Upstream Oil Research Articles

Political Economy Policy in the Context of Renewable Energy through Biodiesel Development in Indonesia

Abstract. In Indonesia, the policy of using fossil fuels to non-fossil fuels (including biofuel biodiesel) continues to increase. Currently, the largest source of raw material for biodiesel in Indonesia comes from palm oil. It is believed that biodiesel development can generate benefits for the community in each region, such as local job creation, infrastructure development, revenue generation for local governments and less national dependence on fossil fuels and energy imports, as well as minimizing the negative impact of fossil fuels on the environment. The results of this study indicate that the limited domestic market, especially due to the uncompetitive price of diesel fuel, low diesel prices and high prices are constraints in the production of domestic biodiesel for absorption. Domestic political aspects related to the use of biodiesel by parties that have been determined by the government are also an important issue in ensuring the sustainability of biodiesel. In addition, the issue of sustainability in the upstream (oil palm plantations) and the dumping problem stated by the European Union and American Governments are also major problems in Indonesia's biodiesel export.

Review on Applications of Non-ionic and Anionic Surfactants in Water Based Drilling Fluids

In recent times, with the advent of exploSration activities in deeper hydrocarbon reserves, drilling of wells in HPHT conditions is one of the most studied field in the upstream oil and gas industry. Water-based fluids are the most common and frequently used drilling fluids oil and gas well construction. Although, water-based drilling fluids are environment friendly and relatively in-expensive, it is often associated with many problems when used in HPHT conditions. In order to overcome these problems in such viable conditions, modified surfactants are used with the mud to counteract the problems associated with it. This paper discusses the different applications of anionic and non-ionic surfactants in water-based drilling fluids both in laboratory and field scales. The paper also discusses the mechanisms of the surfactants and the effect on various mud properties to overcome hole problems like wellbore instability, rheology and filtration loss, foaming and flocculation of mud.

Spatial trends of innovation in the Russian oil and gas sector: What does patent activity in Siberia and the Arctic reflect?

AbstractDevelopment of mineral (mostly hydrocarbon) resources has shaped the social and economic dynamics of Siberia1 and of the Russian Arctic Zone for a long time. The conditions of such development in the upstream oil and gas sector (OGS)2 get increasingly more complicated, enhancing the need for new knowledge and technologies, as well as the role of cooperation among various companies with their special practices and advantages. The patenting activity is a useful indicator here. The oil‐ and gas‐related patenting tends now to be concentrated in capital agglomerations (Moscow, St. Petersburg) and in the Republic of Tatarstan. This process is reinforced by a declining role of cities in Siberia and the Arctic Zone that used to be focal points of local knowledge and competences. The stronger concentration of patenting activity in the metropolitan areas stems to a large degree from the availability of highly qualified personnel, the overall high quality and intensity of research and development (R&D), and the companies’ policies of locating their technology centers in these cities. This situation conforms to the global trend (in our case, at the level of subnational regions) toward a spatial concentration of R&D activities in large companies and R&D centers located in agglomerations.

Nonlinear dynamics of horizontal pipes conveying two phase flow

Two-phase flows are common in large-scale power systems and petroleum industry. During upstream oil and gas productions, crude oil, gas and sand eroded from formation zones are often conveyed as a mixture through horizontal pipes up to the well heads and between well heads and flow stations. In this work, governing equations and boundary conditions (BCs) for the motion of vibrating pipe conveying two phase flow were developed. Hamilton's principle was employed, where the kinetic energies of each phase and of the pipe were combined with the strain energy of the vibrating Euler-Bernoulli pipe. Solutions were presented for vibrating horizontal pipe using Eigenfunction expansion method and Runge Kutta technique. The linear frequencies were obtained for three different boundary conditions (BCs) where parametric analysis is performed to elucidate the effects of initial curvature amplitude, volume fraction and mass ratio. Furthermore, the developed model is used to investigate the effects of these parameters on the dynamic nonlinear behaviour of a pipe conveying two phase flow for vanishing and non-vanishing longitudinal vibrations. The linear analysis shows that as the volume fraction of the sand increases in the two phase flow, the natural frequencies decrease. The initial curvature has similar effect on the vanishing and non-vanishing longitudinal vibrations for all BCs considered. However, increase in volume fraction from low to mid value increases the nonlinear displacement of the pipe after the bifurcation point. Beyond the mid value of volume fraction, the nonlinear displacement reduces. This is absent in pipes conveying single phase flow.

Assessing Flare Combustion Efficiency using Imaging Fourier Transform Spectroscopy

Flaring plays a critical role in reducing the environmental impact of upstream oil and gas processing by converting methane and other gaseous hydrocarbons into CO2, which has a lower global warming potential. This process is highly efficient under ideal conditions but efficiency may be significantly lower under certain scenarios such as fuel stripping under crosswind and emission of volatile organic compounds and unburned fuels due to over-aeration or over-steaming in assisted flares. This study assesses the potential of using imaging Fourier transform spectrometers (IFTSs) to directly measure combustion efficiency by combining species column densities estimated from a spectroscopic model with intensity-weighted velocities found using an optical flow model. Simulated measurements using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-large eddy simulation of a flare in a crosswind are used to establish the technique's viability, followed by experimental measurements on a heated gas vent to validate the optical flow model. Finally, preliminary measurements are carried out on a laboratory-scale steam- and air-assisted flare. While the simulated measurements and heated vent experiments support the feasibility of this approach, experimentally-derived spectra from the lab-scale flare were contaminated with artifacts attributed to turbulent fluctuations, which complicates the quantitative interpretation of the IFTS data.

Where the Methane Is-Insights from Novel Airborne LiDAR Measurements Combined with Ground Survey Data.

Airborne LiDAR measurements, parallel controlled releases, and on-site optical gas imaging (OGI) survey and pneumatic device count data from 1 year prior, were combined to derive a new measurement-based methane inventory for oil and gas facilities in British Columbia, Canada. Results reveal a surprising distinction in the higher magnitudes, different types, and smaller number of sources seen by the plane versus OGI. Combined data suggest methane emissions are 1.6-2.2 times current federal inventory estimates. More importantly, analysis of high-resolution geo-located aerial imagery, facility schematics, and equipment counts allowed attribution to major source types revealing key drivers of this difference. More than half of emissions were attributed to three main sources: tanks (24%), reciprocating compressors (15%), and unlit flares (13%). These are the sources driving upstream oil and gas methane emissions, and specifically, where emerging regulations must focus to achieve meaningful reductions. Pneumatics accounted for 20%, but this contribution is lower than recent Canadian and U.S. inventory estimates, possibly reflecting a growing shift toward more low- and zero-emitting devices. The stark difference in the aerial and OGI results indicates key gaps in current inventories and suggests that policy and regulations relying on OGI surveys alone may risk missing a significant portion of emissions.

Analisis Performance Centrifugal Pump dengan Mengunakan Computating Fluid Dinamyc (CFD) untuk Transfer Condensate di Area Onshore Processing Facilities Balongan PHE ONWJ

Condensate transfer is one part of upstream oil and gas production operations. Condensate is a liquid hydrocarbon obtained from gas wells. Transfer is carried out using a transfer pump. In the activity of using the pump, we need to analyze the pump parameters. The aim is to evaluate the energy performance of the pump according to the variation of the velocity of the fluid being flowed and to determine the pump's working point. The research was conducted by testing the performance of the pump in the field and analyzing it using CFD in solidwork application. The method applied is to change the flow variation with a fluid velocity of 5.9m/s; 17.2m/s ; 20.5m/s. Tests are carried out to determine the pressure and temperature of the pump. The test data in the field will then be compared with the simulation data in the application. The results of the analysis carried out using a flow variation of 5.9 m/s and 17.2 m/s obtained a pressure and temperature comparison between the actual and the simulated according to the operating conditions of the pump. In the analysis with a speed variation of 20.5 m/s there is an indication of a decrease in pump pressure under actual conditions in the field, namely 39 Psi, while in the simulation with ideal conditions it exceeds the operating pressure of the pump. So the conclusion obtained is that the variation in flow causes differences in pump performance in terms of Pressure and Temperature. At a variable speed of 20.5 m/s there is a change in pump performance and if left unchecked can cause damage in the long term.

PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL FUEL SMUGGLE IN THE BORDER OF EAST NUSA TENGGARA AND TIMOR LESTE

Indonesia is one of the countries with abundant natural resources, this can be seen from the abundant human resources that are able to improve the management of existing natural resources. This is also emphasized in Article 33 paragraph 3 of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia (UUD RI 1945). A different fact is faced by small communities in the border area between Nusa Tenggara Timur Indonesia and Timor Leste. The problem is that the small communities there are not unable to enjoy subsidy relief due to wrong targets but because of smuggling carried out to neighboring countries. In several criminal cases that occurred in the border area between East Nusa Tenggara and Timor Leste, one of them was the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Satgas Pamtas) RI-RDTL East Sector Border Security Task Force, Yonif Raider 408 / Sbh, thwarted the smuggling of thousands of liters of fuel oil. (BBM) in the RI-RDTL border area.There have been many efforts made by the government to improve the welfare of its citizens by utilizing existing natural resources, especially in the oil and gas sector, one of which is in terms of access to energy consumption through fuel oil (BBM) subsidies which are still being debated. Some are of the view that state assistance must be maintained, but on the other hand, they still think that fuel subsidies are still not on target. A different fact is faced by small communities in the border area between Nusa Tenggara Timur Indonesia and Timor Leste. In addition, at the opening of the International Convention on Indonesian Upstream Oil and Gas 2020, which was organized by SKK Migas, the Government also supported the improvement of the investment climate in Indonesia's upstream oil and natural gas (oil and gas) sector, amid a decline in national oil and gas production and sluggish movement of strategic industries due to the the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Analysis of a Distribution Route for The Logistics of The User Material Uses The Saving Matrix Method at PT. X

PT X Tambun Field engages in exploration and production in the upstream oil and gas sector in each mining concession area. One of the activities carried out by the company, one of the activities carried out is the transportation and distribution of raw materials. The transportation and distribution process affects the number of company expenses at PT X. For PT X, the distribution process is expected to be as effective and efficient as possible to minimize transportation costs. This study aims to reduce transportation and distribution costs in PT X. The analytical tool used is the matrix savings method. The results obtained, distribution, reduction of 48.94% distance and equipment rental costs of 43.39% for shipments from the warehouse and distance costs of 32.31% and equipment rental costs of 30.32% for delivery from PT X Tambun Field.

Drilling waste management using zero discharge technology with Drill Cutting Re-injection (DCRI) method for environmental preservation

The energy requirement level in Indonesia is quite high. The increasing oil and gas upstream industries to fulfil energy requirement in the future is highly connected with the escalation of wastes, especially drilling wastes. Drilling is one of the main operations in upstream oil and gas industries, which can harm the environment with its various types of wastes. The drilling process produces millions of barrels of wastes each year. However, with the industries being rapidly developed to fulfil national energy requirement, environmental-related regulations for drilling activities have been firmly tightened. Drilling and drilling mud system technology is more sophisticated and the majority of oil drilling companies are starting to adopt environmentally friendly drilling options. The objective of writing this article is to acknowledge the method of drilling waste processing by considering environmentally friendly aspect. Drill Cutting Re-Injection (DCRI) is one of the developing environmentally friendly processing techniques with zero discharge in oil and gas industries. With the utilization of the DCRI process, the companies can produce positive outcomes such as low environmental impact, low safety risks, low transportation problems, and economically cleaning responsibility.

WITHDRAWN: A comprehensive review on critical affecting parameters on foam stability and recent advancements for foam-based EOR scenario

Foam injection process is a promising new technique of enhanced oil recovery (EOR), which tackles the issues induced by gas-based EOR scenarios such as viscous fingering and gravity segregation phenomena. The potential of foam-based EOR technique has attracted the great attention of the upstream oil industry over the past decades. Besides the successful oilfield applications of the foam injection for improving oil recovery efficiency, there are many challenges regarding to the stability, quality and foamability of the foam solution at elevated pressures and temperatures. In addition, the responsible mechanisms of foam injection at micro-scale has not been well attended in the available literature. This paper reviews the most relevant published researches on the foam-based EOR for a better understanding and delineation. In this work, the critical affecting parameters on foam stability and quality are discussed in details. In addition, the predominant mechanisms of foam generation are comprehensively clarified. In the following, the practical methods for investigation of the foam stability are explained and compared. Finally, the recent advancements for development of foam solution and enhancement of the foam stability are presented and the flaws of studies in this subject are illustrated.

Mechanical Design of Slug Catcher

In the upstream oil and gas industry Slug Catcher is a separator to separate heavy liquid hydrocarbons and the gaseous lighter fraction. Slug Catcher is a cylindrical pressure vessel which has a horizontal orientation designed with an internal pressure of 84.37 kg/cm2 , 73,89 °C temperature, 3 mm corrosion allowance, 3,500 mm length, and 1,750 mm diameter. This paper aims to design a Slug Catcher from a mechanical side that is safe and able to withstand the stress caused by internal pressure. General design which includes calculation of thickness of shell, heads, and nozzles, maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP), and minimum design metal temperature (MDMT) using ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 1. Based on the results obtained the nominal shell thickness is 60 mm, head minimum thickness 58 mm, material specification for shell and head is SA 516 Gr 70. In general, the selected material use low carbon steel; flange rating class 600; vessel’s Maximum Allowable Working Pressure is 87.60 kg/cm2 ; hydrostatic test pressure is 113 kg/cm2 .

Particulate emissions from turbulent diffusion flames with entrained droplets: A laboratory simulation of gas flaring emissions

Global flaring volume exceeds 140 billion m3 annually and flares are a key source of particulate air pollution. During flowback operations subsequent to fracturing of a well, droplets of flowback water—with varying levels of dissolved salts—can be entrained in the flared gas. Despite the widespread prevalence of fracturing, very little is known about the properties of particle emissions from such flares. To study these properties, we used a laboratory pipe flare producing a turbulent diffusion flame without and with entrained droplets. Entrained droplets of deionized water, sodium chloride solution, and solutions representing two typical flowback waters in Canada (Cardium and Duvernay) were used. Three different gas compositions (consisting of C1 to C7 alkanes, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen) representative of flares in the upstream oil and gas sector in Alberta, Canada were studied. The results showed that the salt in the entrained flowback droplets increased the particle concentration by about one order of magnitude by forming freshly nucleated salt particles. Moreover, soot concentration increased as a result of entrained salt. Effective density results showed that small particles (<150 nm mobility diameter) were mainly salt, while large particles (>300 nm) were mostly soot—a result also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electron micrographs showed that the majority of particles were either individual salt particles or internally-mixed soot-salt particles. The inorganic salt particles mainly consisted of Na and Cl, the two most abundant elements in flowback water. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the salt had much less (or no) impact on graphitic nanostructure of soot, while the fuel blend had a significant effect. The results of this study are significant as they reveal that current emission inventories based on flaring of gases only may underestimate soot emissions from flares with entrained droplets.

Combined soft system methodology and agent‐based simulation for multi‐methodological modelling

AbstractThe primary aim of this paper is to explore theoretical and practical aspects of the soft system methodology (SSM) and simulation combination as a multi‐paradigm multi‐methodology approach through action research. The important theoretical findings from a systematic literature review show that previously published researches have mainly applied SSM to structure contents of messy problems and for model building. We identified two types of combination designs: (i) simulation enhancement and (ii) mixed methods. To further investigate the practical aspects of combined methodologies, we apply SSM in the conception phase of agent‐based modelling to an Iranian upstream oil and gas company. We show that a combined model offers the following advantages: It (i) improves our understanding of the problem, (ii) reflects upon the modelling process, (iii) provides learning for interveners and (iv) enables the proposition of technically sound, systematically feasible and culturally desirable agreed solutions for improving the situation.

Enhancing Internal Operational Capabilities: Interplaying Top Management Commitment and Leadership Agility Development

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between top management team (TMT) commitment and leadership development on agile leaders as part of enhancing the operational capabilities of the upstream oil and gas sector. This study adopted a quantitative method with a total of 175 participants from national and international oil companies in Indonesia. Based on the structural equation modelling analysis, the research indicates that leadership agility development has a significant impact on agile leaders, and it has a key role in operational capabilities. TMT commitment has an insignificant impact on agile leaders. Future studies should examine the other consequences of the insignificant variables.

The Implementation of Maintenance Quality Function Deployment (MQFD) to Improve the Quality Maintenance Management for the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry

The global energy market is still dominated by oil and gas energy. Pipeline is one of the most efficient means of distributing crude oil. In an oil and gas production unit, pipes are a means that often fails. A pipeline will operate optimally if it gets good maintenance. The concept of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM is an implementation subject that includes the concept of quality improvement engineering, or commonly known as TQM), but in its application, TPM eliminates one of the strategies in TQM, which reflects the voice of the operator (user’s voice) to influence quality improvement ongoing maintenance, so as to perfect the TPM approach, a supporting technique is needed that can reflect the operator’s voice, namely QFD, so that the combination of the two methods or so-called Maintenance Quality Function Deployment (MQFD) models is considered to be able to improve the quality of maintenance because it is a more comprehensive approach, and involves all elements involved, so that the expected quality improvement can be in accordance with the rules of total quality management Based on the results of the TPM parameter calculation, it is known that all OEE values have met the world’s standard of 86%. in carrying out its operations there are still reports of damage, leakage, and vandalism in the production pipeline. Based on the results of the identification of user’s voice, there are 19 attributes of maintenance quality that must be prioritized.

Schlumberger’s Drilling ECG Goes to the Heart of the Matter To Diagnose Abnormal Conditions in Real Time

The trading of technologies is nothing new for the upstream oil and gas and medical communities. The connection makes sense, particularly since both disciplines rely heavily on applied math for diagnoses. It should come as no surprise, then, that a popular paper at the 2021 Virtual SPE/IADC International Drilling Conference proposed a medically inspired approach to prevent catastrophic drilling system failures brought on by downhole shocks (SPE/IADC 204098). The paper describes a “drilling electrocardiogram” that diagnoses “arrhythmic drilling” similarly to how medical electrocardiograms diagnose dangerous vibration anomalies in heart patients. The approach classifies shock wave-forms acquired at 31,250 hertz (Hz) downhole. The shock signals are treated as drilling electrocardiograms (D-ECG) that are processed using clustering algorithms and merged with drilling incidents to identify in real time an arrhythmic signature pattern that can lead to catastrophic failures. A Revelation Justo Matheus, senior control engineer for Schlumberger and lead author of the paper, said that in studying field incidents in which rotary steerable system (RSS) bottomhole assemblies (BHA) had been severely damaged by shocks, the signature patterns reminded him of ECGs (Fig. 1). This led him to medical libraries, which in turn led to a revelation—that throughout the 3 decades that downhole vibration measurements while drilling (MWD) have been studied, only the analysis of the amplitude and root mean square (rms) values of shocks had been the focus. No one had considered frequency for diagnosing downhole shocks. It was this revelation that drove the concept of the D-ECG based on shock waveforms acquired at high frequency in real time to prevent failures of the BHA. What Is “Normal” and What Is Not? Drilling-generated shocks and vibrations affect rate of penetration, directional control, and wellbore quality, making them among the main causes of failures in drilling. “Shocks are present almost all the time,” said Matheus. “The challenge is in knowing which are normal and which are not.” RSS are equipped with measurement devices such as magnetometers, accelerometers, and shock and vibration sensors that obtain statistical information from which whirl, bit bounce, and stick/slip severity are inferred. Often, however, the derived statistics are not sufficient to distinguish between normal drilling vs. abnormal drilling for a location in the wellbore. Recent electronic advances enabled the development of high-resolution drilling dynamic data recorders, extending the sampling frequency from traditional 100 Hz to 1,600 Hz. However, most of these devices are for data recording only. There is no real-time communication with surface and no capability to inform about drilling conditions downhole.

Land Procurement for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities in Indonesia

This paper aims to provide an understanding and insight regarding land procurement for oil and gas exploration activities as well as the development of regulations or legal and policy breakthroughs that have so far not been or very little exposed. Land procurement has always been a serious obstacle or obstacle to oil and gas exploration activities in Indonesia. Land procurement for oil and gas exploration using a business to business (B to B) mechanism makes it very difficult for SKK Migas and the contractor. In recent years, the government has made legal breakthroughs to simplify and accelerate the land procurement mechanism for exploration activities. This study uses a normative juridical method supported by in-depth interviews with legal experts, land acquisition committees and landowners and has produced conclusions: First, the business to business (B to B) mechanism often faces obstacles and obstacles, such as; 1) refusal from the landowner; 2) inconsistency with the spatial layout; 3) there is a land dispute with other parties; 4) it is difficult for oil and gas contractors to process land certification. Second, the discretion which is considered as a legal breakthrough or new policy that is ideal in helping to smooth and accelerate the process of oil and gas production in Indonesia.

Exploring oil and gas industry workers’ knowledge and information needs

Many incident reports and much research literature have concluded that incident rates in high-hazard industries can be reduced by enhancing the knowledge and information sources available to workers. However, a sparsity of published research reporting workers' perspectives on the value of information and knowledge sources in different operational situations potentially limits the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving human responses to process safety performance. In response, this work seeks to understand how frontline oil and gas industry workers, responsible for managing process safety and other risks in their hazardous workplaces, rely on their own knowledge, the knowledge of others and information provided to manage different operating scenarios. A set of open and closed-ended survey questions were distributed to workers at several upstream and downstream oil and gas companies. Statistical analysis of 133 responses revealed interesting insights relating to participants’ experience levels, decision making practices and perceptions on the importance of various information and knowledge sources in different operating circumstances. The data revealed differences in the sources of knowledge relied upon by experienced and less experienced workers. Experienced workers rely on their own knowledge in both routine and potentially high-impact scenarios. Less experienced workers also rely on their own knowledge for routine decisions however they reported seeking out external knowledge and information in potentially high-impact scenarios. The data suggests that interventions to improve safety by enhancing the availability of knowledge and information sources are less likely to affect experienced workers and alternate strategies might be needed. However, such interventions might be effective if they are focused on supporting newer workers.

Big data technique in the reservoir parameters’ prediction and productivity evaluation: A field case in western South China sea

The upstream oil and gas industry has been struggling with massive data files for decades. These monolithic files are supposed to be a valuable asset for companies, but in reality they are generally underutilized or even discarded. In this paper, we present the application of big data technique in the oil fields of western South China sea to predict the reservoir parameters and evaluate well productivity. The data files are firstly classified and stored by clustering analysis method on the basis of different labels. Combining different analysis tools, the variation law and correlations between different parameters are studied, and the knowledge base is thus established. We analyze the distribution laws of formation and fluid parameters, calculate the relationship between different parameters, and adopt the theoretical/empirical formula methods, to minimize the uncertainties of prediction results. After that, the oil productivities are comprehensively evaluated by clustering analysis and grey correlation methods. The productivity charts are built for all datasets and the classification rule according to sedimentary facies, reservoir member and formation oil state. Based on the clustering results, we analyze the key factors that impact oil production rate, and obtain the multi-parameter empirical productivity equations to evaluate well productivity. Finally, we establish the real-time-update software platform that integrates knowledge base, job management, parameter prediction, test design, interpretation, etc. Compared with the current methods of parameters’ prediction and productivity evaluation which need extensive experiment work or plenty of known input parameters, we integrate all available data sets and different approaches by big data technique to address the key uncertainties rather analyze each data source individually.