Gas Production Industry Research Articles

Industry Image Perceptions and Organizational Attractiveness: Results of an International Survey

ABSTRACTExtending the research on corporate brand image and recruitment, this study investigates the influence of industry image on organizational attractiveness in a cross–national context. Drawing from signaling theory and the application of the instrumental‐symbolic image framework, we apply an experimental vignette design in the renewable energy industry (REI) and the oil and gas exploration and production industry (OGI) with potential job applicants in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. We conceptualize national context as collective signaling environments. Results from 550 respondents indicate that the REI and OGI differ in most of the instrumental and symbolic image dimensions. The instrumental image dimension of pay and the three symbolic image dimensions of sincerity, innovativeness, and prestige predict organizational attractiveness. Moreover, sincerity, innovativeness, and prestige carry a mediating effect in the link between industry affiliation and organizational attractiveness. Findings also demonstrate that image perceptions of the REI and OGI vary across countries such that the already more favorable image perceptions regarding the REI are for the most part even more pronounced in France. Implications for theory and tailored recommendations for practice are provided.

Towards the design of a smart warehouse management system for spare parts management in the oil and gas sector

IntroductionThe oil and gas production industry requires rapid changing. As oil and gas companies around the world are called upon to decarbonize, several sectors within the industry are attempting to find new ways of working to achieve decarbonization. One of those sectors is spare parts warehousing. During the past decades of oil and gas production, spare parts warehousing has not been prioritized in optimization measures. Warehouses have been filled with material, all activities have been performed manually, and financial expenditure has been high. Now, a large oil and gas production company in Norway is looking to optimize its spare parts warehousing to streamline its logistics activities and increase sustainability.MethodThis study addresses the optimization ambitions of the company and proposes key design elements of a smart warehouse management system using Industry 4.0 technology implementation. The study is conducted by performing a review of relevant literature and company ambitions, before embarking on a qualitative design measure to contribute to the company’s innovative success.ResultsThe study proposes optimization of the warehouse activities goods receipt, issuing of stocked goods, and inventory count. Additionally, the digital supply chain of tomorrow and the technical architecture of a track and trace system in the warehouse is suggested.DiscussionThe study’s results can be used in practical implications and provide a foundation for future research. Future research is suggested to include extensive visual simulations, practical implementation studies, and studies on long-term effects of implementation.

Bioremediation of p-nitrophenol using an indigenous algal strain Tetradesmus sp. NITD18: a sustainable approach

Abstract The present study assessed the capability of Tetradesmus sp. NITD18, a green algal strain collected from the run-off water of a gas producing industry at Durgapur, for removing p-nitrophenol (PNP) from synthetic wastewater. The maximum removal efficiency of 59.64 ± 0.30 % was observed at an initial PNP concentration of 5 mg/L, initial pH 7, inoculum size of 15 % (v/v), and an incubation period of 15 days. The effect of pH (7–12) and inoculum sizes (5–15 %) on the removal of PNP using the test strain was assessed by varying these parameters judiciously. The results suggested that the Tetradesmus sp. NITD18 strain has considerable potential for PNP removal from wastewater.

Examining the Interplay of Hydrolysed Polyacrylamide and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate on Emulsion Stability: Insights from Turbiscan and Electrocoalescence Studies.

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is utilized in the oil and gas production industry to extract additional oil from underground reservoirs. In chemically enhanced oil recovery, surfactant and polymeric water are injected separately or in a mixture. Injected fluids can form stable emulsions during oil production. This surfactant, polymer-loaded water-in-oil emulsion, must be separated to treat crude oil and avoid any corrosion or deactivation of catalysts in the refinery. An electrocoalecer technique is utilized to separate the water from the emulsion under the application of an electric field. To improve the efficiency of the EOR and electrocoalescers, it is essential to investigate the impact of surfactants, polymers, and their mixture interaction. In this study, the effects of surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)), polymer (hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM)), and their mixture with a wide range of concentrations were analyzed using turbiscan, bottle electrocoalecer, interfacial tension (IFT), and conductivity. Our study shows that when SDS was used independently, the viscosity of the dispersed phase did not change. Surprisingly, when SDS was combined with HPAM, the overall viscosity of the dispersed phase mixture decreased. HPAM and SDS contribute to an increase in the conductivity of the dispersed phase. Conductivity, IFT, and viscosity are critical factors in studying electrocoalescence. Our detailed study found that SDS is the primary factor in stabilizing the emulsion compared to HPAM using turbiscan. The electrocoalecer study shows that in the case of a deionized water-based emulsion, the separation efficiency is 98% in 10 min. In contrast, a mixture of HPAM polymer with a concentration of 2000 ppm and SDS with a concentration of 5000 ppm stabilized emulsion shows 84% separation in 10 min. The outcome of this study helps design the electrocoalescer for separating complex water-in-oil emulsion.

IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF OPERATION OF COMPLICATED OIL AND GAS WELLS

"Improving the efficiency of operation of complicated oil and gas wells" is relevant in the context of the modern oil and gas industry, where there is a growing need to optimize the processes of production and operation of wells to ensure sustainable and efficient production of hydrocarbons.The research is aimed at identifying innovative approaches and technologies that can improve the efficiency of oil and gas wells, especially those characterized by complicated geological conditions, high fluid viscosity, the presence of aggressive components and other difficulties.The study includes an analysis of existing technologies, methods and tools used in oil and gas production inorder to identify their shortcomings and opportunities for optimization. Particular attention is paid to the development of integrated management and monitoring systems capable of providing well operators with up-to-date information for quick decision-making.In the course of the research, it is also expected to develop new technological solutions aimed at reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of hydrocarbon production. This may include the creation of new materials for casing pipes, the use of advanced methods of geological structure research, as well as the optimization of production intensification methods.The results of this study can be used not only in the oil and gas production industry, but also in the development of energy policy aimed at sustainable and efficient use of energy resources.

Diagnostyka stanu technologicznego gazociągów na podstawie składu transportowanych mieszanin gazowych

The efficiency of natural gas transportation hinges largely on the quality of technological processes involved. Imperfect separation process can lead to the liquid particles remaining in the gas and entering the transport systems, causing various technological issues with gas pipelines (clogging, hydrate formation, corrosion wear, etc.). The presence of mechanical particles in gas mixtures accelerates the degradation of metallic components of the transport system due to erosion. Additionally, the multiphase nature of gases contributes to complications during transportation, altering the quality indicators when different gas qualities are mixed. Consequently, the composition of gas mixtures, their mechanical particles, moisture, and other indicators, deviate non-linearly from their initial values. The technological condition of the main gas pipelines significantly impacts their discharge capacity and hydraulic characteristics. Failure to clean natural gas to current standards and requirements at production stations can result in condensation of water and hydrocarbon vapours in pipelines, leading to the accumulation of the liquid phase in the cavities of the pipeline and the formation of blockages due to hydrate compounds formation, the reduction of the cross-section of the gas pipeline or its complete blockage. Sediment accumulation on the inner surfaces of gas pipelines installed in complex geographical conditions adversely affects transportation system, increasing maintenance, energy, and transportation costs. Utilizing gas composition as an auxiliary tool (indicator) for diagnosing various technological processes and predicting transport parameters has been investigated in numerous research works in the oil and gas production industry.

Evaluation of the “nickel effect” in sulfide stress cracking of low alloy steels

The “nickel effect” refers to the cause of the 1 wt %Ni maximum limit in low alloy steels for the oil and gas production industry to avoid sulfide stress cracking (SSC). The Ni restriction dates to the first edition of the NACE MR 0175/ISO 15156 standard in 1975 and the specific reasons for that limitation remain disputed. This work evaluates the nickel effect with electrochemical tests in the presence and absence of tensile loads at anodic and cathodic potentials and at the open circuit potential (OCP). Thiosulfate was used as a satisfactory alternative to H2S bubbling. The effect of nickel on hydrogen transport and trapping was analyzed with gaseous hydrogen permeation tests. A strong influence of Ni, even at Ni contents below 1 wt%, on SSC initiation at OCP due to trench formation was observed. Compared to other common alloying elements, Ni had a modest role in hydrogen trapping.

Properties experimental investigation of water-based drilling mud contained tragacanth gum and synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles

Drilling fluids play crucial role in the oil and gas production industry, consequently the optimization of flow behavior of these fluids has received remarkable attention from the beginning of this process. The objective of this study is to improve the rheological and filtration characteristics of water-based mud (WBM) by incorporating zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) and affordable tragacanth gum (TG) polymer. Initially, ZnO NPs were synthesized through a facile and straightforward sol–gel method and subjected to comprehensive characterization. Subsequently, these NPs were incorporated into TG polymer solutions to formulate drilling mud samples. The selection of optimal samples involved meticulously determining of ZnO NPs and TG polymer concentrations as influential parameters facilitated by the Design Expert software. The responses taken into consideration in this methodology included flow behavior index (n), consistency index (K), plastic viscosity (PV), and yield point (YP). The investigating rheological parameters entailed utilizing both the Power-law and Bingham-plastic models, underscoring the scholarly refinement of the study’s analytical approach. Subsequently, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to assess the significance of the model and its parameters. Three optimal samples were carefully selected based on the results obtained from the modeling and analysis of the rheological parameters. The next phase involved utilizing these optimal samples to investigate their filtration properties in detail. The final step led to selecting the optimal sample composition, which was determined to be 0.25 wt% ZnO NPs and 750 ppm TG polymer based on the optimization results provided by the Design Expert software. Remarkably, this specific combination yielded significant improvements in PV (22.2 %), YP (109.5 %), mud cake thickness (20 %), and fluid loss (2.87 %). Moreover, the resulting mud exhibited desirable rheological properties, including a K of 31.20 (cp) and an n of 0.21. This specific combination was identified as the most favorable composition for achieving the desired rheological and filtration properties.

Economy of scale for green hydrogen-derived fuel production in Nepal.

Opportunity for future green hydrogen development in Nepal comes with end-use infrastructural challenges. The heavy reliance of industries on fossil fuels (63.4%) despite the abundance of hydroelectricity poses an additional challenge to the green transition of Nepal. The presented work aims to study the possibility of storing and utilizing spilled hydroelectricity due to runoff rivers as a compatible alternative to imported petroleum fuels. This is achieved by converting green hydrogen from water electrolysis and carbon dioxide from carbon capture of hard-to-abate industries into synthetic methane for heating applications via the Sabatier process. An economy-of-scale study was conducted to identify the optimal scale for the reference case (Industries in Makwanpur District Nepal) for establishing the Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) production industry. The techno-economic assessment was carried out for pilot scale and reference scale production unit individually. Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses were performed to study the project profitability and the sensitivity of the parameters influencing the feasibility of the production plant. The reference scale for the production of Synthetic Natural Gas was determined to be 40 Tons Per Day (TPD), with a total capital investment of around 72.15 Million USD. Electricity was identified as the most sensitive parameter affecting the levelized cost of production (LCOP). The 40 TPD plant was found to be price competitive to LPG when electricity price is subsidized below 3.55 NPR/unit (2.7c/unit) from 12 NPR/unit (9.2c/unit). In the case of the 2 TPD plant, for it to be profitable, the price of electricity must be subsidized to well below 2 NPR/kWh. The study concludes that the possibility of SNG production in Nepal is profitable and price-competitive at large scales and at the same time limited by the low round efficiency due to conversion losses. Additionally, it was observed that highly favorable conditions driven by government policies would be required for the pilot-scale SNG project to be feasible.

How Constructionist Perspectives on Learning Can Improve Learning and Prevent Accidents in High-Risk Industries

Management systems containing procedures, checklists, and descriptions for how various tasks should be conducted are often used in high-risk industries. Much has been written about the judicial and technological concerns of management systems, but less has been written on how to train staff in the use of them. Through a cognitive-constructionist perspective combined with social constructivism, this paper discusses how staff training can be designed to fit the characteristics of the workers. This paper focuses on how people learn in different ways, and how this is related to perspectives on knowledge. The method used is semi-structured interviews with twenty-seven workers in two different companies operating in the oil and gas-producing industry. The workers got only a short web-based theory course on the management system, with no practical exercises, repetitions, or other types of follow-ups. This is a signal that the management system is of less importance, and many of the workers thought they did not need it. Training must be designed to fit the workers, with practical exercises, repetition, and possibilities for on-the-job training. Accidents in this sector can cause human losses and great environmental harm, and this paper argues that better training of staff can prevent such accidents and reduce harm to the environment.

Choosing the profile of an inclined – directional well in the Caspian Sea area of Turkmenistan

This paper aims to design a profile for a directional and production-appraisal well, specifically Well No. 707 in the West Cheleken field, situated in the Caspian Sea coastal water area. In the context of rapid changes in the energy sector, this study holds significance, offering economic benefits and contributing significantly to the energy security of the region and the global energy market. The main objective of this study is to optimise directional drilling for exploration wells in the Caspian Sea area of Turkmenistan, specifically focusing on improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact. To achieve this research objective, the author proposes designing a profile for a directional and production-appraisal well, utilising materials from geophysical surveys of previously drilled wells. This approach aims to avoid accidents and complications during the drilling process. Both the Close Approach software and safety regulations in the oil and gas production industry are employed to prevent collisions of wellbores. In conclusion, this research contributes innovative solutions to optimise directional drilling processes for exploration wells. It addresses potential complications in open wells and, importantly, mitigates the risk of wellbore collisions. Keywords: wellbore collision; complication; stabilization; accident; Apsheron; Akchagil; curvature; displacement.

DEVELOPMENT OF RISK ASSESSMENT METHODS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EXPLORATION PROJECTS

The peculiarity of oil and gas projects is their long implementation period, during which they are subject to the influence of a large number of different risk factors that complicate project implementation and result in failure to achieve the planned economic indicators set by investors. The effective operation of companies therefore depends on how reliably investors can predict the prospects for project development. The success of the subsequent functioning of the investment project depends to a large extent on the reliability of the assessment of the effectiveness of the investment project, based on the optimally chosen strategy of its development, and, above all, on the anticipation of possible risk factors and tools for their prevention. Therefore, at present, the competitive struggle in the oil and gas production industry is currently shifting to the area of pre-project preparation of investment projects and increasing the reliability (quality) of their economic efficiency assessment at the stage of making a decision to start their implementation.Geological risks become important in the implementation of exploration projects, the first stage in the overall process of developing the Company's assets. It is necessary to find a balance between the cost of project implementation and the amount of accumulated hydrocarbons for the forecast period, which will ensure maximum profitability of the project. The challenge to optimize the financial outlay on the implementation of geological exploration works by focusing on the most promising and important projects for companies becomes relevant. In this regard, the article considers the methodological approaches proposed by the author to assess the risks of exploration with the aim of improving the efficiency of the planning process and reducing inefficient financial costs.

Modelling spatial & temporal variability of air pollution in an area of unconventional natural gas operations

Despite the growing unconventional natural gas production industry in northeastern British Columbia, Canada, few studies have explored the air quality implications on human health in nearby communities. Researchers who have worked with pregnant women in this area have found higher levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor air of their homes associated with higher density and closer proximity to gas wells. To inform ongoing exposure assessments, this study develops land use regression (LUR) models to predict ambient air pollution at the homes of pregnant women by using natural gas production activities as predictor variables. Using the existing monitoring network, the models were developed for three temporal scales for 12 air pollutants. The models predicting monthly, bi-annual, and annual mean concentrations explained 23%–94%, 54%–94%, and 73%–91% of the variability in air pollutant concentrations, respectively. These models can be used to investigate associations between prenatal exposure to air pollutants associated with natural gas production and adverse health outcomes in northeastern British Columbia.

Routing and scheduling of platform supply vessels in offshore oil and gas logistics

In this work, we focus on an operational logistics problem that arises in the offshore oil and gas exploration and production industry. In particular, we aim to design cost-effective routes and schedules for platform supply vessels, which are routinely employed to deliver necessary supplies to the platforms as well as to collect from those platforms used materials that need to be transported back to the onshore base for maintenance, reuse, or discarding. To address the rich-featured routing problem that arises in this offshore logistics application, we introduce a novel mixed-integer linear programming formulation and propose a specialized branch-and-cut algorithm to solve such a model. Furthermore, in order to evaluate our proposed algorithm’s performance, we conduct an extensive computational study using representative benchmark instances inspired by real operational data. The computational results show that our algorithm solved the majority of those instances to optimality, demonstrating its potential for practical use in offshore oil and gas logistics operations.

Innovations shaping a greener future: The role of industry in environmental change

The research presented in this paper aims to contribute to the ongoing discussion on the implementation of environmental innovations in the oil and gas production industry, as well as in the production of petroleum products and chemicals. In the modern context, it would be beneficial to consider implementing process and product innovations with the aim of reducing the amount of production waste and polluting emissions into the environment. Enterprises face a challenging objective: to simultaneously reduce their negative impact and increase their competitiveness. One possible avenue for achieving this is through the development and implementation of environmental innovations. The paper considers the main directions and effects of their implementation, with a view to offering constructive suggestions for further consideration. It has been found that oil and gas production is the main contributor to air pollution from stationary sources. It would seem that the most innovatively active enterprises in the field of environmental innovation implementation are those engaged in the production of chemicals and products.

Enhanced reduction of COD in water associated with natural gas production using iron-based nanoparticles.

The natural gas production industry faces the problem of the proper disposal of produced water and its treatment with significantly advanced technologies to meet the minimum quality standard for irrigation activities, commercial purposes, and consumption by living organisms. This study describes an effective method for reducing the COD (chemical oxygen demand) content in formation water using different metal oxide nanoparticles such as iron oxide (FO), iron zinc oxide (FZO), and iron vanadium oxide (FVO) nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were synthesized and fully characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, dynamic light scattering particle size (DLS) analysis and zeta potential analysis. The experimental results revealed that the maximum reduction of COD content was 42.18% using FVO nanoparticles with a dose of 3 g L-1 at 25 °C and pH = 6. Compared to commercial products [Redoxy and Oxy(OXYSORB)], the synthesized FO, FZO, and FVO nanoparticles demonstrated their superiority by achieving excellent results in decreasing the COD content of wastewater associated with natural gas production by more than 86%. This study introduces a promising technique for decreasing the COD content using metal oxide nanoparticles, which are eco-friendly, bio-safe, cheap, and nontoxic materials, and improving the quality of wastewater associated with natural gas production for its safe disposal through sewage and treatment plants.

ЧАСТОТА ВСТРЕЧАЕМОСТИ СОМАТИЧЕСКОЙ ПАТОЛОГИИ У РАБОТНИКОВ НЕФТЕГАЗОДОБЫВАЮЩЕЙ ПРОМЫШЛЕННОСТИ В УСЛОВИЯХ СЕВЕРНОГО РЕГИОНА

The article presents the results of a comparative analysis of the incidence of somatic pathology, changes in total cholesterol and glucose levels among workers in the oil and gas production industry of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug during periodic medical examinations in the period 2022-2023. It was revealed that among workers of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Yugra the incidence of diseases of the digestive system and ENT diseases is statistically signifi cantly higher than among workers of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The incidence of diseases of the eye and its appendages, diseases of the circulatory system is statistically signifi cantly higher among workers of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Among women workers in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the incidence of diseases of the female reproductive system is statistically signifi cantly higher than among women in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. The level of total cholesterol is statistically signifi cantly higher among workers of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

Technical and Environmental Assessment of the Consequences of Accidents on Offshore Gas Pipelines in the Baltic Sea

The failure of the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September 2022 had significant technical and economic consequences not only for the European Union energy sector and the gas production and transmission industry of the Russian Federation, but also entailed a number of environmental consequences, the scale of which has yet to be explored. During the preliminary assessment of the consequences of the accident, the team of scientists from the Kant Baltic Federal University, the Atlantic branch of the VNIRO and the Shirshov Oceanology Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences calculated the composition of the gas mixture emitted and assessed its volume, studied potential environmental damage to the biogeocenoses of the Western and Southern Baltic, calculated the impact of the gases emitted on global temperature. The studies were based on data obtained from open sources and allow us to give a preliminary assessment of the environmental impact of the accident. The combination of analytical, evaluation and research methods used is basically a classic approach to accounting for the volume of gas emissions and their subsequent impact. Leakage volume was calculated by first determining the volume of gas that entered the natural environment after impact (before the emergency valves were closed), and then determining the second volume of gas (until pressure stabilization in the cut-off pipe sections and in the environment). Based on the information on the biota in the water area and the nature of the gas movement, an estimated impact on biological organisms in the zone of the Bronholm depression was determined. Based on the models of the influence of methane emissions on climatic parameters, the preliminary consequences of the emission were established. The assessment of the environmental impact on the water area was conducted and the main directions of further research determined. The potential ways to minimize the environmental consequences of the accident in the short and long term have been considered.

Flow Performance Analysis of Double-Chamber Gas–Liquid Transferring Device under Gas Inlet Condition

Gas-liquid mixed transportation technology is the core technology and plays a key role in the development of oil and gas production and transportation industry. Three different models of double-chamber gas-liquid transferring devices for gas field were selected as the research objects of this paper, and Fluent software was used to analyze the flow performance under the 100% gas content inlet condition. The gas-liquid two-phase distribution and the periodic relationship between pressure, temperature, tank liquid height with time of the device were calculated. The analysis revealed that the internal flow law of different models of devices is similar. A device’s operating cycle generally includes three processes ′ suction-compression-discharge ′, the pressure and liquid height within the two tanks change alternately, and the calculation formula of the cycle period has been provided. The highest temperature in the device appears at the top pipe during the compression process. The velocity at the vertical pipe at the device’s outlet is the fastest. The research methods and results can offer a theoretical reference for the design, optimization and application of the double-chamber gas-liquid transferring device.

Automated Exploration of Economical and Safe Well Trajectories in Brown Oil and Gas Fields

Summary Due to volatile and uncertain oil and gas prices, the need to reduce well planning and drilling cost is a crucial concern in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. Therefore, the focus has increased on brownfield sites for new oil and gas explorations. However, the presence of previously drilled wellbores, also known as legacy wells, in brownfield sites increases the risk of collision incidents during the drilling process. Thus, avoiding collisions is also an important objective in the well trajectory design process. Moreover, designing well trajectories is a challenging and time-consuming process. Such designs demand multiple interdependent iterations to arrive at a required cost-effective solution that meets the drillability and safety requirements. In this study, we developed a novel framework to automate the well trajectory design process, including a well trajectory optimization technique to generate safer and more economical well trajectories. The developed framework was tested on two live oil- and gasfield cases. The first field case involved designing a single well trajectory in a crowded field, and the second field case involved designing 36 well trajectories in a field that consists of 13 legacy wells. The developed framework has a high impact on reducing the well trajectory design time and drilling length of trajectories. For example, in the second field case study, the obtained solution resulted in total length savings of 2.3% compared to an existing industry-standard tool solution, and it avoided collision with 13 wells. Also, the total time taken for designing 36 collision-free optimized wells was reduced from months (as per the industry standard) to a couple of days.