Offshore Petroleum Industry Research Articles

Exposure to fibres and risk of pleural mesothelioma in the Norwegian Offshore Petroleum Workers cohort

ObjectivesPleural mesothelioma is a rare respiratory cancer, mainly caused by inhalation of asbestos fibres. Other inorganic fibres are also suggested risk factors. We aimed to investigate the association between exposure...

An interpretable and augmented machine-learning approach for causation analysis of major accident risk indicators in the offshore petroleum industry

The offshore petroleum industry faces continuous stress and threats of major accidents. A complete and well-designed spectrum of indicators could help identify and improve the understanding of the status of all relevant hazards for managing various risks on offshore installations. The Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) in Norway develops a project of extended indicators, i.e., “Trends in risk level” (RNNP), which uses an assortment of risk indicators to reflect the status and trend of the risk level. However, a simple statistical approach is insufficient to see into the causes behind the risk indicators. This paper proposes an interpretable and augmented machine-learning approach for causation analysis of major accident indicators. The proposed methodology integrates the K-means SMOTE technique for data augmentation to promote the performance of machine-learning algorithms. Armed with the analytical approach, the problem of lack of sample data is solved and the importance of the features of risk indicators is analyzed. Furthermore, a case study is presented to augment and analyze the two types of risk indicators associated with major accidents recorded from 2005 to 2021. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated by the case study. It can provide an effective tool to help find out which type of features deserves more attention in risk management and target risk reduction measures that could be taken to strengthen safety on offshore installations.

Advancing the robustness of risk regulation for offshore drilling operations in China

Robust regulation has become a pursuit in risk governance of offshore drilling operations over the recent decade. However, the idea of robust risk regulation has not been fully developed in China. This paper aims to explore what affects the robustness of risk regulation and how can a robust regulatory regime for offshore drilling operations be achieved in China. It begins with an identification of risks and values of the offshore petroleum industry, highlighting that robust regulation is the primary means to manage such risks in offshore drilling operations. It then discusses dimensions of regulatory robustness and assesses and compares regulatory regimes for this high-risk offshore petroleum industry in the United Kingdom, Norway, the United States and China. In specific, the Chinese paths to govern the risks of offshore operations are summarized. A key theoretical debate on regulating offshore drilling operations is which regulatory modes can better facilitate the robustness of risk regulation. The command-and-control regulation and self-regulation represent two primary regulatory modes of offshore risk regulation. The former is strongly dependent upon public enforcement while the latter emphasizes internal continuous improvement of the offshore petroleum industry. To develop robust offshore regulation in China, this paper suggests that a certain combination of the two modes is necessary to deliver optimal regulatory outcomes.

Towards enhancing major emergency initial response training: a comparative study of STCW and OPITO standards

The maritime industry has been characterized as a high-risk domain owing to various risks associated with its complicated operations. This aspect imposes significant importance on the human element role, especially during unanticipated events. When major emergencies occur on ships, the response of the ship’s Master and his supporting team becomes crucial in controlling the situation and preventing the escalation of threat. In recognition of this fact, the IMO Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) 95/2010 convention has developed a range of emergency response competencies. However, data on accidents and incidents in shipping reveal that the human element is still considered the primary factor contributing to most cases of ship loss. Furthermore, several cases have been reasoned for improper and ineffective management of the emergency. This might raise serious concerns regarding the adequacy of IMO model courses and whether they provide learners with the required level of knowledge, skills, situational awareness, and confidence to appropriately respond should a real major emergency occurs onboard. With the aim of enhancing the current level of maritime emergency management training, the authors of this study intended to identify possible gaps in current STCW training criteria by conducting a comparison with similar emergency response training standards established by the Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (OPITO). The Qualitative analysis was used to compare three case studies of emergency-related STCW courses with two OPITO courses that have similar objectives, in terms of their aims, scopes, principles, outlines, number of delegates, outcomes, decision-making processes and assessment criteria, in order to assess whether the OPITO emergency response training provides more extensive scope for ensuring the optimum management of an extended range of emergency events rather than the currently delivered STCW courses. The study is concluded by identifying possible gaps and proposing specific modifications to the STCW standard which can be marked as a first step in the direction of establishing effective training for managing and controlling major emergencies onboard ships.

Investigation of the liquid carryovers in the branching T-junction, based on historical data

High liquid content is obtained in the T-junction side arm, which affects the operational performance of downstream equipment installed in offshore petroleum industries. Diameter ratio, velocity ratio, and side arm angle of T-junction play dynamic role to control phase redistribution. The effect of these parameters on liquid take-offs is unclear from literature, without any agreement among researchers. Literature only provides empirical correlations valid for one specific application for which the correlations were developed. There is a dire need of correlations with high accuracies to conclude the effect of a certain variable on liquid carryovers based on available data. Objectives of this study are to collect data from multiple research publications, develop easy to use correlations, and to study parameters response surfaces. Plot digitization and Design Expert software are utilized for data collection and statistical analysis, respectively. Results depicted that phase separation improves by reducing diameter ratio to 0.33 and upward inclined side arm. Furthermore, liquid carryovers escalate by increasing velocity ratio and decrease at higher velocity ratios. This research study is first attempt in last few decades which is based on collection of data from different experimentation facilities and eliminating confusions among researchers about effect of parameters on phase separation.

Regulator Analyzes Australia’s Decommissioning Challenge

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 208483, “Is Australia Prepared for the Decommissioning Challenge? A Regulator’s Perspective,” by David Christensen and Andrew Re, National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ The Australian offshore petroleum industry has been in operation since the early 1960s and at the time of writing has approximately 57 platforms, 11 floating facilities, 3500 km of pipelines, and 1,000 wells in operation. Many offshore facilities are now approaching the end of their operational lives. Modeling has estimated Australia’s combined offshore petroleum industry decommissioning liability (including wells, pipelines, subsea equipment, and facilities) to be $40.5 billion. The purpose of the complete paper is to highlight the importance and benefit of adopting best practices when planning for decommissioning throughout the life cycle of a petroleum project. Introduction Australia’s offshore petroleum decommissioning challenge is significant given its remote location, limited availability of specialist services, and the relative infancy of its offshore industry in undertaking large-scale decommissioning projects. Recent events in Australia have shown that the industry is, broadly speaking, unprepared for decommissioning. Australian Regulatory Approach The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (OPGGS) Act of 2006 and associated regulations provide the legal framework for the exploration and recovery of petroleum and greenhouse gas activities in Australian Commonwealth waters (those areas that are more than 3 nautical miles from the territorial sea baseline). The key principle underpinning the OPGGS Act and regulations is that responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of workers and the protection of the environment lies with those who create the risks. An objective-based regulatory regime sets requirements that must be achieved but does not prescribe how those requirements must be met. The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) has been established and appointed under the OPGGS Act as regulator for health and safety, structural (well) integrity, and environmental management of petroleum activities in Australian waters (3–200 nautical miles offshore) and in coastal waters (0–3 nautical miles offshore) where regulatory powers and functions have been conferred. Section 572, Maintenance and Removal of Property. Section 572 of the OPGGS Act establishes requirements for maintenance and removal of property by the titleholders, along with exemptions and obligation provisions. Section 572(2) of the OPGGS Act provides that a titleholder must maintain in good condition and repair all structures that are, and all equipment and other property that is, in the title area and used in connection with operations. Section 572(3) of the OPGGS Act provides that a titleholder must remove from the title area all structures that are, and all equipment and other property that is, neither used nor to be used in connection with the operations in which the titleholder is or will be engaged.

Ocean and land grabbing in Ghana's offshore petroleum industry: From the agrarian question to the question of industrialization

AbstractGhana's petroleum industry is located several nautical miles offshore in the Western Region of the country. Yet, the mechanisms and processes of production and transportation of crude petroleum are accompanied by the dispossessing of the adjoining coastal communities of their means of (re)production both on the ocean and on land. Although the insights of agrarian political economy have been deployed fruitfully to analyse land grabs in Africa, similar efforts are rare when it comes to ocean grabs. With reference to the new development thinking on the ocean economy—or ‘blue economy’—as the new frontier of resource‐based industrialization in Africa, we re‐frame the agrarian question and apply it to the offshore petroleum industry, expanding agrarian political‐economic theory of industrialization beyond its traditional confines of land and agriculture. Our paper makes two main theoretical contributions. First, it contributes to efforts in agrarian political economy to incorporate the ocean and fisheries. Second, we contribute a fresh theoretical framework for analysing offshore petroleum industries and their potential to contribute to industrialization in Africa.

Concurrent 15. Presentation for: Guidance document: Incident Management Teams – Knowledge requirements for responding to marine oil spills

Presented on Wednesday 18 May: Session 15 The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Authority undertakes the assessment of environmental plans and oil pollution emergency plans for petroleum activities in Australian Commonwealth waters. In 2019, the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association’s Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Working Group (OSPRWG) developed a work program to address identified Incident Management Team (IMT) training issues, with an aim to develop industry good practice guidance in relation to IMT skills, competencies and oil spill training. The OSPRWG has now produced a guidance document on IMT oil spill training, that was developed in collaboration with the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre and peer reviewed by Oil Spill Response Limited. The guideline should facilitate a greater and more coordinated mutual aid IMT oil spill capability within the Australian offshore petroleum industry. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here

Guidance document: Incident Management Teams – Knowledge requirements for responding to marine oil spills

The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Authority undertakes the assessment of environmental plans and oil pollution emergency plans for petroleum activities in Australian Commonwealth waters. In 2019, the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association’s Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Working Group (OSPRWG) developed a work program to address identified Incident Management Team (IMT) training issues, with an aim to develop industry good practice guidance in relation to IMT skills, competencies and oil spill training. The OSPRWG has now produced a guidance document on IMT oil spill training, that was developed in collaboration with the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre and peer reviewed by Oil Spill Response Limited. The guideline should facilitate a greater and more coordinated mutual aid IMT oil spill capability within the Australian offshore petroleum industry.

Occupational Benzene Exposure in the Norwegian Offshore Petroleum Industry, 2002-2018.

PurposeWorkers on offshore petroleum installations are at risk of being exposed to benzene which is carcinogenic to humans. The present study aimed to assess the time trend of full-shift benzene exposure from 2002 to 2018 in order to characterize benzene exposure among laboratory technicians, mechanics, process operators, and industrial cleaners, and to examine the possible determinants of benzene exposure.MethodsA total of 924 measurements of benzene exposure from the Norwegian petroleum offshore industry were included. The median sampling duration was 680 min, ranging from 60 to 940 min. The overall geometric mean (GM) and 95% confidence interval, time trends, and determinants of exposure were estimated using multilevel mixed-effects tobit regression analyses. Time trends were estimated for sampling duration below and above 8 h, both overall and for job groups. The variability of exposure between installation and workers was investigated in a subset of data containing worker identification.ResultsThe overall GM of benzene exposure was 0.004 ppm. When adjusting for job group, design of process area, season, wind speed, and sampling duration, industrial cleaners had the highest exposure (GM = 0.012). Laboratory technicians, mechanics, and process operators had a GM exposure of 0.004, 0.003, and 0.004 ppm, respectively. Overall, the measured benzene exposure increased by 7.6% per year from 2002 to 2018. Mechanics had an annual increase of 8.6% and laboratory technicians had an annual decrease of 12.6% when including all measurements. When including only measurements above 8 h, mechanics had an increase of 16.8%. No statistically significant time trend was found for process operators. Open process area, high wind speed, and wintertime were associated with reduced exposure level.ConclusionsAn overall increase in measured exposure was observed from 2002 to 2018. The increase may reflect changes in measurement strategy from mainly measuring on random days to days with expected exposure. However, the time trend varied between job groups and was different for sampling duration above or below 8 h. Industrial cleaners had the highest exposure of the four job groups while no differences in exposure were observed between laboratory technicians, mechanics, and process operators. The design of the process area, job group, wind speed, and season were all significant determinants of benzene exposure.

The social construction of risk: A local perspective of the vulnerability of artisanal fisheries to climate change

The growing vulnerability of societies to climate change constitutes a global concern. Artisanal fishers experience extreme vulnerability due to their exposure to multiple threats with severe consequences for their families and rural communities. Given that these risks subsist despite governmental mitigation measures in the coastal zone, we used a qualitative integrative approach to analyze the vulnerability of the fishers of Barra de Frontera in the southern Gulf of Mexico and their adaptation strategies to climate change. Through a literature review and semi-structured interviews with key local actors, fishers were found to have had to constantly adapt to (1) unfavorable environmental conditions caused by periodic floods and tropical storms; (2) the consequences of the overexploitation of key fishing resources; and (3) external factors like the creation of exclusion fishing zones and the use of explosives by the offshore petroleum industry, all of which hinder fishers from engaging in their livelihoods. The synergistic effects of these stressors, in addition to the existing marginalization and coercive working conditions, place these fishers at risk of losing their heritage, family, and lives. The survival capacity of fishers primarily depends on their efforts and, to a small degree, on state support, which focuses on a very narrow understanding of local adaptive capacities and is particularly difficult for free fishers and women to access. Despite these challenges, fishers have remained persistent in creating a culture that provides work for local inhabitants and food for the nation.

Time trends in full- shift exposure to benzene in the offshore petroleum industry in Norway (2002-2018)

Time trends in full- shift exposure to benzene in the offshore petroleum industry in Norway (2002-2018)

Development of a deep rectifier neural network for fluid volume fraction prediction in multiphase flows by gamma-ray densitometry

This paper presents a novel methodology for volume fraction predictions in multiphase flow meters in offshore petroleum industries using gamma-ray densitometry. The algorithm that interprets spectra recorded at detectors is based on the new architectures of deep neural networks (deep learning). In this study, an 8-layer deep rectifier neural network (DRNN) has been used, running on a GPU-based parallel framework in order to increase the measuring precision of volumetric percentage of gas-oil-water system. The adaptive learning rate optimization algorithm (Adam) was used for DRNN training. All spectra recorded at detectors were normalized and used as the inputs of the DRNN. The detection system uses two NaI(Tl) detectors and appropriate narrow beam geometry, comprised of a (59.54 and 662 keV) dual-energy gamma-ray source and a dual-modality in order measure transmitted and scattered beams. The theoretical models consider a static oil-water-gas annular flow regime that were developed using MCNP6 code, which was used to provide training, validation and test data for the DRNN. The response-function of a real NaI(Tl) detector is also considered on the mathematical model. The results showed the root mean square error below than 0.8 for the fluids investigated in this study.

Why Is the Construction Industry Killing More Workers Than the Offshore Petroleum Industry in Occupational Accidents?

In Norway, the fatal accident frequency per year is discernibly higher in the construction industry than in the petroleum industry. To probe the difference between the occupational safety levels in the two industries in Norway, semi-structured interviews with regulators, employer and employee organisations, company management, and safety personnel were conducted. This qualitative approach, together with factual industry information, offer invaluable insight on various elements influencing occupational safety. Rasmussen’s socio-technical model is used to sort the information and compare framework conditions, characteristics and aspects of the two industries influencing safety. Though the construction industry’s safety level has improved over the years, the results indicate that the petroleum industry’s safety level is still considered superior to its counterpart. The interviews point to major accidents and regulations as important for safety development in the petroleum industry. Thorough planning of operations, stricter rules, more standardised procedures and requirements, and fewer actors in the petroleum industry are also highlighted. The results of this study further reveal that safety in the construction industry has benefitted from safety developments in the petroleum industry. There is potential for more learning across the industries, in particular from petroleum to construction with regard to standardisation, barrier-thinking, and knowledge-sharing.

Optimal design of power hubs for offshore petroleum platforms

Even though advanced power generation systems offer higher efficiencies than simpler gas turbines, severe area and weight restrictions keep on impeding their widespread implementation in offshore petroleum industry. If those restrictions could be resolved, the performance of the utilities systems on offshore platforms may be drastically enhanced. In order to overcome these practical limitations, the installation of a power hub is proposed to centralize the energy supply required by a number of floating production, storage and offloading units (FPSOs). However, many challenges are still brought to companies contemplating this approach, such as incremental costs and prolonged offdesign operating conditions. This circumstance renders necessary to determine the optimal number, layout and operating load of the modular power units on the hub. Thus, in this work, a computational framework is developed to assist in the selection of the most suitable hub setups, so that the trade-off between higher overall efficiency and lower investment cost can be elucidated. This framework consists of a group of subroutines that evaluates, compares and ranks alternative offshore utility systems in terms of well-defined objective functions, whereas is subject to restricted weight and space allowances. As a result, the power hub configurations based on the largest bottoming cycles benefit from the economies of scale, as well as from an increased efficiency, if compared to other designs based on smaller bottoming cycles. Levelized costs of electricity reaches 40 USD/MWh when only gas turbines are installed, which can be reduced by 13% if combined cycles are preferred. The weight-to-power ratio of the hubs based on combined cycles remains 12–28% higher than that of the conventional setup, whereas the efficiency increase achieves up to 7 percentage points.

Supercritical water gasification mechanism of polymer-containing oily sludge

In the offshore petroleum industry, polymer-containing oily sludge (PCOS) hinders oil extraction and causes tremendous hazards to the marine ecological environment. In this paper, an effective pretreatment method is proposed to break the adhesive structure of PCOS, and the experiments of supercritical water gasification are carried out under the influencing factors including residence time (5–30 min) and temperature (400–750 °C) in batch reactors. The increase of time and temperature all show great promoting effects on gas production. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, including naphthalene and phenanthrene, are considered as the main obstacles for a complete gasification. Carbon gasification efficiency (CE) reaches maximum of 95.82% at 750 °C, 23 MPa for 30 min, while naphthalene makes up 70% of the organic compounds in residual liquid products. The highest hydrogen yield of 19.79 (mol H2/kg of PCOS) is observed in 750 °C for 25 min. A simplified reaction pathway is presented to describe the gaseous products (H2, CO, CO2, CH4). Two intermediates are defined for describing the reaction process bases on the exhaustive study on organic matters in residual liquid products. The results show that the calculated data and the experimental data have a high degree of fit and tar formation reaction is finished within 10 min.

The Advanced Responder Training Course–The perspective of a new starter to the industry during their initial three months training

Abstract A requirement of the oil spill response industry is its ability to develop highly trained staff international backgrounds who have a holistic understanding of response techniques and who all meet a standard baseline of competency to provide an international response when required. As a solution to this Oil Spill Response Ltd (OSRL) has developed the thirteen-week Advanced Responder training course aims to bring delegates from member companies and new starters from all OSRL's bases and train them to a required standard. OSRL is unique in the people it attracts to undertake the role of a responder as these are sourced from a variety of backgrounds, however these skillsets are unlikely to cover the entirety of the skills required for a competent responder. The course gives the delegates an opportunity to be exposed to all aspects of response techniques and provides an opportunity for new starters to share their previous experience and apply them to the new role. The advanced responder training course has a pinnacle benchmark that is assessed using an Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation (OPITO) Approved Competence Management System (ACMS) that is used to verify at what point an individual is competent to perform the tasks required of them to an agreed global standard. The purpose of this poster is not to advertise OSRL as a company or the specific course, but provide an oversight of the training and its benefit to the industry

Risk Analysis and Emergency Response to Marine Oil Spill Environmental Pollution

The offshore petroleum industry operates in a harsh environment, which poses a great safety risk and accident rescue difficulty. With the increasing volume of world offshore oil transportation and the vigorous development of the offshore oil exploration and development business, the number of marine oil spill accidents has increased significantly, which will cause huge pollution to the marine ecological environment and also attract widespread attention from the media and the public. This paper mainly analyzes the risk of marine oil spill pollution accidents in terms of causes, characteristics and hazards, and proposes specific measures and accident prevention and emergency disposal plans in accordance with relevant standards.

Fiber coalescence treatment of oily wastewater: A new theory and application

Oil pollution from produced water in the offshore petroleum industry is one of the most serious marine pollutants worldwide, and efficient separation technology is crucial for the control of oil pollutant emission. Medium coalescence is an efficient oil-water separation technology, but its theory is lacking and the development is slow. In this work, the microscopic mechanism of fiber coalescence was revealed, and found that the effective collision positions were the three-phase contact line and the exposed fiber surface. Further, a theoretical model for calculating the separation performance of a fiber bed was established. For a given inlet droplet size distribution and bed geometric parameters, the outlet droplet size distribution and the total separation efficiency of the fiber bed can be predicted. Then, an Ω-shaped woven method composed of oil-wet fibers and oil-phobic fibers was designed and the separation performance of the fiber beds prepared by the method and the influence law of various parameters were clarified through macroscopic experiment. Finally, the novel technology achieved its first engineering application on an offshore platform, with the average oil content of the outlet was less than 25 mg/L, which could reform the current treatment process of produced water.

Tracking industry responsiveness to COVID-19 – what has happened and what lies ahead

This study will provide a longitudinal account of how the Australian offshore petroleum industry has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the response has evolved over time, and will provide a regulatory perspective on the future challenges arising from the changes that have occurred during the industry in response to the pandemic. Since March 2020, the National Offshore Safety and Environmental Management Authority has been actively collecting information about the approach taken by the offshore petroleum industry to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial response focused on infectious disease control measures, identifying strategies to prevent disease transmission on offshore facilities and to respond should an outbreak occur offshore. The next phase considered the potential consequences of the infection control measures on facility safety and integrity, including the impact of reduced personnel on board on safety critical maintenance activities and emergency response capability, assurance of competence profile requirements being sustained on facilities, the long-term consequences of delayed routine maintenance, supply chain disruptions and access to specialist workforce. It became apparent that a rapid recovery to pre-COVID-19 conditions was unlikely, and the impacts would likely continue for some time; and psychosocial and fatigue risk management strategies were explored. Data collection methods included: surveys of operators, workplace inspections, review of documents and records, interviews with members of the workforce and participation in industry working groups.