DRILLING FLUIDS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ESTER OXYGEN-BASED FLUID

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 640 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J.A. Papp ◽  
N.F. West

An oxygen-based fluid (OBF) containing fish oil ester was introduced in October 1998 for the extended reach drilling campaign on the Goodwyn Alpha platform.The introduction involved multiple discussions with the West Australian Department of Minerals and Energy (WADME) and adherence to the risk-based approach from both WADME and the Woodside Energy Ltd (WEL) policies and standards for well engineering operations.The WEL approach to the introduction of the fluid was to address the issues associated with the use and discharge of the ester.The issues included the development of a fluid system which was optimal for extended reach wells, engineering solutions to minimise the amount of fluid discharged, and gaining a better understanding of the environmental impact of the fluid to local conditions.To minimise the volume discharged, the platform was refurbished including an upgrade to state-of-the-art solids removal equipment and modifications to the fluid system to ensure double discharge barriers.Baker Hughes Inteq conducted an extensive development program of the ester fluid system, involving more than 5,000 man hours of laboratory work.In conjuction with Curtin University of Technology, ecotoxicity testing was conducted to determine the acute impact on local species on the North West Shelf. A closed- bottle anaerobic biodegradation test was developed by Geotechnical Services to compare biodegradation rates of different fluids.By minimising the volume discharged and evaluating the impact of the discharge on the marine environment, WEL has demonstrated a comprehensive risk-based approach for the introduction of an OBF to WEL's platform and mobile drilling operations.

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 00024
Author(s):  
Szymon Firląg

The aim of this paper is to present the results of measurements, on the quality of internal and external environment, carried out during the cruise of the tall ship STS Fryderyk Chopin. The cruise took place between 16th and 30th September 2017 as part of the scientific seminar of the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) on the Wave, addressed to students of the WTU. After leaving the port of Edinburgh, crossing the North Sea, the Danish straits, stops in Copenhagen and Kołobrzeg, the tall ship reached Szczecin after two weeks. The measurements carried out on the deck included the temperature and relative humidity of the indoor air in three cabins and the men’s bathroom. In two cabins, the CO2 concentration was measured additionally. The outdoor temperature, relative humidity and concentration of PM 1.0, PM 2.5 and PM 10 were also measured. The obtained results allowed to assess the quality of the internal environment in accordance with the standards and to analyze the effectiveness of the mechanical ventilation system. Measurements of particulate matter have shown significant differences between outdoor air quality in the open sea and in ports or near major shipping routes. It turned out that the impact of emissions from passing ships using diesel engines is clearly visible.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Venkat Ratnam ◽  
S. Ravindra Babu ◽  
S. S. Das ◽  
Ghouse Basha ◽  
B. V. Krishnamurthy ◽  
...  

Abstract. Tropical cyclones play an important role in modifying the tropopause structure and dynamics as well as stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) process in the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere (UTLS) region. In the present study, the impact of cyclones that occurred over the North Indian Ocean during 2007–2013 on the STE process is quantified using satellite observations. Tropopause characteristics during cyclones are obtained from the Global Positioning System (GPS) Radio Occultation (RO) measurements and ozone and water vapor concentrations in UTLS region are obtained from Aura-Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) satellite observations. The effect of cyclones on the tropopause parameters is observed to be more prominent within 500 km from the centre of cyclone. In our earlier study we have observed decrease (increase) in the tropopause altitude (temperature) up to 0.6 km (3 K) and the convective outflow level increased up to 2 km. This change leads to a total increase in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) thickness of 3 km within the 500 km from the centre of cyclone. Interestingly, an enhancement in the ozone mixing ratio in the upper troposphere is clearly noticed within 500 km from cyclone centre whereas the enhancement in the water vapor in the lower stratosphere is more significant on south-east side extending from 500–1000 km away from the cyclone centre. We estimated the cross-tropopause mass flux for different intensities of cyclones and found that the mean flux from stratosphere to troposphere for cyclonic stroms is 0.05 ± 0.29 × 10−3 kg m−2 and for very severe cyclonic stroms it is 0.5 ± 1.07 × 10−3 kg m−2. More downward flux is noticed in the north-west and south-west side of the cyclone centre. These results indicate that the cyclones have significant impact in effecting the tropopause structure, ozone and water vapour budget and consequentially the STE in the UTLS region.


Finisterra ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (62) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Pike ◽  
Mário Vale

The industrial policy in the UK and in Portugal, as in most EU countries, seeks to attract new investment capacity, to create jobs and to promote the impact of the so-called "demonstration efect" of "greenfield" development strategies pursued in the new plants of inward investors on existing or "brownfield" plants. This industrial policy focus is particularly evident in the automobile industry.This paper compares the industrial policy oriented towards the automobile industry in the UK and in Portugal. Two recent "greenfield" investments are analised: Nissan in the North-East region (UK) and Ford/VW in the Setúbal Peninsula (Portugal), as well as three "brownfield" plants: Ford Halewood and GM Vauxhall Ellesmere Port in the North-West region (UK) and Renault in Setúbal (Portugal). The first part starts with a discussion of industrial policy in the automobile sector, the role of "greenfield" development strategies and the "demonstration effect" on "brownfield" plants. Then, the limits of new inward investment are pointed out, basically their problems and restrictions. Afterwards, the structural barriers to the "demonstration effect" within "brownfield" plants are outlined and some possabilities for alternative "brownfield" development strategies are presented.


Pakistan ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 131-144
Author(s):  
Mariam Abou Zahab

This chapter attempts to analyse the dynamics of the Pashtun–Punjabi nexus and the areas of competition and cooperation between Sunni sectarian groups and the Pakistani Taliban. It outlines the links between Sunni sectarian groups and the Afghan Taliban, the impact of the collapse of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and the implications of the relocation of Punjabi jihadi/sectarian groups in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). It also focuses on the consequences of the storming of Islamabad's Lal Masjid in July 2007, and it investigates the re-emergence of sectarian groups in Karachi and in the Punjab and its implications for Pakistan. The Punjab and Karachi have been the primary hubs of sectarian violence in Pakistan since the 1980s, but in the post-9/11 environment the Sunni-Shia conflict has assumed a new dimension.


2010 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 703-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Snezana Nenadovic ◽  
Ljiljana Matovic ◽  
Misko Milanovic ◽  
Sava Janicevic ◽  
Jasmina Grbovic-Novakovic ◽  
...  

In this paper, the impacts of some meteorological parameters on the SO2 concentrations in the City of Obrenovac are presented. The City of Obrenovac is located in the north-west part of Serbia on the banks of the River Sava. The observed source emission, the power plants TENT A and TENT B are situated on the bank of the Sava River in the vicinity of Obrenovac. During the period from January to November 2006, the concentrations of sulfur dioxide in the air at 4 monitoring sites in Obrenovac were measured. It was noticed that the maximal measured daily concentrations of sulfur dioxide ranged from 1 ?g/m3 (16th November, 2006) to 98 ?g/m3 (29th January 2006) and lie under the maximal allowed concentration value according to the Serbian Law on Environmental Protection. The measured sulfur dioxide concentrations mostly showed characteristics usual for a daily acidification sulfur dioxide cycle, excluding the specificities influenced by the measuring site itself. Sulfur dioxide transport was recorded at increased wind speeds, primarily from the southeast direction. Based on the impact of meteorological parameters on the sulfur dioxide concentration, a validation of the monitoring sites was also performed from the aspect of their representivity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 556
Author(s):  
Sergey Birdus ◽  
Vincent Ganivet ◽  
Alexey Artemov ◽  
Ray Teakle ◽  
Paul Phythian

This extended abstract presents a two-step sequence to estimate uncertainties in lateral positioning of fault planes on 3D PSDM (pre-stack depth migration) seismic images. This analysis can be applied to any localised detail on a seismic image but, in the majority of geological settings, it is most important for the faults. The first step provides an approximate evaluation of what causes the uncertainties, how the uncertainties are distributed in a 3D space, and what to expect within target zones. The authors assume that every complex detail within a 3D PSDM velocity model causes some uncertainties to the seismic image below. Thus, the uncertainties at a target level depend on the complexity of the overburden and the seismic acquisition parameters. At this step a qualitative 3D volume of lateral fault position uncertainties is created. In the second step the authors focus on a single fault of practical interest. Based on the results of the first step, the authors modify the existing 3D PSDM anisotropic velocity model by introducing additional anomalies that cause maximal changes to the lateral position of the fault on seismic image. Then the authors iteratively re-migrate a small sub-volume around the fault and check the PSDM images and residual moveout. The objective is to find out how far the velocity variations can move the image of the fault and still satisfy available seismic data. The second step gives more reliable quantitative estimations of the impact of velocity on fault positioning. A real multi-azimuth 3D seismic dataset from the North West Shelf is used to illustrate this sequence.


1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 647 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.A. Oliver ◽  
S.J. Fisher

The effects and persistence of non-water-based drilling fluids discharged into the marine environment were investigated at three locations on Western Australia's North West Shelf (NWS), namely the North Rankin 4A' (NRA) drilling platform, the Wanaea–6 production well and the Lynx–la exploration well. For the multiple-well drilling operation at NRA, acute biological effects at the completion of drilling were restricted to within 400 m in the direction of the prevailing current. High total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations within the NRA cuttings pile persisted between 1991 and 1993. Away from the cuttings pile itself, a consistent downward trend in TPH concentrations was evident, indicating an approximate half-life of one year for surface sediments. Three years after the completion of drilling at Wanaea–6, biological effects appeared to be limited to within 100 m of the cuttings discharge point, with background concentrations of TPH and trace metals occurring near 1,200 m in the direction of the prevailing current. Sediment hydrocarbon concentrations greater than 1 mg/kg were found to be restricted to within 200 m of the cuttings discharge point. Dramatic reductions in TPH and barium concentrations occurred in the 12-month period between the completion of drilling and the follow- up survey at Lynx–la. The reductions are attributed to sediment dispersal mechanisms which appear to play a major role in reducing sediment TPH and trace metal concentrations in mid-shelf water depths (70–80 m) on the NWS. The installation and presence of subsea production facilities may result in sediment redistribution and changed dispersal mechanisms, complicating the interpretation of the presence of contaminants within sediments.


Ocean Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Harker ◽  
J. A. Mattias Green ◽  
Michael Schindelegger ◽  
Sophie-Berenice Wilmes

Abstract. An established tidal model, validated for present-day conditions, is used to investigate the effect of large levels of sea-level rise (SLR) on tidal characteristics around Australasia. SLR is implemented through a uniform depth increase across the model domain, with a comparison between the implementation of coastal defences or allowing low-lying land to flood. The complex spatial response of the semi-diurnal M2 constituent does not appear to be linear with the imposed SLR. The most predominant features of this response are the generation of new amphidromic systems within the Gulf of Carpentaria and large-amplitude changes in the Arafura Sea, to the north of Australia, and within embayments along Australia's north-west coast. Dissipation from M2 notably decreases along north-west Australia but is enhanced around New Zealand and the island chains to the north. The diurnal constituent, K1, is found to decrease in amplitude in the Gulf of Carpentaria when flooding is allowed. Coastal flooding has a profound impact on the response of tidal amplitudes to SLR by creating local regions of increased tidal dissipation and altering the coastal topography. Our results also highlight the necessity for regional models to use correct open boundary conditions reflecting the global tidal changes in response to SLR.


2020 ◽  
pp. 146879412091881
Author(s):  
Naomi Wood

This article explores the idea of the body as a research tool in ethnographic fieldwork, looking specifically at how the body can play a part in facilitating and developing relationships in the field. I use my experiences of fieldwork, undertaken in a Chinese community centre in the North West of England, to explore this in two ways. Firstly, through the process of using the body to learn a physical skill – Tai Chi – alongside the other centre members; and secondly through my pregnancy in the field, in order to consider what is communicated and enabled through the particular nature of specific bodies in the field. Both examples explore fieldwork as embodied, relational and intersubjective; in both, relationships with research participants are forged and developed in different ways through the body. Implications are drawn from this in relation to the impact of the research participants on the researcher and in relation to aspects of building relationships in the field that do not rely solely on verbal interactions or shared language, particularly in multi-cultural and multi-lingual research sites.


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