Upstream Sector Research Articles

Impact of Safety Culture on Safety Performance; Mediating Role of Psychosocial Hazard: An Integrated Modelling Approach.

We conceptualize that safety culture (SC) has a positive impact on employee’s safety performance by reducing their psychosocial hazards. A higher level of safety culture environment reduces psychosocial hazards by improving employee’s performance toward safety concerns. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how psychosocial hazard mediates the relationship between safety culture and safety performance. Data were collected from 380 production employees in three states of Malaysia from the upstream oil and gas sector. Structural equation modeling was implemented to test the suggested hypotheses. The proposed model was evaluated using structural equation modeling. A stratified sampling with a Likert 5-point scale was used to distribute the questionnaires. Furthermore, the proposed model was tested using the simulation of the structural equation and partial. According to our findings, all hypotheses were significant. A review of prior studies was used to select the items of the dimension for the data collection. Safety culture was assessed with psychosocial hazard to determine its direct and indirect impact on safety performance. Results suggest that to enhance safety performance (leading and lagging), psychosocial concerns in the workplace environments should be taken into consideration by employees. In addition, the findings showed that the psychosocial hazard fully mediates the relationship between safety culture and safety performance.

The spillover effect of trade policy along the value Chain: Evidence from China's rare earth‐related sectors

AbstractThis study examines the heterogeneous spillover effects of an export control policy from an upstream sector to its related downstream sectors. In 2010, China implemented tough policies on rare earth production and export that created a significant price premium for rare earth in foreign markets, thus offering downstream sectors in China cost advantages over their foreign competitors. This study exploits China's policy as an exogenous shock and performs a detailed examination of Chinese customs data. The results show that the export control policy has increased the export price of rare earth downstream products from China, whereas the effects on export quantity and value have been heterogeneous across sectors: they are significant for sectors in which the rare earth cost share is high, and the elasticity of substitution is low.

Social life cycle assessment of an innovative industrial wastewater treatment plant

BackgroundThe social impacts generated by industrial waste treatment processes have not been studied enough, as shown in the literature. Social life cycle assessment studies have mainly focused on the assessment of products and less on industrial waste, especially wastewater, although potentially relevant from an environmental point of view, and also from a social one for various stakeholders.PurposeThis case study concerns the social assessment of an innovative technology to treat the wastewater of a microelectronics company. In order to produce electronic components and semiconductors, the company has to treat and dispose of relevant wastewater streams containing various toxic substances. The wastewater streams need to be treated in order to protect the eco-system, representing a high cost for the company and a potential impact on the environment.For this reason, the company developed a LIFE project to demonstrate the viability to decrease the burdens on water bodies. The positive outcome of the test on the pilot plant paved the way for the construction of the full-scale plant that will treat all the wastewater generated by the company.The objective of this paper is the socio-economic assessment of a full-scale plant designed to treat three different kinds of wastewater.MethodsThe assessment of socio-economic potential impacts of a new technology has been carried out through the PSILCA (Product Social Impact Life Cycle Assessment) database implementation to evaluate 65 social indicators of a wastewater treatment plant.ResultsThe line with the highest impact is the one which treats tetramethylammonium hydroxide; this is because this wastewater flow is the most abundant (14 and 43 times greater than the other wastewaters, respectively).The most affected stakeholder is the Local Community, followed by the Actors of the Value Chain; in fact, the results referred to the functional unit considered exceed 300,000 medium risk hours in both cases. For the Local Community this result arises from the indicator “Contribution to environmental load,” which is understandable considering the object of the study since this indicator includes health effects. As far as the Value Chain Actors stakeholder is concerned, the two indicators most impacted are “Corruption” and “Social responsibility along the supply chain”.The analysis conducted has also shown that upstream has a fundamental relevance for the social risks detected.ConclusionsConsidering the current lack of studies on both environmental and social impacts of wastewater treatment, and the fact that Social Life Cycle Assessment has not been widely used in this field, as emerged from literature review, this work is the first use of the PSILCA database to assess an industrial wastewater plant. The use of a social life cycle assessment database allows the value chain of a product system to be considered: the results show that most of the overall social risk derives from upstream sectors.

What To Expect When You’re Expecting Robots

The market turmoil of 2020 left the upstream industry with diminished ranks, palpable concerns over long-term demand, and mounting pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. This made for what many consider a bullish case, as JPT has reported, for robotics uptake over the course of the decade. But there are reasons to temper expectations. After all, this is the oil and gas industry. The upstream land-scape is as vast as it is specialized. Each silo is a fortress of status quo to which robot developers must dedicate significant time and fortune in conquering. Some are worth the battle, especially in the offshore arena where factors of cost and safety have made this the most active corner of oil and gas robotics. Many other use cases may be worth bypassing. About 70% of the world’s oil and gas supply is produced onshore which, of course, is much more accessible to human operators. That means a robot dog in the Permian Basin has to jump over a much higher bar in order to create value than a robot dog tasked with inspecting a platform in the middle of the Norwegian Sea. Speaking of inspection, this is both the chief strength and upper limit for much of the current generation of robots. The next generation will be asked to fix things. And whatever they can’t do - or are just not the right tool for - look for it to be covered by industrial automation. As a new class of oil and gas robots finds its niche, and fights for investment dollars along the way, here are a few developments to track and points to consider. This Time It’s Different, Right Boss? The upstream sector pulled back from exploring the frontier of robotics and drone technologies in the last decade relative to other industries, but it is now being pulled forward by societal and technological shifts, according to Ed Tovar who runs an Austin-based consulting company, InTechSys, that serves the defense and energy industry.

Historical hangover as a driver of power differential: A case study of the Niger Delta.

This study seeks to understand the drivers and implications of power differentials between Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and their stakeholders. While some studies have explored the dynamics of the relationship between powerful MNCs and weak stakeholders, very few studies have considered the role of history as a driver of the power imbalance to explain MNC behaviours in developing countries. This study explores history as a driver of power imbalance in favour of the Multinational oil companies (MNOCs) when compared to a weak stakeholder that is the local community in Nigeria's upstream sector of its oil and gas industry. The key theme emerging from 75 interviews with managers of MNOCs and stakeholders is 'historical hangover'. Historical hangover articulates how past legacies of MNOCs' home countries strengthen the influence of MNOCs in Nigeria, leading to a power imbalance in favour of MNOCs over stakeholders such as the local communities. The consequence of the historical hangover leading to power imbalance are critical ethical challenges for society and leads to corporate social irresponsibility with impunity.

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.

Life Cycle Blue and Grey Water in the Supply Chain of China’s Apparel Manufacturing

Apparel manufacturing involves high water consumption and heavy water pollution in its supply chain, e.g., planting cotton, producing chemical fibers, and dyeing. This study employs a multi-regional input–output (MRIO) model to (1) assess the life cycle of blue and grey water (chemical oxygen demand (COD) specific) of China’s apparel manufacturing; (2) reveal the hidden linkage among sectors and regions in the whole supply chain; and (3) identify the key regions and upstream sectors with the most water consumption and heaviest water pollution. We found that the agricultural sector (i.e., planting fiber crops) is responsible for primary water consumption and water pollution. In addition, different provinces assume different production roles. Guangdong is a major output province in apparel manufacturing. However, its economic output is contributed to by other regions, such as blue water from Xinjiang and Jiangsu and grey water from Hebei and Shandong. Our research reveals the significance of taking an inter-regional perspective on water resource issues throughout the supply chain in apparel manufacturing. The sustainable development of China’s apparel manufacturing relies on improving water-use efficiency and reasonable industrial layout. The results are of significance and informative for policymakers to build a water-sustainable apparel industry.

Trade conflicts and energy firms' market values: Evidence from China

Using the Sino-U.S. trade conflict on March 22, 2018 as an exogenous shock, this study shows that Chinese energy firms engaged with overseas business experienced statistically significant negative decline in their stock return. We further document that non-state-owned enterprises, firms faced with higher degree of marketization, high-tech firms, firms with a larger proportion of skilled labor and firms under moderate financial constraints suffer more from the Sino-U.S. trade conflict. This study suggests that firms with larger overseas revenue and the upstream sector should be especially careful about the possible risks in international trade.

Increasing the capacity and adoption of certified citrus seedling producers towards recommended technology for disease-free certified citrus seedling production in Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan

Citrus nursery is one of the upstream sectors that is significant to support citrus agribusiness in Sambas regency as citrus production center area in West Kalimantan. Several programs have been conducted to increase the capacity and technology adoption of disease-free certified citrus seedling producers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the implementation of technology support for disease-free certified citrus grafted seedling production through mentoring programs to increase the knowledge and skill capacity of the seedling producers, as well as to evaluate the adoption level of the certified citrus seedling producers towards the recommended technology for disease-free certified citrus seedling production in Sambas Regency. The mentoring programs were carried out by training and establishing a model of citrus Bud-stick Multiplication Block. The evaluation of the adoption level of recommended technology was carried out by conducting surveys before and after the mentoring programs. The adoption evaluation of the recommended technology components comprised of the use of polybags during the whole production process, sowing rootstock seeds correctly, nucellar selection, transplanting, the use of bud-stick from Bud-stick Multiplication Block, Grafting and optimum maintenance. The evaluation results indicated that several technology components got an increase in the adoption rates after the completion of the mentoring programs. However, there were still few technology components that did not experience changes in the rate of adoption.

Decarbonizing China’s iron and steel industry from the supply and demand sides for carbon neutrality

Iron and steel production in China contributes to 14% of China’s total energy-related CO2 emissions. Decarbonizing the iron and steel sector will therefore play an important role in achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. This study explored possible low-carbon transition pathways for China’s iron and steel industry to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. An integrated approach was developed that combined a computable general equilibrium model and a bottom-up technology-selection module. The results indicated that although energy-saving technologies can reduce CO2 emissions in the short term, in the long term, adopting breakthrough technologies (e.g., carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen-based direct reduction (DR)), increasing the share of scrap-based electric arc furnace (EAF) steel production, and decarbonizing upstream energy-supply sectors will be crucial for climate change mitigation. Hydrogen-based DR could be an effective option for CO2 emission reduction in scenarios where CCS is not available, with its share increasing to 23%–25% by 2050. System-wide cross-sector decarbonization can help achieve climate targets at lower costs through flexible technology combinations and avoid carbon leakage into upstream energy-supply sectors.

Climate Impact of China’s Promotion of the Filling Mining Method: Bottom-Up Estimation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Underground Metal Mines

China recently implemented a “Green Mine” policy focused on promoting the filling method, aiming to mitigate the environmental impacts of underground mining; nevertheless, quantitative inventories have rarely been provided to support or negate such promotion, especially from a life-cycle perspective. Accordingly, this paper proposes a bottom-up model for estimating life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from underground metal mines using either filling or caving methods. Two filling-based (Luohe and Longtangyan) and two caving-based (Maogong and Xiaowanggou) iron mines were studied; their direct GHG emissions were 0.576, 0.278, 2.130, and 1.425 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per kiloton-extracted ore (t CO2 eq/kt), respectively. When indirect GHG emissions were considered, the results increased to 17.386, 15.211, 5.554, and 5.602 t CO2 eq/kt, respectively. In contrast to popular belief, such results demonstrate that promoting the filling method can potentially raise the overall GHG emissions. Although filling-based projects generate less direct GHG emissions, the emissions are transferred to upstream sectors, especially the cement and power sectors. The additional electricity consumption in the haulage and backfilling stages is primarily responsible for the greater GHG emissions occurring in filling-based projects. Some mitigation approaches are suggested, such as backfilling the subsidence pit, using industrial waste as cementing materials, employing energy-efficient pumps, and further developing hauling systems.

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.

A Survey of the Public Awareness on Environmental and Public Health Laws in Ebonyi State Nigeria

The level of environmental degradation caused by human activities can no longer be absorbed by the environment. This has weighed negatively on the environment of which man is part of. For over decades [1] , there has been some unfolding scenario of national efforts at industrialization, increase in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil industry and problems associated with consumption pattern of the populace in their overall interactions with matters of public health and environmental laws [2] . In an effort to checkmate the excesses of man that degrades the environment and encourage those aspects of man’s life that promotes a healthy environment and prevents diseases, environmental and public health laws were enacted. Regrettably, none of these laws have properly addressed environmental abuse and its related problems. This research therefore aimed at identifying the level of awareness on the existing environmental and public health laws in Nigeria particularly in Ebonyi State. To achieve this, a survey research method was adopted for this study. A total of 800 respondents comprising 500 stakeholders in the environmental and public health sectors, 200 employees of environmental and public health workers and 100 law enforcement agents were randomly selected from different geo-political zones that make up the state. Data collection was done using a self structured questionnaire titled Environmental and Public Health Laws Awareness Questionnaire (EPHLAQ) comprised of 15 question items. Data collected was analyzed using a four-scaled likert with criterion acceptance mean of 2.0. Findings revealed that the level of awareness on the existing environmental and public health laws in Nigeria particularly in Ebonyi state is very low and sanctions imposed on the defaulters of the environmental and public health laws were inadequate. Moreover, there is lack of resource to adequately address awareness need by the environmental and public health workers, health information technicians and the law enforcement agencies. It is therefore recommended among others, a heightened awareness on the existing environmental and public health laws in every sector of the economy, particularly in Ebonyi State, increase in human and material resources to adequately address awareness need in Nigeria and in particular, Ebonyi State and stiffer penalties imposed on offenders to deter intending defaulters. Keywords: Survey, Public Awareness, Environmental and Public Health Laws. DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/110-06 Publication date: June 30 th 2021 [1] Since the Nigerian Civil War which ended in 1970, Oil activities have increased in Nigeria and these activities has led to Pollution, depleted the Ozone layer, and ultimately global warming. [2] Bola Ajibola, “The Protection of the Nigerian Environment through Law” in F. Shyllon (ed).the Law and Environment in Nigeria (Ibadan Vantage) Publisher 1989 P.7

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.

The Impact of HR Analytics Building Blocks’ On Organizational Triple Bottom Line: A Conceptual Paper

Although the importance of HR Analytics in literature and practice is elevating however the paradox still exists. The articles addressing HR Analytics are still quite limited that resulted in sparse evidence on the topic. Consequently, this is a conceptual paper that aims to figure out if there is a relationship between HR Analytics Building Blocks’ and Organizational Triple Bottom line. The study will be using quantitative data through a survey method and a structured survey questionnaire that will be distributed among middle managers of oil and gas service companies operating in the upstream sector in Egypt. The collected data will be analysed using the Structure Equation Modelling (SEM). All kinds of tests will be conducted in order to assure the validity and reliability of the measure.

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.

Energy-related carbon emissions mitigation potential for the construction sector in China

China is undertaking a huge number of building and infrastructure projects. As a large consumer of energy-intensive building material, the construction activities provoke large direct carbon emissions in upstream industrial sectors (i.e. embodied carbon emissions). This paper aims to explore how construction-related climate policies could contribute to future national carbon emission mitigation efforts by employing a demand-side input-output model and scenario analysis. First, a hypothetical extraction approach is used to estimate the overall carbon emissions induced by the construction sector in the base year. Then scenario analysis is conducted to quantify the sector's technical potential for carbon mitigation in 2030 and 2050. We find that implementing construction-related climate measures in China could mitigate 2.5 Gt construction-induced CO2 in 2030, and 6.4 Gt in 2050 — more than Europe's annual total carbon emissions in 2015. More efficient electricity use could make a substantial contribution in the short-term. However, material-related initiatives, especially those focused on metal recycling, could yield significant carbon mitigation from 2030 onwards. Our findings suggest China to optimize the relationship between urbanization and construction to comply with the country's climate commitments better. Mechanisms to reform supply-side incentives, such as mandatory carbon labelling for construction material throughout the supply chain, could offer immediate benefits.

Review of Oilfield Chemicals Used in Oil and Gas Industry

The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transportation and marketing of natural gas, crude oil and refined petroleum products. The oil industry demands more sophisticated methods for the exploitation of petroleum. As a result, the use of oil field chemicals is becoming increasingly important and has received much attention in recent years due to the vast role they play in the recovery of hydrocarbons which has enormous commercial benefits. The three main sectors of the petroleum industry are Upstream, Midstream and Downstream. The Upstream deals with exploration and the subsequent production (drilling of exploration wells to recover oil and gas). In the Midstream sector, petroleum produced is transported through pipelines as natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids. Downstream sector is basically involved in the processing of the raw materials obtained from the Upstream sector. The operations comprises of refining of crude oil, processing and purifying of natural gas. Oil field chemicals offers exceptional applications in these sectors with wide range of applications in operations such as improved oil recovery, drilling optimization, corrosion protection, mud loss prevention, drilling fluid stabilization in high pressure and high temperature environment, and many others. Application of a wide range of oilfield chemicals is therefore essential to rectify issues and concerns which may arise from oil and gas operational activities. This review intends to highlight some of the oil field chemicals and their positive applications in the oil and gas Industries.

Measuring economies’ pivotability on the global value chain under the perspective of inter-country input–output network

Under the dual background of trade disputes between China and the United States and the epidemic of 2019 novel coronavirus, the existing Global Value Chain (GVC) division and trading system are facing unprecedented impact. This paper reinforces the present studies on international trade by analyzing the fragments of GVC, which are made of numerous Inter-Country Input–Output (ICIO) relations. We first redefine the inter-country and inter-sector propagating process of intermediate goods, coming up with the concept of Strongest Relevance Path Length (SRPL) based on Revised Floyd–Warshall Algorithm (RFWA). Second, enlightened by betweenness centrality, we introduce Weighted Betweenness Centrality of Edge based on RFWA to measure the Value-Added Pivotability of Input–Output Relations, which brings forth pivotability at domestic, international, and global levels. The results show how much a given country can influence the world economic pattern by linking worldwide upstream and downstream industrial sectors, be it at home or abroad. Also, we can try to explain what is the cause of the phenomenon that the economic influence of nations is trading off and taking turns with all sorts of local or even global evens happening.

Methane emissions from upstream oil and gas production in Canada are underestimated

Methane emissions were measured at 6650 sites across six major oil and gas producing regions in Canada to examine regional emission trends, and to derive an inventory estimate for Canada’s upstream oil and gas sector. Emissions varied by fluid type and geographic region, with the heavy oil region of Lloydminster ranking highest on both absolute and intensity-based scales. Emission intensities varied widely for natural gas production, where older, low-producing developments such as Medicine Hat, Alberta showed high emission intensities, and newer developments in Montney, British Columbia showed emission intensities that are amongst the lowest in North America. Overall, we estimate that the Canadian upstream oil and gas methane inventory is underestimated by a factor of 1.5, which is consistent with previous studies of individual regions.