Search

Oil and gas activities in the northern part of Norway will be intensified. However, the reliability of the facilities in this region is unclear, as so far there are few oil and gas activities there. In order to investigate the reliability performance of Oil and Gas facilities in the arctic area, this paper collects the failure data from turbines, a critical piece of equipment in the oil and gas industry, to compare their reliability for northern and southern locations. The proportional hazard model (PHM) is employed to model the turbine reliability. A least square method is developed to estimate the parameters in the baseline function of the PHM. The evaluation results are significant for the oil exploration plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid particle erosion plays a critical role in the design and reliability of equipment employed in the oil and gas industry. Significant erosion occurs due to solid particle loading, especially in applications involving sand production. Low particle loading in drilling fluids (<10%) is also a source of erosion inside downhole tools and in rig equipment at the surface. Accurate prediction of erosion rates can save money and lives by predicting failure accurately and helping to maintain the safety of the equipment. Empirical and mechanistic models to predict erosion were primarily developed based on observations of extensive experiments and field studies. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has emerged as an alternative tool to predict erosion in recent years. The ability to simulate multiphase flows in complex geometries using CFD makes it a valuable and less-expensive method to predict erosion flow loop experimentations and field trials. Various empirical relations have been established to predict erosion using CFD. These methods often predict erosion regions accurately, but typically are highly inaccurate in predicting an erosion rate. An order-of-magnitude error is observed in many cases. This study employs machine learning approach along with CFD-based methodology to develop robust erosion models. A generalized model is developed based on experiments conducted on 90-degree elbows of 1-in. diameter and made from Inconel 718, Nickel Alloy 825, 25% Cr, Nickel Alloy 925, and 13% Cr L-80 materials. The Baker Hughes erosion model developed in 2008 is studied as a baseline. Statistical analysis was performed on CFD output parameters to identify those that most affect erosion rates. A correlation analysis and non-parametric statistical analysis is performed resulting in the development of two new regression models based on turbulent kinetic energy, and surface shear stress was developed. A 25-% improvement is observed in the predictions of cumulative erosion rate error compared to baseline. An artificial neural network with multilayer feed-forward model with the back-propagation algorithm and Levenberg-Marquardt training was developed. This model, along with Bayesian regularization, reduced cumulative error to less than 10%, compared to more than 40% in the baseline Baker Hughes model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Bulletin of National Mining University is the property of National Mining University, State Higher Educational Institution and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A design of a fuel-spray injection burner for replenishing the fuel of users of the equipment of oil and gas companies is proposed. A schematic diagram of the newly developed burner design is presented and engineering designs by means of which lesser specific metal content is achieved than in existing constructions described, the operational reliability improved, and the overhaul life increased. Effective mixing of the fuel and air is realized in the new burner, overheating of the burner stabilizer prevented, and failures in firing are eliminated. The burner supports efficient combustion of gas fuel, including as well the liquid phase components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results are presented for an experimental study of fiberglass pipe leak-proofness parameters in relation to pipe material fiber volume content. The optimum fiber content is established by experiment, making it possible to provide maximum fibreglass pipe leak-proofness and strength indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With high-speed development, the natural gas industry will lead and promote the development of related techniques and equipments. This article studies the application of the heater in the gas industry, and indicates that it is an indispensable piece of equipment in natural gas application systems. As a special furnace type, the natural gas heater is the main energy consumer for the process of gas production, transportation, and application. Thus, the development of highly efficient natural gas heaters has become an important research aspect. Investigations and improvements on the structure and heat-transfer process of the heater in order to improve its thermal efficiency are discussed in this article. It is concluded that as a weak point, the heat transfer effect inside the natural gas heater needs to be improved. A simple and effective improved structure of a diversion-type natural gas heater is put forward, so as to help the heat transfer medium form an organized flow and enhance the heat transfer, thus improving the thermal efficiency of the natural gas heater and saving energy considerably. This technology has been awarded a patent in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to introduce a new piece of multi-purpose and cost-effective offshore installation equipment suitable for onshore fabrication work, shallow water oil and gas field development and wind turbine installation. Shallow water shall mean less than 100 m in this context. The equipment can also be used in the disused platform removal market, which will become a multi-billion dollars offshore business in the near future. The equipment has a special feature: it can be used to loadout a deck from the fabrication yard onto a material barge for towing to site, install the deck, then remove a disused deck and offload it from a material barge back to the yard for rework. With a simple modification, it can install wind turbine and minimal platform. Creating a sustainable business for the equipment is a key consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Tecno Lógicas is the property of Instituto Tecnologico Metropolitano and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents a study which examines the literature on the cyber security of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. It discusses the applications of the SCADA systems, which are widely used by utility companies during production and distribution of oil, gas, chemicals, electric power, and water to control and monitor these operations. It explores the methodology approach used in the study, in which it employs the secure socket layer/transport layer security (SSL/TLS) and information processing security (IPsec) solutions applied on the test-bed at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. It highlights the findings, in which SSL/TLS solution to the protocol security using public domain toolkits may provide an effective and economical solution.

The strategy of the Russian gas company Gazprom is today at the centre of the debate surrounding the security of the European gas supply. The European gas market liberalisation is changing the industrial and commercial (that is to say, contractual) strategies of Gazprom in order to deal with the institutional changes in its main export market. In this context, to secure its market shares Gazprom try to acquire a presence downstream, which will give it access to final consumers. However, exports to Europe are affected by conditions in the Russian domestic market, not only in terms of supply and demand, but also in terms of prices. Russia's internal market can hardly be viewed as a genuine market where supply and demand are regulated by price fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the transport and distribution aspects of hydrogen during the transition period towards a possible full-blown hydrogen economy are carefully looked at. Firstly, the energetic and material aspects of hydrogen transport through the existing natural-gas (NG) pipeline infrastructure is discussed. Hereby, only the use of centrifugal compressors and the short-term security of supply seem to constitute a problem for the NG to hydrogen transition. Subsequently, the possibility of percentwise mixing of hydrogen into the NG bulk is dealt with. Mixtures containing up to 17vol% of hydrogen should not cause difficulties. As soon as more hydrogen is injected, replacement of end-use applications and some pipelines will be necessary. Finally, the transition towards full-blown hydrogen transport in (previously carrying) NG pipelines is treated. Some policy guidelines are offered, both in a regulated and a liberalised energy (gas) market. As a conclusion, it can be stated that the use of hydrogen-natural gas mixtures seems well suited for the transition from natural gas to hydrogen on a distribution (low pressure) level. However, getting the hydrogen gas to the distribution grid, by means of the transport grid, remains a major issue. In the end, the structure of the market, regulated or liberalised, turns out not to be important. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose — In the Norwegian oil and gas industry the upstream logistics includes providing the offshore installations with needed supplies and return flow of used materials and equipment. This paper considers a real-life routing problem for supply vessels serving offshore installations at Haltenbanken off the northwest coast of Norway from its onshore supply base. The purpose of the paper is to explore how the offshore installation's limited storage capacity affects the routing of the supply vessels aiming towards creating efficient routes. Design/methodology/approach — A simplified version of the real-life routing problem for one supply vessel is formulated as a mixed integer linear programming model that contains constraints reflecting the storage requirements problem. These constraints ensure that there is enough capacity at the platform decks and that it is possible to perform both pickup and delivery services. Findings — The model has been tested on real-life-sized instances based on data provided by the Norwegian oil company Statoil ASA. The tests show that in order to obtain optimal solutions to the pickup and delivery problem with limited free storage capacities at installations, one has to include in the formulation the new sets of constraints, the storage feasibility and the service feasibility requirements. In addition, two visits to some platforms are necessary to obtain optimality. Research limitations/implications — The main limitation is the present inability to solve large cases. Originality/value — The contribution of this paper is to provide a better insight into a real-life routing problem which has a unique feature arising from the limited deck capacity at the offshore installations that complicates the performance of service. This feature has neither been discussed nor modeled in the vehicle routing literature before, hence the formulation of the problem is original and reveals some interesting results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continued development of Baja California as an electricity and natural gas supply source for California is not in the best public interest of the citizens of Baja California or California. Siting power plants in the badly contaminated Imperial County – Mexicali air basin to serve Southern California load center raises serious environmental justice issues on both sides of the border that are not adequately addressed by existing environmental protection regulations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We consider various engineering methods of calculating the parameters of machines. We carried out experimental tests on laboratory specimens of the stages of a gas expansion engine and a compressed air motor (PEE). Relations are given here for determining the indicated power of a PEE with combined and countercurrent gas distribution systems as well as the main propositions of the procedure for engineering calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Part II. Presents a study that investigated the leakage and impedance of smooth and honeycomb straight-bore annular gas seals. Features of the honeycomb seal; Analysis of nondimensional radial and impedance predictions; Evaluation of the leakage flow rate and impedance measurements.

Part I. Presents a study that described an experimental facility and apparatus for measuring the dynamic impedance and leakage characteristics of annular gas seals. Features of the test facility and apparatus; Identification of the impedance of annular gas seals; Discussion on the uncertainty analysis of the seal impedance.

The article reports on the civic revivals in Ohio. During the eighteen-nineties and in the early years of the twentieth century the people of Toledo made two interesting attempts to break the monopolization by private corporations of the supply of two natural commodities necessary to life in the city. An account of the contrasting methods and results obtained by these ventures in trust-busting constitutes an instructive footnote to the history of the anti-trust movement in the United States. In 1897 two companies received franchises to supply the city of Toledo with natural gas. The apprehension of the citizens was aroused when it was revealed that the two companies were in reality one in policy and management. Their fears were heightened by the growing conviction that both were controlled by the Standard Oil Company. Whatever may have been their relation to Standard Oil, the Toledo gas companies fought the city gas plant with the practices perfected by the oil trust for use against its private competitors. Defamation, financial pressure, litigation, discrimination--even violence, were their weapons. Toledo's one morning newspaper was purchased by interests friendly to the gas companies and turned into a virulent enemy of the municipal gas enterprise.