Integrated Drilling Optimization A Success Story in the Basin of North Africa

Drilling optimization objective was to reduce costs, improve wellbore conditions and integrity for increasingly challenging reservoirs while establishing maximum safety performance and environmental custodianship. Even though the final result of a drilling operation is easily observed, what almost always goes unnoticed is the complexity of the issues involved in the planning and execution of a drilling operation and the number of topics involved in such a process.In this paper, as case study of the exploration drilling in Hamada region, North Africa has been evaluated. Over the period of 2006 to 2011, continued drilling improvement was achieved. Key elements in the optimization included focus on management drilling team structure, engineering well planning, improvements on managing drilling operations such as on site safety management practices, and also post drill analysis to implement lesson learn for the next well to be drilled.As the result, while drilling 26 wells during the 2006 until 2011, drilling days were successfully reduced from 87 days (first well) to the average 40 days, and very good safety record performance.

Analysis of the National Energy Board Pipeline Integrity Performance Measures Data

The National Energy Board’s (NEB or the Board) top priorities are the safety of people and protection of the environment. NEB-regulated pipelines have a very good safety record; however, the NEB noticed an increased trend in some types of incidents. Therefore, after considerable stakeholder consultation, in March 2012 the NEB started requiring NEB-regulated companies to report annually on new pipeline performance measures. These performance measures were developed and introduced to promote continual improvement in the management of pipelines by allowing companies to compare their results with industry aggregate numbers. In addition, these metric results allow the NEB to both evaluate and demonstrate that pipeline companies are effective in managing pipeline safety and protection of the environment. The NEB requires all regulated companies to report on incidents, such as releases of substances and serious injuries. Pipeline performance measures data provides the Board additional information such as lagging and leading indicators. These lagging indicators provide an historical view of company performance while the leading indicators provide forward looking data of potential future events. The NEB is of the view that an amalgamation of leading, lagging and qualitative measures can provide an overview of company effectiveness in meeting foundational management system program objectives. This paper examines four years of reported integrity related performance and integrity inspection data to evaluate trends in activities taken by companies to maintain safe pipelines. This paper will briefly discuss the challenges encountered when developing the measures, obtaining consistent data and evaluation of the data to identify trends. The paper will conclude by summarizing select results of the integrity performance measures and integrity inspection information data and discuss any potential future actions related to the pipeline performance integrity measures.

The Safe Transport of Radioactive Material: Principles and Their Application in the United Kingdom

The good safety record of the transport of radioactive materials owes much to the establishment at an early stage of the principles which have been enshrined in the IAEA’s regulations and their supporting guidance material. These have been reviewed and updated periodically since their introduction in 1961. This paper outlines the principles governing the safe transport of radioactive material and their implementation through the regulatory regime. Beginning with a brief consideration of the scope and challenges of radioactive material transport, the paper outlines the basic principles of safety in transport, and the regulatory mechanism. The basis for packaging standards is described in relation to quantities, specific activities and release rates. The several types of package are discussed and the performance and testing requirements for each are summarised. Operational and administrative requirements are considered, including pre-shipment checks, contamination and radiation limits, and marking and labelling requirements. The paper includes a discussion of the requirements for emergency arrangements and a brief account of how these are fulfilled, and concludes with a description on the role of the competent authority in overseeing the regulatory process.

Guidelines and algorithms for the use of methylphenidate in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Objective: To review published algorithms for guiding the use of methylphenidate (MPH) in the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Methods: A consensus roundtable of 12 experts was convened to review the evidence for the safety and efficacy of MPH in the treatment of ADHD, as well as the published algorithms and practice guidelines for using MPH. The experts reviewed the algorithms for practicality and acceptability by clinicians. Results: Algorithms that included MPH commonly selected it as the initial medication to be employed in the treatment of children with ADHD. Factors involved included its high efficacy, good safety record, and the ubiquitous nature of its appearance in the ADHD treatment literature. Conclusions: MPH should be considered as the first medication to be used in a treatment algorithm for children and adolescents with ADHD.

Ibuprofin Safety

In Reply.— Dr Rosefsky contends that ibuprofen has a relatively good safety record, both in children as well as in adults. However, because for most children it is questionable whether or not fever needs to be treated at all, I contend that the change to a newer, more expensive, and more toxic drug is not justifiable. This is not to say that ibuprofen is not an acceptable or useful drug, but only that it should not be used for simple or routine antipyresis while a safer agent is available.

The safety and efficacy of intra-nasal ethmoidectomy

Each of the three types of ethmoidectomy: intra-nasal, trans-antral and external, has its supporters and detractors who argue about the efficacy and safety of the procedures. One hundred and five ethmoidec-tomies for nasal polyps are reviewed retrospectively. Regardless of the approach used, approximately half of these had recurrence of polyps and some patients had several revision operations. There were six complications specific to the surgery. None was serious but most occurred with external ethmoidectomy. The limitations of ethmoidectomy for nasal polyps, the reasons for the good safety record and the best means of training juniors in the procedures are discussed.