.K. Sector, Block 15/21a, about 110 miles northeast of Aberdeen. Monsanto Oil Co. was awarded the blockas operator during the fourth U.K. licensing round in March 1972. Ivanhoe wasdiscovered in 1975 with Well 15/2 1a-3 and was considered uncommercial untildiscovery of the Rob Roy accumulation 9 years later. Discovery Well 15/21a-11located roughly 2 miles east of Ivanhoe provided sufficient reserves forcommercial development of both fields through a single facility. Developmentplans for the field were already under way when, in late 1985, Amerada Hess Ltd. acquired Monsanto's U.K. interests and, consequently, operatorship of Block 15/21a. Annex B approval for the single development of both fields wasgiven in early 1986. The dramatic fall in the price of oil during 1986 led to areappraisal of the project economics, which delayed construction. Conversion ofthe semisubmersible Sedco Philips SS began in April 1987, and Philips SS beganin April 1987, and development drilling began in July 1987. First oil from thefields was achieved on July 7, 1989, ahead of schedule and within the 1986revised budget. As development of the Ivanhoe and Rob Roy fields progressed, exploration in the Block 15/21 area continued, resulting in the discovery ofthe Hamish field with Well l5/21b-21. This field was appraised, developed, andput on production 2 years after its discovery using the existing Ivanhoe/Rob Roy infrastructure. Figs. I and 2 show the location of Block 15/21 and the Ivanhoe/Rob Roy facilities. Reservoirs The Ivanhoe and Rob Roy reservoirs, located in the Upper Jurassic Pipersandstone, were formed as a result of an upthrown fault closure. Figs. 3 and 4show a plan and cross-sectional view of the reservoirs, respectively. Eachreservoir contains two main sand bodies separated by a continuous shale member. Classed as the Main and Supra Piper sands, they are highly porous and have Piper sands, they are highlyporous and have very high permeabilities and very low connate watersaturations. The Main Piper sands are thicker and generally of better qualitythan the Supra Piper sands. The reservoirs are located at roughly 8,000-ft truevertical depth subsea (TVDSS) and are normally pressured. Virgin reservoirpressure in both reservoirs was found to be the same (3,510 psia at 7,700-ftTVDSS), and the reservoir temperature of 175 degrees F was normal for the depthof burial. The field has three distinct crude types. The Ivanhoe crude in both Piper sands is the same, but the crudes in the Rob Roy Main and Supra Pipersands differ. During appraisal testing, the reservoirs were found to have asmall but significant CO2 content (=1% in gas) and a trace of H2S. Table Isummarizes the reservoir and crude properties. properties. The formation waterin both the Ivanhoe and Rob Roy fields is essentially the same and much moresaline than North Sea seawater. Total dissolved solids are around 100,000 mg/Lwith a chloride content of about 60,000 mg/L. Barium and bicarbonate are high(150 and 300 mg/L, respectively), indicating a potential for barium sulfate andcarbonate scaling in injection and production wells. production wells. A simplelinedrive water-displacement pressure-maintenance system was adoptedpressure-maintenance system was adopted as part of the reservoir developmentscheme. The Main and Supra Piper sands in both reservoirs were considered to bepressure isolated by the intervening middle shale member. Therefore, thestrategy to deplete the Main and Supra Piper sands in both fields independentlywas incorporated into the completion design described later. Total stock-tankoil initially in place for the fields has been estimated at 199 MMSTB, with areserve of 106 MMSTB estimated over the 10-year field life. After 12 months ofproduction, about 20% of total reserves has been produced. As predicted, nowater breakthrough has occurred to date and no major reservoir managementproblems have been encountered. Carter and problems have been encountered. Carter and Morel1 described the reservoir performance during the first year ofproduction. performance during the first year of production.

The influence of tree training and plant density on growth, yield components and yield of Arabica coffee cv. Ruiru 11

Assessment of tree growth and yield components of Coffea arabica L. cv. Ruiru 11, as influenced by tree training on single or two-stem systems at densities between 1600-4800 trees per ha during the first production cycle was carried out at Ruiru, Kenya over three years. Trees trained on the two-stem system tended to be taller than those on singlestems. Although the results were not clear, trees at low plant densities had thicker stems irrespective of the training system. The total number of primary branches was significantly higher on trees trained on the two-stem system. However, bearing primaries and productive wood were higher on the single-stem system during the first year of production. The number of bearing primaries and productive wood increased in subsequent production years on the two-stem system. Training trees on the two-stem system significantly depressed yields in the first production year by 245 to 842%, irrespective of plant density. Yields of clean coffee increased significantly with tree ...

Range indices of geomagnetic activity

The simplest index of geomagnetic activity is the range in nT from maximum to minimum value of the field in a given time interval. The hourly range R was recommended by IAGA for use at observatories at latitudes greater than 65°, but was superceded by AE. The most used geomagnetic index K is based on the range of activity in a 3 h interval corrected for the regular daily variation. In order to take advantage of real time data processing, now available at many observatories, it is proposed to introduce a 1 h range index and also a 3 h range index. Both will be computed hourly, i.e. each will have a series of 24 per day, the 3 h values overlapping. The new data will be available as the range ( R) of activity in nT and also as a logarithmic index ( I) of the range. The exponent relating index to range in nT is based closely on the scale used for computing K values. The new ranges and range indices are available, from June 1987, to users in real time and can be accessed by telephone connection or computer network. Their first year of production is regarded as a trial period during which their value to the scientific and commercial communities will be assessed, together with their potential as indicators of regional and global disturbances' and in which trials will be conducted into ways of eliminating excessive bias at quiet times due to the rate of change of the daily variation field.

Effects of P, K, and liming on soil pH, Al, Mn, K, and forage barley dry matter yield and quality for a newly-cleared Cryorthod

Forage barley dry matter yield and quality, as well as soil pH, Al, and Mn were monitored in response to P, K, and lime application on a newly cleared Typic Cryorthod (Orthid Podzol). The overall yearly yield level was affected by precipitation. Without liming soil acidification occurred after three years of production. The liming rate of 2.2 Mg.ha−1 was found optimal for maintaining initial pH levels (5.66) and increasing forage barley yields. It was also found optimum for K and P utilization for these first years of production. Soil pH dropped an average of 0.33 units over the three years on unlimed P plots and 0.46 units over 4 years on K plots. Phosphorus and K fertilization increased N utilization and resulted in decreased soil acidification.

Maureen Oil Field—First Year of Production

Summary This paper presents the first year of development of the Maureen field in the British sector of the North Sea. A steel platform gravity structure was used for development. The crude oil is tanker-loaded at an articulated loading column (ALC). Production, seawater injection, and gas lifting are discussed. Production covers well completions, wellhead tiebacks, process-plant performance, and downtime. In particular, the performance of the ALC is detailed. At the column, successful modifications to the hawser system for tanker mooring were made, to reduce excessive hawser replacements. Seawater injection experiences are described, and details of the perforating techniques and stimulation treatments are given. Gas lifting of a well to test the surface and downhole facilities is described.

The Great Plains Coal Gasification Project Status

The Great Plains Gasification Project is the first commercial-sized plant to produce substitute natural gas from coal in the United States. The plant is designed to convert 14,000 tons/D of North Dakota lignite into 137.5 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. The plant construction has been successfully completed per original design, on schedule and on budget. The plant has also been successfully turned over from construction to operations, as per the original plan. With the completion of the capital projects being implemented at the plant, plans are to achieve 70 percent stream factor in the first year of production (1985). The DOE-Chicago Operations Office has been assigned the responsibility for monitoring the project’s performance against baselines of cost, schedule, and technical criteria. During the startup phase of the project, significant technological advancements have been made and considerable knowledge has been gained, both by the operators and DOE (considering this to be a first of a kind plant built in the U.S.).

Growth and Fruiting Responses of Young Apple and Tart Cherry Trees to Weed Control

Abstract Growth of 2-year-old tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) trees as measured by trunk circumference increase or total shoot elongation was significantly greater in plots receiving chemical or mechanical weed control within the tree row than in plots receiving between-row cultivation only. Shoot growth of one-year-old apple (Malus domestica Borkh. ‘Delicious’) trees responded similarly to weed control. Tart cherry trees in hand weeded and dinoseb or glyphosate treated plots had greater growth than those in paraquat treated plots. Tart cherry trees in plots receiving chemical or mechanical weed control out-yielded trees in unweeded plots during the first year of production. ‘Delicious’ apple trees in plots treated with dinoseb (6.7 and 10.1 kg/ha), the high rate of glyphosate (1.7 kg/ha), or mechanical weed control also outyielded trees in unweeded plots during the first year of production. Effects of weed control on growth and yield were less distinct during the 2nd year of production. Trees from treated plots came into production one year earlier than trees in the unweeded plots. Chemical names used: 2-(1-methylpropyl)-4,6-dinitrophenol (dinoseb); N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (glyphosate); 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium ion (paraquat).

Increasing productivity in sweet almond using selected clones of bitter almond

Eight controlled crosses were made between seven different sweet-kerneled almond cultivars (Prunus dulcis [Mill.] D. A. Webb), and five crosses were made between sweet x highly floriferous bitter almond clones. Sweet x bitter progenies out-yielded the sweet x sweet matings by more than three to one in the first year of production. This was attributable to greater cropping efficiency rather than to tree size or precocity. There was no pleiotropic association or association due to linkage between bitterness and yield. The selected Alnem (bitter) clones appear to be potentially useful progenitors for increasing almond yield capacity by conventional breeding methodology.

Quality improvement program addressed to M.O.S. microprocessors

The net result of this program resulted in the first generation of automotive microprocessors which achieved a 0.095% failure rate in the first year of production, compared with the early > 1.3% rate for the first year of the TMS 1000.

Relationships of Age and Body Weight to Reproductive Traits in Turkey Hens

An experiment was conducted for 23 weeks with 34 large white female turkeys and 86 small white female turkeys to determine productivity trends in aging turkey hens during the first year of production. Over the course of the egg production cycle, age significantly influenced all of the reproductive traits measured in both the large and small hens. For weeks 9 to 23 of the egg production cycle, egg production decreased by approximately 33 and 39%, egg mass by 25 and 30%, body weight by 4 and 1%, feed conversion (feed consumed/egg mass yield) decreased by 93 and 107%, egg weight increased by 12 and 11%, and dietary intake increased by 24 and 9% in large and small hens, respectively.Regression analysis indicated that there was a positive association of body weight with egg production, egg mass, and dietary intake up to approximately 10 kg in large hens and 6.5 kg in small hens.

Raw Rock Phosphate as a Phosphorus Supplement for Growing Pullets and Layers

Duplicate groups of Leghorn-type strain-cross chicks were reared on four diets with 0, .6, 1.2, and 1.8% of raw rock phosphate replacing appropriate quantities of dicalcium phosphate and corn. The fluorine levels added by the rock phosphate were 0, 216, 432, and 648 ppm for the four diets, respectively.The four groups were kept on the same levels of raw rock phosphate through starting, growing, and laying. After the first year of production, the hens were force molted and kept for another year on the same diets.The initial phases of the experiment were repeated and samples of pullets were kept in individual cages until their sexual maturity was determined.The fluorine content of the diet had no significant (P<.05) effect on body weights of the starting chicks. No apparent differences were noticed in feed consumption, feed conversion, and mortality of the chicks. However, growth depression and reduced feed efficiency were noticed among birds on the highest dietary fluorine (648 ppm) at 20 weeks of age. Mortality was not related to the level of fluorine in the diet. Inclusion of 1.8% raw rock phosphate in the diet resulted in 7 to 11 days delay in sexual maturity of the pullets. First year egg production was 77.4% for the basal group and 72.3, 71.3, and 68.8 % with increasing levels of rock phosphate. The basal group was significantly better than the others.Egg weight, interior quality of the egg, shell quality, fertility and hatchability, and performance of the progeny were not affected by the different levels of dietary fluorine.Hens receiving raw rock phosphate produced eggs containing up to .48 ppm and .66 ppm fluorine in the albumin and yolk, respectively, compared with the controls (.23 ppm fluorine in the albumin and .27 ppm fluorine in the yolk). The levels of fluorine added to many community water supplies range from .8 to 1.2 ppm fluorine.

Effect of Age on the Performance of Laying Hens During the First Year of Production

Two hundred and seventy White Leghorn hens were used in this study. The experimental period commenced at 23 weeks of age and continued for 48 weeks. A daily light period of 14 hours was consistent for the whole experimental period. The individual hens were fed ad libitum with one of two isocaloric diets, containing 15 or 17% protein. Each feeding space provided the same level of environmental complexity and the feeder outline intentionally did not prevent visual contact across adjacent cages or cage rows and therefore, did not prevent the social facilitation of feeding responses.The effect of age during the laying season significantly influenced feed conversion, feed consumption and the weights of fresh and freeze dried egg components. Moisture contents of fresh yolk and fresh albumen did not exhibit parallel changes with age. Diets significantly affected egg production (73.2% vs. 71.9%), average daily egg mass production (46.65 g. vs. 46.30 g.), and the weight of freeze dried albumen (4.30 g. vs. 4.37 g.) for the 15 and 17% protein diets, respectively. The only significant interaction between diets and age were detected for egg mass. The distribution of individual feed conversion ratios and egg shell deformation deviated from normality both being positively skewed and kurtotic.

Effects of Increased Vitamin D3 on Calcium Retention and Egg Shell Calcification

THE minimum requirement for vitamin D3 by the laying hen has been established but the effect of increased amounts have been only partially investigated. The minimum requirement is stated as 500 International Chick Units (I.C.U.) per kg. of feed (NAS-NRC 1966). Murphy et al. (1936) fed up to 1,550 I.C.U. per kg. of feed using fish oil as a source of vitamin D3 and concluded that the requirement level for maximum egg production and satisfactory shell quality was 780 I.C.U. per kg. However, values for percent shell increased with increasing vitamin D3 up to the highest amount fed. Couch et al. (1947) fed up to 760 I.C.U. per kg. of feed and concluded that whereas the vitamin D3 requirement for maximum egg production for layers in their first year of production was between 380 and 760 I.C.U. per kg., the requirement for hens in their second year of production was…

EVALUATION OF BROMEGRASS WHEN GROWN IN PURE STAND AND IN MIXTURE WITH ALFALFA

The two best and two lowest yielding of nine bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) strains were as readily identified from two-year as from three-year hay yield data. Root production was not satisfactorily evaluated from four soil cores per plot. Grass stand was very variable, for both strains and management systems. Spring vigor in the first year of production tended to be associated with plant number established in the seedling year. Strains were satisfactorily characterized for spring vigor in the second year of production and third-year data were not necessary. Strain differences in fall growth and rhizome extension were more pronounced, and coefficients of variation were reduced, as the stands aged.Alfalfa seeded with bromegrass masked the grass and made it difficult to evaluate most grass characters. Bromegrass strains evaluated in pure grass swards either with or without fertilizer gave comparable results. An advantage from fertilizer application was that the coefficient of variation for hay yield was reduced.

Sarir, Libya: Desert Surprise: ABSTRACT

The Bunker Hunt-British Petroleum's Sarir oil field of Libya appears to be truly one of the 10 or 12 supergiants of the world. Credited with approximately 12 to 15 billion bbl of in-place oil, it is a water-drive field that could and probably will eventually recover nearly 50 percent of the total oil present. There is a maximum 300-ft oil column and an area of surface closure of 155 sq mi. The field was discovered in November 1961 on a seismograph-defined structure. Development drilling was steady throughout the next 4 yr, and culminated with pipeline, loading terminal, and first actual production in late 1966. The oil reservoir is a Cretaceous sandstone on basement, the oil source being the several hundred feet of overlying marine Cretaceous shale. Structurally, the fiel is a combination anticline and high fault-block complex within a broad structural low. There appears to be a good fluid communication throughout the reservoir. Average porosity values are about 18-19 percent and permeability values average several hundred millidarcys, with some 2-3 d streaks. All production is water-free. It is a sweet, sulfur-free oil, though of high paraffin content. More than 100 wells have been drilled. About 70 are on production; 12 to 14 are waiting on gathering lines; and most of the remainder are observation wells for pressure or fluid control. There has been some decline of reservoir pressure during the first year of production; however, in most of the field a sustained water drive is developing. Individual well-producing capacities range from a few thousand barrels daily up to estimates of 28,000 to 30,000 bbl daily in the best wells. The field went on production at 100,000 bbls daily. This figure rose to 300,000 bbls within the first year. Additional field facilities will permit even greater increases in the future. End_of_Article - Last_Page 549------------

DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF SITONA HISPIDULA (F.) AND THE EFFECT OF INSECT INJURY ON ROOT DECAY OF RED CLOVER IN THE MARITIME PROVINCES

Insect injury to red clover by root-feeding weevils, mainly the clover root curculio (Sitona hispidula (F.)), and the association with root decay were investigated by periodic examinations of roots during 1965 and 1966. The abundance of Sitona spp. was also recorded from soil samples taken with the root samples. Greatest injury to the roots was observed during June and July of the first year of production, when larval populations were highest. The period of most rapid increase in the external decay of roots coincided with peak larval populations and the resulting increase in feeding injury. With increased severity of insect injury the external decay and, to a greater extent, the internal decay increased. During the period of these studies S. hispidula was widely distributed throughout the Maritime Provinces and was sufficiently abundant to be considered of economic importance.