Gas Industry Research Articles

Future directions in well intervention: A conceptual exploration of emerging technologies and techniques

Well intervention plays a crucial role in the lifecycle of oil and gas wells, encompassing a range of activities aimed at maximizing production, enhancing well integrity, and mitigating risks. This abstract explores the future directions of well intervention, focusing on emerging technologies and techniques that are shaping the industry's approach to well management. The abstract begins by discussing the importance of well intervention in the context of evolving industry trends and challenges, such as the need to maximize recovery from mature fields, improve operational efficiency, and reduce environmental impact. It then provides an overview of the key themes that will define the future of well intervention, including digitalization, automation, and sustainability. Digitalization is transforming well intervention through the use of advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital twins. These technologies enable real-time monitoring and analysis of well performance, allowing operators to optimize production, predict equipment failures, and enhance reservoir management. Automation is also revolutionizing well intervention by enabling remote operation of intervention tools and robotics, reducing the need for human intervention in hazardous environments. Sustainability is another key theme driving future directions in well intervention, with operators increasingly focused on reducing the environmental impact of well operations. This includes the development of environmentally friendly intervention fluids, the use of renewable energy sources for powering intervention equipment, and the adoption of green completion techniques. The abstract concludes by highlighting the implications of these future directions for the oil and gas industry, including the potential for increased production efficiency, reduced costs, and improved environmental performance. It calls for collaboration between industry stakeholders, research institutions, and government agencies to drive innovation and ensure the long-term sustainability of well intervention practices. Overall, this abstract provides a conceptual exploration of the future directions in well intervention, offering insights into how emerging technologies and techniques are reshaping the industry's approach to well management. his paper will offer a conceptual exploration into the future of well intervention, focusing on emerging technologies and techniques that could revolutionize the field. It will discuss potential impacts on efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability, providing a theoretical basis for the integration of these advancements in practical settings. Keywords: Future Directions, Well Intervention, Exploration, Emerging Technologies, Techniques.

Residual Magnetic Field Testing System with Tunneling Magneto-Resistive Arrays for Crack Inspection in Ferromagnetic Pipes

Ferromagnetic pipes are widely used in the oil and gas industry. They are subject to cracks due to corrosion, pressure, and fatigue. It is significant to detect cracks for the safety of pipes. A residual magnetic field testing (RMFT) system is developed for crack detection in ferromagnetic pipes. Based on this background, a detection probe based on an array of tunneling magneto-resistive (TMR) sensors and permanent magnets is exploited. The probe is able to partially magnetize the pipe wall and collect magnetic signals simultaneously. First, a theoretical analysis of RMFT is presented. The physics principle of RMFT is introduced, and a finite element model is built. In the finite element simulations, the effects of the crack length and depth on the RMFT signal are analyzed, and the signal characteristics are selected to represent the crack size. Next, the validated experiments are conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed RMFT method in this paper.

Power Augmentation of Gas Turbine Using Exhaust Flue Gas Operated Vapor Absorption Machine

Industrial gas turbines (GT) that operate at constant speed are constant-volume-flow combustion machines. As the specific volume of air is directly proportional to the temperature, an increase in air density results in a higher air mass flow rate at low air ambient temperatures. This results more mass of air is now passes through same volume gas turbine space. Consequently, the gas turbine power output increases proportionally with the increase in air mass flow rate. For geographic regions where warm and humid months are predominant throughout the year, significant power loss occurs during these months, and a higher rate of expensive fuel is fired at reduced power output. A gas turbine inlet air cooling technique is a useful option to enhance GT output. One of the innovative options for power augmentation of gas turbine is inlet air conditioning using a vapor absorption machine (VAM). Using VAM for GT intake air conditioning has the advantage over other systems in that it can be operated from waste heat. Many gas turbine machines, particularly natural gas pumping stations, are operated without heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) or heat recovery option. Valuable heat energy is escaped with exhaust flue gas in these systems. This paper demonstrates how GT exhaust waste heat can be utilized for its own power generation enhancement. In this study, a flue gas-based vapor absorption machine is selected for cooling the inlet air of a 26 MW gas turbine, which is used to drive the booster compressor of a natural gas pumping station. The capacity of the VAM for the required cooling effect has been calculated. The expected GT power enhancement from intake air gas conditioning has also been estimated in this paper.

Enhanced H2S decomposition using membrane reactor

H2S is a toxic gas released during many industrial processes, especially oil and gas refining. Currently, H2S is converted to sulfur using Claus process, but it leads to loss of another valuable product, i.e., hydrogen, in the form of water. Thermal decomposition of H2S in a membrane reactor is a promising route for recovering both hydrogen as well as sulfur in an efficient manner. In the present work, the authors report H2S decomposition studies with packed-bed membrane reactor (PBMR) using in-house developed clay-alumina ceramic membrane. In order to have a comparative evaluation, these studies were conducted in packed bed reactor (PBR) as well as in single-tube PBMR at different operation parameters. In PBMR, conversion of ∼90% was obtained at 1573 K and 0.5 bar, whereas a conversion of ∼50% was obtained in PBR. CFD simulations for H2S decomposition using ceramic PBMR were carried out and validated using experimental results. 3D simulations for parametric optimisation of multi-tube PBMR were also carried out by extrapolation of validated model. This is for the first time, CFD studies on H2S decomposition and its validation using ceramic PBMR are being reported in this work.

Ensemble Smoother with Fully Convolutional VAE for seismic facies inversion

Seismic facies inversion is an important process in the oil and gas industry to estimate subsurface geological facies or rock types based on seismic data. Recently, the Ensemble Smoother with Multi Data Assimilation (ES-MDA) has shown great success in solving complex inverse problems by generating an ensemble of solutions of the model variables for uncertainty quantification. However, there are significant challenges related to the computational cost, Gaussian assumptions, and its application for categorical model variables. Recent developments have proposed to integrate ES-MDA with Variational Autoencoder (VAE) to reparametrize facies into a continuous feature space and reduce computational costs. Despite promising results, it has introduced new limitations concerning network convergence, spatial correlation loss, and manipulation of the latent space. In this paper, a Fully Convolutional Variational Autoencoder (FCVAE) was proposed to outperform the VAE in terms of preserving spatial information, requiring fewer network parameters, presenting higher dimension reduction and yielding better facies estimation. The objective of the application example is to draw sound conclusions based on a 2D synthetic application, where the results of both methods can be compared with reference facies for quality evaluation.

A methane monitoring station siting method based on WRF-STILT and genetic algorithm

Reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas industry is a top priority for the current international community in addressing climate change. Methane emissions from the energy sector exhibit strong temporal variability and ground monitoring networks can provide time-continuous measurements of methane concentrations, enabling the rapid detection of sudden methane leaks in the oil and gas industry. Therefore, identifying specific locations within oil fields to establish a cost-effective and reliable methane monitoring ground network is an urgent and significant task. In response to this challenge, this study proposes a technical workflow that, utilizing emission inventories, atmospheric transport models, and intelligent computing techniques, automatically determines the optimal locations for monitoring stations based on the input quantity of monitoring sites. This methodology can automatically and quantitatively assess the observational effectiveness of the monitoring network. The effectiveness of the proposed technical workflow is demonstrated using the Shengli Oilfield, the second-largest oil and gas extraction base in China, as a case study. We found that the Genetic Algorithm can help find the optimum locations effectively. Besides, the overall observation effectiveness grew from 1.7 to 5.6 when the number of site increased from 1 to 9. However, the growth decreased with the increasing site number. Such a technology can assist the oil and gas industry in better monitoring methane emissions resulting from oil and gas extraction.

Changes in well control training to meet the challenge of reducing well control incidents

The number of safety related incidents in the Oil and Gas industry has steadily declined over the past 20 years. However, the frequency of well control incidents has not followed the same trend. The Norwegian regulator (Petroleum Safety Authority) has recently documented this finding as related to the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Globally, the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) Report 637 and recent data from Wild Well Control also support this conclusion – in fact, Wild Well Control data shows that the frequency of well control incidents may be increasing. The loss of experienced personnel due to reduced activity during the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to this. Now that activity is increasing again, the industry faces a challenge in recruiting skilled personnel. Current well control courses predominantly cover the well construction process, with minor emphasis on the whole life cycle of the well. However, a significant number (in some areas close to half) of well control incidents occur after the well construction process is completed. Based on analysis of the main contributory factors to well control incidents, IOGP has recently updated Report 476 ‘Recommendations for enhancements to well control training, examination and certification’. This paper reviews the changes to Report 476 and discusses how International Well Control Forum can contribute to reduce the well control incident rate with focus on the Well Control in Design and Lifecycle Management course.

Chemical and Physical Architecture of Macromolecular Gels for Fracturing Fluid Applications in the Oil and Gas Industry; Current Status, Challenges, and Prospects.

Hydraulic fracturing is vital in recovering hydrocarbons from oil and gas reservoirs. It involves injecting a fluid under high pressure into reservoir rock. A significant part of fracturing fluids is the addition of polymers that become gels or gel-like under reservoir conditions. Polymers are employed as viscosifiers and friction reducers to provide proppants in fracturing fluids as a transport medium. There are numerous systems for fracturing fluids based on macromolecules. The employment of natural and man-made linear polymers, and also, to a lesser extent, synthetic hyperbranched polymers, as additives in fracturing fluids in the past one to two decades has shown great promise in enhancing the stability of fracturing fluids under various challenging reservoir conditions. Modern innovations demonstrate the importance of developing chemical structures and properties to improve performance. Key challenges include maintaining viscosity under reservoir conditions and achieving suitable shear-thinning behavior. The physical architecture of macromolecules and novel crosslinking processes are essential in addressing these issues. The effect of macromolecule interactions on reservoir conditions is very critical in regard to efficient fluid qualities and successful fracturing operations. In future, there is the potential for ongoing studies to produce specialized macromolecular solutions for increased efficiency and sustainability in oil and gas applications.

The rising significance of the Perth Basin

Amid a nationwide struggle to revitalise exploration and development activity in the Australian oil and gas industry, the Perth Basin emerges as a beacon of hope. During 2003–2005, the basin experienced a peak in exploration activity, averaging an impressive 13 wells drilled per year. However, mirroring the sector’s broader nationwide trend, the Perth Basin then saw a decline in drilling, with an annual average of just three exploration wells over 2006–2022. Nevertheless, a turnaround is in progress, with the basin poised for the drilling of eight exploration and appraisal wells in 2024. The turning point for the basin can be traced back to the Waitsia discovery in 2014 which rekindled interest and activity in the region, resulting in nine distinct gas discoveries and a subsequent doubling of the basin’s estimated gas resources. Against the backdrop of projected gas shortfalls in Western Australia’s domestic market, players in the basin have ambitious development plans amid rising gas prices. We expect that the Perth Basin could contribute up to 30% of WA’s domestic gas supplies by 2030, compared to a modest 5% in 2023. Notably, a substantial portion of WA’s new gas supplies are expected to originate from the Perth Basin. This paper examines the resurgence of activity and interest in the Perth Basin, driven by surging valuations and its growing significance within the domestic gas market. It also examines the commercialisation pathways in light of the updated ban on onshore gas exports in WA.

Steps to accelerate net zero delivery

Worley and Princeton University’s Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment are working together to shift the net zero narrative from what is needed, to how to meet this immense infrastructure delivery challenge. Together, we assert that this challenge cannot be met through a traditional project delivery approach. We have developed a new delivery paradigm, which identifies five key shifts in infrastructure delivery practices to build the durable, responsible, and pragmatic means of achieving the required scale and speed of mid-century net zero. We believe that the new delivery paradigm needs to be in place by 2030, and an annual survey conducted by Princeton University is tracking the uptake by industry. The third instalment in our thought leadership series ‘From Ambition to Reality (FATR): Steps to accelerate net zero delivery’, explores the scale of the EU’s 2030 Hydrogen ambition and how the five key shifts could accelerate the delivery of 10 million tonnes per annum of renewable hydrogen in the next 6 years. This has led to our proposed EU Renewable H2 Plan, which has been further globalised to our 2024 FATR Plan for application to any low carbon sector or supply chain. In this paper, we examine the initiatives set out in the 2024 FATR Plan in the context of the Australian oil and gas industry. We outline the steps that can be taken right now to support the decarbonisation of the Australian oil and gas industry alongside the development of a new hydrogen industry.

The Bayu-Undan liquid CO2 import facilities – finding an effective solution

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is widely considered to be one of the key enablers to decarbonising the economy. It is currently being implemented in a number of projects in gas, power, chemicals, cement, steel, and other industries. In the Asia–Pacific region, shipping of liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) is widely seen as a key component of the CCS value chain. Shipping allows the emitters located in the industrial centres of Japan, Korea, and Singapore to access distant CO2 storage locations. The repurposing of the Bayu-Undan (BU) platforms and pipeline from gas production to CO2 injection presents a regional opportunity for the disposal of shipped CO2. Multiple LCO2 development concepts were assessed for unloading and storing the imported LCO2. Unloading can be carrier-to-shore, carrier-to-ship/barge, or carrier-to-platform; storage can be onshore, nearshore, offshore or no buffer storage at all with direct injection from carriers. These concepts required evaluation for technical functionality, maturity, complexity, operability, and availability. Imported LCO2 is too cold and low pressure to be transported or injected at the carrier transport conditions. The pressure needs to be boosted and temperature increased to meet the requirements of the injection system. This requires sources of power and heat. An evaluation of existing facilities, their condition, available space and spare capacity, and their constructability considerations revealed important opportunities and constraints. A study was carried out, which evaluated options for the BU LCO2 import using key evaluation criteria to select the most appropriate concept. This paper explores addressing the challenges involved.

Charting a path to low-carbon leadership: unlocking up to 90% emissions reductions in greenfield LNG

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry stands at the cusp of a transformation driven by the climate imperative. Focussing on the Middle Arm Industrial Precinct, this paper shows how carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are being reduced in a proposed world-class LNG project by assessing, screening and selecting known technologies using a Marginal Abatement philosophy linked to key emissions drivers. (1) We propose a new breed of electrified LNG facilities that could deliver an up to 90% reduction in CO2 intensity. (2) We show that through developing strategic partnerships in upstream renewable power, hydrogen supply, and enabled downstream carbon capture and storage (CCS), the significant low carbon energy requirements of an LNG facility can be delivered. (3) We discuss a Marginal Abatement assessment strategy which ensures a pathway to viable lowest cost opportunities selected in an ‘Avoid & Mitigate’ first approach. This proposed strategy ensures that CO2 emission reduction opportunities are assessed and selected consistently to determine both a lifecycle cost ($) and volume (tons CO2e) of emission reduction. These innovative strategies collectively articulate a roadmap for a low carbon future for LNG and other heavy industrial industries, underlining Australia’s potential to become a leading provider of low-carbon natural resources.

The greenhouse gas reduction effect of critical peak pricing for industrial electricity: Evidence from 285 Chinese cities, 2003–2019

This paper assesses the impact of the Pilot of Critical Peak Pricing for Industrial Electricity (PCPPIE) on industrial Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by employing the Difference-in-Differences (DID) methodology. It is found that the cities participating in PCPPIE underwent a significant 11.3% reduction in the GHGs emitted per industrial enterprise. These findings remain robust across various methodologies, including staggered DID estimators, propensity score matching, instrumental variable methods, and spatial econometric regression. The generalized DID analysis shows that a higher critical peak price corresponds to a more substantial decrease in GHG emissions. PCPPIE achieves weaker GHG reduction in higher-administrative level cities but stronger in those with higher industrial share, and the effectiveness of PCPPIE is compromised by cross-regional electricity imports. PCPPIE reduces GHG emission intensity of the power industry and contributes to additional reductions in GHG emissions from other sources by fostering green technological innovation and facilitating energy substitution. The practical significance of this paper is to reveal a richer dynamic mechanism for China's green and sustainable development, indicating that critical peak pricing is a power pricing strategy worthy of strengthening and optimization in the process of China's carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

Omniphobic/superhydrophobic surface effect on oil and gas flow: A critical review

AbstractFlow assurance in the petroleum business of the oil and gas industry ensures the efficient and continuous flow of hydrocarbons from production facilities to consumers. Impurities in oil and gas can cause corrosion and erosion, hydrate formation, scaling, and fouling, resulting in flow limits and reduced operating efficiency. The significant flow assurance issues must be managed through systematic exploration of effective mitigation and management approaches. The objective of this paper is to highlight the latest research in the field of flow assurance, including the application of superhydrophobic or omniphobic coatings to prevent scale growth, asphaltene precipitation, wax deposition, and hydrate formation. This review will provide new perspectives into the basic mechanistic mechanisms of deposition and blockage in oil and gas production systems, assisting in the development of novel methods compared to the employment of commercial chemical or mechanical techniques. Overall, the flow assurance engineers will gain new perspectives from this study regarding how to deal with the risk of pipeline blockage caused by the problems mentioned earlier.

Leadership and talent attraction and retention – an existential risk to our industry

Political, social, shareholder – and increasingly talent – pressure is driving a seismic shift as oil and gas operators are required to transform into diversified energy companies. Attracting and retaining the required leadership and talent to drive this transformation is an existential risk to our industry. 10.5% of the total workforce left the industry during the 2019/2020 oil price crash. Since 2020 the experienced oil and gas industry workforce has aged and will take critical skills and experience with them into retirement. 40% of Australian oil and gas recruiters believe retaining this knowledge and replacing these skills are the industry’s biggest challenges. In parallel, events in August 2023 in Western Australia have demonstrated the immediate market impact workforce unrest can have. Concurrently, it is becoming harder to attract talent to the industry. The competition for adaptive leaders and high-skilled workers has been accentuated as the oil and gas sector continues to evolve and now competes for these skills sets with other industries. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance is increasingly becoming an important factor in the industry’s ability to attract and retain talent. In a recent global talent index report, 85% of respondents stated ESG is a factor in whether they will stay or leave an oil and gas organisation. Interestingly, 55% of those open to switching sectors would be interested in switching to renewables. In this paper, I provide oil and gas companies with pragmatic guidance on how to quantify the impact of these challenges, adapt the industry narrative, and re-position as an employer of choice.

The effect of PVP and PVA on hydrate formation kinetics of ethane and propane mixture in the presence of kaolin nanoparticles

AbstractThe blockage of gas transmission pipelines due to gas hydrates poses a significant challenge for the gas industry. Low‐dosage hydrate inhibitors (LDHI) are utilized to influence the kinetics of hydrate formation, including nucleation, growth, and/or agglomeration. In the current study, a series of batch, isochoric, and isothermal tests were carried out to investigate the impacts of two LDHIs, poly N‐vinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl alcohols (PVA). This study examined the influence of these inhibitors on nucleation and growth of ethane+propane mixture in the presence of kaolin nanoparticles. In laboratory studies and using pure constituents, the rate of hydrate formation is low to investigate the inhibitors effect. To enhance the rate of hydrate formation, kaolin nanoparticles were utilized as they serve as a suitable representative for solid minerals commonly found in pipelines. The gas phase's compositional change were measured using a gas chromatograph. The results revealed that the growth stage of mixed‐gas exhibited two distinct steps, attributed to the formation of two different structures known as structure II and structure I. During the first step, structure II was formed, and the cavities were occupied by both gas components. In the second stage, structure I was formed by ethane. The effect of temperature on the induction time (nucleation rate) and the growth rate during the second stage was lower than that at the first stage. The increase in PVA concentration resulted in an increase in the induction time and a decrease in the rate of growth during the first stage. The performance of PVA was found to be affected by temperature. Lower temperatures resulted in the formation of less foam, providing improved performance for PVA at −0.5°C. PVP had a stronger impact on induction time and both growth steps compared to PVA, indicating stronger inhibitory impact of PVP on nucleation of hydrates initiated by propane and the growth of both propane and ethane hydrates.

Identifikasi Kesehatan dan Keselamatan Kerja (K3)Pada SPBE PTD dengan Menggunakan MetodeJob Safety Analysis (JSA)

In the operational activities of the oil and gas industry (oil and gas), Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is very important. Workers in the oil and gas industry have a great potential risk to occupational health and safety conditions. Companies are required to implement an Occupational Health and Safety system to achieve the goal of zero accident industrial operations. Zero accident is a key factor in managing occupational safety and health (OHS). This research focuses on identifying hazards to the interaction between workers, officers/employees, tools and the environment with research indicators namely Human error, not using PPE, technical accidents. The purpose of this study was to determine employee awareness of Occupational Safety and Health (K3) at SPBE PTD and to determine Job Safety Analysis at SPBE PTD in order to create zero accidents with descriptive qualitative methods using Job Safety Analysis (JSA). The results showed that the total average indicator assessment had a value of 2.318, the total average accident in 2020 had a value of 0.833, the total average accident in 2021 had a value of 0.722, and the total average accident in 2022 had a value of 0.833. From the results of the total average value, it can be interpreted that the PTD SPBE does not have zero accidents.

METHODOLOGY FOR DETERMINING LEAKS AND ENERGY SAVING IN UNDERGROUND GAS STORAGE

The main task of any functioning gas transportation system is to supply reliable gas to all customers. Create a new underground storage and expansion and optimization of existing underground gas reservoirs is one of the priority directions for the development of the gas industry. The aim of the work is to determine the methodology of leakage and losses of underground gas reservoirs. There is a presented an analysis of the hysteresis loop of the underground gas reservoir compaction-removal cycle and the corresponding leakage.

Toward sustainable recycled methanol production from CO2 and steel by-product gases in South Korea; process design and assessment

Methanol is receiving considerable attention as an alternative fuel because of its potential role as a transitional option in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and enabling the transition towards biofuels. Recycled methanol, produced using captured CO2 or industrial by-product gases, emerges as an attractive alternative in South Korea, especially considering the excessive emissions from its energy and industrial sectors. However, assessing technological superiority amongst a range of alternatives remains challenging. This study aims to assess and compare various methanol production pathways utilizing captured CO2 and by-product gases from steel industry within context of South Korea. The selected technologies are either currently in industrial use or pivotal for future industrial applications. A unified process design and assessment framework was employed to model and simulate eight technological conversion processes. These processes underwent evaluation based on key performance indicators, accompanied by comprehensive techno-economic and environmental life cycle assessments. Additionally, comparisons were made with conventional fossil-based methanol production, considering different hydrogen and electricity production routes. This study provides valuable insights into the viability of recycled methanol pathways in terms of process performance, economic and environmental feasibility and will facilitate the practical implementation of recycled methanol, contributing towards achieving carbon neutrality objectives.

Innovative waste management approaches in LNG operations: A detailed review

As the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry continues to expand globally, the imperative to address environmental concerns and enhance sustainability within LNG operations becomes paramount. This paper conducts a comprehensive and detailed review of innovative waste management approaches within the LNG sector. Traditional waste management practices in LNG operations, including disposal and recycling, are examined, highlighting the associated challenges. The focus then shifts to innovative approaches, encompassing recycling and circular economy initiatives, advanced waste-to-energy technologies, and the adoption of sustainable packaging solutions. Case studies and examples illustrate successful implementations of innovative waste management strategies in various LNG facilities, providing insights into the environmental and operational benefits achieved. The paper explores the implications of these approaches, emphasizing reduced carbon footprints, enhanced resource efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, the review delves into the barriers and challenges hindering widespread adoption, including technological, economic, and regulatory considerations. This detailed examination aims to contribute valuable insights for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers, fostering the integration of sustainable and innovative waste management practices in the ever-evolving landscape of LNG operations. Keywords: Innovative, Waste, Management, LNG operations, Review.