Recovery Operations Research Articles

Developing a roadmap for carbon capture, and storage in Oklahoma by assessing the viability of stacked storage

AbstractThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concludes that CO2 capture and storage (CCS) is critical for climate‐stabilizing energy transitions. In CCS, captured CO2 is sequestered in saline aquifers within sedimentary basins. The CO2 storage capacity and the rate of injection are functions of the geology of the saline aquifer, which is uncertain. To minimize impacts of this uncertainty, CCS projects could include backup plans, such as co‐locating geologic CO2 storage (GCS) sites with or near existing CO2‐enhanced oil recovery (CO2‐EOR) operations. These “stacked storage” projects could hedge against uncertainty in the saline formation performance because captured CO2 could be injected into either location in the event of unexpected events (e.g., the injectivity decreases). Here, we investigate the possibility and ramifications of developing CCS networks in Oklahoma that are amendable to stacked storage. We find that stacked storage is possible in Oklahoma but the counties with the lowest‐cost saline storage resources do not have existing CO2‐EOR operations. At the systems level, we find it is slightly more expensive (e.g., $1/tCO2 to $5/tCO2) to site GCS in counties with CO2‐EOR projects. This increased expense is largely due to increased CO2 transportation costs because hundreds of km of additional pipeline is required to capture CO2 from the lowest‐cost sources. Overall, our results suggest that it is optimal to build more pipelines and avoid injecting CO2 in some of the lowest‐cost saline storage resources, to enable capturing CO2 from the least‐cost sources. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Copper Tolerance of Novel Rhodotorula sp. Yeast Isolated from Gold Mining Ore in Gia Lai, Vietnam

In this study, twenty-five yeast strains were isolated from soil samples collected in the gold mining ore in Gia Lai, Vietnam. Among them, one isolate named GL1T could highly tolerate Cu2+ up to 10 mM, and the isolates could also grow in a wide range of pH (3–7), and temperature (10–40 °C). Dried biomass of GL1 was able to remove Cu2+ effectively up to 90.49% with a maximal biosorption capacity of 18.1 mg/g at pH 6, temperature 30 °C, and incubation time 60 min. Sequence analysis of rDNA indicated this strain was closely related to Rhodotorula mucilaginosa but with 1.53 and 3.46% nucleotide differences in the D1/D2 domain of the 28S rRNA gene and the ITS1-5.8S rRNA gene-ITS2 region sequence, respectively. Based on phylogenetic tree analysis and the biochemical characteristics, the strain appears to be a novel Rhodotorula species, and the name Rhodotorula aurum sp. nov. is proposed. This study provides us with more information about heavy metal-tolerant yeasts and it may produce a new tool for environmental control and metal recovery operations.

Unlocking Continental Shale Oil Potential: Microscopic Insights into Fluid Saturation Mechanisms via Imbibition for Future Development Strategies in the Songliao Basin

Summary Microscopic assessment of oil distribution and imbibition mechanisms within shale formations lays the groundwork for future development strategies. In this regard, the Songliao Basin’s continental shale oil holds immense exploration and development potential. In this study, we focus on shale samples extracted from the first member of the Qingshankou Formation (Q1) within the Songliao Basin. These samples were subjected to a comprehensive analysis, encompassing mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), porosity, and permeability measurements and detailed monitoring processes. The experimental protocol involved multiple injection cycles, commencing with spontaneous oil imbibition, followed by a series of differential pressurized oil saturation stages (eight pressurization steps ranging from 0.2 MPa to 10 MPa). Subsequently, forced imbibition using slickwater under varying pressures was used, and the process was meticulously monitored via gravimetric and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements to deduce relative fractions within distinct pores across the entire experimental process. Notably, the results unveiled that, during oil saturation through spontaneous imbibition, the interbedd-type shale core samples exhibit more efficient oil saturation compared with the organic-rich dark massive type. In the former, clay interlayers predominate in absorbing oil, while the latter showcases preferential saturation of mesopores and macropores. Following the differential pressurized oil saturation phase, clay interlayers continued to play a significant role in both sample types, accounting for 54.2% and 57.0% of the interbed-type and massive shale’s oil intake, respectively. Furthermore, a quantification of the slickwater imbibition recovery originating from pores of varying sizes under distinct pressures revealed that clay interlayers and micropores are the primary contributors to imbibition recovery in both sample types. Collectively, the experimental findings corroborate that shale oil can be displaced from nanopores to larger matrix pores and bedding fractures through imbibition, offering valuable insights for enhancing oil recovery operations in practical field scenarios.

Revealing the specificity of map method to predict the performance of a combined cooling and power cycle under operating conditions

Waste heat recovery is a promising energy-saving solution for transportation. Especially for refrigerated trucks, combined cooling and power cycle via waste heat recovery is expected to meet diverse energy demands and reduce fuel consumption for refrigeration. However, the frequent engine fluctuations pose challenges for optimizing performance and raise safety concerns in waste heat recovery systems. Steady-state models often lack precision, and dynamic simulations require a significant amount of computational time. An off-design comprehensive performance map method has been developed to tackle these challenges, which can predict system outputs, identify mode switching, and assess vehicular improvements in real time. These demonstrate that the modified system has the potential to increase net power by 13.1 kW (7.2%) and fuel efficiency by 13.7 g/kWh (7.5%). As predicted, the combined cooling and power cycle under Artemis Motorway provides net power of 8.3 kW and cooling capacity of 9.9 kW, equivalent to fuel savings of 2.49 L/100 km and emission reduction of 64.7 g/km, resulting in a 5.4% improvement. The map method encapsulates the intricate relationships between operational parameters and system outputs, providing a certain degree of accuracy with deviations within 10% and millisecond-level feedback. However, the absence of inertia effects leads to some error tendencies, such as lower net power during highway conditions and higher net power in urban conditions. This study offers a more practical and applicable forecast solution for the operation and control of waste heat recovery in the real world, aiming to achieve reductions in fuel consumption and emissions.

Understanding householders’ perceptions of threats following the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires in Australia

Purpose Of all the deaths associated with disasters, bushfires account for 40% of these fatalities. The resulting fatalities are consequent upon householders’ decision-making, leading to late or non-evacuation from at-risk communities. However, while decision-making is a function of risk perception, this paper aims to investigate householders’ perceptions of bushfire risks following the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires of 2019/2020. Design/methodology/approach An inductive research approach was adopted. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted to elicit qualitative data from southeastern NSW, Australia householders. The data were collected via face-to-face and online Zoom. Each interview was recorded, transcribed using Otter.AI and thematically analyzed with NVivo 12 Pro (Braun and Clarke, 2006, 2019). In addition, inter-rater reliability was done by engaging an independent researcher to code the de-identified data independently. The codes were cross-checked for reliability and adjusted where necessary. Findings It was found that bushfire risk perceptions were high among the householders in bushfire at-risk communities following the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires. High levels of perceptions were recorded among the participants regarding the likelihood of bushfire occurrence, concern for bushfires, severity of bushfires and vulnerability to bushfire threats. Research limitations/implications The study’s results do not reflect all householders in the southeastern part of NSW. It was limited to 30 householders who indicated their intentions to participate and are living in the study area. Therefore, future studies should be undertaken with more participants from broader geographical areas, including emergency responders like firefighters, recovery officers and non-government organizations in charge of recovery operations. This study will add to the prioritization of risk perceptions. Practical implications All else being equal, elevated bushfire risk perceptions among participants can potentially decrease the fatalities linked with bushfires and their subsequent ripple effects. This holds particularly true when residents opt for early self-evacuation from at-risk communities. Social implications The paper contributes to developing a better understanding of the bushfire risk perceptions underlying the evacuation decision-making of the residents in bushfire at-risk communities in south-eastern NSW of Australia. Originality/value The paper contributes to the existing knowledge on bushfire risks by providing insights into residents’ perceptions after the catastrophic 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires. As a qualitative study, it describes bushfire risk perceptions on four themes: likelihood, concern, severity and vulnerability, which is uncommon in many bushfire studies.

Hierarchical remote preparation of an arbitrary m-qudit state with multiple agents

Based on Jin et al.’s hierarchical remote preparation scheme of an arbitrary [Formula: see text]-qudit state with three agents, we propose one scheme for multiple agents by utilizing the symmetry of cluster states. To save entanglement resource, we then put forward the other improved scheme. There exists a hierarchy among the agents in terms of their abilities which are quantified by nonconditioned fidelity. The upper-grade agent needs the assistance of all the remaining upper-grade agents and any one of the lower-grade agents to recover the target state, while the lower-grade agent requires all the other agents’ collaboration. It is important to emphasize that the recovery operation is derived by a general expression clearly revealing the relationship with the measurement results.

Residual waste management in London, England: a reality check

Residual waste is a key fraction of municipal solid waste generated, yet its management is poorly understood and has gained little attention over the past years. Using London as a case study, the present study analyses the amount of residual waste collected and managed to check on how well ahead the UK is in making progress on achieving the circular economy principles. The study found that 5 Mt of residual waste is reported to be managed in London, of which 3.5 Mt is managed via recovery operations and 1.59 Mt is managed via disposal operations. For the latter, landfills are the principal disposal option taking in 0.82 Mt of residual waste each year. Amongst the recovery options, incineration with energy recovery, is the most prevalent, accounting for the management of 1.44 Mt of residual waste. This highlights the presence of an important technological lock-in that could jeopardise UK’s ability to achieve its net zero carbon ambition. It is worth noting that the data collated and analysed depicts the movements of residual waste rather than its final treatment, pointing to blind spots in the final fate of residual waste as well as potential double counting; both of which prevent decision- and policy-making. Therefore, the need for transparency in data recording and monitoring and the creation of a level playing field for all stakeholders involved in residual waste management are of paramount importance in gradually breaking reliance on destructive treatment processes. This could empower improved segregation of waste at source, and in turn, enable the better management of residual waste. The study underlines that residual waste has a significant role to play in making the transition to a circular economy and therefore is imperative to pave the way for future policy direction on residual waste management.

Molecular insights of condensate trapping mechanism in shale oil reservoirs and its implications on lean gas enhanced oil recovery

The heterogeneous pore structure and the confinement effect of the narrow pore space lead to the differential release/retention phenomenon of hydrocarbons in unconventional reservoirs. So far, the mechanism of this phenomenon, in particular the dynamic process, requires further investigation since it affects the design of gas-based enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations. In this work, we aim to numerically study the capillary condensate trapping mechanism that causes the differential release phenomenon by conducting molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.In our work, a two-bath MD model is set up, in which two baths are used to mimic the bulk pores and a nano-channel connecting the two baths is used to model the pore throat. Methane (C1) and decane (C10) molecules are used to represent the light and heavy component of the in-situ oil. The MD results show that at the early stage of the primary depletion, the light components release faster than the heavier components, leading to increasing gas oil ratio (GOR) above the system’s bubble point. As depletion continues, heavier hydrocarbons accumulate in the nano-channel due to the confinement effect, while light hydrocarbons tend to remain in the dead-end pores. During the gas EOR process, the injected gas ‘dissolves’ the liquid in the nano-channel and thus enhances the recovery of the ‘trapped’ hydrocarbons.This work systematically investigates the impact of pore throat on the differential release and trapping effect. We demonstrate that a significant amount of light hydrocarbons may be ‘trapped’ during the primary depletion of unconventional reservoirs, due to the capillary condensate trapping effect. The trapped hydrocarbons can be partly recovered through gas injection. Our study has implications for practical EOR operations.

Pore-level Ostwald ripening of CO2 foams at reservoir pressure

The success of foam to reduce CO2 mobility in CO2 enhanced oil recovery and CO2 storage operations depends on foam stability in the reservoir. Foams are thermodynamically unstable, and factors such as surfactant adsorption, the presence of oil, and harsh reservoir conditions can cause the foam to destabilize. Pore-level foam coarsening and anti-coarsening mechanisms are not, however, fully understood and characterized at reservoir pressure. Using lab-on-a-chip technology, we probe dense (liquid) phase CO2 foam stability and the impact of Ostwald ripening at 100 bars using dynamic pore-scale observations. Three types of pore-level coarsening were observed: (1) large bubbles growing at the expense of small bubbles, at high aqueous phase saturations, unrestricted by the grains; (2) large bubbles growing at the expense of small bubbles, at low aqueous phase saturation, restricted by the grains; and (3) equilibration of plateau borders. Type 3 coarsening led to stable CO2 foam states eight times faster than type 2 and ten times faster than type 1. Anti-coarsening where CO2 diffused from a large bubble to a small bubble was also observed. The experimental results also compared stabilities of CO2 foam generated with hybrid nanoparticle–surfactant solution to CO2 foam stabilized by only surfactant or nanoparticles. Doubling the surfactant concentration from 2500 to 5000 ppm and adding 1500 ppm of nanoparticles to the 2500 ppm surfactant-based solution resulted in stronger foam, which resisted Ostwald ripening. Dynamic pore-scale observations of dense phase CO2 foam revealed gas diffusion from small, high-curvature bubbles to large, low-curvature bubbles and that the overall curvature of the bubbles decreased with time. Overall, this study provides in situ quantification of CO2 foam strength and stability dynamics at high-pressure conditions.Article HighlightsA comprehensive laboratory investigation of CO2 foam stability and the impact of Ostwald ripening.Pore-level foam coarsening and anti-coarsening mechanisms insights.

A new recovery based [formula omitted] element method for fourth-order equations

In this paper, we study a new Hessian recovery based method for fourth-order differential equations by combining finite element methods (FEMs) and finite difference methods (FDMs). The new C0 finite element method is established under the framework of Petrov–Galerkin methods. Meanwhile, some unsuccessful higher-order methods based on the Hessian recovery operator are also discussed. Finally, we extend our method to solve Cahn-Hilliard equations. Numerical results validate that our proposed C0 method works well for Cahn-Hilliard, with good convergence property and easy implementation.

The Hydrodynamic Interaction between an AUV and Submarine during the Recovery Process

The hydrodynamic interaction between an AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) and a recovery device, such as a real-scale submarine, is a crucial factor affecting the safe recovery of the AUV. This paper employs the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) method to investigate the hydrodynamic interaction of the AUV and the submarine during the recovery process. Both the AUV and the submarine are considered to be relatively stationary. The results indicate that the submarine has a significant impact on the AUV during the recovery process, with sailing speed and relative positions identified as key influential factors. Due to the influence of the submarine, it can be difficult for the AUV to approach the submarine and be recovered safely. This study provides valuable insights into the hydrodynamic interaction between the AUV and the recovery device, and offers guidance for future submarine recovery operations involving AUVs. By considering the influence of the submarine’s position and motion, as well as other relevant factors, it may be possible to improve the stability, safety, and efficiency of AUV recovery operations.

An integrated process by ultrasonic enhancement in the deep eutectic solvents system for extraction and separation of chlorogenic acid from Eucommia ulmoides leaves

This study established an integrated process for the extraction and enrichment of chlorogenic acid(CGA)from Eucommia ulmoides leaves in a deep eutectic solvent system via ultrasonic wave-enhanced adsorption and desorption practices utilizing macroporous resins. Although deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have the advantages of chemical stability, good dissolving capacity, and nonvolatilization, routine solvent recovery operations are not suitable for subsequent separation in this solvent system. Based on the above characteristics, this study integrated the extraction and enrichment processes, in which DESs extracts directly loaded onto the macroporous adsorption resin, avoiding the loss of target components in solvent recovery and redissolution processes. The screening results of solvents and resin types further showed that choline chloride-malic acid (1:1) was the optimal DES, and the NKA-II resin had high adsorption and elution performance for CGA. The viscosities of the DESs were much higher than those of water and conventional organic solvents; thus, the mass transfer resistance was large, which could also affect the adsorption behaviour of the macroporous resin. The thermal and mechanical effects of ultrasound could effectively enhance the efficiency of the mass transfer, adsorption, and desorption in the DES systems. When compared to no sonication treatment, the CGA adsorption at various ultrasonic powers (120–600 W) was examined. At optimal ethanol concentration (60%), the effect of the ultrasonic treatment on the recovery of the DESs (water eluting process) and the desorption capability of CGA were confirmed. The use of three volumes of water elution could recover the DESs without loss of CGA. The adsorption process significantly differed depending on the ultrasonic settings, and the absorption balance time and experimental adsorption capacity at equilibrium were enhanced. Additionally, the adsorption procedure of the NKA-II macroporous resin for CGA under ultrasonic treatment could be clarified by the pseudo second order kinetic equation and the Freundlich isotherm model. Thermodynamic and dynamic parameters indicated that physical adsorption was the main process of the entire procedure, and it was a spontaneous, exothermic, and entropy-reducing physical adsorption process. This study potentially indicates that the use of ultrasonication, as a high-efficiency, environmentally friendly method, can enhance the features of the macroporous resin to better purify target chemicals from a DES extract.

Principles of ADCP deployment methodologies

ADCPs are regularly used for resource characterization in wave and tidal energy sites; however, methodologies and best practices are entirely dependent on the site characteristics and the assets available. EMEC have used their widely varied experience at multiple sites and locations to develop a review of methodologies and the pros and cons of different deployment styles for data acquisition.When deploying ADCPs there are a number of site criteria that must be assessed, such as seabed type, bed flow speeds, surface flow speeds, recovery windows (slack and weather), and water depth and range. These criteria can significantly affect the success or failure of marine operations, not necessarily for deployment but certainly for recovery. When recovery operations fail then projects lose assets (ADCP units and bed frames), data, and money (in hire/unit costs, and vessel hire for example). When the data is not recovered then this can jeopardise project success, wasting time, effort and funding.Different deployment configurations and recovery techniques have been used for ADCP deployments. Equipment such as ground lines, acoustic releases, USBLs, and surface buoys are used to mark, locate, and/or recover devices. These are varied depending on a number of factors. Ground type, for example, can affect systems used since a ground line cannot be effectively used in delicate ecosystems since the dredging required to recover may disturb local flora and fauna. Also, for example, flow speed and vessel traffic will determine whether a surface buoy can be used.Based on multiple ADCP deployments to characterize resource for wave and tidal energy projects in Scotland, England, France and other sites, EMEC have reviewed different deployment methods and recovery techniques. There is a proposed set-up for deployments suitable for a number of active marine energy sites and suggestions for edits based on site characteristics and target data requirements.

Measurements of tidal flow variability in Ramsey Sound, Pembrokeshire

The nature of the flow at in-stream tidal energy sites is particularly important for predicting array and device performance, and also for operations and maintenance planning. Previous developers have reported issues such as the choice of vessel, cost of operations, and the limits of operation of deployment vessels. The dynamics of the flow around slack water has been of particular interest at Ramsey Sound in Pembrokeshire (UK) for planning the recovery of an existing turbine, the Tidal Energy Limited ‘Deltastream’.
 This research presents flow characteristics of Ramsey Sound, based on analysis of Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements and tide gauge data from the nearby Standard Port of Milford Haven. The ADCP was located approximately 300 m across the channel, at the northern end of the channel, where the channel width was 1200 m and the mean depth was approximately 33 m. The flow dynamics were examined specifically to look at times potentially suitable for offshore operations Two weeks of data were used in the analysis, spanning a complete spring-neap cycle.
 Results demonstrate that flow velocities exhibited clear asymmetry, with stronger flows on the northerly directed flood tide than on the ebb. There was considerable variation in the measured current speed around the time of the maximum, suggesting large scale bed feature generated turbulence. The flood (northerly) current maximum was approximately in phase with high water at Milford Haven. Cross correlation indicated that the flow generally led the elevation by 20 minutes. In contrast to the expected theory, the current strength at mid-depth was stronger than at the surface on the maximum flood tide. The maximum flow speed in the tide was reasonably predictable from the tide range at Milford. A threshold-based analysis of the ADCP measurements allowed the duration of slow-moving water to be identified for operation planning.
 Operations and planning in light of sound understanding of hydrodynamics at tidal energy sites is critical for future economic success of the tidal energy sector. The results shown here from an ADCP deployment in Ramsey Sound have shown the capability to give useful tools for planning recovery operations.

Semantical investigations on non-classical logics with recovery operators: negation

Abstract We investigate mathematical structures that provide natural semantics for families of (quantified) non-classical logics featuring special unary connectives, known as recovery operators, that allow us to ‘recover’ the properties of classical logic in a controlled manner. These structures are known as topological Boolean algebras, which are Boolean algebras extended with additional operations subject to specific conditions of a topological nature. In this study, we focus on the paradigmatic case of negation. We demonstrate how these algebras are well-suited to provide a semantics for some families of paraconsistent Logics of Formal Inconsistency and paracomplete Logics of Formal Undeterminedness. These logics feature recovery operators used to earmark propositions that behave ‘classically’ when interacting with non-classical negations. Unlike traditional semantical investigations, which are carried out in natural language (extended with mathematical shorthand), our formal meta-language is a system of higher-order logic (HOL) for which automated reasoning tools exist. In our approach, topological Boolean algebras are encoded as algebras of sets via their Stone-type representation. We use our higher-order meta-logic to define and interrelate several transformations on unary set operations, which naturally give rise to a topological cube of opposition. Additionally, our approach enables a uniform characterization of propositional, first-order and higher-order quantification, including restrictions to constant and varying domains. With this work, we aim to make a case for the utilization of automated theorem proving technology for conducting computer-supported research in non-classical logics. All the results presented in this paper have been formally verified, and in many cases obtained, using the Isabelle/HOL proof assistant.

Toward the creation of disaster-resilient communities: The Machizukuri initiative – The 2011 Tōhoku Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

Community engagement and involvement are essential components in managing and responding to disasters. The March 2011 natural disaster on Japan’s northwest coast was extensive. Despite the country’s well-positioned response framework, relief organisations needed to relocate and faced ongoing infrastructure disruption and significant concerns for rescue and recovery operations. This article aimed to understand better the role and impact of local communities in responding to and recovering from disasters by examining the role of the Machizukuri following the Tōhoku Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (GEJET). We used an exploratory approach, and in-depth interviews were undertaken with eight key decision-makers involved in recovery efforts. Key findings from these interviews showed that, while the central government enacted their disaster management plans, responses were slow and failed to address local priorities. To compensate, the local community and Machizukuri assisted and successfully united the local community to address gaps left by the centralised governments' approach. It is an example of self-reliance and the use of an effective bottom-up approach to address critical disasters. However, efforts were hindered by a lack of coordination between the various government bodies and aid organisations and communication failures that prevented a more coherent response. Furthermore, the forms of creative, bottom-up recovery and response resulted in long-term rebuilding practices that has been a key factor in maintaining the vitality and culture of the affected community. These findings should assist societies in remediating these shortcomings, responding more effectively to future disasters, and enhancing community resilience necessary for long-term recovery.

Progress with the regulation of radiation safety during recovery and removal of spent nuclear fuel from the site for temporary storage at Andreeva Bay on the Kola Peninsula.

In the 1960s, a shore technical base (STB) was established at Andreeva Bay on the Kola Peninsula, in northwest Russia. The STB maintained nuclear submarines and the nuclear icebreaker fleet, receiving and storing fresh and spent nuclear fuel (SNF) as well as solid and liquid radioactive waste (RW). It was subsequently re-designated as a site for temporary storage (STS) for SNF and RW. Over time, the SNF storage facilities partly lost their containment functions, leading to radioactive contamination of workshops and the site above permitted values. The technological and engineering infrastructure at the site was also significantly degraded as well as the condition of the stored SNF. At present, the STS Andreeva Bay facility is under decommissioning. This paper describes progress with the creation of safe working measures for workers involved in site remediation and SNF recovery operations, including the determination of safe shift times in high radiation areas, as part of overall optimization of safety. Results are presented for the successful application of these measures in the period 2019-2021, during which time significant SNF recovery and removal operations were completed without incident. Significant important experience has been gained to support safe removal of remaining SNF, including the most hazardous degraded fuel, as well as recovery of other higher level RW and decommissioning of the old storage buildings and structures.

The synergistic effects of cationic surfactant and smart seawater on the recovery of medium-viscosity crude oil from low-permeability carbonates

In the petroleum industry, there is a continuous search for cost-effective enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods to increase oil extraction. Surfactant-based EOR is one of these effective methods, which is applied after the primary and secondary recovery phases. This paper presents an experimental study on the use of a cationic surfactant, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB, CH3(CH2)15N(Br)(CH3)3), and smart seawater (SW) for EOR in low-permeability carbonate rock with medium viscosity crude oil. Smart SW was prepared by modifying the concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, and SO42- in synthetic offshore SW. The aqueous stability of CTAB was tested in different salinities of smart SW at the reservoir temperature. It was demonstrated that CTAB is stable at 55 °C, which was further confirmed through optical transmittance measurements, revealing values mostly exceeding 93%. The use of smart SW and CTAB significantly altered the wettability of carbonate rock towards water-wet and reduced the interfacial tension (IFT) between crude oil and water, reaching levels below 0.087 mN/m. However, the presence of smart SW increased the adsorption of CTAB onto the surface of carbonate rock. Nevertheless, the adsorption values were significantly below 1 mg/g-rock. Smart SW + CTAB resulted in a total oil recovery of 76.71% of original oil-in-place (OOIP), compared to 71.70% of OOIP with unmodified SW + CTAB. These results suggest that the use of smart SW in combination with CTAB is a promising approach for enhancing the recovery of medium-viscosity oil from tight carbonate reservoirs. Findings from this study can help in better understanding the optimal conditions for the application of smart SW-CTAB flooding to improve the effectiveness of tertiary recovery operations in the upstream oil sector.

Arctic naval launch and recovery operations, under ice impact interactions

This study analyses dynamic influence of stochastic vibro-impact ship behaviour on the ship's launch and recovery capability. To deliver cargo and people to the Arctic regions, ships must withstand harsh environmental conditions and interact with large floating ice pieces. This interaction may result in impact-type loading of a ship hull by ice, preventing planned navigation and even causing to abort of some routine launch and recovery operations of delivering cargo or other equipment. The major safety concern is the risk of collision between the payload and the mother ship hull. The ship-based crane, which served for conducting launch and recovery operations, was assumed to be rigid, mimicking the ship dynamics, whereas the payload is modelled as a single-degree-of-freedom pendulum. This study advocates practical engineering approach, applicable to various scenarios with vessels operating in relevant in situ environmental sea and ice conditions. The proposed study intends to contribute to improving launch and recovery operational reliability, as well as motion control, especially in Arctic aquatic regions. When mentioning Arctic and defence technologies, launch and recovery systems have significant relevance for unmanned vehicles onboard ships.

Energy-saving recovery of lead from waste lead paste via in-situ hydrometallurgical reduction and electrochemical mechanism

The reasonable prudent disposal of secondary lead resources including waste lead-acid batteries has become a growing concern to prevent the adverse impacts. Herein, a facile zero-emission hydrometallurgical reduction approach is proposed for the recovery of spent lead paste (SLP) possessing energy-saving and high current efficiency merits. The effect of activated carbon (AC) additives on lead recovery efficiency, desulfurization efficiency, cathode current efficiency, and energy consumption was investigated during the hydrometallurgical reduction of SLP. The introduction of AC promotes the current efficiency and shortens the electrolysis time, which contribute to the diminution of the whole energy consumption. Especially, the specific energy consumption of hydrometallurgical reduction drops to 483.5 kWh t–1 with 2.0% AC from the initial 596.6 kWh t–1. Notably, the nucleation mechanism of lead on the SLP cathodes all follows three-dimensional instantaneous growth with the diffusion control. Moreover, the SLP plates after hydrometallurgical reduction could be directly employed as the negative electrodes of lead-carbon batteries, avoiding the formation stage. The electrochemical hydrometallurgical reduction with carbon additives presents a promising strategy for enabling zero emissions, low energy consumption operation of SLP recovery and reutilization.