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Abstract The development of Vaca Muerta has presented significant challenges in the unconventional oil industry. These challenges extend beyond the complexity of drilling and completing several-kilometer-long horizontal branches, as they also include the issue of well-to-well interference due to fractures, known as "frac hits". The primary objective of this case study is to document the series of frac hit events occurring between 2018 and 2023 in a Vaca Muerta field (oil window with multilanding development), analyzing the consequences such as pressure increases or sand production in offset wells, and presenting strategies to mitigate these issues. Additionally, the methods used to forecast these events and estimate potential production losses or well damages will be described. To study frac hits, wellhead flowing pressure (WHFP) obtained through telemetry was analyzed, and a machine learning model was employed to transform WHFP into bottomhole flowing pressure (BHFP) to correlate with production controls and water tracers. A statistical study was conducted, highlighting changes in production (oil and water) and pressure in the offset wells during these events. Furthermore, cases of sand production, effects on water production in the source wells, potential damages to the offset wells, and the influence on well decline after a frac hit were evaluated. Using these statistics, it is possible to predict which wells are susceptible to experiencing frac hits and estimate their intensity. The obtained results revealed that in the mentioned Vaca Muerta field, frac hits represent one of the most significant challenges for its development. Adverse effects were observed, including sand production, casing deformations, considerable oil production losses, and an increase in the production decline of offset wells. Additionally, difficulties in managing large volumes of produced water due to the frac hit were identified. It was observed that second-line receivers present considerably smaller effects compared to first-line receivers, that frac hits can occur between landings only in certain cases, and it was found that clustering numerous fractures using diversion technology amplifies the effects of frac hits, potentially impacting wells located over 1400m away. Through this study, it is possible to estimate frac hit events, considering various factors such as proximity to the source well, BHFP of the offset well, degree of overlap between both wells, among others. Based on this information, quantitative estimations of the duration of the frac hit, oil losses, water production, time required for the bottomhole pressure to return to its pre-frac hit state, and other relevant aspects were made. Measures were implemented to mitigate the consequences of frac hits, such as pressure barriers between the fractured wells and offset wells, securing neighboring wells, opening the size of choke to facilitate water drainage, and reducing the size of choke in case of sand production.
- South America > Argentina > Patagonia Region (1.00)
- South America > Argentina > Neuquén Province > Neuquén (1.00)
- South America > Argentina > Patagonia > Neuquén > Neuquen Basin > Vaca Muerta Shale Formation (0.99)
- South America > Argentina > Patagonia > Neuquén > Neuquen Basin > Vaca Muerta Field > Vaca Muerta Shale Formation (0.99)
- South America > Argentina > Patagonia > Neuquén > Neuquen Basin > Tordillo Formation (0.99)
- South America > Argentina > Patagonia > Neuquén > Neuquen Basin > Quintuco Formation (0.99)
Abstract The Permian Basin is currently the most active unconventional resource play in North America. The combination of high quality Petrophysical and Geomechanical characteristics together with advances in horizontal drilling, and completion innovations in hydraulic fracturing has allowed the successful development of several stacked reservoir targets within this basin. This paper focuses on horizontal wells targeting different benches, from Wolfcamp to the First Bone Spring formation. It presents the use of reservoir flow facies defined from the guidance of the geological and petrophysical facies to predict best potential landing targets. These flow-quality facies were created using machine learning techniques. Geological and petrophysical facies were initially defined using 756 petrophysical wells, 9 facies training wells and 64 "high tier wells" with NMR, Sonic and Minerology logs. 34 Core-calibrated petrophysical models were also incorporated. Rock mechanical facies were defined from sonic and geological data integrated with closure pressure gradients, net pressure and end-of-job shut-in pressure matching for hundreds of fracture treatment stages. Through an integrated multidomain workflow combined with experience from neighboring areas, 14 Production Quality Faces were defined from the combination of 9 Geo-Facies and 11 Rock Quality Facies This facies definition evolved into a 3D geo-model, where sector models were cut across multiple areas of interest where engineering datasets (micro-seismic, DFIT, core data, etc) existed. Finally, several poro-perm relations and facies-based relative permeability curves were defined through the history-matching of production data. Using the presented workflow, different potential landing targets in the Delaware Basin were evaluated for optimal development strategies, from Avalon to Wolfcamp A. Machine-Learning Based Facies Model for the Permian Basin A series of property-specific machine learning based facies models were created using a set of training wells spread across the Permian Basin and extending from the Upper Bone Springs through Wolfcamp-A formations. The model is underpinned by the wireline logs and is extended to three coupled discipline-centric facies sets. The first of these is the Reservoir Quality Facies (RQF), which discriminates the porosity, saturation and kerogen properties of the reservoir independent of geologic characteristics. Next is the Geofacies (GF), which does the reverse. It discriminates the mineralogic properties of the formation independent of the pore system. Third is the Geomechanical Facies (GMF), which discriminates the mechanical properties of the rock independent of the other influences. Each of these coupled facies sets allows for independent analysis but can be combined to produce additional facies sets that can be used for a 3D reservoir model. For this purpose, the GF and RQF were cross-tabulated to produce Production Quality Facies, PQF. This interplay of RQF and GF shows how the mineralogy (independent porosity/saturation) and porosity/saturation (independent mineralogy) relate. It is the combination of these two fundamental properties sets that describes expected flow behavior but by providing the fundamental inputs (porosity and mineralogy) separately, we can also evaluate them independently. This is a benefit of having discrete coupled sets of property facies.
- North America > United States > Texas (1.00)
- North America > United States > New Mexico (1.00)
- South America > Argentina > Neuquén Province > Neuquén (0.28)
- Geophysics > Seismic Surveying (1.00)
- Geophysics > Borehole Geophysics (1.00)
- South America > Argentina > Patagonia > Neuquén > Neuquen Basin > Vaca Muerta Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Permian Basin > Yeso Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Permian Basin > Yates Formation (0.99)
- (27 more...)
Key Takeaways - Controlling identified hazards is not enough to keep the risk as low as practically possible. - Also affecting risk is another category called constraints or error traps. They are often identified in incident investigation reports but are not typically included in risk assessment. Factors such as outdated procedures, correct tools not available and two valves that look the same constrain the choices that people have, influence decisions and increase the likelihood of error. - People often adapt to these constraints in a way that allows for completing the task without an incident but very rarely these adaptations contribute to an event. This is called normal work. The same adaptations are a source of both success (no incident) and failure (incident). - Identifying constraints without an incident requires a different way of thinking about incident causation. A new approach is needed to understand how people adapt, what they adapt to and how it affects risk. - This article introduces how to learn from normal work and outlines practical tools that can be used to proactively identify constraints. _ As important as it is to learn from failure, it is too late. High-risk industries constantly strive to improve safety by learning from past incidents (Lindberg et al., 2010). However, companies that have successfully reduced incidents face a new set of challenges. The small injury rate can no longer accurately reflect safety performance (Cadieux et al., 2006), and simply focusing on behaviors and unsafe conditions is not enough to further reduce risk (Hendricks & Peres, 2021). A fresh approach is needed to learn and improve in the absence of unintended events. The concepts presented in this article are based on safety science but are not limited to any field or school of thought. The text draws from a range of sources, including Safety-II, human and organizational performance, human performance improvement, human factors, engineering psychology, systems thinking, resilience engineering and cognitive psychology.
- North America > United States (0.46)
- Asia > Middle East > Israel > Mediterranean Sea (0.24)
- Health & Medicine (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Health, Safety, Environment & Sustainability > Safety > Human factors (engineering and behavioral aspects) (0.68)
- Health, Safety, Environment & Sustainability > Health > Ergonomics (0.68)
- Management > Risk Management and Decision-Making > Risk, uncertainty, and risk assessment (0.49)
- Health, Safety, Environment & Sustainability > Safety > Operational safety (0.46)
Abstract Mining processes can lead to groundwater contamination as chemicals and metals from the rocks leach into nearby water. This study examined the chemical makeup of highly saline water, a byproduct of oil production, from two sources in the Bakken shale, North Dakota. These samples had extremely high total dissolved solids (257,000mg/L) and hardness (>52,000 mg/L as CaCO3) but very low alkalinity (152.4 ± 184.9 mg/L as CaCO3). To extract the salts, agents like caustic soda (NaOH), lime Ca(OH)2, and Soda ash NaCO3 were added to the samples at 24°C. Caustic soda proved ineffective, but the softening process was successful with jar tests. Advanced analysis was done using ICP-MS. Lime and soda ash effectively removed 99.5% of hardness ions (Ca and Mg) in alkaline conditions. Specifically, lime treatment reduced Mg ions by 98.17% at pH 11.5 but increased Ca ions by 12.10%. Adjusting the pH by adding soda ash saw decreases to 10.3 at one site, removing 47.77% and 53.3% of Mg and Ca ions, respectively. Thus, lime effectively reduces Mg levels but is less effective for Ca, while soda ash is proficient in removing Ca from the water.
- North America > United States > North Dakota (1.00)
- North America > United States > Montana (1.00)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline > Geomechanics (0.55)
- Geology > Structural Geology > Tectonics (0.46)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock > Mudrock (0.36)
- Geology > Petroleum Play Type > Unconventional Play > Shale Play > Shale Oil Play (0.34)
- Materials > Chemicals > Commodity Chemicals (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Government > Regional Government > North America Government > United States Government (0.69)
- Water & Waste Management > Water Management > Lifecycle > Treatment (0.46)
Key Takeaways - The American workforce has a disproportionate work-at-height fatality rate due to excessive reliance on ineffective control methods. - Safety professionals must influence a paradigm shift—a fundamental change in approach—among those who only associate working at height with the use of harness-based methods. - When harness-based fall protection systems are the only feasible choice, safety professionals must ensure that workers have the processes in place needed for protection, such as training, procedures and supervision. _ It is time to establish new thinking around the planning and execution of work at height. In the U.S. today, two protection methods lie at opposite ends of the control spectrum with too wide a chasm between them. At one end of the spectrum, the preferred method is to eliminate or engineer out the hazards during the design and construction phases to the extent that they simply do not exist or are dramatically reduced. At the other end, harness-based controls occupy a virtually unchallenged role in attempting to protect workers against the outcomes of fall incidents. The phrase “The worker wasn’t wearing fall protection” assumes too much about the effectiveness of PPE controls for work at height exposures. Safety professionals are in a unique position to lead the conversation toward a paradigm shift, especially for those who only associate fall protection with PPE. Two fundamental changes can drastically improve safety for work at height. First, organizations should focus on methods to control fall hazard risk without the use of harness-based systems. Second, when these systems are the only feasible option, organizations must provide for more comprehensive application of these tools.
- Law (1.00)
- Health & Medicine (1.00)
- Banking & Finance (0.69)
- Government > Regional Government > North America Government > United States Government (0.51)
Ride control systems are often implemented to reduce vessel motions. However, modern ride control systems are prone to experiencing a phase lag between the wave-induced motions and the control system’s actuation. The phase lag limits the system’s ability to dampen vessel motions and reduces the system’s effectiveness. To investigate a possible improvement to modern systems, an artificial neural network-based controller, trained by potential flow simulations, was used to prescribe the optimum future actuation of a ride control system. By prescribing the optimum future actuation in anticipation of system delays, phase lag can be mitigated.
- Transportation (0.93)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (0.48)
The paper discusses the methodology for and performance improvements gained using the patent pending 100 Bond® Laser Babbitting Process developed by Wartsila Shaft Line Solutions. This process is currently being used at the Wartsila Iberica facility for commercial Line Shaft and Thrust Bearings. The discussion covers various testing that has been performed including testing that was 2188 for ASTM B23 Grade 2 Babbitt in accordance with DOD-STD-2183. Fatigue, hardness and bond strength are all improved from the refined microstructure of the babbitting material. The automated process eliminates the various chemicals used in traditional babbitt casting as well as the handling of molten babbitt providing significant reduction of the environmental concerns, health & safety risks and quality control issues. Together these benefits allow for improved bearing repairability, ability to produce more complex bearing shell geometries on a wide variety of base metals, and overall improvement of the hydrodynamic bearing performance.
- Materials > Metals & Mining (1.00)
- Materials > Chemicals (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (0.93)
- Government > Regional Government > North America Government > United States Government (0.34)
What Is a Serious Injury? A Model for Defining Serious Injuries & Fatalities
Bayona, Arnaldo (Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA), University of Colorado Boulder) | Bhandari, Siddharth (Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA)) | Hallowell, Matthew (Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA), University of Colorado Boulder / Safety Function LLC) | Sherratt, Fred (Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA)) | Bailey, Jennifer M. (Center-Point Energy) | Upton, James (_)
Key Takeaways - Assessments indicate that there is no consistent understanding of the word “serious” and there is considerable noise in the classification of the same case by multiple people. - An expert panel used literature from medicine, military, engineering and other disciplines to create the empirical criteria that define a serious injury—the LIFE model. - A controlled experiment revealed that the LIFE model is reliable, significantly decreases noise, and serves as the foundation for professional collaboration and scientific advancement. _ In recent years, the term “serious injury and fatality” (SIF) has become increasingly popular. Companies have created SIF prevention programs, institutes have launched SIF prevention initiatives and the state of California has even established regulatory requirements for reporting potential SIFs (CPUC, 2019). However, despite this momentum, there is no common definition for a serious injury that transcends organizational boundaries. As a result, it is unclear whether people mean the same thing when using the terms “SIF” or “potential SIF.” Several research organizations, regulatory bodies and institutes have attempted to define a serious injury (NSC, 2020) but, as summarized in Figure 1 (p. 24), there are considerable differences among the approaches. For example, some definitions attempt to explain the word “serious” (known as an intensional definition), while others are based on a list of injury types that are considered serious (known as an extensional definition). In the case of serious injuries, an extensional definition requires creating a comprehensive list of serious injuries that applies across all occupational settings. Extensional definitions are generally less mature and must be updated every time a new incident type is encountered. Alternatively, intensional definitions tend to be preferred because they assign meaning to a concept, phenomenon or occurrence, making them more robust and scientifically useful. As the use of the term “serious” becomes more pervasive, a precise intensional definition is needed that allows people to unambiguously determine what is a serious injury and, perhaps more importantly, what is not serious.
- Research Report > New Finding (1.00)
- Research Report > Experimental Study (1.00)
- Health & Medicine > Therapeutic Area (1.00)
- Government > Regional Government > North America Government > United States Government (1.00)
- Energy (1.00)
- (2 more...)
A Design Method of Submarine Pipeline Burial Depth Based on the Penetration Depth of Emergency Anchoring
Gao, Pan (College of Marine Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University / College of Merchant Marine, Shanghai Maritime University) | Gao, Yanling (College of Marine Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University) | Shi, Danda (College of Marine Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University) | Liu, Yihua (CCCC Shanghai Waterway Survey and Design Institute Co.) | Zeng, Jianfeng (_)
ABSTRACT Emergency anchoring is one of the main causes of damage to submarine pipelines and one of the main factors to be considered in the design of pipeline protection. Based on the existing regulatory requirements and literature review, and combined with engineering experience, this paper systematically proposes a design method for the burial depth of submarine pipelines. First, factors to be considered in the design of pipeline burial depth are analyzed, and the general process of burial depth design is proposed. In the method, the burial depth is determined by summing up the penetration depth of emergency anchoring, the depth of seabed scouring and the safety margin. Second, calculation methods of the impact velocity and the penetration depth of dropped anchors during emergency anchoring are introduced. A finite element model to predict the penetration depth of dropped anchors is also introduced. Then, a finite element method to simulate the anchor dragging process is proposed. It is based on the equivalent chain method, in which the equivalent cylinder is identical to the actual anchor chain in terms of mass, length and bearing capacity. Finally, the proposed method is applied in a real engineering case, which shows a good applicability of the method. The proposed method is of certain significance for the design of the submarine pipeline burial depth. INTRODUCTION Submarine pipelines are widely used in offshore oil and gas transportation due to their high efficiency and large capacity (Bai and Bai, 2005). However, anchoring, fishing and other human activities pose a serious threat to their structural safety. Statistics show that the third-party damage such as anchoring is one of the main causes of submarine pipeline failure in China, accounting for 33% (see Fig. 1) (Wang and Liu, 2017). These failures may lead to oil and gas leaks and pollution of the maritime environment, so submarine pipelines should be properly protected from third-party damages (Xie et al., 2006).
ABSTRACT The digital twinning is an important aspect of the evolving vessel management systems to reduce fuel consumption and predict operational parameters along the cruise route. Although the digital twinning of the vessels heavily operates on "pre-loaded" resistance data and engine parameters, it is becoming more important to generate real-time hydrodynamic & aerodynamic resistance data during cruising, with incoming weather, sea current and vessel trim/damage floating conditions along the route. For this purpose, the author aimed to develop a faster CFD methodology & algorithm to calculate the hydrodynamic & aerodynamic resistances, and then send the output to the digital twinning software of the vessel. The author aimed to develop a CFD code and algorithm that can be embedded to any Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) or Vessel Management Software to generate the resistance data in real time. The complexity of grid generation for RANSE calculations requires high density computer resources which increases the response time of the CFD software and the data flow. The other complexity is the adaptation of the "live cruise parameters" to the CFD software which significantly increases the calculation time. Although most programs focus on hydrodynamic calculation, with the implementation of this algorithm, both aerodynamic and hydrodynamic resistances of the vessel can be calculated at the same time.
- Transportation > Marine (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (0.47)