Kuwait Institute For Scientific Research Research Articles

Qualitative Analysis of Nitrogen and Sulfur Compounds in Vacuum Gas Oils via Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry.

Analysis of the heavy fractions in crude oil has been important in petroleum industries. It is well known that heavy fractions such as vacuum gas oils (VGOs) include heteroatoms, of which sulfur and nitrogen are often characterized in many cases. We conducted research regarding the molecular species analysis of VGOs. Further refine processes using VGOs are becoming important when considering carbon recycling. In this work, we attempted to classify compounds within VGOs provided by Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. Two VGOs were priorly distillated from Kuwait Export crude and Lower Fars crude. Quantitative analysis was performed mainly using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). MALDI-TOF-MS has been developed for analyzing high-molecular-weight compounds such as polymer and biopolymers. As matrix selection is one of the most important aspects in MALDI-TOFMS, the careful selection of a matrix was firstly evaluated, followed by analysis using a Kendrick plot with nominal mass series (z*). The objective was to evaluate if this work could provide an effective classification of VGOs compounds. The Kendrick plot is a well-known method for processing mass data. The difference in the Kendrick mass defect (KMD) between CnH2n-14S and CnH2n-20O is only 0.0005 mass units, which makes it difficult in general to distinguish these compounds. However, since the z* value showed effective differences during the classification of these compounds, qualitative analysis could be possible. The analysis using nominal mass series showed the potential to be used as an effective method in analyzing heavy fractions.

Identifying urban emission sources and their contribution to the oxidative potential of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Kuwait.

In this study, we investigated the seasonal variations, chemical composition, sources, and oxidative potential of ambient PM2.5 (particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm) in Kuwait City. The sampling campaign was conducted within the premises of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research from June 2022 to May 2023, covering different seasons throughout the year. The personal cascade impactor sampler (PCIS) operated at flow rate of 9 L/min was employed to collect weekly PM2.5 samples on PTFE and quarts filters. These collected samples were analyzed for carbonaceous species (i.e., elemental and organic carbon), metals and transition elements, inorganic ions, and DTT (dithiothreitol) redox activity. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) and multi-linear regression (MLR) were used to identify the predominant emission sources and their percentage contribution to the redox activity of PM2.5 in Kuwait. The results of this study highlighted that the annual-averaged ambient PM2.5 mass concentrations in Kuwait (59.9 μg/m3) substantially exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 10 μg/m3. Additionally, the summer season displayed the highest PM2.5 mass concentration (75.2 μg/m3) compared to other seasons, primarily due to frequent dust events exacerbated by high-speed winds. The PCA identified four primary PM2.5 sources: mineral dust, fossil fuel combustion, road traffic, and secondary aerosols. The mineral dust was found to be the predominant source, contributing 36.1% to the PM2.5 mass, followed by fossil fuel combustion and traffic emissions with contributions of 23.7% and 20.3%, respectively. The findings of MLR revealed that road traffic was the most significant contributor to PM2.5 oxidative potential, accounting for 47% of the total DTT activity. In conclusion, this comprehensive investigation provides essential insights into the sources and health implications of PM2.5 in Kuwait, underscoring the critical need for effective air quality management strategies to mitigate the impacts of particulate pollution in the region.

Personal information management practices: how scientists find and organize information

PurposeTo take full advantage of the unprecedented availability of information on networks and digital systems, professionals need to be comfortable finding information relevant to the tasks at hand. This study was conducted at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research to investigate scientists’ personal information management (PIM) practices.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research approach was used. Critical incidents were collected to probe information about PIM activities. The PIM-related critical incidents were gathered through extended conversations in the form of semi-structured interviews.FindingsExtended conversations revealed that scientists were aware of the importance of information organization and management. They collected and received information from various sources regarding their tasks and saved part of the information for future use. Scientists organized saved information into named folders using the categories of projects, clients and planning. The files were updated by regular deletion and cleaning. Different strategies were used to retrieve the information. These included searching by keywords and file names, and browsing using the folder structure. Scientists have used various PIM tools. They reported that time pressure, information overload and anxiety due to information fragmentation were major challenges in PIM.Originality/valueThis study recommends a compilation of guidelines to assist scientists in the efficient management of personal information. As there are only a few studies currently available in the literature on scientists’ PIM, this study makes a valuable contribution to the relevant professional literature.

Mechanical Milling: A Superior Nanotechnological Tool for Fabrication of Nanocrystalline and Nanocomposite Materials.

Throughout human history, any society’s capacity to fabricate and refine new materials to satisfy its demands has resulted in advances to its performance and worldwide standing. Life in the twenty-first century cannot be predicated on tiny groupings of materials; rather, it must be predicated on huge families of novel elements dubbed “advanced materials”. While there are several approaches and strategies for fabricating advanced materials, mechanical milling (MM) and mechanochemistry have garnered much interest and consideration as novel ways for synthesizing a diverse range of new materials that cannot be synthesized by conventional means. Equilibrium, nonequilibrium, and nanocomposite materials can be easily obtained by MM. This review article has been addressed in part to present a brief history of ball milling’s application in the manufacture of a diverse variety of complex and innovative materials during the last 50 years. Furthermore, the mechanism of the MM process will be discussed, as well as the factors affecting the milling process. Typical examples of some systems developed at the Nanotechnology and Applications Program of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research during the last five years will be presented in this articles. Nanodiamonds, nanocrystalline hard materials (e.g., WC), metal-matrix and ceramic matrix nanocomposites, and nanocrystalline titanium nitride will be presented and discussed. The authors hope that the article will benefit readers and act as a primer for engineers and researchers beginning on material production projects using mechanical milling.

Recent advances in artificial breeding and larval rearing of silver pomfret Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen 1788) in Kuwait.

During last several years, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Kuwait has been trying to develop a sustainable culture technique for silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus). This paper reports the recent research advances in the breeding and rearing of silver pomfret fry at KISR. The eggs collected from wild silver pomfret during spawning seasons of 2012 to 2015 were artificially fertilized under laboratory condition. The average hatching rates of artificially fertilized eggs collected from wild silver pomfrets were 25.6%, 44.8%, 76.7%, and 53.5.0% and average survival rates of metamorphosed fry produced from these eggs were 3.7%, 5.7%, 4.4% and 3.8% for the spawning seasons 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. For captive brood stocks, observation on the spawning time at hourly interval by collecting eggs from the nets set at out-flow of brood tanks showed that the spawning time for captive silver pomfret starts at the time of sunset. In 2012, two groups of captive silver pomfret broods spawned a total of 62x103 and 66x103 eggs, but the eggs were unfertilized. No captive spawning occurred during 2013 and 2014 spawning season. In 2015, captive silver pomfret broods in three tanks spawned about 653x103, 673x103 and 270x103 eggs, and in 2016, the broods in four tanks spawned about 669x103, 22x103, 3x103 and 366x103 eggs. However, from these eggs only 1,400 and 1,000 fertilized eggs were collected which produced 300 and 123 hatched larvae in July 2015 and June 2016, respectively. The larvae produced from the 2015 broods did not survive beyond 56 days of metamorphosed stage while larvae produced from 2016 captive broods survived for 9 days only. The mortality of the larvae from captive brood could be related to the poor egg or milt quality. However, efforts are continued to improve the eggs and sperm quality through proper brood management.

Harmful diatoms and dinoflagellates in the Indian Ocean: a study from Southern coast of Sri Lanka

Harmful diatoms and dinoflagellates in the Indian Ocean: a study from Southern coast of Sri Lanka

Questionnaire Study for The Use of Solar Energy and Wind Energy for The Generation of Electricity in Kuwait

This research aims to study the acceptance of real management of designing electrical generation plants that work using solar energy and wind energy, to explain the benefits for the decision makers of the use of the solar energy and wind energy, and to define the most important obstacles that hinder the use of solar energy in generating electricity in spite of fulfilling the environmental conditions as clean energy and renewing energy contribute to sustainability of natural resources. The descriptive methodology was used by going back to reference material including books, and scientific journals and periodicals as well as scientific researches to identify the real management and design of electrical plant generation using solar energy and wind energy. A questionnaire was distributed among the study sample that was composed of the engineers working in energy field and electrical generation plants, the general institute for environment, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, and Kuwait Society of Engineers. 203 responses were received from the study sample. Results of the study showed the presence of obstacles and special problems related to the use of solar energy that face the decision makers with regard to the ability for acquiring important advanced technology and the huge financial support and the partnership of the private sector and training of unskilled human resources. And it was declared that there is a huge focus and attention in generation electrical energy from fossil fuel because of its presence and sustainability in investment in this field and the ability to fulfill the needs of the local market from energy.

Questionnaire Study for The Use of Solar Energy and Wind Energy for The Generation of Electricity in Kuwait

This research aims to study the acceptance of real management of designing electrical generation plants that work using solar energy and wind energy, to explain the benefits for the decision makers of the use of the solar energy and wind energy, and to define the most important obstacles that hinder the use of solar energy in generating electricity in spite of fulfilling the environmental conditions as clean energy and renewing energy contribute to sustainability of natural resources. The descriptive methodology was used by going back to reference material including books, and scientific journals and periodicals as well as scientific researches to identify the real management and design of electrical plant generation using solar energy and wind energy. A questionnaire was distributed among the study sample that was composed of the engineers working in energy field and electrical generation plants, the general institute for environment, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, and Kuwait Society of Engineers. 203 responses were received from the study sample. Results of the study showed the presence of obstacles and special problems related to the use of solar energy that face the decision makers with regard to the ability for acquiring important advanced technology and the huge financial support and the partnership of the private sector and training of unskilled human resources. And it was declared that there is a huge focus and attention in generation electrical energy from fossil fuel because of its presence and sustainability in investment in this field and the ability to fulfill the needs of the local market from energy.

Comparative performance evaluation of different photovoltaic modules technologies under Kuwait harsh climatic conditions

In this work, performance analysis and comparison of eight photovoltaic (PV) technologies were carried out under the local harsh climate conditions of Kuwait. The test facility is elevated 3 metres​ above ground level on top of carports at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), alongside the seashore. The test was carried out for two modules each of eight commercially available PV technologies, at total of 16 specimens. The eight technologies employed in this work are, Monocrystalline (m-Si), Polycrystalline (p-Si), Heterojunction (HIT), and thin film; Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIGS), and Amorphous Silicon (a-Si). The set of data analysed in this paper was systematically acquired during a period of 12 months. Special attention is given to the influence of temperature and dust on the performance of the PV modules. The results show that m-Si, p-Si and HIT modules performed better in high irradiance levels while decreasing rapidly at lower irradiance levels. However, in the case of the cylindrical CIGS module, good performance in low irradiance level was observed Two technologies in the study (a-Si and CdTe) performed significantly lower than the other technologies mainly due to capture losses. The performance analysis show that the HIT technology performed better than m-Si and p-Si technologies. Moreover the module’s geometry and construction materials had significant impact on module temperature, soiling loss, and subsequently module performance. Modules packaged with epoxy degraded faster than other modules with glass encapsulation under the same soiling rate due to dust fallout.

Feasibility Study of a Small Standalone Marine Power Source

This paper presents a preliminary technical feasibility of using marine current as a possible source of renewable energy production in Kuwait substituting fossil fuel based energy production. Kuwait sea water depth and velocity have been studied in order to obtain the most suitable location for such system. Topographical data collected from Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research for marine currents and seabed have been used in carrying on a simulation study of the proposed system where the possible power output has been estimated. An economical study comparing the implementation of a small standalone generator and the implementation of a marine current generator for a standalone application was carried out showing the advantages of the latter. This preliminary work will help to show that marine current energy is a viable source of energy.

Recycling sand-wash fines as synthetic lightweight aggregates

Local aggregate sources in Kuwait are scarce and quarrying for coarse aggregates has been completely stopped. The construction industry is now entirely dependent on imported aggregates. Research has been carried out at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research to explore suitable indigenous raw materials as alternative sources for the production of synthetic lightweight aggregates (LWAs). This paper presents the outcome of the investigation on LWAs made using sand-wash fines from a sand-washing plant in Kuwait, in addition to other waste materials acting as gas generating and fuelling agents such as used lube oil and municipal sewage sludge. The physical and mechanical properties of the sand-wash fines and other ingredients, and synthetic LWA products were assessed. The investigation revealed that the sand-wash fines contain all the necessary elements to enable the bloating and sintering processes. The engineering properties of concrete made with the LWAs were also tested.

Recent developments in the fabrication, characterization and implementation of MgH2-based solid-hydrogen materials in the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research.

Hydrogen energy holds tremendous promise as a new clean energy option. It is a convenient, safe, versatile fuel source that can be easily converted to the desired form of energy without releasing harmful emissions. Hydrogen storage, which spans both hydrogen production and hydrogen applications, plays a critical role in initiating a hydrogen economy. Apart from the traditional methods used for hydrogen storage, Mg metal has been considered to be the most suitable candidate for application as a safe hydrogen storage material. However, Mg still has several technical problems that must be solved before such an attractive light metal can be considered for use in real applications. This review article aims to present and discuss the most recent research activities (2010–2018) that have been undertaken at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) to develop and implement new categories of MgH2-based nanocomposites. Comparisons between different catalytic agents used to enhance MgH2 properties are presented and discussed in terms of structure, morphology, thermal stability, and kinetics.

Sustainability of Construction Aggregates in Kuwait

Kuwait is facing a current construction boom with projects worth of more than USD188bn. The huge infrastructure spending plan of Kuwait is reflected with a growing demand of concrete as concrete is the most commonly used building material in the local construction. At the present, the quarrying of coarse aggregate which is a main concrete constituent material is banned in Kuwait since 1997 and construction industry depends on the imported coarse aggregates from neighbouring sources such as United Arab Emirates and Iran. Kuwait is also interested in challenging the growing concern of an effective environmental management of water, land and atmosphere to achieve a sustainable civilization. The increasingly environmental pressures coupled with the limited available economical resources are causing the decision making authorities to consider the practice of recycling and waste utilization. This paper presents Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) efforts to investigate sustainable sources of coarse aggregate for construction industry from waste. The first sustainable source investigated is the production of synthetic lightweight aggregates utilizing combinations of argillaceous indigenous and waste materials, and the second is recycled aggregates from construction and demolition wastes. The potential of the two sustainable sources of construction aggregates are presented and the needed steps for real industrial application are addressed.

Potential for producing concrete blocks using sulphur polymeric concrete in Kuwait

The current sulphur production in Kuwait is 0.9 million tons/y, of which 0.5 million tons is consumed locally, mainly for the sulphuric acid production. Continuous increase in production is expected as it will reach 3.1 million tons by 2017, which would stipulate the need for its applications in different fields.The development of new applications for sulphur becomes fundamental. Sulphur concrete (SC) has a relatively simple composition and manufacture and very interesting characteristics and properties. SC materials have many specialized applications in the construction industry and transportation. Currently, they are used primarily in areas where conventional materials like Portland cement concrete (PCC) has failed, such as in acidic and saline chemical environments.This paper gives some highlights of the experiments at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) laboratory facilities. The project’s research work was carried out by finding and defining a set of mixture proportions or recipes for modified sulphur concrete (SC) that were most promising based on the test results with the emulsified bitumen additive and the different ingredients. These optimum mixes were used to produce small scale precast sulphur concrete units.

Assessment of wind energy potential at Kuwaiti Islands by statistical analysis of wind speed data

Kuwait possesses a potential of renewable energy, such as solar and wind energy. Wind energy is an alternative clean energy source compared to fossil fuel, which pollute the lower layer of the atmosphere. In this study, statistical methods are used to analyze the wind speed data at Mubarak port (at Bubiyan Island), Failaka Island and Um-AlMaradim Island; which are located respectively in the north, mid and south of Kuwait territorial waters. Wind speed is the most important parameter in the design and study of wind energy conversion systems. The wind speed data were obtained from the Costal Information System Database (CIS) at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research [1, 2 and 3]over a thirty seven years period, 1979 to 2015. In the present study, the wind energy potential of the locations was statistically analyzed based on wind speed data, over a period of thirty seven years. The probability distributions are derived from the wind data and their distributional parameters are identified. Two probability density functions are fitted to the probability distributions on a yearly basis. The wind energy potential of the locations was studied based on the Weibull and the Rayleigh models.

WIND ENERGY MAP OF ARABIAN GULF

Wind power is not only pollution free and renewable but is becoming more economical with technology development. The countries around the Arabian Gulf region are investing for wind powers both the land and in their marine space. A detailed study on wind power resource in the Arabian Gulf is not available. This paper is on the wind energy resource availability over Arabian Gulf waters, covering 2300 grid points. The data available with Coastal Information System data base at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait, from 1979 to 2015 is used. The probability density and power density were derived from these data source. Weibull probability density function has been fitted to the wind speed data and the wind power density was evaluated. The study is carried out at 10 m, 30 m and 50 m elevations. The central location of the Arabian Gulf has higher annual average wind speed, ranging from 6 to 8 m/s at 10 m elevation, 7 to 8 m/s at 30 m elevation and 8 to 9 m/s at 50 m elevation. The scale parameter “c” at central location of Arabian Gulf is found to range from 6 - 8 m/s for 10 m elevation, 7 - 8 m/s for 30 m elevation and 8 - 9 m/s for 50 m above sea level. The Weibull shape parameter k varies from 2.5 to 3 at the north and central of the Arabian Gulf. The annual mean wind power density over Arabian Gulf Waters is the highest in the central region of the Gulf. The power density at 10 m, 30 m and 50 m hub height varies between 200 to 300 w/m2, 200 to 300 w/m2 and more than 300 w/m2 respectively. It is attractive to install large scale wind power generation at the central region of the Arabian Gulf and at elevations of 30 m or 50 m, since this region lies in Class 2 category of the Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States. The wind power density is attractive especially in summer season around the central region location in Arabian Gulf (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar), since high rate of power is used for air conditioning systems in summer.

Assessment of wind energy potential at Kuwaiti Islands by statistical analysis of wind speed data

Kuwait possesses a potential of renewable energy, such as solar and wind energy. Wind energy is an alternative clean energy source compared to fossil fuel, which pollute the lower layer of the atmosphere. In this study, statistical methods are used to analyze the wind speed data at Mubarak port (at Bubiyan Island), Failaka Island and Um-AlMaradim Island; which are located respectively in the north, mid and south of Kuwait territorial waters. Wind speed is the most important parameter in the design and study of wind energy conversion systems. The wind speed data were obtained from the Costal Information System Database (CIS) at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research [1, 2 and 3]over a thirty seven years period, 1979 to 2015. In the present study, the wind energy potential of the locations was statistically analyzed based on wind speed data, over a period of thirty seven years. The probability distributions are derived from the wind data and their distributional parameters are identified. Two probability density functions are fitted to the probability distributions on a yearly basis. The wind energy potential of the locations was studied based on the Weibull and the Rayleigh models.

Evaluating the Potential Use of Tidal Energy: A Study of Different Regions in Kuwait

This Study is based on Statistical Data of Tidal Waves in the Different Regions of Kuwait. Nowadays, Kuwait city is considered a good example for the countries that characterizes with an essential rate of exhaustion of energy. This in turns results in a substantial increase with need of immaculate and renewable energy obstetrics origins that can be used in generating electricity. This Paper aims to estimate the possibility for employing tidal energy in Kuwait city according to statistically collected data about tidal waves in several areas. Statistics associated to current velocity of water were gathered from Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. Additionally, Civil Aviation Meteorological Department was managed to be appropriate for obtaining information about current velocity of water. The obtained results in this paper showed that there is a great possibility to use resources of renewable within Kuwait to achieve the demands of energy. Also, the results shows that Plants of tidal power are built within different locations, and the MENA area still lacks to tidal power plant, where that the lone reported plant of the power via tides is the that reputable through an Israeli company called WERPO.

Conference Committee

Conference ChairProf. Hyo Choi, Gangneung-Wonju National University, South KoreaProf. Ngai Weng Chan, School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia, MalaysiaProf. Solomon W. Leung, Idaho State University, USAProgram ChairProf. Chan Jin Park, Incheon National University, South KoreaProf. Jun Yao, China University of Geosciences Beijing, ChinaPublication ChairDr. Wu Jin, Beijing Jiaotong University, ChinaGuest EditorProf. Kevin Fong-Rey Liu, Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, TaiwanProf. Teresa Albuquerque, Instituto Politecnico de Castelo Branco, PortugalProf. Eric James Strauss, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USATechnical CommitteeProf. Il-kyu Kim, Pukyong National University, South KoreaProf. Eric James Strauss, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USAProf. Ahmed Jalal Khan Chowdhury, Kulliyyah (Faculty) of Science International Islamic University MalaysiaProf. Mohd Elmuntasir Ebrahim Ahmed, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, KuwaitProf. Abbyssinia Mushunje, University of Fort Hare, South AfricaProf. Kevin Fong-Rey Liu, Ming Chi University of Technology, TaiwanProf. Kei Eguchi, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, JapanProf. Teresa Albuquerque, Instituto Politecnico de Castelo Branco, PortugalProf. Ahmad Zuhairi Abdullah, School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, MalaysiaProf. M Ramachandra Mohan, Bangalore University, IndiaProf. TALEB Mohammed Sghir, Institut Scientifique, Mohammed 5 University in Rabat, MoroccoProf. Nour Mohammad, Premier University, Chittagong, BangladeshProf. J. Helan Chandra, Jeppiaar Engineering College, Chennai, IndiaProf. Qiuyan Yuan, University of Manitoba, CanadaProf. Jabbar Hammood Al-Baidhani, Babylon University,College of Engineering, IraqProf. Piyush Malaviya, Department of Environmental Science, University of Jammu, IndiaProf. S S Singh, Guru Ghasidas Central University, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, IndiaAssoc. Prof. M. Azizul Moqsud, Yamaguchi University, ThailandAssoc. Prof. Haliza Abdul Rahman, Universiti Putra Malaysia, MalaysiaAssoc. Prof. Xiang Li, National University Chiba University, JapanAssoc. Prof. Hae Keun Yun, Department of Horticulture & Life Science, Yeungnam University, South KoreaAssoc. Prof. Amir Shafeeq, Institute of Chemical Engg. & Tech. University of the Punjab, PakistanAssoc. Prof. Muhammad Ali Zulfikar, Institut Teknologi Bandung, IndonesiaAssoc.Prof. Bello Olugbenga Solomon, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Oyo State, NigeriaAssoc. Prof. Mamta Sharma, Govt. Raj Rishi College, Raj Rishi Bhartrihari Matsya University, IndiaDr. Dorota Kulikowska, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, PolandDr. Muhammad Naufal Bin Mansor, Department of Electrical, Kampus Uniciti Alam, Universiti MalaysiaDr. Intareeya Sutthivanich,Suranaree University of Technology, ThailandDr. Nrashant Singh, Amity University Dubai, DIAC, DubaiDr. Abolfazl Naji, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, IranDr. Oana Adriana Cuzman, Institute for the Conservation and Valorization of Cultural Heritage, ItalyDr. Amon Taruvinga, Agriculture & Environmental Economics, University of Fort Hare, South AfricaDr. Ali Ghaffarianhoseini, Aut university, Auckland, New ZealandDr. Intareeya Sutthivanich, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, ThailandDr. Alemayehu Adugna, Wolaita Sodo University, EthiopiaDr. Himanshu Patel, Indira Gandhi National Open University, IndiaDr. Yun Zhang, Lanzhou University, China

Technology Focus: Artificial Lift

Overview It has been a year since my last lecture/ rant about corporate shortsightedness. I am sure my concerns were taken to heart and everyone was able to spend the last year working on training, documenting best practices, tracking failure root causes and costs, and optimizing lift efficiency. This allows me to focus on a problem unique to the extraction industries. This problem arises because we work at the transition from unbound, heterogeneous nature to bound, homogeneous controlled environments. Our problem is that we are dealing with multiphase, multicomponent fluids whose compositions change spatially and temporally inside imperfectly understood heterogeneous reservoirs whose characteristics also change spatially and temporally. When a black-oil correlation comes with the caveat that the results are ±20%, they are not kidding. And when they specify a range of validity that we blithely exceed, all bets are off. When we take Darcy’s law for linear flow of water through a homogeneous sandpack and manipulate it to apply to multiphase flow through a heterogeneous multilayer reservoir, we have to make assumptions. Sure, we can break the reservoir into a grid and assign values to each grid, but the truth is we do not know with certainty what the reservoir properties are outside of near-wellbore regions. We use algorithms to come up with grid properties, but we are really just making educated guesses. What are we to do? The most common approach is to plug in our best-guess data and use the results as truth. New engineers feel a sense of accomplishment for a job well done. More experienced engineers hope for the best. Old codgers like me hope nothing catches on fire. We see the results of this uncertainty all around us. Wells do not produce as expected, equipment runs are inconsistent, reserves estimates are constantly revised. A better approach is to recognize that we are working in a world of uncertainty. At a minimum, create a worst case, a best case, and a most-likely case. Many do this, but they do not always appreciate that the only thing for certain is that the most-likely case will not happen. With any luck at all, the results will fall somewhere between the worst and best cases. A bigger problem is the temptation to seize upon the best case because it is the only one that will meet the fiscal requirements for the project. It is easy for me to tell you to just say no, but people have emotional buy-in to their projects and often feel that their career depends upon the project going forward. What we should do is use error analysis and statistical methods to define uncertainty. The propagation of uncertainty through mathematical equations can be calculated. It was required in my physical-chemistry lab almost 40 years ago. We can calculate statistically expected results. It is nothing new and is well-understood. We just do not apply it to our own uncertainty. As engineers, we should demand or create software that allows input data to be defined as either a value and uncertainty or a range and distribution. Results should be given either a measure of the uncertainty or a distribution. I selected these papers because the authors have recognized, embraced, and accepted uncertainty. The papers describe how they addressed uncertainty to find a solution for their problems. JPT Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. OTC 24799 A New Model for the Accurate Prediction of Critical Liquid Removal Based on Energy Balance by Xiao-Hua Tan, Southwest Petroleum University, et al. SPE 175310 Improving the Electrical Submersible Pump’s Operational Time by 50% Using the Six-Sigma Procedures by M. Ahmad, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, et al. SPE 176194 The Success Story of the Light-North Area of Roger Block: Continuous Exertion To Increase Electrical- Submersible-Pump Performance Through Rectifying Design Process To Resolve MDSS Problem by Cintani Kusuma Dewi, Chevron Pacific Indonesia, et al.