Sample records for oil exploration development

  1. 50 CFR 296.7 - Burden of proof and presumption of causation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... commercial fishing and was located in an area affected by OCS oil and gas exploration, development, or... associated with oil and gas exploration, development, or production activities on the Outer Continental Shelf... by items associated with oil and gas exploration, development, or production activities on the OCS if...

  2. Countermeasure Study on Deep-sea Oil Exploitation in the South China Sea——A Comparison between Deep-sea Oil Exploitation in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Mexico

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Hui; Qiu, Weiting; Qu, Weilu

    2018-02-01

    The unpromising situation of terrestrial oil resources makes the deep-sea oil industry become an important development strategy. The South China Sea has a vast sea area with a wide distribution of oil and gas resources, but there is a phenomenon that exploration and census rates and oil exploitation are low. In order to solve the above problems, this article analyzes the geology, oil and gas exploration and exploration equipment in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Comparing the political environment of China and the United States energy industry and the economic environment of oil companies, this article points out China’s deep-sea oil exploration and mining problems that may exist. Finally, the feasibility of oil exploration and exploitation in the South China Sea is put forward, which will provide reference to improve the conditions of oil exploration in the South China Sea and promoting the stable development of China’s oil industry.

  3. 43 CFR 3930.30 - Diligent development milestones.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.30 Diligent development milestones. (a) Operators must diligently develop the oil shale resources consistent with the terms and...

  4. 43 CFR 3930.30 - Diligent development milestones.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.30 Diligent development milestones. (a) Operators must diligently develop the oil shale resources consistent with the terms and...

  5. 43 CFR 3930.30 - Diligent development milestones.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.30 Diligent development milestones. (a) Operators must diligently develop the oil shale resources consistent with the terms and...

  6. RISK REDUCTION WITH A FUZZY EXPERT EXPLORATION TOOL

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Robert S. Balch; Ron Broadhead

    2005-03-01

    Incomplete or sparse data such as geologic or formation characteristics introduce a high level of risk for oil exploration and development projects. ''Expert'' systems developed and used in several disciplines and industries have demonstrated beneficial results when working with sparse data. State-of-the-art expert exploration tools, relying on a database, and computer maps generated by neural networks and user inputs, have been developed through the use of ''fuzzy'' logic, a mathematical treatment of imprecise or non-explicit parameters and values. Oil prospecting risk has been reduced with the use of these properly verified and validated ''Fuzzy Expert Exploration (FEE) Tools.'' Through themore » course of this project, FEE Tools and supporting software were developed for two producing formations in southeast New Mexico. Tools of this type can be beneficial in many regions of the U.S. by enabling risk reduction in oil and gas prospecting as well as decreased prospecting and development costs. In today's oil industry environment, many smaller exploration companies lack the resources of a pool of expert exploration personnel. Downsizing, volatile oil prices, and scarcity of domestic exploration funds have also affected larger companies, and will, with time, affect the end users of oil industry products in the U.S. as reserves are depleted. The FEE Tools benefit a diverse group in the U.S., allowing a more efficient use of scarce funds, and potentially reducing dependence on foreign oil and providing lower product prices for consumers.« less

  7. Oil and gas exploration in Egypt past, present, and future

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Halim, M.A.

    1995-08-01

    Egypt was among the early countries in which exploration for hydrocarbons took place. Back to 1886 when the first oil discovery was achieved and since then exploration operations were carried out covering almost every prospective area in Egypt. The history of oil exploration in Egypt passed through six stages, each of which is characterized by its own activities and reflects the impact of certain developments not only in the applied exploration techniques, but also in the work style and prevailing exploration concepts, in addition to the development in the agreement terms. Six areas could add new oil and gas reservesmore » to Egypt, namely: N. Sinai (onshore and offshore); Nile Delta (onshore and offshore); Western Desert (onshore and offshore); Nile Valley; Red Sea; and the Gulf of Aqaba. Such areas have the prerequisites for commercial oil and/or gas accumulations including potential source rocks, good reservoirs and adequate traps in addition to effective seals. It is believed that the undiscovered oil and gas reserves of Egypt could be several times that which have been discovered so far.« less

  8. Exploration and development offshore southern Vietnam

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ferguson, A.M.

    1996-01-01

    In Vietnam, the major focus of the oil and gas industry is on the Nam Con Son and Cuu Long Basins in the southern offshore area. Major licensing first occurred here in the early 1970s. Some exploration was also undertaken by foreign companies in the early 1980s. In 1981, the Soviet Union undertook to assist Vietnam with the development of oil and gas. Vietsovpetro, a joint venture between the then Soviet Oil and Gas Ministry and the Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation was formed. Most of Vietsovpetro's efforts have been to develop the Bach Ho field in the Cuu Longmore » Basin. This now produces [approximately]130000 bopd. The most recent large scale licensing round occurred in 1992, and, at present, there are over thirty foreign companies active in these Basins' blocks . The first phase of exploration is ending and successes in the Nam Con Son Basin include the BP-led Lan Tay/Lan Do gas discoveries and Pedco's gas discoveries. Mitsubishi's and Petronas' oil discoveries in the Cuu Long Basin have attracted much attention also. The Dai Hung oil field (BHP-operated) has been producing since late 1994. Certain blocks are being appraised, and exploration work is also continuing. Areas of the Cuu Long Basin that were part of Vietsovpetro's acreage, but which may soon be re-licensed, have generated keen interest. The presence of an active upstream industry - exploring, appraising, developing and producing - indicates the emergence of Vietnam as an important East Asian oil and gas player.« less

  9. 50 CFR 18.126 - What does a Letter of Authorization allow?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... Oil and Gas Exploration, Development, and Production Activities in the Beaufort Sea and Adjacent...) Developing oil fields and associated activities; (4) Drilling production wells and performing production support operations; (5) Conducting environmental monitoring activities associated with exploration...

  10. 50 CFR 18.126 - What does a Letter of Authorization allow?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... Oil and Gas Exploration, Development, and Production Activities in the Beaufort Sea and Adjacent...) Developing oil fields and associated activities; (4) Drilling production wells and performing production support operations; (5) Conducting environmental monitoring activities associated with exploration...

  11. 50 CFR 18.126 - What does a Letter of Authorization allow?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... Oil and Gas Exploration, Development, and Production Activities in the Beaufort Sea and Adjacent...) Developing oil fields and associated activities; (4) Drilling production wells and performing production support operations; (5) Conducting environmental monitoring activities associated with exploration...

  12. Exploration and development offshore southern Vietnam

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ferguson, A.M.

    1996-12-31

    In Vietnam, the major focus of the oil and gas industry is on the Nam Con Son and Cuu Long Basins in the southern offshore area. Major licensing first occurred here in the early 1970s. Some exploration was also undertaken by foreign companies in the early 1980s. In 1981, the Soviet Union undertook to assist Vietnam with the development of oil and gas. Vietsovpetro, a joint venture between the then Soviet Oil and Gas Ministry and the Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation was formed. Most of Vietsovpetro`s efforts have been to develop the Bach Ho field in the Cuu Longmore » Basin. This now produces {approximately}130000 bopd. The most recent large scale licensing round occurred in 1992, and, at present, there are over thirty foreign companies active in these Basins` blocks . The first phase of exploration is ending and successes in the Nam Con Son Basin include the BP-led Lan Tay/Lan Do gas discoveries and Pedco`s gas discoveries. Mitsubishi`s and Petronas` oil discoveries in the Cuu Long Basin have attracted much attention also. The Dai Hung oil field (BHP-operated) has been producing since late 1994. Certain blocks are being appraised, and exploration work is also continuing. Areas of the Cuu Long Basin that were part of Vietsovpetro`s acreage, but which may soon be re-licensed, have generated keen interest. The presence of an active upstream industry - exploring, appraising, developing and producing - indicates the emergence of Vietnam as an important East Asian oil and gas player.« less

  13. The nexus of oil, conflict, and climate change vulnerability of pastoral communities in northwest Kenya

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schilling, J.; Locham, R.; Weinzierl, T.; Vivekananda, J.; Scheffran, J.

    2015-11-01

    Turkana, in northwest Kenya, is the country's poorest and least developed county. Pastoralism in Turkana is well adapted to the harsh climatic conditions, but an increase in drought frequency associated with global climate change and intensifying violent conflicts between pastoral groups poses significant challenges for local communities. The conflicts are especially violent in the border region between the Turkana and the Pokot communities. In this very region significant oil reserves have recently been found. The first aim of this paper is to analyse how the oil exploration affects the communities' vulnerability to climate change. Secondly, the paper explores the risk of the oil explorations creating new conflicts or aggravating existing ones. The primary method of the study is qualitative field research supplemented with a geo-spatial analysis of conflict data. The field research was conducted in October 2013 and April 2014 in three villages with different levels of engagement with the oil exploration. At the time of the research, oil exploration was expected close to Lokwamosing, while it had recently started in the vicinity of Lopii and had been ongoing for a longer time close to Nakukulas. The findings suggest that the oil exploration increases the community's vulnerability to climate change. Further, unmet community expectations for water, employment and development pose a significant risk for violent conflict between local communities and the operating oil company. Intercommunal conflict over water and land could increase as well.

  14. Global climate change implications for coastal and offshore oil and gas development

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Burkett, V.

    2011-01-01

    The discussion and debate about climate change and oil and gas resource development has generally focused on how fossil fuel use affects the Earth's climate. This paper explores how the changing climate is likely to affect oil and gas operations in low-lying coastal areas and the outer continental shelf. Oil and gas production in these regions comprises a large sector of the economies of many energy producing nations. Six key climate change drivers in coastal and marine regions are characterized with respect to oil and gas development: changes in carbon dioxide levels and ocean acidity, air and water temperature, precipitation patterns, the rate of sea level rise, storm intensity, and wave regime. These key drivers have the potential to independently and cumulatively affect coastal and offshore oil and gas exploration, production, and transportation, and several impacts of climate change have already been observed in North America. ?? 2011.

  15. Hyperspectral remote sensing detection of petroleum hydrocarbons in mixtures with mineral substrates: Implications for onshore exploration and monitoring

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Scafutto, Rebecca Del'Papa Moreira; de Souza Filho, Carlos Roberto; de Oliveira, Wilson José

    2017-06-01

    Remote detection and mapping of hydrocarbons (PHCs) in situ in continental areas is still an operational challenge due to the small scale of the occurrences and the mix of spectral signatures of PHCs and mineral substrates in imagery pixels. Despite the increasing development of new technologies, the use of hyperspectral remote sensing data as a complementary tool for both oil exploration and environmental monitoring is not standard in the oil industry, despite its potential. The high spectral resolution of hyperspectral images allows the direct identification of PHCs on the surface and provides valuable information regarding the location and spread of oil spills that can assist in containment and cleanup operations. Combining the spectral information with statistical techniques also offers the potential to improve exploration programs focused on the discovery of new exploration fields through the qualitative and quantitative characterization of oil occurrences in onshore areas. In this scenario, the aim of this work was to develop methods that can assist the detection of continental areas affected by natural oil seeps or leaks (crude oils and fuels). A field experiment was designed by impregnating several mineral substrates with crude oils and fuels in varying concentrations. Simultaneous measurements of soil-PHC combinations were taken using both a hand-held spectrometer and an airborne hyperspectral imager. Classification algorithms were used to directly map the PHCs on the surface. Spectral information was submitted to a PLS (partial least square regression) to create a prediction model for the estimation of the concentrations of PHCs in soils. The developed model was able to detect three impregnation levels (low, intermediate, high), predicting values close to the concentrations used in the experiment. Given the quality of the results in controlled experiments, the methods developed in this research show the potential to support the oil industry in the discovery of new oil plays and reservoirs and to define the contamination stage and spread of oil/fuel in areas affected by accidental leaks, improving both exploration and environmental monitoring.

  16. Two decades of hydrocarbon exploration activity in Indonesia

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Suardy, A.; Taruno, J.; Simbolon, P.H.

    1986-07-01

    During the past two decades, hydrocarbon exploration activity within Indonesia has been based on the Indonesian Energy Policy, aims of which include intensifying and expanding hydrocarbon exploration programs. Expansion into the offshore regions of the nation has resulted in the discovery of petroliferous basins. The first offshore oil production came on stream in 1971. Since then, significant achievements have been made in developing these resources. Intensified onshore exploration has resulted in additional oil fields being discovered in these more mature areas. Among the significant gas fields discovered during the past 20 years, Arun and Badak both supply major LNG projects.more » Oil fields have been found in the onshore areas of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, and Irian Jaya, and in the offshore areas around West Java, Madura, Natuna, and East Kalimantan. The exploration drilling success during this time has been approximately 32%. In addition, the ratio of oil field development to these discoveries is about 54%. For technical and economic reasons, not all discoveries can be developed into oil fields. Recently, Pertamina's Research and Development Division organized the study of data contributed by Pertamina exploration, foreign contractors, and science institutes. This study reveals that 60 basins are spread throughout the onshore and offshore areas of the nation. Using PAUS (plan and analysis of uncertainty situation), a Monte Carolo simulation program, the hydrocarbon potential of each basin has been estimated. These estimates will be continually revised as more data are made available to the study, as the geology of Indonesia is better understood in terms of plate tectonic theory, and as computing techniques improve.« less

  17. International Oil and Gas Exploration and Development

    EIA Publications

    1993-01-01

    Presents country level data on oil reserves, oil production, active drilling rigs, seismic crews, wells drilled, oil reserve additions, and oil reserve to production ratios (R/P ratios) for about 85 countries, where available, from 1970 through 1991. World and regional summaries are given in both tabular and graphical form.

  18. 43 CFR 3900.40 - Multiple use development of leased or licensed lands.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... (Continued) BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) OIL SHALE MANAGEMENT-GENERAL Oil Shale Management-Introduction § 3900.40 Multiple use development of leased or licensed... production of deposits of oil shale does not preclude the BLM from issuing other exploration licenses or...

  19. 43 CFR 3900.40 - Multiple use development of leased or licensed lands.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... (Continued) BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR RANGE MANAGEMENT (4000) OIL SHALE MANAGEMENT-GENERAL Oil Shale Management-Introduction § 3900.40 Multiple use development of leased or licensed... production of deposits of oil shale does not preclude the BLM from issuing other exploration licenses or...

  20. 43 CFR 3900.40 - Multiple use development of leased or licensed lands.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... (Continued) BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) OIL SHALE MANAGEMENT-GENERAL Oil Shale Management-Introduction § 3900.40 Multiple use development of leased or licensed... production of deposits of oil shale does not preclude the BLM from issuing other exploration licenses or...

  1. 43 CFR 3900.40 - Multiple use development of leased or licensed lands.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... (Continued) BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) OIL SHALE MANAGEMENT-GENERAL Oil Shale Management-Introduction § 3900.40 Multiple use development of leased or licensed... production of deposits of oil shale does not preclude the BLM from issuing other exploration licenses or...

  2. Petroleum geology of Choctaw County, Alabama

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Myers, J.D.

    The first commercial oil production in the State of Alabama was established in Choctaw County in 1944 when H.L. Hunt discovered Gilbertown field. Gilbertown produces oil from the Selma and Eutaw formations of Upper Cretaceous Age. During 1967, Toxey field was discovered by E.L. Erickson and Choctaw Ridge was discovered by C. Pruet and D. Hughes. These 2 discoveries initiated the successful Smackover oil exploration in Choctaw County which is continuing today. This study deals primarily with the petroleum geology of the Smackover Formation of Jurassic Age. The detailed stratigraphic and structural geology of several Smackover oil fields in Choctawmore » County is examined to illustrate geological concepts developed while exploring the Smackover. Factors influencing porosity development are emphasized and suggestions are made for future exploration in the Choctaw trend of Alabama.« less

  3. SEASAT economic assessment. Volume 3: Offshore oil and natural gas industry case study and generalization

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1975-01-01

    The economic benefits of improved ocean condition, weather and ice forecasts by SEASAT satellites to the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas in the offshore regions are considered. The results of case studies which investigate the effects of forecast accuracy on offshore operations in the North Sea, the Celtic Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico are reported. A methodology for generalizing the results to other geographic regions of offshore oil and natural gas exploration and development is described.

  4. 76 FR 29218 - Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Alaska Department of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-05-20

    ... oil and gas pipelines. While subsequent efforts by industry to develop infrastructure such as oil and gas pipelines and their associated components are reasonably foreseeable, these elements are not... Highway to Umiat, to increase access to potential oil and gas resources for exploration and development...

  5. No vintage year ahead, but it will be better than '89

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Garb, F.A.

    1989-12-01

    Activities in the upstream petroleum industry react to prices received for hydrocarbons and related products. Prices, in turn, are the result of supply, demand, politics and emotions. The author presents a forecast of 1990 oil industry activities and reviews the status of the pressures establishing oil and gas. According to this analysis, 1990 should be the first of a series of transition years. Oil and gas prices should be more stable than in the past. It will not be good drilling year, but will not be as bad as 1989. Gas exploration will again dominate exploration drilling. Development drilling willmore » account for more wells, if not for more budget dollars than exploration, with horizontal drilling developments being monitored closely industry-wide. Consolidation of mature producing properties into independent oil companies will continue. Decline in domestic production and an increase in hydrocarbon use and in imports should continue.« less

  6. 77 FR 48542 - United States

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-08-14

    ... subsurface oil and natural gas on these federal lands. Private parties, such as oil and gas companies, typically acquire oil and gas leases on federal lands at regional auctions conducted by the BLM. Defendants GEC and SGI are oil and gas companies engaged in the exploration and development of natural gas...

  7. The impact of oil revenues on Arab Gulf development

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    El Azhary, M.S.

    1984-01-01

    As the price of oil falls the pressures on the Arab Gulf States to speed up the diversification of their economies into non-oil sectors increases. This book examines this problem and other issues connected with the impact of oil revenues on development in the Gulf States. It considers changing oil production policies and developments in other sectors of the economy including agriculture, industry and banking. It explores population problems, moves toward Gulf economic co-ordination and the impact of oil on society, culture and education. The book provides an assessment of how much the region depends on oil for its economicmore » prosperity and its development and it provides some indication of the problems that would face the region should the demand for oil decrease still further.« less

  8. Formulation of US international energy policies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    1980-09-01

    To find out how the United States develops international energy policy, GAO reviewed five major energy issues covering the period from early 1977 through 1979. The issues are: vulnerabilities to petroleum supply interruptions; long term national security strategy on imported oil prices; export of U.S. oil and gas production equipment and technology to the Soviety Union; World Bank initiatives to assist in financing oil and gas exploration and development in oil-importing developing countries; and the role of gas imports relative to the nation's future sources of gas.

  9. 75 FR 80717 - Increased Safety Measures for Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf; Availability...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-12-23

    ... 211111, Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction and 213111, Drilling Oil and Gas Wells. For these... identify measures necessary to improve the safety of oil and gas exploration and development on the Outer Continental Shelf in light of the Deepwater Horizon event on April 20, 2010, and resulting oil spill. To...

  10. Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) for the Upstream (Oil Exploration and Production) Sector

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    The SPCC rule requires facilities to develop, maintain, and implement an oil spill prevention plan, called an SPCC Plan. These plans help facilities prevent oil spill, as well as control a spill should one occur.

  11. 30 CFR 206.101 - What definitions apply to this subpart?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... subsurface oil and gas reservoirs and encompassing at least the outermost boundaries of all oil and gas accumulations known within those reservoirs, vertically projected to the land surface. State oil and gas... authorizes exploration for, development or extraction of, or removal of oil or gas—or the land area covered...

  12. 30 CFR 1206.101 - What definitions apply to this subpart?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... subsurface oil and gas reservoirs and encompassing at least the outermost boundaries of all oil and gas accumulations known within those reservoirs, vertically projected to the land surface. State oil and gas... authorizes exploration for, development or extraction of, or removal of oil or gas—or the land area covered...

  13. 30 CFR 550.101 - Authority and applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... energy resource development with protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments; (3) Ensure... 550.101 Mineral Resources BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFSHORE OIL... Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to regulate oil, gas, and sulphur exploration, development, and...

  14. 30 CFR 550.101 - Authority and applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... energy resource development with protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments; (3) Ensure... 550.101 Mineral Resources BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFSHORE OIL... Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to regulate oil, gas, and sulphur exploration, development, and...

  15. 30 CFR 550.101 - Authority and applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... energy resource development with protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments; (3) Ensure... 550.101 Mineral Resources BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFSHORE OIL... Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to regulate oil, gas, and sulphur exploration, development, and...

  16. Economic Geology (Oil & Gas)

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Geotimes, 1972

    1972-01-01

    Briefly reviews the worldwide developments in petroleum geology in 1971, including exploration, new fields, and oil production. This report is condensed from the October Bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. (PR)

  17. 30 CFR 559.002 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... explore for, or develop, or produce (or to do any or all of these) oil and gas, coal, oil shale, tar sands, and geothermal resources on lands or interests in lands under Federal jurisdiction. Gas means natural... direct all oil and gas operations and to perform other duties prescribed in this chapter. Director means...

  18. 30 CFR 559.002 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... explore for, or develop, or produce (or to do any or all of these) oil and gas, coal, oil shale, tar sands, and geothermal resources on lands or interests in lands under Federal jurisdiction. Gas means natural... direct all oil and gas operations and to perform other duties prescribed in this chapter. Director means...

  19. 30 CFR 559.002 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... explore for, or develop, or produce (or to do any or all of these) oil and gas, coal, oil shale, tar sands, and geothermal resources on lands or interests in lands under Federal jurisdiction. Gas means natural... direct all oil and gas operations and to perform other duties prescribed in this chapter. Director means...

  20. 75 FR 29996 - Review of MMS NEPA Policies, Practices, and Procedures for OCS Oil and Gas Exploration and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-05-28

    ... Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) policies, practices, and procedures for the Minerals Management Service (MMS... applies NEPA in its management of Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas exploration and development and make recommendations for revisions. The scope of the review is intended to be holistic, i.e. from leasing decisions to...

  1. Features of the marketing strategy of oil and gas companies in exploration drilling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sharf, I.; Malanina, V.; Kamynina, L.

    2014-08-01

    The implementation of national and regional programs for the development of new oil and gas provinces of Eastern Siberia poses the challenge of increasing geological exploration. The current drilling service companies' market structure, as well as the strategic task of search and exploration effectiveness requires qualitatively new approaches for choosing a contractor. The proposed strategy to select a contractor based on comprehensive analysis of certain groups of industrial, financial, infrastructural criteria allows not only to optimize the costs of exploration activities, but also to minimize preventively the risks of a poor geological exploration. The authors' SWOT- analysis of the marketing strategy of "Gazprom neft" for choosing a contractor outlined the problem of imperfection of the Russian legislation in the sphere of activities of service companies in the oil and gas sector.

  2. Institute on oil and gas law and taxation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ernst, A.C.

    1979-01-01

    This volume contains discussions, by acknowledged authorities, of important legal and tax problems of the oil and gas industries. The articles were delivered in condensed form as lectures during the Thirtieth Annual Institute on Oil and Gas Law and Taxation held by the Southwest Legal Foundation. The following topics are discussed: crude oil issues; natural gas liquid-selected problems in regulation; recent developments in DOE audits of refiners and marketers; contrasting administrative procedures before the DOE, DOE organization - the limit of regulatory power, current major developments in federal natural gas legislation and regulation; dedication and abandonment - problems under sectionmore » 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act; Natural gas pipelines - their regulation and their current problems, current antitrust developments in oil and gas exploration and production; developments in nonregulatory oil and gas law; recent developments in oil and gas taxation; entity selection - an experience in alchemy - a comparison of corporations, partnerships, and joint ventures; foreign money and US oil and gas - tax considerations; 1978 legislative developments in oil and gas taxation; and recapture of intangibles under section 1254. (DC)« less

  3. Washing ashore: The politics of offshore oil in northern Angola

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reed, Kristin Michelle

    This dissertation examines the political ecology of Angolan oil, by exploring state and corporate political economies; historical convergences of violence and capital; and struggles over the costs and benefits of oil production from the perspective of artisanal fishing and farming communities in the extractive zones. Angola is sub-Saharan Africa's second-largest oil producer but revenues from the enclave sector in oil rarely trickle down to the impoverished populace. The Angolan government strategically invests petrodollars in patronage networks to bolster their power; and watchdog agencies claim top officials divert the balance to offshore accounts. While the enclaved nature of production facilitates the restricted distribution of oil monies by concentrating services and revenue streams, the distortions and externalities that bleed out from these enclaves increase the misery of Angolans---especially those living in the extractive zones. By focusing on the lived experience of extraction, I explore the politics of oil through the forms of violence and degradation threatening the lives and livelihoods of local people. Most of Angola's oil is produced from offshore fields, so oil spills present a considerable risk to the health of local communities and ecosystems. The fishers and fish traders suffering from oil spills demand compensation from the liable oil corporations, yet the skewed system of disbursements only reaches the most powerful claimants. Moreover, faced with a repressive and unresponsive government, communities in extractive zones have come to rely on the same corporations for schools and health posts in a system I refer to as oil-backed development. I demonstrate that local histories of violence, national political exigencies, and transnational corporate interests govern the distribution of oil-backed development projects. Furthermore, I argue that the Angolan government leverages corporate donations for development to suit its own exclusionary interests and to gain control over dissidents and resources. In this way, oil-backed development complements more militant forms of territorialization while maintaining the exclusionary institutions and corrupt leadership that deprive Angolans of a fair share of the country's resource wealth.

  4. Petroleum system of Northwest Java basin based on gravity data analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Widianto, E.

    2018-01-01

    Energy management in the upstream oil and gas sector becomes very important for the country’s energy security. The renewal of energy resources and reserves becomes necessary and is a must. In the oil and gas industry, gravity data is usually used only for regional surveys, but with the development of instrumentation technology and gravity software development, this method can be used for assessing oil and gas survey stages from exploration to production. This study was conducted to evaluate aspects of petroleum system and exploration play concept in the part of Northwest Java Basin, covering source rock deposition regions (source kitchen area, migration direction), development of reservoirs, structural and stratigraphic trap, based on gravity data. This study uses data from Bouguer gravity anomaly map by filtering process to produce a residual map depicting sedimentation basin configuration. The mapping generated 20 sedimentary basins in Java Island with the total hydrocarbon resources of 113 BBOE (Billion Barrel of Oil Equivalent). The petroleum system analysis was conducted in the Northwest Basin section. The final map produced illustrates the condition of petroleum system and play concept that can be used as exploration direction, expectedly reducing the risk of drilling failure.

  5. Oil and Gas Development in Southwestern Wyoming - Energy Data and Services for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI)

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Biewick, Laura

    2009-01-01

    The purpose of this report is to explore current oil and gas energy development in the area encompassing the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative. The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative is a long-term science-based effort to ensure southwestern Wyoming's wildlife and habitat remain viable in areas facing development pressure. Wyoming encompasses some of the highest quality wildlife habitats in the Intermountain West. At the same time, this region is an important source of natural gas. Using Geographic Information System technology, energy data pertinent to the conservation decision-making process have been assembled to show historical oil and gas exploration and production in southwestern Wyoming. In addition to historical data, estimates of undiscovered oil and gas are included from the 2002 U.S. Geological Survey National Assessment of Oil and Gas in the Southwestern Wyoming Province. This report is meant to facilitate the integration of existing data with new knowledge and technologies to analyze energy resources development and to assist in habitat conservation planning. The well and assessment data can be accessed and shared among many different clients including, but not limited to, an online web-service for scientists and resource managers engaged in the Initiative.

  6. 77 FR 40380 - Outer Continental Shelf, Gulf of Mexico, Oil and Gas Lease Sales, Western Planning Area Lease...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-07-09

    ... Deepwater Horizon event. The WPA/CPA Supplemental EIS analysis will focus on updating the baseline conditions and potential environmental effects of oil and natural gas leasing, exploration, development, and... Supplemental EIS analysis will focus on the potential environmental effects of oil and natural gas leasing...

  7. Antimicrobial Properties of Plant Essential Oils against Human Pathogens and Their Mode of Action: An Updated Review

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    A wide range of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) have been explored for their essential oils in the past few decades. Essential oils are complex volatile compounds, synthesized naturally in different plant parts during the process of secondary metabolism. Essential oils have great potential in the field of biomedicine as they effectively destroy several bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens. The presence of different types of aldehydes, phenolics, terpenes, and other antimicrobial compounds means that the essential oils are effective against a diverse range of pathogens. The reactivity of essential oil depends upon the nature, composition, and orientation of its functional groups. The aim of this article is to review the antimicrobial potential of essential oils secreted from MAPs and their possible mechanisms of action against human pathogens. This comprehensive review will benefit researchers who wish to explore the potential of essential oils in the development of novel broad-spectrum key molecules against a broad range of drug-resistant pathogenic microbes. PMID:28090211

  8. Vast geologic basins attract Indonesian oil exploration. Pt. 3

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Soeparjadi, R.A.; Slocum, R.C.

    1973-10-01

    This concluding article of a 3-part series describes key geologic features that make Indonesia's S. and E. Kalimantan, Irian Jaya, and S. China Sea areas prime targets for continuing oil and gas exploration. Thick sedimentary basins in E. Kalimantan contain Indonesia'a largest offshore oilfield and other important developments. New reef discoveries in Irian Jaya highlight an extensive exploration effort. Continued drilling in the huge S. China Sea is assured by near commercial shows in recent wildcats. While many thousands of square miles still do not claim a significant discovery, proven successes such as Kalimantan's Attaka field (Indonesia's largest offshore producer)more » and Irian Jaya's new 23,600 bopd Kasim 3 well provide ample incentive for intensive oil searches. Near commercial recoveries of both gas and oil in Indonesia's huge S. China Sea and the recent testing of a 6,000 bopd oil well in nearby Malaysian waters spur interest in the area's W. Natuna and Miri-Seria sedimentary basins.« less

  9. Radar and optical remote sensing in offshore domain to detect, characterize, and quantify ocean surface oil slicks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Angelliaume, S.; Ceamanos, X.; Viallefont-Robinet, F.; Baqué, R.; Déliot, Ph.; Miegebielle, V.

    2017-10-01

    Radar and optical sensors are operationally used by authorities or petroleum companies for detecting and characterizing maritime pollution. The interest lies not only in exploration but also in the monitoring of the maritime environment. Occurrence of natural seeps on the sea surface is a key indicator of the presence of mature source rock in the subsurface. These natural seeps, as well as the oil slicks, are commonly detected using radar sensors but the addition of optical imagery can deliver extra information such as the oil real fraction, which is critical for both exploration purposes and efficient cleanup operations. Today state-of-the-art approaches combine multiple data collected by optical and radar sensors embedded on-board different airborne and spaceborne platforms, to ensure wide spatial coverage and high frequency revisit time. Multi-wavelength imaging system may create a breakthrough in remote sensing applications, but it requires adapted processing techniques that need to be developed. To explore performances offered by multi-wavelength radar and optical sensors for oil slick monitoring, remote sensing data have been collected by SETHI, the airborne system developed by ONERA, during an oil spill cleanup exercise carried out in 2015 in the North Sea, Europe. The uniqueness of this data set lies in its high spatial resolution, low noise level and quasi-simultaneous acquisitions of different part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Specific processing techniques have been developed in order to extract meaningful information associated with oil-covered sea surface. Analysis of this unique and rich dataset demonstrates that remote sensing imagery, collected in both optical and microwave domains, allows to estimate slick surface properties such as the spatial abundance of oil and the relative concentration of hydrocarbons on the sea surface.

  10. Basic taxation of natural resources

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1986-01-01

    This book contains 19 selections. Some of the titles are: Introduction to taxation and natural resources; The economic interest concept; Oil and gas exploration and development expenditures; Percentage depletion for oil and gas; and Mine reclamation and closing expenses.

  11. An evaluation of the science needs to inform decisions on Outer Continental Shelf energy development in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, Alaska

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Holland-Bartels, Leslie; Pierce, Brenda

    2011-01-01

    On March 31, 2010, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a national strategy for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas development. In that announcement, the Administration outlined a three-pronged approach (U.S. Department of the Interior, 2010a): Development: "...expand development and production throughout the Gulf of Mexico, including resource-rich areas of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico..." Exploration: "...expand oil and gas exploration in frontier areas, such as the Arctic Ocean and areas in the Atlantic Ocean, to gather the information necessary to develop resources in the right places and the right ways." Conservation: "...calls for the protection of special areas like Bristol Bay in Alaska...national treasure[s] that we must protect for future generations." In a companion announcement (U.S. Department of the Interior, 2010b), within the Administration's "Exploration" component, the Secretary asked the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct an initial, independent evaluation of the science needs that would inform the Administration's consideration of the right places and the right ways in which to develop oil and gas resources in the Arctic OCS, particularly focused on the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (fig. 1).

  12. PageRank versatility analysis of multilayer modality-based network for exploring the evolution of oil-water slug flow.

    PubMed

    Gao, Zhong-Ke; Dang, Wei-Dong; Li, Shan; Yang, Yu-Xuan; Wang, Hong-Tao; Sheng, Jing-Ran; Wang, Xiao-Fan

    2017-07-14

    Numerous irregular flow structures exist in the complicated multiphase flow and result in lots of disparate spatial dynamical flow behaviors. The vertical oil-water slug flow continually attracts plenty of research interests on account of its significant importance. Based on the spatial transient flow information acquired through our designed double-layer distributed-sector conductance sensor, we construct multilayer modality-based network to encode the intricate spatial flow behavior. Particularly, we calculate the PageRank versatility and multilayer weighted clustering coefficient to quantitatively explore the inferred multilayer modality-based networks. Our analysis allows characterizing the complicated evolution of oil-water slug flow, from the opening formation of oil slugs, to the succedent inter-collision and coalescence among oil slugs, and then to the dispersed oil bubbles. These properties render our developed method particularly powerful for mining the essential flow features from the multilayer sensor measurements.

  13. British firms mark progress off Viet Nam

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1992-11-23

    British companies are making more inroads in exploring for oil and gas off Viet Nam. British Gas plc won a 25 year production sharing contract for a license off southern Viet Nam in the South China Sea. Meantime, London independent Lasmo plc started seismic surveys on the block adjoining the British Gas block. Separately, Thailand and Viet Nam have reached agreement to jointly explore for and develop oil and gas found in waters claimed by both countries. Plans call for the two countries to draw up joint development plans covering oil and gas resources in the southeastern fringe of themore » Gulf of Thailand. Bangkok officials say they would have preferred to delineate maritime boundaries with Hanoi, but opted for the joint development accord, noting that Thailand and Malaysia had taken 12 years to resolve a similar dispute.« less

  14. Bioaccumulation of petroleum hydrocarbons in arctic amphipods in the oil development area of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea.

    PubMed

    Neff, Jerry M; Durell, Gregory S

    2012-04-01

    An objective of a multiyear monitoring program, sponsored by the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management was to examine temporal and spatial changes in chemical and biological characteristics of the Arctic marine environment resulting from offshore oil exploration and development activities in the development area of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea. To determine if petroleum hydrocarbons from offshore oil operations are entering the Beaufort Sea food web, we measured concentrations of hydrocarbons in tissues of amphipods, Anonyx nugax, sediments, Northstar crude oil, and coastal peat, collected between 1999 and 2006 throughout the development area. Mean concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), saturated hydrocarbons (SHC), and sterane and triterpane petroleum biomarkers (StTr) were not significantly different in amphipods near the Northstar oil production facility, before and after it came on line in 2001, and in amphipods from elsewhere in the study area. Forensic analysis of the profiles (relative composition and concentrations) of the 3 hydrocarbon classes revealed that hydrocarbon compositions were different in amphipods, surface sediments where the amphipods were collected, Northstar crude oil, and peat from the deltas of 4 North Slope rivers. Amphipods and sediments contained a mixture of petrogenic, pyrogenic, and biogenic PAH. The SHC in amphipods were dominated by pristane derived from zooplankton, indicating that the SHC were primarily from the amphipod diet of zooplankton detritus. The petroleum biomarker StTr profiles did not resemble those in Northstar crude oil. The forensic analysis revealed that hydrocarbons in amphipod tissues were not from oil production at Northstar. Hydrocarbons in amphipod tissues were primarily from their diet and from river runoff and coastal erosion of natural diagenic and fossil terrestrial materials, including seep oils, kerogens, and peat. Offshore oil and gas exploration and development do not appear to be causing an increase in petroleum hydrocarbon contamination of the Beaufort Sea food web. Copyright © 2011 SETAC.

  15. VSAT: opening new horizons to oil and gas explorations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Al-Dhamen, Muhammad I.

    2002-08-01

    Whether exploring in the Empty Quarter, drilling offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, or monitoring gas pipelines or oil wells in the deserts, communications is a key element to the success of oil and gas operations. Secure, efficient communications is required between remote, isolated locations and head offices to report on work status, dispatch supplies and repairs, report on-site emergencies, transfer geophysical surveys and real-time drilling data. Drilling and exploration firms have traditionally used land-based terrestrial networks that rely on radio transmissions for voice and data communications to offshore platforms and remote deep desert drilling rigs. But these systems are inefficient and have proven inflexible with today's drilling and exploration communications demands, which include high-speed data access, telephone and video conferencing. In response, numerous oil and gas exploration entities working in deep waters and remote deep deserts have all tapped into what is an ideal solution for these needs: Very Small Aperture Terminal Systems (VSAT) for broadband access services. This led to the use of Satellite Communication Systems for a wide range of applications that were difficult to achieve in the past, such as real-time applications transmission of drilling data and seismic information. This paper provides a thorough analysis of opportunities for satellite technology solutions in support of oil and gas operations. Technologies, architecture, service, networking and application developments are discussed based upon real field experience. More specifically, the report addresses: VSAT Opportunities for the Oil and Gas Operations, Corporate Satellite Business Model Findings, Satellite Market Forecasts

  16. Hyperspectral and Radar Airborne Imagery over Controlled Release of Oil at Sea.

    PubMed

    Angelliaume, Sébastien; Ceamanos, Xavier; Viallefont-Robinet, Françoise; Baqué, Rémi; Déliot, Philippe; Miegebielle, Véronique

    2017-08-02

    Remote sensing techniques are commonly used by Oil and Gas companies to monitor hydrocarbon on the ocean surface. The interest lies not only in exploration but also in the monitoring of the maritime environment. Occurrence of natural seeps on the sea surface is a key indicator of the presence of mature source rock in the subsurface. These natural seeps, as well as the oil slicks, are commonly detected using radar sensors but the addition of optical imagery can deliver extra information such as thickness and composition of the detected oil, which is critical for both exploration purposes and efficient cleanup operations. Today, state-of-the-art approaches combine multiple data collected by optical and radar sensors embedded on-board different airborne and spaceborne platforms, to ensure wide spatial coverage and high frequency revisit time. Multi-wavelength imaging system may create a breakthrough in remote sensing applications, but it requires adapted processing techniques that need to be developed. To explore performances offered by multi-wavelength radar and optical sensors for oil slick monitoring, remote sensing data have been collected by SETHI (Système Expérimental de Télédection Hyperfréquence Imageur), the airborne system developed by ONERA (the French Aerospace Lab), during an oil spill cleanup exercise carried out in 2015 in the North Sea, Europe. The uniqueness of this dataset lies in its high spatial resolution, low noise level and quasi-simultaneous acquisitions of different part of the EM spectrum. Specific processing techniques have been developed to extract meaningful information associated with oil-covered sea surface. Analysis of this unique and rich dataset demonstrates that remote sensing imagery, collected in both optical and microwave domains, allows estimating slick surface properties such as the age of the emulsion released at sea, the spatial abundance of oil and the relative concentration of hydrocarbons remaining on the sea surface.

  17. Hyperspectral and Radar Airborne Imagery over Controlled Release of Oil at Sea

    PubMed Central

    Angelliaume, Sébastien; Ceamanos, Xavier; Viallefont-Robinet, Françoise; Baqué, Rémi; Déliot, Philippe

    2017-01-01

    Remote sensing techniques are commonly used by Oil and Gas companies to monitor hydrocarbon on the ocean surface. The interest lies not only in exploration but also in the monitoring of the maritime environment. Occurrence of natural seeps on the sea surface is a key indicator of the presence of mature source rock in the subsurface. These natural seeps, as well as the oil slicks, are commonly detected using radar sensors but the addition of optical imagery can deliver extra information such as thickness and composition of the detected oil, which is critical for both exploration purposes and efficient cleanup operations. Today, state-of-the-art approaches combine multiple data collected by optical and radar sensors embedded on-board different airborne and spaceborne platforms, to ensure wide spatial coverage and high frequency revisit time. Multi-wavelength imaging system may create a breakthrough in remote sensing applications, but it requires adapted processing techniques that need to be developed. To explore performances offered by multi-wavelength radar and optical sensors for oil slick monitoring, remote sensing data have been collected by SETHI (Système Expérimental de Télédection Hyperfréquence Imageur), the airborne system developed by ONERA (the French Aerospace Lab), during an oil spill cleanup exercise carried out in 2015 in the North Sea, Europe. The uniqueness of this dataset lies in its high spatial resolution, low noise level and quasi-simultaneous acquisitions of different part of the EM spectrum. Specific processing techniques have been developed to extract meaningful information associated with oil-covered sea surface. Analysis of this unique and rich dataset demonstrates that remote sensing imagery, collected in both optical and microwave domains, allows estimating slick surface properties such as the age of the emulsion released at sea, the spatial abundance of oil and the relative concentration of hydrocarbons remaining on the sea surface. PMID:28767059

  18. Terrestrial tight oil reservoir characteristics and Graded Resource Assessment in China

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Shejiao; Wu, Xiaozhi; Guo, Giulin

    2016-04-01

    The success of shale/tight plays and the advanced exploitation technology applied in North America have triggered interest in exploring and exploiting tight oil in China. Due to the increased support of exploration and exploitation，great progress has been made in Erdos basin, Songliao basin, Junggar basin, Santanghu basin, Bohai Bay basin, Qaidam Basin, and Sichuan basin currently. China's first tight oil field has been found in Erdos basin in 2015, called xinanbian oil field, with over one hundred million tons oil reserves and one million tons of production scale. Several hundred million tons of tight oil reserve has been found in other basins, showing a great potential in China. Tight oil in China mainly developed in terrestrial sedimentary environment. According to the relations of source rock and reservoir, the source-reservoir combination of tight oil can be divided into three types, which are bottom generating and top storing tight oil,self- generating and self-storing tight oil，top generating and bottom storing tight oil. The self- generating and self-storing tight oil is the main type discovered at present. This type of tight oil has following characteristics:(1) The formation and distribution of tight oil are controlled by high quality source rocks. Terrestrial tight oil source rocks in China are mainly formed in the deep to half deep lacustrine facies. The lithology includes dark mudstone, shale, argillaceous limestone and dolomite. These source rocks with thickness between 20m-150m, kerogen type mostly I-II, and peak oil generation thermal maturity(Ro 0.6-1.4%), have great hydrocarbon generating potential. Most discovered tight oil is distributed in the area of TOC greater than 2 %.( 2) the reservoir with strong heterogeneity is very tight. In these low porosity and permeability reservoir,the resources distribution is controlled by the physical property. Tight sandstone, carbonate and hybrid sedimentary rocks are three main tight reservoir types in China. The porosity is 2-14%(average 5-10%)and the permeability is less than 1mD. The laboratory test and exploration practice confirmed that the oil content was positively related to physical property. The higher the porosity, the better the oil content will have. (3) Source rock and reservoir are superimposed. From the contact relationship of source rock and reservoir, the reservoir developed in the source rock has the advantage of capturing oil and gas, so the oil saturation can be as high as 70-80%. (4) The increased pressure caused by hydrocarbon generation and the connected fracture are the key factors for tight oil accumulation. The Fuyu tight oil formed underling source rock in Songliao Basin is a good example. The fracture system is the key factor for tight oil accumulation. Considering the strong heterogeneity of terrestrial tight oil reservoir in china, we create hierarchical resource abundance analogy, EUR analogy, cell element volumetric methods to evaluate tight oil resource potential. In order to find exploration "sweet spots", establishing tight oil resource classification evaluation standards are key steps to objectively evaluate tight oil resource distribution. The resource classification evaluation standards are established by the relationship analysis between reservoir properties and oil properties, and the correlation analysis between production, resource abundance, and reservoir thickness. The first-grade tight oil resource, which is recently available and can easily be developed, has following main parameters: the porosity is greater than 8%, thickness is over 10m, resource abundance is above 150,000 tons / km2, and pressure coefficient is greater than 1.3; The second-grade tight oil resource is currently unavailable, but with advanced technology can expected to be developed. The main parameters are as following: the porosity is 5% -8%, thickness is less than 5-10m, resource abundance is 50000-150000 tons / km2, the pressure coefficient is 1.0 to 1.3; The third-grade resource has poor quality, need long-term to be effective explored, has following main parameters: porosity is less than 5%, the thickness is less than 5m, resource abundance is less than 50,000 tons / km2, the pressure coefficient is less than 1.0. Using created resource evaluation methods, the tight oil resources has been calculated in china. The first-grade recoverable resource of tight oil is about 610 million tons. The second-grade recoverable resource is 450 million tons. And the third-grade recoverable resource is 400 million tons. The first-grade and second-grade recoverable resources are mainly distributed in the Ordos basin, Bohai Bay basin, Songliao basin, Junggar basin, and Qaidam Basin. The third-grade resources are mainly distributed in Sichuan and Santanghu basin.

  19. Successful phytoremediation of crude-oil contaminated soil at an oil exploration and production company by plants-bacterial synergism.

    PubMed

    Fatima, Kaneez; Imran, Asma; Amin, Imran; Khan, Qaiser M; Afzal, Muhammad

    2018-06-07

    Phytoremediation is a promising approach for the cleanup of soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. This study aimed to develop plant-bacterial synergism for the successful remediation of crude oil-contaminated soil. A consortia of three endophytic bacteria was augmented to two grasses, Leptochloa fusca and Brachiaria mutica, grown in oil-contaminated soil (46.8 g oil kg -1 soil) in the vicinity of an oil exploration and production company. Endophytes augmentation improved plant growth, crude oil degradation, and soil health. Maximum oil degradation (80%) was achieved with B. mutica plants augmented with the endophytes and it was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the use of plants or bacteria individually. Moreover, endophytes showed more persistence, the abundance and expression of alkB gene in the rhizosphere as well as in the endosphere of the tested plants than in unvegetated soil. A positive relationship (r = 0.70) observed between gene expression and crude oil reduction indicates that catabolic gene expression is important for hydrocarbon mineralization. This investigation showed that the use of endophytes with appropriate plant is an effective strategy for the cleanup of oil-contaminated soil under field conditions.

  20. Chad: World Oil Report 1991

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1991-08-01

    This paper reports on Mango 1, which is an exploration well started in September 1990 on a block adjacent to Lake Chad by Esso, Chevron and Shell was suspended after the coup in that nation's capital later in the year. The small Sedigi oil field, discovered in the 70s, will be developed with a pipeline to a 3,000-bpd refinery. Improved relations with Libya and future internal stability may further open the door to exploration.

  1. Marginal oil fields, profitable oil at low reserves: How?

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Agiza, M.N.; Shaheen, S.E.; Barawi, S.A.

    1995-12-31

    Fields with recoverable reserves of about five million barrels of oil are considered in Egypt as marginal fields. Economics of Egyptian marginal oil fields depend on non-traditional approaches followed in developing and operating such fields. The actual exploration, development and operating expenses and state fiscal terms were used to evaluate the sensitivity of the economic parameters of such marginal fields. The operator net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) beside the government take are presented for different parameters used. The purpose is to make acceptable profits out of the marginal oil fields, for the mutual benefits ofmore » both the country and the investors.« less

  2. Guide for studying and evaluating internal accounting controls. Oil and gas exploration, development and production

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1981-01-01

    One of the most important responsibilities of any company's management is to establish and maintain, via periodic evaluations, is adequate internal accounting controls. Arthur Andersen and Co. approaches this problem as it relates to the oil and gas industry by logically dividing the economic events that affect a given company into four groups of activity termed ''business cycles'': treasury, expenditure, conversion (exploration, development, and production), and revenue activities. Independent public accountants can evaluate a company's existing internal controls much more thoroughly by studying only one category of business transactions at a time. Arthur Andersen's guide to reviewing internal controls coversmore » each step of this ''transaction-flow'' method as applied to a typical oil and gas company.« less

  3. Time and temperature in petroleum formation: application of Lopatin's method to petroleum exploration

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Waples, D.W.

    1980-06-01

    N.V. Lopatin in the Soviet Union has developed a method for taking both time and temperature into account as factors in thermal maturation of kerogen. Lopatin's time-temperature index of maturity (TTI) values correlate with the thermal regimes corresponding to generation and preservation of hydrocarbons. Because such information is potentially of great interest for oil exploration, a calibration and evaluation have been made of Lopatin's method. Within the limitations of the date presently available the following statements can be made: 1. The rate of the chemical reactions involved in thermal maturation of organic material appears to double with every 10/sup 0/Cmore » (18/sup 0/F) rise in temperature. 2. Threshold values of Lopatin's time-temperature index of maturity (TTI) are: 15 onset of oil generation; 75 peak oil generation; 160 end oil generation; approx. 500 40/sup 0/ oil preservation deadline; approx. 1000 50/sup 0/ oil preservation deadline; approx. 1500 wet gas preservation deadline; and > 65,000 dry gas preservation deadline. 3. TTI values calculated from Lopatin reconstructions consistently agree with other maturation parameters commonly used by petroleum geochemists. Potential applications of Lopatin's method for oil exploration include timing of oil generation, calculation of volume of hydrocarbons generated within a basin, and determination of economic deadlines. 13 figures, 5 tables.« less

  4. Regional resource depletion and industry activity: The case of oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Attanasi, E.D.

    1986-01-01

    Stable and declining oil and gas prices have changed the industry's price expectations and, along with depletion of promising exploration prospects, has resulted in reduced exploration. Even with intensive additional exploration, production in most U.S. areas is expected to decline. What does this imply for the drilling and petroleum industry suppliers in particular regions? How should planners in government and the private sector project and incorporate the consequences of these changes in their strategies? This paper answers these questions for the industry operating in the offshore Gulf of Mexico. Future oil and gas production, as well as demand for offshore drilling and production facilities, are shown to depend on the size distribution of undiscovered fields, their associated production costs, and oil and gas prices. Declining well productivity is a consequence of development of progressively smaller fields so that long-run drilling demand should not decline in proportion to the expected production decline. Calculations show a substantial payoff to the drilling industry, in terms of potential demand increases, if it can develop and implement cost reducing technologies. Implications of these results for other offshore producing areas such as the North Sea are also discussed. ?? 1986.

  5. Times are taxing for UK companies

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Steven, R.R.

    1982-06-20

    Despite excellent prospects for new petroleum discoveries in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea, a drop of oil prices and taxation has caused a slow down in development activities. Gas exploration is beginning to attract attention because of higher prices and a new bill which allows oil companies to sell gas directly to industry. A site licensing project by the government is expected to boost exploration. Recent exploration in the Norwegian sector has confirmed sufficient reserves to maintain current production levels for the next century. Reserves of natural gas were also appraised, particularly in the Sleipner area. Amore » gas-gathering pipeline system has been planned for dry and wet gases. Oil production has declined since 1980, but with new platforms, production is expected to increase. (JBF)« less

  6. Upgrading and Refining of Crude Oils and Petroleum Products by Ionizing Irradiation.

    PubMed

    Zaikin, Yuriy A; Zaikina, Raissa F

    2016-06-01

    A general trend in the oil industry is a decrease in the proven reserves of light crude oils so that any increase in future oil exploration is associated with high-viscous sulfuric oils and bitumen. Although the world reserves of heavy oil are much greater than those of sweet light oils, their exploration at present is less than 12 % of the total oil recovery. One of the main constraints is very high expenses for the existing technologies of heavy oil recovery, upgrading, transportation, and refining. Heavy oil processing by conventional methods is difficult and requires high power inputs and capital investments. Effective and economic processing of high viscous oil and oil residues needs not only improvements of the existing methods, such as thermal, catalytic and hydro-cracking, but the development of new technological approaches for upgrading and refining of any type of problem oil feedstock. One of the perspective approaches to this problem is the application of ionizing irradiation for high-viscous oil processing. Radiation methods for upgrading and refining high-viscous crude oils and petroleum products in a wide temperature range, oil desulfurization, radiation technology for refining used oil products, and a perspective method for gasoline radiation isomerization are discussed in this paper. The advantages of radiation technology are simple configuration of radiation facilities, low capital and operational costs, processing at lowered temperatures and nearly atmospheric pressure without the use of any catalysts, high production rates, relatively low energy consumption, and flexibility to the type of oil feedstock.

  7. 78 FR 27427 - Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Geological and Geophysical Exploration Activities in the Gulf of...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-10

    ... in support of oil and gas exploration and development, including electromagnetic surveys, deep... surveys, electromagnetic surveys, magnetic surveys, gravity surveys, remote sensing surveys, marine...

  8. Arab oil and gas directory 1985

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1985-01-01

    The directory provides detailed statistics and information on aspects of oil and gas production, exploration and developments in the 24 Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa and in Iran. It includes the texts of relevant new laws and official documents, official surveys, current projects and developments, up-to-date statistics covering OPEC and OAPEC member countries, and has 26 maps.

  9. Philippine Islands: a tectonic railroad siding

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gallagher, J.J. Jr.

    1984-09-01

    In 1976, significant quantities of oil were discovered offshore northwest of Palawan Island by a Philippine-American consortium led by Philippines-Cities Service Inc. This was the first commercial oil found in the Philippine Islands. Other exploration companies had decided that there was no commercial oil in the Philippines. They fell prey to a situation Wallace E. Pratt, who began his career in 1909 in the Philippines, later described: There are many instances where our knowledge, supported in some cases by elaborate and detailed studies has convinced us that no petroleum resources were present in areas which subsequently became sites of importantmore » oil fields. Some explorers are blinded by the negative implications of the same knowledge that successful explorers use to find important oil fields. The Palawan discoveries are examples of successful use of knowledge. Recognition that the Philippine Islands are a tectonic railroad siding may be the key to future exploration success. These islands are continental fragments, each with its own individual geologic characteristics, that have moved from elsewhere to their present positions along a major strike-slip zone. Play concepts can be developed in the Philippines for continental fragments in each of the three major present-day tectono-stratigraphic systems that are dominated by strike-slip, but include subduction and extension tectonics, with both carbonate and clastic sediments.« less

  10. Geology, Murzuk oil development could boost S. W. Libya prospects

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Thomas, D.

    1995-03-06

    With the recent involvement of Repsol, Total, and OMV in developing the 2 billion bbl oil-in-place Murzuk field complex, an infrastructure will be finally constructed in western Libya which will act as a precursor to more exploration activity and development projects in the Murzuk and Ghadames basins. Murzuk, an intra-cratonic sag basin, is a huge ladle-shaped structural basin covering more than 400,000 sq km and extending beyond the borders of southern Libya. The structure of the area is quite simple. The sub-horizontal or gently dipping strata are faulted and the faults are most frequently parallel to the anticlinal axis. Tectonicmore » movements affected the basin to a greater or lesser degree from early Paleozoic (Caledonian) to post-Eocene (Alpine) times. The paper describes the exploration history; stratigraphy; the Ordovician, Silurian and Devonian, and Carboniferous reservoirs; source rocks; oil gravity and gas content; hydrogeologic constraints; aquifer influence on hydrocarbon accumulation; geologic structures; Murzuk field development; and acreage availability.« less

  11. The Poisoned Chalice: Oil and Macroeconomics in Brazil (1967-2003)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Biasetto, Bruno Henz

    This dissertation analyzes the development of the Brazilian oil industry and its impact on the economic development of Brazil from the beginning of the "Brazilian Miracle" (1968-1973) to the end of the Fernando Henrique Cardoso's second term as president (1995-2002). The dissertation explores the closely intertwined nature of Brazil's oil industry and its macroeconomic development, shedding new light on the history of Petrobras (the Brazilian state oil company), and on other key topics of Brazilian economic history, including the Debt Crisis of the 1980s and the role of neoliberalism in Brazil. The argument is that oil policy shaped the national economy and the Brazilian state in this period. Attention to the oil industry, and to Petrobras in particular, was crucial to the establishment of diplomatic and economic policy, and to conflict within the Brazilian state. Finally, this dissertation seeks to illuminate Brazil's place in the global oil industry and how that has shaped Brazil's global economic standing.

  12. Arctic Oil Spill Mapping and Response Using Unmanned Aerial Systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cunningham, K. W.

    2011-12-01

    The University of Alaska Fairbanks works extensively with unmanned aerial systems and various sensor payloads used in mapping. Recent projects with Royal Dutch Shell and British Petroleum have demonstrated that unmanned aerial systems, including fixed and rotary winged platforms, can provide quick response to oil spill mapping in a variety of flight conditions, including those not well suited for manned aerial systems. We describe this collaborative research between the University and oil companies exploring and developing oil resources in Alaska and the Arctic.

  13. Potential Exploration, Development, and Production of Oil and Gas Resources, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-12-01

    market its acreage for leasing purposes to other oil companies once the EIS is finalized and MRMP is adopted since the permitting process will be...procedures might warrant" means that if oil and gas market conditions were such that they exceeded the assumed "most likely" volumes of oil production...year, 1986. Appropriately, there is an antique market there now. McAdam, McAdam & Smith, and Smith Hardware all proceeded Perozzi on the site. Left is

  14. Alcorn wells bolster Philippines oil production

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1992-09-21

    This paper reports that Alcorn International Inc., Houston, is producing about 16,500 b/d of oil from West Linapacan A field in the South China Sea off the Philippines. The field's current production alone is more than fivefold the Philippines' total average oil flow of 3,000 b/d in 1991. It's part of a string of oil and gas strikes off Palawan Island that has made the region one of the hottest exploration/development plays in the Asia-Pacific theater.

  15. Current state and problems of integrated development of mineral resources base in Russia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Filimonova, I. V.; Eder, L. V.; Mishenin, M. V.; Mamakhatov, T. M.

    2017-09-01

    The article deals with the issues of integrated development of subsoil resources taking into account the actual problems facing the Russian oil and gas complex. The key factors determining the need for integrated development of subsoil resources have been systematized and investigated. These factors are the change of the hydrocarbon resource base quality, the improvement of the depletion degree of basic (unique and major) oil fields, the increase in the number of small and smallest oil fields discovered and introduced into development, the increased capital intensity and the riskiness of geological exploration, and the territorial location of new subsoil use facilities.

  16. A study on the oil-based drilling cutting pyrolysis residue resource utilization by the exploration and development of shale gas.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chao-Qiang; Jin, Ji-Zhong; Lin, Xiao-Yan; Xiong, De-Ming; Mei, Xu-Dong

    2017-07-01

    Based on the requirement of national energy conservation and environmental protection, attention has been given to building an environment-friendly and resource-saving society. Shale gas oil-based drilling cutting pyrolysis residues (ODPRs) have been used as the main research object to developing new technology which can convert the residues into a harmless and recyclable material. Using the test data of ODPR, we analyze the development prospect in the building material industry and provide a scheme to utilize this particular solid-waste efficiently. Theoretically speaking, the ODPR resource utilization such as admixture of cement, making sintered brick, and non-fired brick, by the exploration and development of Fuling shale gas is feasible.

  17. --No Title--

    Science.gov Websites

    and Cuttings Repository Oil & Gas Oil & Gas (Map-Based) Spills (Environmental Events) Tanks Exploration Notice of Intent Uranium Exploration Permit Oil & Gas Approved Oil & Gas Permits Oil and Gas Maps Undergound Injection Control - Class II Well Production/Injection Report Oil & Gas

  18. swimming

    Science.gov Websites

    and Cuttings Repository Oil & Gas Oil & Gas (Map-Based) Spills (Environmental Events) Tanks Exploration Notice of Intent Uranium Exploration Permit Oil & Gas Approved Oil & Gas Permits Oil and Gas Maps Undergound Injection Control - Class II Well Production/Injection Report Oil & Gas

  19. 30 CFR 250.199 - Paperwork Reduction Act statements-information collection.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... protect the human, marine, and coastal environment, and will result in diligent exploration, development... are safe and protect the human, marine, and coastal environment. (5) Subpart E, Oil and Gas Well..., marine, and coastal environment. (6) Subpart F, Oil and Gas Well Workover Operations (1010-0043) To...

  20. 30 CFR 250.199 - Paperwork Reduction Act statements-information collection.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... protect the human, marine, and coastal environment, and will result in diligent exploration, development... are safe and protect the human, marine, and coastal environment. (5) Subpart E, Oil and Gas Well..., marine, and coastal environment. (6) Subpart F, Oil and Gas Well Workover Operations (1010-0043) To...

  1. 30 CFR 250.199 - Paperwork Reduction Act statements-information collection.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... protect the human, marine, and coastal environment, and will result in diligent exploration, development... are safe and protect the human, marine, and coastal environment. (5) Subpart E, Oil and Gas Well..., marine, and coastal environment. (6) Subpart F, Oil and Gas Well Workover Operations (1010-0043) To...

  2. Current Soviet exploration plays: Success and potential

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Grace, J.D.

    1991-03-01

    Soviet hydrocarbon exploration in the 1980s took four distinct directions. First was extension exploration and the search for smaller new fields in discrete traps in traditional producing regions, such as the Apsheron Peninsula, North Caucasus, and Volga-Urals. This strategy produced a large number of small discoveries close to established infrastructure. Second was new field exploration in West Siberia in the stratigraphically complex Jurassic and the lower Neocomian sections. Third was expansion of the prolific gas plays in northern West Siberia. Exploratory success in West Siberia has created a backlog of several hundred discoveries awaiting full delineation and development. Most ofmore » these fields are distant from the established oil production center in the Middle Ob region and, therefore, may remain in inventory. Fourth was initial tests of new exploration frontiers, most important, the Paleozoic and Mesozoic plays of the Barents and Kara seas and the subsalt plays of the North Caspian basin. While these plays have yielded very important discoveries, significant technological barriers impede their development. The outlook for Soviet oil exploration in the 1990s is for significant opportunities for discovery of large volumes of oil, but at radically increasing exploration and production costs. In established regions, these costs arise from small field sizes and low well productivities. In frontier regions, exploitation of new fields will require technology not currently available in the USSR. The outlook for gas exploration continues to be very bright, as the onshore northern West Siberia is not fully explored and initial results from the Barents and Kara seas promise more very large gas discoveries.« less

  3. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    This paper reports that Indochina is emerging as a prime target for investment in oil and gas exploration and development. The Southeast Asian subcontinent offers sharp contrasts: the booming, market oriented economy of Thailand with its friendly climate for foreign investment, compared with the flagging socialist economies of Myanmar (formerly Burma), Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam. The contrast extends to the Thai energy sector as well. Aggressive development of Thailand's gas reserves with foreign assistance and capital underpins the buoyant Thai economy and has helped it reduce its dependence on imports to 40% of total energy demand. That contrast maymore » also give impetus to a window of opportunity for oil and gas companies to participate in little tested or rank exploration plays elsewhere in the region. Except for Thailand, the region has seen little exploration and almost none by private companies since the early 1970s. The other countries are just beginning to emerge from years of international isolation caused by war or civil strife, and some are seeking foreign private investment in oil and natural gas for the first time in more than a decade. The need for hard currency capital is keen. Accordingly, industry officials point to nations such as Cambodia offering among the most attractive terms for oil and gas investment in the world.« less

  4. Development of fuel oil management system software: Phase 1, Tank management module. Final report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lange, H.B.; Baker, J.P.; Allen, D.

    1992-01-01

    The Fuel Oil Management System (FOMS) is a micro-computer based software system being developed to assist electric utilities that use residual fuel oils with oil purchase and end-use decisions. The Tank Management Module (TMM) is the first FOMS module to be produced. TMM enables the user to follow the mixing status of oils contained in a number of oil storage tanks. The software contains a computational model of residual fuel oil mixing which addresses mixing that occurs as one oil is added to another in a storage tank and also purposeful mixing of the tank by propellers, recirculation or convection.Themore » model also addresses the potential for sludge formation due to incompatibility of oils being mixed. Part 1 of the report presents a technical description of the mixing model and a description of its development. Steps followed in developing the mixing model included: (1) definition of ranges of oil properties and tank design factors used by utilities; (2) review and adaption of prior applicable work; (3) laboratory development; and (4) field verification. Also, a brief laboratory program was devoted to exploring the suitability of suggested methods for predicting viscosities, flash points and pour points of oil mixtures. Part 2 of the report presents a functional description of the TMM software and a description of its development. The software development program consisted of the following steps: (1) on-site interviews at utilities to prioritize needs and characterize user environments; (2) construction of the user interface; and (3) field testing the software.« less

  5. Development of fuel oil management system software: Phase 1, Tank management module

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lange, H.B.; Baker, J.P.; Allen, D.

    1992-01-01

    The Fuel Oil Management System (FOMS) is a micro-computer based software system being developed to assist electric utilities that use residual fuel oils with oil purchase and end-use decisions. The Tank Management Module (TMM) is the first FOMS module to be produced. TMM enables the user to follow the mixing status of oils contained in a number of oil storage tanks. The software contains a computational model of residual fuel oil mixing which addresses mixing that occurs as one oil is added to another in a storage tank and also purposeful mixing of the tank by propellers, recirculation or convection.Themore » model also addresses the potential for sludge formation due to incompatibility of oils being mixed. Part 1 of the report presents a technical description of the mixing model and a description of its development. Steps followed in developing the mixing model included: (1) definition of ranges of oil properties and tank design factors used by utilities; (2) review and adaption of prior applicable work; (3) laboratory development; and (4) field verification. Also, a brief laboratory program was devoted to exploring the suitability of suggested methods for predicting viscosities, flash points and pour points of oil mixtures. Part 2 of the report presents a functional description of the TMM software and a description of its development. The software development program consisted of the following steps: (1) on-site interviews at utilities to prioritize needs and characterize user environments; (2) construction of the user interface; and (3) field testing the software.« less

  6. Environmental legal implications of oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta of Nigeria

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Orubebe, Bibobra Bello

    Nigeria is an African country endowed with a wealth of oil and gas resources, and they are mainly found in the core Niger Delta (home to the Ijaw and Ogoni indigenous, ethnic minorities). Since Great Britain granted Nigeria political independence on October 1, 1960, successive Nigerian governments (military and civilian) have been dominated by the majority ethnic groups (Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Ibo). Significantly, the government adopted a socialist-based model of absolute state ownership over oil and gas resources. The socialist model formed the basis of Nigeria's business collaboration with multinational oil and gas corporations from Europe and the United States (notably Shell, Chevron Texaco, Agip, Exxon Mobil, Total, and Elf). This model is fraught with contradictions and has led to unacceptable consequences, including policies that allow exploitation of natural resources without reference to environmental sustainability. When oil was first struck in 1956 at Oloibori (Ijaw area), people thought it would bring prosperity and an improved quality of life. Sadly, the opposite has occurred. Forty-nine years of hardship, agonizing pain, debilitating anger, extreme poverty, poisoned rivers, destroyed occupations, devastated environment, and stunted growth of the youth are the negative impacts of oil and gas exploitation in the Niger Delta. In other words, oil and gas exploration and production have visited a full range of evils---socio-political, economic, and cultural---upon the indigenous Niger Delta people. Furthermore, the wealth extracted from the area is used by the state and multinational corporations to enhance their own wealth and quality of life. Revenue has been conspicuously looted and misappropriated by political leaders at the expense of the Niger Delta environment and its people. This confluence of exploitation and injury has led to social upheavals and armed rebellions, all capable of precipitating the disintegration of the country. In this dissertation, research materials have been used to identify fundamental problems inherent in the current approach to oil and gas exploration and development. Primary research findings were used to develop the recommended shift in environmental paradigm that is critical to achieving sustainable development in Nigeria. Central to the recommendations in this dissertation is a rigorous, participatory Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") process.

  7. 77 FR 19321 - Geological and Geophysical Exploration on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-03-30

    ... by BOEM: (1) Oil and gas exploration and development; (2) renewable energy; and (3) marine minerals... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Geological and Geophysical Exploration on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM...

  8. Waulsortian mound development in Warsaw at Broughton field, Ill.

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Whitaker, S.T.

    1995-04-17

    Oil production in the Lower Mississippian Ullin (Warsaw) limestone was first established in Illinois over 40 years ago. Exploration for hydrocarbons in this zone, however, was limited until recently due to a lack of a suitable explanation for reservoir development in this interval. The theory that Waulsortian mound development may explain many of these reservoirs was first presented in 1990. Research effort led by Zakaria Lasemi at the Illinois State Geological Survey has since established an excellent model for the generation of these bioherms. Lasemi performed numerous examinations of outcrops, cores, and well cuttings to develop his theory on themore » development and evolution of these biohermal features. This article presents an application of Lasemi`s model to an oil field in the Illinois basin. Similar applications could improve exploration and development success in Warsaw reservoirs.« less

  9. A Crude Reality; Exploring the Interdependencies of Energy (Oil), the Macro-Economy, and National Security

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-04-11

    Policy (SWEEP) optimizing our own natural resources in the near term (oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and synthetics... geothermal and synthetics), and displaces the oil based economy with a long term energy transformation plan based on renewable energy, is vital to...climb and supply begins to diminish. Global energy demands will continue to rise as the developing economies of countries like Brazil, Russia, China

  10. 43 CFR 3931.10 - Exploration plans and plans of development for mining and in situ operations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... for mining and in situ operations. 3931.10 Section 3931.10 Public Lands: Interior Regulations Relating....10 Exploration plans and plans of development for mining and in situ operations. (a) The POD must... development of the oil shale resources in the lease. (b) The operator must submit to the proper BLM office an...

  11. 43 CFR 3931.10 - Exploration plans and plans of development for mining and in situ operations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... for mining and in situ operations. 3931.10 Section 3931.10 Public Lands: Interior Regulations Relating....10 Exploration plans and plans of development for mining and in situ operations. (a) The POD must... development of the oil shale resources in the lease. (b) The operator must submit to the proper BLM office an...

  12. 43 CFR 3931.10 - Exploration plans and plans of development for mining and in situ operations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... for mining and in situ operations. 3931.10 Section 3931.10 Public Lands: Interior Regulations Relating....10 Exploration plans and plans of development for mining and in situ operations. (a) The POD must... development of the oil shale resources in the lease. (b) The operator must submit to the proper BLM office an...

  13. 43 CFR 3931.10 - Exploration plans and plans of development for mining and in situ operations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... for mining and in situ operations. 3931.10 Section 3931.10 Public Lands: Interior Regulations Relating....10 Exploration plans and plans of development for mining and in situ operations. (a) The POD must... development of the oil shale resources in the lease. (b) The operator must submit to the proper BLM office an...

  14. Oil and gas developments in South Africa, Central America, Caribbean Area, and Mexico in 1984

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tappmeyer, D.M.

    1985-10-01

    For the 25 countries described in the region, exploration activity continued to be centered in proven petroleum provinces in 1984. Exploration activity increased in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. Important, successful exploration efforts continued in areas around Cano Limon field in Colombia, and Guafita and La Victoria fields in Venezuela. Notable discoveries in South America included the 42-46-1X San Martin Cretaceous discovery by Shell in the Ucayali basin in Peru, the significant oil and gas discovery at Palmar Largo ES-1 by YPF in Argentina, and the first offshore gas discovery, the Pecten 1-SPS-20 wildcat in the Santo basin in Brazil. Oilmore » production increased in Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. A notable increase (40%) in oil production occurred in Brazil. Gas production increased in Argentina, Barbados, Colombia, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago. 8 figures, 8 tables.« less

  15. Oil and gas developments in South America, Central America, Caribbean Area, and Mexico in 1984

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tappmeyer, D.M.

    1985-10-01

    For the 25 countries described in the region, exploration activity continued to be centered in proven petroleum provinces in 1984. Exploration activity increased in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. Important, successful exploration efforts continued in areas around Cano Limon field in Colombia, and Guafita and La Victoria fields in Venezuela. Notable discoveries in South America included the 42-461X San Martin Cretaceous discovery by Shell in the Ucayali basin in Peru, the significant oil and gas discovery at Palmar Largo ES-1 by YPF in Argentina, and the first offshore gas discovery, the Pecten 1-SPS-20 wildcat in the Santo basin in Brazil. Oilmore » production increased in Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. A notable increase (40%) in oil production occurred in Brazil. Gas production increased in Argentina, Barbados, Colombia, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago.« less

  16. 77 FR 13200 - Texas: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revision

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-03-06

    ....1. Such wastes are termed ``oil and gas wastes.'' The TCEQ has responsibility to administer the RCRA program, however, hazardous waste generated at natural gas or natural gas liquids processing plants or... with the exploration, development, or production of oil or gas or geothermal resources and other...

  17. Final Environmental Impact Statement. Potential Exploration, Development, and Production of Oil and Gas Resources, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-12-18

    Leases 9 36 1 0 0 Grace Petroleum Leases 10 1 2 3 0 Hunter Resources Lease 3 10 1 2 0 Petroleum Marketing 1 0 294 0 0 0 Petroleum Productioni 117 2,294...of fact, it is Newhall Resources’ intention to actively market its acreage for leasing purposes to other oil companies once the EIS is finalized and...consciously slower pace than existing development procedures might warrant" means that if oil and gas market conditions were such that they exceeded the

  18. POLICY ANALYSIS OF PRODUCED WATER ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH IN-SITU THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Robert Keiter; John Ruple; Heather Tanana

    2011-02-01

    Commercial scale oil shale and oil sands development will require water, the amount of which will depend on the technologies adopted and the scale of development that occurs. Water in oil shale and oil sands country is already in scarce supply, and because of the arid nature of the region and limitations on water consumption imposed by interstate compacts and the Endangered Species Act, the State of Utah normally does not issue new water rights in oil shale or oil sands rich areas. Prospective oil shale and oil sands developers that do not already hold adequate water rights can acquiremore » water rights from willing sellers, but large and secure water supplies may be difficult and expensive to acquire, driving oil shale and oil sands developers to seek alternative sources of supply. Produced water is one such potential source of supply. When oil and gas are developed, operators often encounter ground water that must be removed and disposed of to facilitate hydrocarbon extraction. Water produced through mineral extraction was traditionally poor in quality and treated as a waste product rather than a valuable resource. However, the increase in produced water volume and the often-higher quality water associated with coalbed methane development have drawn attention to potential uses of produced water and its treatment under appropriations law. This growing interest in produced water has led to litigation and statutory changes that must be understood and evaluated if produced water is to be harnessed in the oil shale and oil sands development process. Conversely, if water is generated as a byproduct of oil shale and oil sands production, consideration must be given to how this water will be disposed of or utilized in the shale oil production process. This report explores the role produced water could play in commercial oil shale and oil sands production, explaining the evolving regulatory framework associated with produced water, Utah water law and produced water regulation, and the obstacles that must be overcome in order for produced water to support the nascent oil shale and oil sands industries.« less

  19. [Application characteristics and situation analysis of volatile oils in database of Chinese patent medicine].

    PubMed

    Wang, Sai-Jun; Wu, Zhen-Feng; Yang, Ming; Wang, Ya-Qi; Hu, Peng-Yi; Jie, Xiao-Lu; Han, Fei; Wang, Fang

    2014-09-01

    Aromatic traditional Chinese medicines have a long history in China, with wide varieties. Volatile oils are active ingredients extracted from aromatic herbal medicines, which usually contain tens or hundreds of ingredients, with many biological activities. Therefore, volatile oils are often used in combined prescriptions and made into various efficient preparations for oral administration or external use. Based on the sources from the database of Newly Edited National Chinese Traditional Patent Medicines (the second edition), the author selected 266 Chinese patent medicines containing volatile oils in this paper, and then established an information sheet covering such items as name, dosage, dosage form, specification and usage, and main functions. Subsequently, on the basis of the multidisciplinary knowledge of pharmaceutics, traditional Chinese pharmacology and basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine, efforts were also made in the statistics of the dosage form and usage, variety of volatile oils and main functions, as well as the status analysis on volatile oils in terms of the dosage form development, prescription development, drug instruction and quality control, in order to lay a foundation for the further exploration of the market development situations of volatile oils and the future development orientation.

  20. Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Historical Oil and Gas Wells in Pennsylvania: Implications for New Shale Gas Resources.

    PubMed

    Dilmore, Robert M; Sams, James I; Glosser, Deborah; Carter, Kristin M; Bain, Daniel J

    2015-10-20

    Recent large-scale development of oil and gas from low-permeability unconventional formations (e.g., shales, tight sands, and coal seams) has raised concern about potential environmental impacts. If left improperly sealed, legacy oil and gas wells colocated with that new development represent a potential pathway for unwanted migration of fluids (brine, drilling and stimulation fluids, oil, and gas). Uncertainty in the number, location, and abandonment state of legacy wells hinders environmental assessment of exploration and production activity. The objective of this study is to apply publicly available information on Pennsylvania oil and gas wells to better understand their potential to serve as pathways for unwanted fluid migration. This study presents a synthesis of historical reports and digital well records to provide insights into spatial and temporal trends in oil and gas development. Areas with a higher density of wells abandoned prior to the mid-20th century, when more modern well-sealing requirements took effect in Pennsylvania, and areas where conventional oil and gas production penetrated to or through intervals that may be affected by new Marcellus shale development are identified. This information may help to address questions of environmental risk related to new extraction activities.

  1. Petroleum scene heating in fledgling crude exporter Papua New Guinea

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1994-04-18

    Operators, paced by a feisty independent based in Port Moresby, have drilled a string of discoveries near the infrastructure of the Kutubu development project that supports Papua New Guinea crude exports. All signs point to the increasing likelihood of good sized -- maybe world class -- oil discoveries that promise to sustain exploration and development interest beyond 2000. Also in the offing are world class gas strikes that eventually could support a liquefied natural gas export project. And integration is the newest concept in Papua New Guinea petroleum. Efforts are under way to build the country's first refineries. Most operatorsmore » in Papua New Guinea believe thy have merely scratched the surface of the country's oil and gas potential. Thy agree there still will be frustrations and setbacks -- political as well as technical -- but the prevailing opinion is that these problems are no greater than they are in a number of other countries with similar exploration/development potential. The paper discusses the development of Papua New Guinea's oil and gas industry, and exploratory drilling in areas other than Kutubu.« less

  2. Oil and gas projects in the Western Amazon: threats to wilderness, biodiversity, and indigenous peoples.

    PubMed

    Finer, Matt; Jenkins, Clinton N; Pimm, Stuart L; Keane, Brian; Ross, Carl

    2008-08-13

    The western Amazon is the most biologically rich part of the Amazon basin and is home to a great diversity of indigenous ethnic groups, including some of the world's last uncontacted peoples living in voluntary isolation. Unlike the eastern Brazilian Amazon, it is still a largely intact ecosystem. Underlying this landscape are large reserves of oil and gas, many yet untapped. The growing global demand is leading to unprecedented exploration and development in the region. We synthesized information from government sources to quantify the status of oil development in the western Amazon. National governments delimit specific geographic areas or "blocks" that are zoned for hydrocarbon activities, which they may lease to state and multinational energy companies for exploration and production. About 180 oil and gas blocks now cover approximately 688,000 km(2) of the western Amazon. These blocks overlap the most species-rich part of the Amazon. We also found that many of the blocks overlap indigenous territories, both titled lands and areas utilized by peoples in voluntary isolation. In Ecuador and Peru, oil and gas blocks now cover more than two-thirds of the Amazon. In Bolivia and western Brazil, major exploration activities are set to increase rapidly. Without improved policies, the increasing scope and magnitude of planned extraction means that environmental and social impacts are likely to intensify. We review the most pressing oil- and gas-related conservation policy issues confronting the region. These include the need for regional Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments and the adoption of roadless extraction techniques. We also consider the conflicts where the blocks overlap indigenous peoples' territories.

  3. Oil and Gas Projects in the Western Amazon: Threats to Wilderness, Biodiversity, and Indigenous Peoples

    PubMed Central

    Finer, Matt; Jenkins, Clinton N.; Pimm, Stuart L.; Keane, Brian; Ross, Carl

    2008-01-01

    Background The western Amazon is the most biologically rich part of the Amazon basin and is home to a great diversity of indigenous ethnic groups, including some of the world's last uncontacted peoples living in voluntary isolation. Unlike the eastern Brazilian Amazon, it is still a largely intact ecosystem. Underlying this landscape are large reserves of oil and gas, many yet untapped. The growing global demand is leading to unprecedented exploration and development in the region. Methodology/Principal Findings We synthesized information from government sources to quantify the status of oil development in the western Amazon. National governments delimit specific geographic areas or “blocks” that are zoned for hydrocarbon activities, which they may lease to state and multinational energy companies for exploration and production. About 180 oil and gas blocks now cover ∼688,000 km2 of the western Amazon. These blocks overlap the most species-rich part of the Amazon. We also found that many of the blocks overlap indigenous territories, both titled lands and areas utilized by peoples in voluntary isolation. In Ecuador and Peru, oil and gas blocks now cover more than two-thirds of the Amazon. In Bolivia and western Brazil, major exploration activities are set to increase rapidly. Conclusions/Significance Without improved policies, the increasing scope and magnitude of planned extraction means that environmental and social impacts are likely to intensify. We review the most pressing oil- and gas-related conservation policy issues confronting the region. These include the need for regional Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments and the adoption of roadless extraction techniques. We also consider the conflicts where the blocks overlap indigenous peoples' territories. PMID:18716679

  4. 75 FR 6175 - Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on the Effects of Oil and Gas...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-02-08

    ... taking of marine mammals incidental to offshore exploration activities (e.g., seismic surveys and... drilling operations during the open water season in order for the industry to drill priority exploration..., helps to optimally locate exploration and development wells, maximizing extraction and production from a...

  5. Nanofiltration/reverse osmosis for treatment of coproduced waters

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mondal, S.; Hsiao, C.L.; Wickramasinghe, S.R.

    2008-07-15

    Current high oil and gas prices have lead to renewed interest in exploration of nonconventional energy sources such as coal bed methane, tar sand, and oil shale. However oil and gas production from these nonconventional sources has lead to the coproduction of large quantities of produced water. While produced water is a waste product from oil and gas exploration it is a very valuable natural resource in the arid Western United States. Thus treated produced water could be a valuable new source of water. Commercially available nanofiltration and low pressure reverse osmosis membranes have been used to treat three producedmore » waters. The results obtained here indicate that the permeate could be put to beneficial uses such as crop and livestock watering. However minimizing membrane fouling will be essential for the development of a practical process. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy imaging may be used to observe membrane fouling.« less

  6. Congress likely to approve energy legislation by fall

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Crow, P.

    This paper reports that Congress is likely to pass broad energy legislation this fall that paradoxically seeks to reduce US dependence on oil imports without increasing domestic oil production. The House of Representatives approved 381-37 and the Senate 94-4 their separate but similar energy bills, so it appears Congress will approve a compromise bill by an overwhelming margin. A presidential veto is not threatened. A single massive bill is a different approach for congressional energy committees, the first such attempt in at least a dozen years. Energy Sec. James Watkins launched the national energy strategy (NES) effort 3 years ago.more » After taking office, he found many energy policy statements on Department of Energy shelves but no real plans. Watkins then began developing a proposed NES complete with timetables and specific goals. Oil producers complain that, other than a tax provision for independents in the House bill, the two bills do nothing to promote US oil exploration or production. The bills restrict offshore exploration, do not aid onshore drilling on federal lands, and do not allow exploration of the nation's best oil prospect, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain east of Alaska's Prudhoe Bay field. The oil industry successfully fought provisions in the bills to require it, rather than the government, to pay for filling the Strategic petroleum Reserve.« less

  7. Report of the Task Group on Independent Research and Development

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1967-02-01

    in 1959 when the technology used in prospecting for oil by seismic means was employed to detect and sug- gest the source of earth shocks generated by...result of TI’ s work in seismology for oil exploration. The use of seismometers for intrusion detection stemmed from the large, unde- sirable signals...produced by any human movement during oil -field seismic tests. The first military contract for six test models of these devices was received in 1963

  8. A review of polymer nanofibres by electrospinning and their application in oil-water separation for cleaning up marine oil spills.

    PubMed

    Sarbatly, Rosalam; Krishnaiah, Duduku; Kamin, Zykamilia

    2016-05-15

    The growths of oil and gas exploration and production activities have increased environmental problems, such as oil spillage and the resulting pollution. The study of the methods for cleaning up oil spills is a critical issue to protect the environment. Various techniques are available to contain oil spills, but they are typically time consuming, energy inefficient and create secondary pollution. The use of a sorbent, such as a nanofibre sorbent, is a technique for controlling oil spills because of its good physical and oil sorption properties. This review discusses about the application of nanofibre sorbent for oil removal from water and its current developments. With their unique physical and mechanical properties coupled with their very high surface area and small pore sizes, nanofibre sorbents are alternative materials for cleaning up oil spills. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Developing an Automated Machine Learning Marine Oil Spill Detection System with Synthetic Aperture Radar

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pinales, J. C.; Graber, H. C.; Hargrove, J. T.; Caruso, M. J.

    2016-02-01

    Previous studies have demonstrated the ability to detect and classify marine hydrocarbon films with spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. The dampening effects of hydrocarbon discharges on small surface capillary-gravity waves renders the ocean surface "radar dark" compared with the standard wind-borne ocean surfaces. Given the scope and impact of events like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the need for improved, automated and expedient monitoring of hydrocarbon-related marine anomalies has become a pressing and complex issue for governments and the extraction industry. The research presented here describes the development, training, and utilization of an algorithm that detects marine oil spills in an automated, semi-supervised manner, utilizing X-, C-, or L-band SAR data as the primary input. Ancillary datasets include related radar-borne variables (incidence angle, etc.), environmental data (wind speed, etc.) and textural descriptors. Shapefiles produced by an experienced human-analyst served as targets (validation) during the training portion of the investigation. Training and testing datasets were chosen for development and assessment of algorithm effectiveness as well as optimal conditions for oil detection in SAR data. The algorithm detects oil spills by following a 3-step methodology: object detection, feature extraction, and classification. Previous oil spill detection and classification methodologies such as machine learning algorithms, artificial neural networks (ANN), and multivariate classification methods like partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) are evaluated and compared. Statistical, transform, and model-based image texture techniques, commonly used for object mapping directly or as inputs for more complex methodologies, are explored to determine optimal textures for an oil spill detection system. The influence of the ancillary variables is explored, with a particular focus on the role of strong vs. weak wind forcing.

  10. Petroleum industry in Iran

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Farideh, A.

    1981-01-01

    This study examines the oil industry in Iran from the early discovery of oil nearly two hundred years ago in Mazandaran (north part) to the development of a giant modern industry in the twentieth century. Chapter I presents a brief historical setting to introduce the reader to the importance of oil in Iran. It focuses on the economic implications of the early oil concessions in the period 1901 to 1951. Chapter II discusses the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry and creation of NIOC in 1951 and the international political and economic implication of these activities. Chapter III explains themore » activities of NIOC in Iran. Exploration and drilling, production, exports, refineries, natural gas, petrochemicals and internal distributions are studied. Chapter IV discusses the role of the development planning of Iran. A brief presentation of the First Development Plan through the Fifth Development Plan is given. Sources and uses of funds by plan organization during these Five Plans is studied. The Iran and Iraq War is also studied briefly, but the uncertainty of its resolution prevents any close analysis of its impact on the Iranian oil industry. One conclusion, however, is certain; oil has been a vital resource in Iran's past and it will remain the lifetime of its economic development in the future.« less

  11. Update on petroleum exploration activities in the Philippines

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Salcedo, B.H.C.; Bausa, G.J.G.; Ocampo. I.U.

    1996-01-01

    The first significant event in Philippine Petroleum exploration dates back to 1896 with the drilling of Toledo-1 in Cebu by Smith Bell. From the 1950's to the 1970's, widespread exploration activities were carried out but it was only eighty years after the first oil drilling in 1896 that oil was finally discovered in commercial quantity in Northwest Palawan. This could be attributed to the fact that serious exploration for petroleum was made with the enactment of Presidential Decree No. 87, better known as the [open quotes]Oil Exploration and Development Act of 1972[close quotes], which takes into effect the current Servicemore » Contract System. Amendments to P.D. No. 87 is underway to further improve its incentive package and make it more attractive to explorationists. Petroleum exploration in the Philippines continues to be an energetic industry even if the players are not always rewarded with finds. Frontier areas have become attractive for exploration in view of the continuing research studies resulting to increased database thereat. While Northwest Palawan continues to be the hub of action, frontier areas as well as the more risky deepwater acreages still generate interests, if one wishes to be an active player in a growing energy-hungry economy.« less

  12. Update on petroleum exploration activities in the Philippines

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Salcedo, B.H.C.; Bausa, G.J.G.; Ocampo. I.U.

    1996-12-31

    The first significant event in Philippine Petroleum exploration dates back to 1896 with the drilling of Toledo-1 in Cebu by Smith & Bell. From the 1950`s to the 1970`s, widespread exploration activities were carried out but it was only eighty years after the first oil drilling in 1896 that oil was finally discovered in commercial quantity in Northwest Palawan. This could be attributed to the fact that serious exploration for petroleum was made with the enactment of Presidential Decree No. 87, better known as the {open_quotes}Oil Exploration and Development Act of 1972{close_quotes}, which takes into effect the current Service Contractmore » System. Amendments to P.D. No. 87 is underway to further improve its incentive package and make it more attractive to explorationists. Petroleum exploration in the Philippines continues to be an energetic industry even if the players are not always rewarded with finds. Frontier areas have become attractive for exploration in view of the continuing research studies resulting to increased database thereat. While Northwest Palawan continues to be the hub of action, frontier areas as well as the more risky deepwater acreages still generate interests, if one wishes to be an active player in a growing energy-hungry economy.« less

  13. North Dakota`s Dickinson Lodgepole discovery: A Preliminary exploration model

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    LeFever, J.A.; Halabura, S.P.; Martiniuk, C.D.

    1995-08-14

    Interest in the Mississippian Lodgepole formation of North Dakota has intensified since the successful completion of the Duncan Oil Inc. 1-11 Knopik flowing 2,707 b/d of oil and 1.55 MMcfd of gas 430 cu m of oil and 43,891 cu m of gas. The play began when Conoco drilled an in-field wildcat in an attempt to establish deeper production in Dickinson oil field. The discovery well, 74 Dickinson State, was completed in a clean lower Lodgepole limestone section that is thought to represent a Waulsortian mound. The most important questions asked concerning the Lodgepole play are whether or not itmore » will step out of the Dickinson area, what are the factors that control the development of these mounds, what controlled the development of the reservoir and trap, and how it was charged with oil. Other than the reservoir section, the most significant feature observed from wireline logs of the area is the anomalously thick Bakken formation (Mississippian-Devonian). This observation is important to understanding the Lodgepole play and can be used to help explore for similar features elsewhere in the basin. The paper describes the regional setting, the Lodgepole stratigraphy, deposition, regional equivalents, and a salt collapse model that can readily explain the features observed at the Dickinson field.« less

  14. Visayan Basin - the birthplace of Philippine petroleum exploration revisited

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rillera, F.G.; Durkee, E.F.

    1994-07-01

    Petroleum exploration in the Philippines has its roots in the Visayan Basin in the central Philippines. This is a Tertiary basin with up to 30,000 ft of sedimentary fill. With numerous surface oil and gas manifestations known as early as 1888, the area was the site of the first attempts to establish commercial petroleum production in the country. Over the past 100 years, more than 200 wells have been drilled in the basin. Several of these have yielded significant oil and gas shows. Production, albeit noncommercial in scale, has been demonstrated to be present in some places. A review ofmore » past exploration data reveals that many of the earlier efforts failed due to poorly located tests from both structural and stratigraphic standpoints. Poor drilling and completion technology and lack of funding compounded the problems of early explorationists. Because of this, the basin remains relatively underexplored. A recent assessment by COPLEX and E.F. Durkee and Associates demonstrates the presence of many untested prospects in the basin. These prospects may contain recoverable oil and gas potential on the order of 5 to 10 MMBO onshore and 25 to 100 MMBO offshore. With new exploration ideas, innovative development concepts, and the benefit of modern technology, commercial oil and gas production from the basin may yet be realized.« less

  15. Oil in the Sahara: mapping anthropogenic threats to Saharan biodiversity from space.

    PubMed

    Duncan, Clare; Kretz, Daniela; Wegmann, Martin; Rabeil, Thomas; Pettorelli, Nathalie

    2014-01-01

    Deserts are among the most poorly monitored and understood biomes in the world, with evidence suggesting that their biodiversity is declining fast. Oil exploration and exploitation can constitute an important threat to fragmented and remnant desert biodiversity, yet little is known about where and how intensively such developments are taking place. This lack of information hinders local efforts to adequately buffer and protect desert wildlife against encroachment from anthropogenic activity. Here, we investigate the use of freely available satellite imagery for the detection of features associated with oil exploration in the African Sahelo-Saharan region. We demonstrate how texture analyses combined with Landsat data can be employed to detect ground-validated exploration sites in Algeria and Niger. Our results show that site detection via supervised image classification and prediction is generally accurate. One surprising outcome of our analyses is the relatively high level of site omission errors in Niger (43%), which appears to be due to non-detection of potentially small-scale, temporary exploration activity: we believe the repeated implementation of our framework could reduce the severity of potential methodological limitations. Overall, our study provides a methodological basis for the mapping of anthropogenic threats associated with oil exploitation that can be conducted across desert regions.

  16. Oil in the Sahara: mapping anthropogenic threats to Saharan biodiversity from space

    PubMed Central

    Duncan, Clare; Kretz, Daniela; Wegmann, Martin; Rabeil, Thomas; Pettorelli, Nathalie

    2014-01-01

    Deserts are among the most poorly monitored and understood biomes in the world, with evidence suggesting that their biodiversity is declining fast. Oil exploration and exploitation can constitute an important threat to fragmented and remnant desert biodiversity, yet little is known about where and how intensively such developments are taking place. This lack of information hinders local efforts to adequately buffer and protect desert wildlife against encroachment from anthropogenic activity. Here, we investigate the use of freely available satellite imagery for the detection of features associated with oil exploration in the African Sahelo-Saharan region. We demonstrate how texture analyses combined with Landsat data can be employed to detect ground-validated exploration sites in Algeria and Niger. Our results show that site detection via supervised image classification and prediction is generally accurate. One surprising outcome of our analyses is the relatively high level of site omission errors in Niger (43%), which appears to be due to non-detection of potentially small-scale, temporary exploration activity: we believe the repeated implementation of our framework could reduce the severity of potential methodological limitations. Overall, our study provides a methodological basis for the mapping of anthropogenic threats associated with oil exploitation that can be conducted across desert regions. PMID:24733946

  17. 77 FR 71814 - Oil, Gas, and Potash Leasing and Development Within the Designated Potash Area of Eddy and Lea...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-12-04

    ... sufficient data is available to establish a lack of potash mineralization in sufficient thickness and quality... potash mining operations, or (2) Extending outward a certain distance from operating oil or gas well(s... determination that potash mining or exploration operations could constitute a hazard to or interfere with...

  18. Finding and Producing Oil and Gas

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Geotimes, 1974

    1974-01-01

    Condenses the current research in exploration for gas and oil as described at a symposium at Case Western Reserve University. Briefly discusses reserves, oil exploration and extraction techniques. (BR)

  19. Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-12-07

    permafrost to melt could pose challenges to onshore exploration activities. Increased oil and gas exploration and tourism (cruise ships) in the Arctic...the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route, extraction of potential oil and gas resources, and expanded fishing and tourism (Figure 3...not occurred in the Arctic region, 133 recent economic activity, such as oil and gas exploration and tourism (cruise ships), increases the risk of oil

  20. Oil palm land conversion in Pará, Brazil, from 2006-2014: evaluating the 2010 Brazilian Sustainable Palm Oil Production Program

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Benami, E.; Curran, L. M.; Cochrane, M.; Venturieri, A.; Franco, R.; Kneipp, J.; Swartos, A.

    2018-03-01

    Global models of biophysical suitability for oil palm consistently rank Brazil as having the greatest potential for expansion, with estimates as high as 238 Mha of suitable lands. In 2010, Brazil launched the Sustainable Palm Oil Production Program (SPOPP) to incentivize oil palm development without deforestation on as much as 30 Mha. Here we examine oil palm expansion before and after the SPOPP’s launch. In Pará, the major oil palm producing state in Brazil, we analyze the extent and change in oil palm cultivation from 2006-2014 using satellite imagery, ground-truthed verification, site-based interviews, and rural environmental (land) registration data. Between 2006-2014, oil palm area (≥9 ha) expanded >200% to ~219 000 ha. Of the ~148 000 ha of oil palm developed, ~91% converted pasturelands while ~8% replaced natural vegetation, including intact and secondary forests. Although >80% of all oil palm parcels rest <0.5 km from intact forests, direct conversion of intact forests declined from ~4% pre-SPOPP (2006-2010) to <1% post-SPOPP (2010-2014). Despite low and declining deforestation rates associated with oil palm expansion in Pará, our results also show a low area of oil palm development overall compared with reported land suitability. To explore potential contributing factors, we conducted semi-structured interviews with researchers, company representatives, and government officials involved in the sector to characterize the perceived factors influencing oil palm development and the role of agro-ecological suitability mapping among them. Interviews indicated that: (1) individual effects of suitability mapping efforts to encourage oil palm expansion on cleared areas, i.e. without deforestation, cannot be disentangled from pre-existing public and private deforestation reduction initiatives; and, (2) socio-economic constraints, e.g. high relative production costs and limited familiarity with this crop, appear to partially explain the major discrepancy between estimated potential suitable areas with realized oil palm development.

  1. Econometrics of exhaustible resource supply: a theory and an application. Final report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Epple, D.; Hansen, L.P.

    1981-12-01

    An econometric model of US oil and natural gas discoveries is developed in this study. The econometric model is explicitly derived as the solution to the problem of maximizing the expected discounted after tax present value of revenues net of exploration, development, and production costs. The model contains equations representing producers' formation of price expectations and separate equations giving producers' optimal exploration decisions contingent on expected prices. A procedure is developed for imposing resource base constraints (e.g., ultimate recovery estimates based on geological analysis) when estimating the econometric model. The model is estimated using aggregate post-war data for the Unitedmore » States. Production from a given addition to proved reserves is assumed to follow a negative exponential path, and additions of proved reserves from a given discovery are assumed to follow a negative exponential path. Annual discoveries of oil and natural gas are estimated as latent variables. These latent variables are the endogenous variables in the econometric model of oil and natural gas discoveries. The model is estimated without resource base constraints. The model is also estimated imposing the mean oil and natural gas ultimate recovery estimates of the US Geological Survey. Simulations through the year 2020 are reported for various future price regimes.« less

  2. Oil Palm Expansion in the Brazilian Amazon (2006-2014): Effects of the 2010 Sustainable Oil Palm Production Program

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Benami, E.; Curran, L. M.

    2017-12-01

    Brazil has the world's largest suitable land area for oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) establishment, with estimates as high as 238 million ha. To promote oil palm development, Brazil launched the Sustainable Palm Oil Production Program (SPOPP) in 2010 and delineated 30 million ha for its growth that excluded forested areas and indigenous reserves. Here we examine oil palm expansion (2006-2014) as well as the SPOPP's effectiveness in Pará, the major oil palm producing state in Brazil. By combining analyses of satellite imagery, land registration data, and site based interviews, we found that oil palm area expanded 205%. Although >50% of oil palm parcels were located within 0.5 km of intact forests, <5% of intact forests were converted by direct deforestation. In contrast, 15-90% of oil palm expansion in Asia and other Latin American countries came from directly converting forested lands. Direct intact forest conversion pre- and post-SPOPP declined from 4% to <1%; however, <1% of the 30 million ha promoted for oil palm was developed by 2014. To explore the major factors that may have constrained oil palm expansion under the SPOPP, we conducted microeconomic simulations of oil palm production, combined with interviews with actors/individuals from oil palm companies, civil society, researchers at universities and NGOs, and governmental agencies. Brazil's oil palm-deforestation dynamics, policies, and economic conditions will be discussed.

  3. Energy survey - What can R&D do by 1985. [fossil fuel utilization

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Copps, S. L.

    1975-01-01

    Research and development in the field of energy is generally recognized as requiring long lead times before the results are felt. Near term relief from foreign oil dependence will be achieved by reducing energy consumption through conservation and by increasing domestic energy supply through expanded exploration and drilling for oil and natural gas, and by increased coal production. This paper describes the results of an informal survey performed by NASA within its own agency to determine if any research and development activities might be an exception to the general rule of long lead times and thus have significant impact by 1985 on oil and natural gas consumption.

  4. Paleo-reconstruction: Using multiple biomarker parameters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Zhengzheng

    Advanced technologies have played essential roles in the development of molecular organic geochemistry. In this thesis, we have developed several new techniques and explored their applications, alone and with previous techniques, to paleo-reconstruction. First, we developed a protocol to separate biomarker fractions for accurate measurement of compound-specific isotope analysis. This protocol involves combination of zeolite adduction and HPLC separation. Second, an integrated study of traditional biomarker parameters, diamondoids and compound-specific biomarker isotopes, differentiated oil groups from Saudi Arabia. Specifically, Cretaceous reservoired oils were divided into three groups and the Jurassic reservoired oils were divided into two groups. Third, biomarker acids provide an alternative way to characterize biodegradation. Oils from San Joaquin Valley, U.S.A. and oils from Mediterranean display drastically different acid profiles. These differences in biomarker acids probably reflect different processes of biodegradation. Fourth, by analyzing biomarker distributions in the organic-rich rocks recording the onset of Late Ordovician extinction, we propose that changes in salinity associated with eustatic sea-level fall, contributed at least locally to the extinction of graptolite species.

  5. 43 CFR 3930.10 - General performance standards.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR RANGE MANAGEMENT (4000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.10 General performance standards. The operator... adversely affect the recovery of shale oil or other minerals producible under an oil shale lease during...

  6. Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-01-05

    challenges to exploration. Additionally, any discovery of new oil and gas deposits far from existing storage, pipelines , and shipping facilities...Changes to the Arctic brought about by warming temperatures will likely allow more exploration for oil, gas , and minerals. Warming that causes...permafrost to melt could pose challenges to onshore exploration activities. Increased oil and gas exploration and tourism (cruise ships) in the Arctic

  7. Oil, migration, and the political economy of HIV/AIDS prevention in Nigeria's Niger Delta.

    PubMed

    Udoh, Isidore A

    2013-01-01

    In most of sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS is driven by endemic structural problems such as unemployment, poverty, forced migration, sexual exploitation, and concurrent sexual partnerships. In the Niger Delta of Nigeria, the epidemic is exacerbated by recurring regional conflict and negative environmental externalities resulting from 50 years of oil exploration. This article seeks to identify and analyze potential barriers to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment from oil pollution and other environmental stressors in Nigeria's Niger Delta. We develop a conceptual framework to understand how oil politics and economic systems affect HIV risks in Nigeria. We then evaluate evidence of how environmental exposures can amplify risks. Using 10 semi-structured interviews, with 85 focus group participants, we test the argument that HIV transmission in the Niger Delta is related to a manipulative "divide and rule" power dynamic that characterizes multinational oil companies' role in shaping conflict contours in oil communities. Oil exploration destroys livelihoods, institutions, and values and forces impoverished and illiterate girls and women to migrate or be trafficked to urban centers as child laborers and sex workers. The elevated HIV/AIDS risk in the Niger Delta brings into focus the political economy of resource extraction, globalization, and indigenous, minority rights and struggles.

  8. Undiscovered oil and gas resources and leasing status of forestlands in Wyoming

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Holm, M.R.; Powers, R.B.; Dolton, G.L.; Law, B.E.; Fox, J.E.; Dersch, J.S.

    1993-01-01

    All of four national forests, one national grassland, and parts of four additional forests lie within the State of Wyoming. Some of these National Forest System lands have moderate to high potential for undiscovered oil and gas resources. In the 1989 National Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas and in various Open-File Reports, the U.S. Geological Survey described oil and gas plays and presented estimates of recoverable conventional oil and gas resources for these plays. Estimated resources in plays affecting NFS lands in Wyoming are substantial. Of special significance are undiscovered recoverable conventional resources (mean estimate) of approximately 1,010 million barrels of oil, 10,611 billion cubic feet of gas, and 188 million barrels of natural gas liquids assessed in ten plays that include National Forest System lands in the Thunder Basin National Grassland and the Bridger-Teton, Targhee, Caribou, and Shoshone National Forests in Wyoming. Approximately 5,715,570 acres in the forests and grassland are available for leasing or are expected to be available for leasing by mid-1993.Poor accessibility, environmental concerns, and geologic factors such as complex structure and greater drilling depths to potential reservoirs may cause higher exploration risks and operating costs on NFS lands. However, cooperative arrangements with the U.S. Forest Service, in addition to carefully planned exploration and development programs, can facilitate operations in remote and environmentally sensitive areas, and could result in opening new exploration frontiers in Wyoming.

  9. Effectiveness of U.S. Policies for Al Shabaab

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-06-13

    somalia-oil-exploration-idUSL6E8L2O7D20121002 (accessed 10 March 2014). 82Michelle Nichols and Louis Charbonneau , “Exclusive: Western oil exploration in...Michelle, and Louis Charbonneau . “Exclusive: Western oil exploration in Somalia may spark conflict – U.N. report.” Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2013. Perlez

  10. Life cycle water demand coefficients for crude oil production from five North American locations.

    PubMed

    Ali, Babkir; Kumar, Amit

    2017-10-15

    The production of liquid fuels from crude oil requires water. There has been limited focus on the assessment of life cycle water demand footprints for crude oil production and refining. The overall aim of this paper is address this gap. The objective of this research is to develop water demand coefficients over the life cycle of fuels produced from crude oil pathways. Five crude oil fields were selected in the three North American countries to reflect the impact of different spatial locations and technologies on water demand. These include the Alaska North Slope, California's Kern County heavy oil, and Mars in the U.S.; Maya in Mexico; and Bow River heavy oil in Alberta, Canada. A boundary for an assessment of the life cycle water footprint was set to cover the unit operations related to exploration, drilling, extraction, and refining. The recovery technology used to extract crude oil is one of the key determining factors for water demand. The amount of produced water that is re-injected to recover the oil is essential in determining the amount of fresh water that will be required. During the complete life cycle of one barrel of conventional crude oil, 1.71-8.25 barrels of fresh water are consumed and 2.4-9.51 barrels of fresh water are withdrawn. The lowest coefficients are for Bow River heavy oil and the highest coefficients are for Maya crude oil. Of all the unit operations, exploration and drilling require the least fresh water (less than 0.015 barrel of water per barrel of oil produced). A sensitivity analysis was conducted and uncertainty in the estimates was determined. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Shape memory alloy actuated accumulator for ultra-deepwater oil and gas exploration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Patil, Devendra; Song, Gangbing

    2016-04-01

    As offshore oil and gas exploration moves further offshore and into deeper waters to reach hydrocarbon reserves, it is becoming essential for the industry to develop more reliable and efficient hydraulic accumulators to supply pressured hydraulic fluid for various control and actuation operations, such as closing rams of blowout preventers and controlling subsea valves on the seafloor. By utilizing the shape memory effect property of nitinol, which is a type of shape memory alloy (SMA), an innovative SMA actuated hydraulic accumulator prototype has been developed and successfully tested at Smart Materials and Structure Laboratory at the University of Houston. Absence of gas in the developed SMA accumulator prototype makes it immune to hydrostatic head loss caused by water depth and thus reduces the number of accumulators required in deep water operations. Experiments with a feedback control have demonstrated that the proposed SMA actuated accumulator can provide precisely regulated pressurized fluids. Furthermore the potential use of ultracapacitors along with an embedded system to control the electric power supplied to SMA allows this accumulator to be an autonomous device for deployment. The developed SMA accumulator will make deepwater oil extraction systems more compact and cost effective.

  12. A brief history of oil and gas exploration in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California: Chapter 3 in Petroleum systems and geologic assessment of oil and gas in the San Joaquin Basin Province, California

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Takahashi, Kenneth I.; Gautier, Donald L.

    2007-01-01

    The Golden State got its nickname from the Sierra Nevada gold that lured so many miners and settlers to the West, but California has earned much more wealth from so-called “black gold” than from metallic gold. The San Joaquin Valley has been the principal source for most of the petroleum produced in the State during the past 145 years. In attempting to assess future additions to petroleum reserves in a mature province such as the San Joaquin Basin, it helps to be mindful of the history of resource development. In this chapter we present a brief overview of the long and colorful history of petroleum exploration and development in the San Joaquin Valley. This chapter relies heavily upon the work of William Rintoul, who wrote extensively on the history of oil and gas exploration in California and especially in the San Joaquin Valley. No report on the history of oil and gas exploration in the San Joaquin Valley would be possible without heavily referencing his publications. We also made use of publications by Susan Hodgson and a U.S. Geological Survey Web site, Natural Oil and Gas Seeps in California (http://seeps.wr.usgs.gov/seeps/index.html), for much of the material describing the use of petroleum by Native Americans in the San Joaquin Valley. Finally, we wish to acknowledge the contribution of Don Arnot, who manages the photograph collection at the West Kern Oil Museum in Taft, California. The collection consists of more than 10,000 photographs that have been scanned and preserved in digital form on CD-ROM. Many of the historical photographs used in this paper are from that collection. Finally, to clarify our terminology, we use the term “San Joaquin Valley” when we refer to the geographical or topographical feature and the term “San Joaquin Basin” when we refer to geological province and the rocks therein.

  13. Unconventional energy resources: 2007-2008 review

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Warwick, Peter D.; ,

    2009-01-01

    This paper summarizes five 2007–2008 resource commodity committee reports prepared by the Energy Minerals Division (EMD) of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Current United States and global research and development activities related to gas hydrates, gas shales, geothermal resources, oil sands, and uranium resources are included in this review. These commodity reports were written to advise EMD leadership and membership of the current status of research and development of unconventional energy resources. Unconventional energy resources are defined as those resources other than conventional oil and natural gas that typically occur in sandstone and carbonate rocks. Gas hydrate resources are potentially enormous; however, production technologies are still under development. Gas shale, geothermal, oil sand, and uranium resources are now increasing targets of exploration and development, and are rapidly becoming important energy resources that will continue to be developed in the future.

  14. US Rockies gas focus points up need for access, risk takers, infrastructure

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Thomasson, M.R.; Belanger, P.E.; Cook, L.

    2004-01-01

    The last 20 yr of the Rocky Mountains oil and gas exploration and production business have been turbulent. Most of the major companies have left; they have been replaced with, independents and small to larger private and public companies. Natural gas become the primary focus of exploration. A discussion covers the shift of interest from drilling for oil to gas exploration and development in the Rockies since 1980; resource pyramid, showing relative volumes, reserves, resources, and undiscovered gas; the Wyoming fields that boost US gas supply, i.e., Jonah (6-12 tcf), Pinedale Anticline (10-20 tcf); Big Piney-LaBarge (15-25 tcf), Madden (3-5 tcf), and Powder river (24-27 tcf); and the future.

  15. Exploration for heavy crude oil and natural bitumen

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1989-01-01

    Heavy oil and tar sand reserves are enormous, and this 700-page volume breaks the topic down into six emphasis areas of: regional resources worldwide; characterization, maturation, and degradation; geological environments and migration; exploration methods; exploration histories; and recovery. An appendix presents a guidebook to Santa Maria, Cuyama, Taft-McKettrick, and Edna oil districts, Coast Ranges, California.

  16. 78 FR 41768 - Chemical Substances and Mixtures Used in Oil and Gas Exploration or Production; TSCA Section 21...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-11

    ... Substances and Mixtures Used in Oil and Gas Exploration or Production; TSCA Section 21 Petition; Reasons for... processors of oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) chemical substances and mixtures to maintain... interest to you if you manufacture (including import), process, or distribute chemical substances or...

  17. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the mechanism of oil dynamic accumulation during developing Siberian apricot (Prunus sibirica L.) seed kernels for the development of woody biodiesel.

    PubMed

    Niu, Jun; An, Jiyong; Wang, Libing; Fang, Chengliang; Ha, Denglong; Fu, Chengyu; Qiu, Lin; Yu, Haiyan; Zhao, Haiyan; Hou, Xinyu; Xiang, Zheng; Zhou, Sufan; Zhang, Zhixiang; Feng, Xinyi; Lin, Shanzhi

    2015-01-01

    Siberian apricot (Prunus sibirica L.) has emerged as a novel potential source of biodiesel in China, but the molecular regulatory mechanism of oil accumulation in Siberian apricot seed kernels (SASK) is still unknown at present. To better develop SASK oil as woody biodiesel, it is essential to profile transcriptome and to identify the full repertoire of potential unigenes involved in the formation and accumulation of oil SASK during the different developing stages. We firstly detected the temporal patterns for oil content and fatty acid (FA) compositions of SASK in 7 different developing stages. The best time for obtaining the high quality and quantity of SASK oil was characterized at 60 days after flowering (DAF), and the representative periods (10, 30, 50, 60, and 70 DAF) were selected for transcriptomic analysis. By Illumina/Solexa sequencings, approximately 65 million short reads (average length = 96 bp) were obtained, and then assembled into 124,070 unigenes by Trinity strategy (mean size = 829.62 bp). A total of 3,000, 2,781, 2,620, and 2,675 differentially expressed unigenes were identified at 30, 50, 60, and 70 DAF (10 DAF as the control) by DESeq method, respectively. The relationship between the unigene transcriptional profiles and the oil dynamic patterns in developing SASK was comparatively analyzed, and the specific unigenes encoding some known enzymes and transcription factors involved in acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) formation and oil accumulation were determined. Additionally, 5 key metabolic genes implicated in SASK oil accumulation were experimentally validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Our findings could help to construction of oil accumulated pathway and to elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanism of increased oil production in developing SASK. This is the first study of oil temporal patterns, transcriptome sequencings, and differential profiles in developing SASK. All our results will serve as the important foundation to further deeply explore the regulatory mechanism of SASK high-quality oil accumulation, and may also provide some reference for researching the woody biodiesel plants.

  18. Reservoir Identification: Parameter Characterization or Feature Classification

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cao, J.

    2017-12-01

    The ultimate goal of oil and gas exploration is to find the oil or gas reservoirs with industrial mining value. Therefore, the core task of modern oil and gas exploration is to identify oil or gas reservoirs on the seismic profiles. Traditionally, the reservoir is identify by seismic inversion of a series of physical parameters such as porosity, saturation, permeability, formation pressure, and so on. Due to the heterogeneity of the geological medium, the approximation of the inversion model and the incompleteness and noisy of the data, the inversion results are highly uncertain and must be calibrated or corrected with well data. In areas where there are few wells or no well, reservoir identification based on seismic inversion is high-risk. Reservoir identification is essentially a classification issue. In the identification process, the underground rocks are divided into reservoirs with industrial mining value and host rocks with non-industrial mining value. In addition to the traditional physical parameters classification, the classification may be achieved using one or a few comprehensive features. By introducing the concept of seismic-print, we have developed a new reservoir identification method based on seismic-print analysis. Furthermore, we explore the possibility to use deep leaning to discover the seismic-print characteristics of oil and gas reservoirs. Preliminary experiments have shown that the deep learning of seismic data could distinguish gas reservoirs from host rocks. The combination of both seismic-print analysis and seismic deep learning is expected to be a more robust reservoir identification method. The work was supported by NSFC under grant No. 41430323 and No. U1562219, and the National Key Research and Development Program under Grant No. 2016YFC0601

  19. Oil and gas fields in East Coast and Arctic basins of Canada

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Meneley, R.A.

    1984-09-01

    The East Coast and Arctic basins of Canada have been under serious hydrocarbon exploration for over 20 years. Although the density of drilling is low, extensive seismic control has outlined a high proportion of the structures in these basins and the stratigraphic framework of the basins is known. From west to east, the basins include the Beaufort basin, the Sverdrup basin of the high Arctic and the adjacent Parry Island foldbelt, the rift basins of Baffin Bay, and the continental-margin basins offshore Labrador, the Grand Banks and the Scotian Shelf. Each of these basins contains oil and gas fields thatmore » typify, to some degree, the pools that may be anticipated in undrilled structures. Surprises, both good and bad, await the explorer. The physical environment of these Canadian basins ranges from severe to almost impossible. As exploration has proceeded, great strides have been made in coping with the physical environment; however, the costs are becoming increasingly onerous, and the appreciation is growing regarding the cost, risk and time that will be involved in developing production from those resources. Even from a national sense of supply security, the vast reserves of oil in the tar sands and in-situ recovery deposits of heavy oil in western Canada will provide a competitive ceiling that will limit future development of frontier basins to those where production costs are not significantly higher than those of the tar sands.« less

  20. Integrated exploration method used in search for stratigraphic traps in Illinois basin

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Caserotti, P.M.

    1989-08-01

    A new oil pool was discovered in Marion County, Illinois, during 1988, using this integrated approach. The discovery is within 2.5 mi of the Salem field, which was discovered in 1938 and has produced more than 387 million bbl of oil. Numerous seismic surveys have been conducted in the area since the Salem field discovery over 50 years ago. Using structure maps developed from the available seismic data, well control, and depositional models, a Ste. Genevieve (middle Mississippian Valmeyeran) prospect was developed on the northeast flank of the Salem anticline. The initial well encountered 8 ft of oil-saturated oolitic limestonemore » in the McClosky zone of the Ste. Genevieve Limestone. Subsequent drilling resulted in four additional oil wells. The size of the reservoir is approximately 120 ac with primary recovery estimated at 200,000 bbl of oil. The depth of the reservoir is 2,250 ft, with an average porosity of 14% and permeability of 300 md. The trapping mechanism is stratigraphic - an oolite bar draped across a gentle nose, which was originally interpreted from the seismic information. Numerous analogous situations exist in the Salem anticline area as well as near other large structures in the basin. An integrated exploration approach can help define these areas and lead to commercial discoveries in mature areas.« less

  1. International oil and gas exploration and development: 1991

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1993-12-01

    This report starts where the previous quarterly publication ended. This first publication of a new annual series contains most of the same data as the quarterly report, plus some new material, through 1991. It also presents historical data covering a longer period of time than the previous quarterly report. Country-level data on oil reserves, oil production, active drilling rigs, seismic crews, wells drilled, oil reserve additions, and oil reserve-to-production rations (R/P ratios) are listed for about 85 countries, where available, from 1970 through 1991. World and regional summaries are given in both tabular and graphical form. The most popular tablemore » in the previous quarterly report, a listing of new discoveries, continues in this annual report as Appendix A.« less

  2. Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-05-12

    discovery of new oil and gas deposits far from existing storage, pipelines , and shipping facilities cannot be developed until infrastructure is built...markets. Other questions in need of answers include the status of port, pipeline , and liquid natural gas infrastructure; whether methane hydrates...Changes to the Arctic brought about by warming temperatures will likely allow more exploration for oil, gas , and minerals. Warming that causes

  3. Oman: Economic, social and strategic developments

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pridham, B.R.

    1986-01-01

    Oman is an important country for the West, both as an oil exporter and as a key ally strategically placed at the entrance to the Arab Gulf. This book provides an overview of recent economic, social and political developments in Oman. It begins by outlining the historical and geographical background, emphasising in particular the problems of geography and tribalism and the impact of the war against Marxist insurgents in Dhofar. It considers economic developments, both in the oil and non-oil sectors, and Oman's contribution to economic co-operation and integration in the region. It examines strategic developments, particularly Oman's relations withmore » the United States, addressing the key question of how close an alliance between Oman and the US is likely and showing how this is influenced by internal politics in Oman. It also explores educational and cultural issues.« less

  4. Geologic evolution of the Kastel trough and its implications on the Adiyaman oil fields, SE Turkey

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Coskun, Bu.

    1990-05-01

    Oil field developments of the Adiyaman area one of the main oil producing zones in southeast Turkey, have been highly influenced by geologic evolution of the Kastel trough which is situated in front of the suture zone between the Arabian and Anatolian plates. The Upper Cretaceous movements created many paleostructural trends in the Kastel trough where important dolomitic and porous reservoirs exist. The most important tectonic event, which appeared during the Upper Cretaceous movements, is the accumulation of the Kocali-Karadut ophiolitic complex, advancing from the north to the south in the Kastel trough, where heavy materials caused formation of amore » structural model favoring generation and migration and entrapment of oil in the reservoir rocks. Due to the presence of the Kocali-Karadut complex in the Kastel trough the following zones have been distinguished. (1) North Uplift Area. Situated under the allochthonous units, many thrust and reverse faults characterize this zone. The presence of paleohighs, where primary dolomites develop, allows the appearance of some oil fields in the region. This is the main future exploration zone in southeast Turkey. (2) Accumulation Area. Advancing from the north to the south, the allochthonous Kocali-Karadut complex filled the Kastel trough creating a deep graben whose flanks present generally normal faults. (3) Structural Belt. Important paleohighs constitute an exploration trend in this zone where dolomitic and porous carbonates contain actual oil fields. (4) South Accumulation Area. Distant from the Arabian-Anatolian suture zone, regional tectonics and sedimentology show this zone remained deeply buried during geologic time; good source rocks were deposited during the Cretaceous. (5) South Uplift Area. This area corresponds to the northern flank of the huge regional Mardin high in southeast Turkey where new oil fields have been discovered.« less

  5. Deformable Self-Propelled Micro-Object Comprising Underwater Oil Droplets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Banno, Taisuke; Asami, Arisa; Ueno, Naoko; Kitahata, Hiroyuki; Koyano, Yuki; Asakura, Kouichi; Toyota, Taro

    2016-08-01

    The self-propelled motion with deformation of micrometer-sized soft matter in water has potential application not only for underwater carriers or probes in very narrow spaces but also for understanding cell locomotion in terms of non-equilibrium physics. As far as we know, there have been no reports about micrometer-sized self-propelled soft matter mimicking amoeboid motion underwater. Here, we report an artificial molecular system of underwater oil droplets exhibiting self-propelled motion with deformation as an initial experimental model. We describe the heterogeneity in a deformable self-propelled oil droplet system in aqueous and oil phases and at their interface based on the behavior and interaction of surfactant and oil molecules. The current results have great importance for scientific frontiers such as developing deformable micro-swimmers and exploring the emergence of self-locomotion of oil droplet-type protocells.

  6. Deformable Self-Propelled Micro-Object Comprising Underwater Oil Droplets.

    PubMed

    Banno, Taisuke; Asami, Arisa; Ueno, Naoko; Kitahata, Hiroyuki; Koyano, Yuki; Asakura, Kouichi; Toyota, Taro

    2016-08-09

    The self-propelled motion with deformation of micrometer-sized soft matter in water has potential application not only for underwater carriers or probes in very narrow spaces but also for understanding cell locomotion in terms of non-equilibrium physics. As far as we know, there have been no reports about micrometer-sized self-propelled soft matter mimicking amoeboid motion underwater. Here, we report an artificial molecular system of underwater oil droplets exhibiting self-propelled motion with deformation as an initial experimental model. We describe the heterogeneity in a deformable self-propelled oil droplet system in aqueous and oil phases and at their interface based on the behavior and interaction of surfactant and oil molecules. The current results have great importance for scientific frontiers such as developing deformable micro-swimmers and exploring the emergence of self-locomotion of oil droplet-type protocells.

  7. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gangopadhyay, Arup; McWatt, D. G.; Zdrodowski, R. J.

    Engine oils play a critical role in friction reduction. Improvements in engine oil technology steadily improved fuel economy as the industry moved through ILSAC GF-1 to GF-5 specifications. These improvements were influenced by changes in base oil chemistry, development of new friction modifiers and their treat levels, and the total additive package consisting of various other components. However, the improvements are incremental and further fuel consumption reduction opportunities are becoming more challenging. Polyalkylene glycol (PAG) based engine oils are being explored as a step forward for significant fuel consumption reduction. Although PAG fluids are used in many industrial applications, itsmore » application as an engine oil has been explored in a limited way. The objective of this project is to deep dive in exploring the applicability of PAG technology in engine oil, understanding the benefits, and limitations, elucidating the mechanism(s) for friction benefits, if any, and finally recommending how to address any limitations. The project was designed in four steps, starting with selection of lubricant technology, followed by friction and wear evaluations in laboratory bench tests which are relatively simple and inexpensive and also served as a screener for further evaluation. Selected formulations were chosen for more complex engine component level tests i.e., motored valvetrain friction and wear, piston ring friction using a motored single cylinder, and motored engine tests. A couple of formulations were further selected based on component level tests for engine dyno tests i.e., Sequence VID (ASTM D6709) for fuel economy, Sequence IVA (ASTM D6891) for valvetrain wear, and Sequence VG (ASTM D6593) for sludge and varnish protection. These are some of the industry standard tests required for qualifying engine oils. Out of these tests, a single PAG oil was selected for chassis roll dynamometer tests for fuel economy and emission measurements using FTP (Federal Test Procedure) metro/highway cycles. Five different PAG chemistries were selected by varying the starting alcohol, the oxide monomers (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or butylene oxide), capped or uncapped, homopolymer or random copolymer. All formulations contained a proprietary additive package and one which contained additional antiwear and friction modifier additives. Laboratory bench tests (Pin-on-Disk, High Frequency Reciprocating Rig (HFRR), Block-on-Ring, Mini-Traction Machine (MTM) identified formulations having friction, wear, and load carrying characteristics similar to or better than baseline GF-5 SAE 5W-20 oil. Motored valvetrain and motored piston ring friction tests showed nearly 50% friction reduction for some of the PAG formulations compared to GF-5 SAE 5W-20 oil. Motored engine tests showed up to 15% friction benefit over GF-5 SAE 5W-20 oil. It was observed that friction benefits are more related to PAG base oil chemistry than their lower viscosity compared to GF-5 SAE 5W-20 oil. Analysis of wear surfaces from laboratory bench tests and bucket tappets from motored valvetrain tests confirmed the presence of PAG molecules. The adsorption of these polar molecules is believed to be reason for friction reduction. However, the wear surfaces also had thin tribo-film derived from additive components. The tribo-film consisting of phosphates, sulfides, and molybdenum disulfide (when molybdenum additive was present) were observed for both GF-5 SAE 5W-20 and PAG fluids. However, when using PAG fluids, motored valvetrain tests showed high initial wear, which is believed to be due to delay in protective tribo-film formation. After the initial wear, the wear rate of PAG fluids was comparable to GF-5 SAE 5W-20 oil. The PAG oil containing additional antiwear and friction reducing additives showed low initial wear as expected. However, when this oil was evaluated in Sequence IVA test, it showed initially low wear comparable to GF-5 oil but wear accelerated with oil aging indicating rapid deterioration of additive components. ASTM Sequence VG test showed good sludge protection capability but failed to meet varnish rating for GF-5 requirement. Chassis roll dynamometer tests with PAG oil 15-1 showed about 1% fuel economy benefit over GF-5 SAE 5W-20 oil in EPA city cycles only and when the oil was slightly aged (500 miles). No fuel economy benefits could be observed in combined EPA metro/highway cycles. Also, no fuel economy benefit could be observed with continued (500- 10000 miles) oil aging. However, the emission level was comparable to the reference oil and was within EPA limits. Analysis of the PAG oil following tests showed low iron content although additive components were significantly degraded. The results indicate that PAG fluids have significant friction reduction potential but there are challenges with wear and varnish protection capabilities. These limitations are primarily because the selected additive components were chosen to provide a fluid with no metal content that forms little or no sulphated ash. Significant development work is needed to identify additive components compatible with PAG chemistry including their solubility in PAG oil. Miscibility of PAG fluids with mineral base oil is another challenge for oil change service. There is PAG chemistry (oil soluble PAG, OSP) which is soluble in mineral oils but the formulation explored in this investigation did not show significant friction reduction in motored engine tests. Again, highlighting the need for additive development for specific PAG chemistry. The thermal oxidation behavior of these oils has not been explored in this investigation and needs attention.« less

  8. Empirical studies on changes in oil governance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kemal, Mohammad

    Regulation of the oil and gas sector is consequential to the economies of oil-producing countries. In the literature, there are two types of regulation: indirect regulation through taxes and tariffs or direct regulation through the creation of a National Oil Company (NOC). In the 1970s, many oil-producing countries nationalized their oil and gas sectors by creating and giving ownership rights of oil and gas resources to NOCs. In light of the success of Norway in regulating its oil and gas resources, over the past two decades several countries have changed their oil governance by changing the rights given to NOC from ownership right to mere access rights like other oil companies. However, empirical literature on these changes in oil governance is quite thin. Thus, this dissertation will explore three research questions to investigate empirically these changes in oil governance. First, I investigate empirically the impact of the changes in oil governance on aggregate domestic income. By employing a difference-in-difference method, I will show that a country which changed its oil governance increases its GDP per-capita by 10%. However, the impact is different for different types of political institution. Second, by observing the changes in oil governance in Indonesia , I explore the impact of the changes on learning-by-doing and learning spillover effect in offshore exploration drilling. By employing an econometric model which includes interaction terms between various experience variables and changes in an oil governance dummy, I will show that the change in oil governance in Indonesia enhances learning-by-doing by the rigs and learning spillover in a basin. Lastly, the impact of the changes in oil governance on expropriation risk and extraction path will be explored. By employing a difference-in-difference method, this essay will show that the changes in oil governance reduce expropriation and the impact of it is different for different sizes of resource stock.

  9. Technologies for the exploration of highly mineralized geothermal resources

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alkhasov, A. B.; Alkhasova, D. A.; Ramazanov, A. Sh.; Kasparova, M. A.

    2017-09-01

    The prospects of the integrated processing of the high-parameter geothermal resources of the East Ciscaucasia of artesian basin (ECAB) with the conversion of their heat energy into electric energy at a binary geoPP and the subsequent extraction of solved chemical compounds from thermal waters are evaluated. The most promising areas for the exploration such resources are overviewed. The integrated exploration of hightemperature hydrogeothermal brines is a new trend in geothermal power engineering, which can make it possible to significantly increase the production volume of hydrogeothermal resources and develop the geothermal field at a higher level with the realization of the energy-efficient advanced technologies. The large-scale exploration of brines can solve the regional problems of energy supply and import substitution and fulfill the need of Russia in food and technical salt and rare elements. The necessity of the primary integrated exploration of the oil-field highly mineralized brines of the South Sukhokumskii group of gas-oil wells of Northern Dagestan was shown in view of the exacerbated environmental problems. Currently, the oil-field brines with the radioactive background exceeding the allowable levels are discharged at disposal fields. The technological solutions for their deactivation and integrated exploration are proposed. The realization of the proposed technological solutions provides 300 t of lithium carbonate, 1650 t of caustic magnesite powder, 27300 t of chemically precipitated chalk, 116100 t of food salt, and up to 1.4 mln m3 of desalinated water from oil-field brines yearly. Desalinated water at the output of a geotechnological complex can be used for different economic needs, which is important for the arid North Caucasus region, where the fresh water deficiency is acute, especially in its plain part within the ECAB.

  10. Mineral resource management of the Outer Continental Shelf : leasing procedures, evaluation of resources, and supervision of production operations on leased lands of the Outer Continental Shelf

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Adams, Maurice V.; John, C.B.; Kelly, R.F.; LaPointe, A.E.; Meurer, R.W.

    1975-01-01

    An important function of the Geological Survey is the evaluation and management of the mineral resources of the Outer Continental Shelf, particularly with respect to oil and gas, salt, and sulfur. Production of oil and gas from the Outer Continental Shelf of the United States has increased substantially over the past 20 years and represents an increasing percentage of total United States production. As discovery of major onshore production of oil and gas has become more difficult, the search has moved into the surrounding waters where submerged sedimentary formations are conducive to the accumulation of oil and gas. Increased energy demands of recent years have accelerated the pace of offshore operations with a corresponding improvement in technology as exploration and development have proceeded farther from shore and into deeper water. While improved technology and enforcement of more stringent regulations have made offshore operations safer, it is unrealistic to believe that completely accident-free operations can ever be achieved. Only slightly more than six percent of the world's continental terrace is adjacent to the United States, but less than one percent has been explored for oil and gas. Since the lead time for the development of offshore oil and gas resources can be as much as a decade, they do not provide an immediate energy supply but should be viewed in the light of a near-term source with a potential of becoming a medium-range source of supply pending the development of alternative energy sources. Revenues from the Outer Continental Shelf are deposited to the general fund of the United States Treasury. A major portion of these funds is allocated to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the largest Federal grant-in-aid program of assistance to States, counties, and cities for the acquisition and development of public parks, open space, and recreation lands and water.

  11. Liquid-Rich Shale Potential of Utah’s Uinta and Paradox Basins: Reservoir Characterization and Development Optimization

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Vanden Berg, Michael; Morgan, Craig; Chidsey, Thomas

    The enclosed report is the culmination of a multi-year and multi-faceted research project investigating Utah’s unconventional tight oil potential. From the beginning, the project team focused efforts on two different plays: (1) the basal Green River Formation’s (GRF) Uteland Butte unconventional play in the Uinta Basin and (2) the more established but understudied Cane Creek shale play in the Paradox Basin. The 2009-2014 high price of crude oil, coupled with lower natural gas prices, generated renewed interest in exploration and development of liquid hydrocarbon reserves. Following the success of the mid-2000s shale gas boom and employing many of the samemore » well completion techniques, petroleum companies started exploring for liquid petroleum in shale formations. In fact, many shales targeted for natural gas include areas in which the shale is more prone to liquid production. In Utah, organic-rich shales in the Uinta and Paradox Basins have been the source of significant hydrocarbon generation, with companies traditionally targeting the interbedded sands or carbonates for their conventional resource recovery. Because of the advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques, operators in these basins started to explore the petroleum production potential of the shale units themselves. The GRF in the Uinta Basin has been studied for over 50 years, since the first hydrocarbon discoveries. However, those studies focused on the many conventional sandstone reservoirs currently producing oil and gas. In contrast, less information was available about the more unconventional crude oil production potential of thinner carbonate/shale units, most notably the basal Uteland Butte member. The Cane Creek shale of the Paradox Basin has been a target for exploration periodically since the 1960s and produces oil from several small fields. The play generated much interest in the early 1990s with the successful use of horizontal drilling. Recently, the USGS assessed the undiscovered oil resource in the Cane Creek shale of the Paradox Basin at 103 million barrels at a 95 percent confidence level and 198 million barrels at a 50 percent confidence level. Nonetheless, limited research was available or published to further define the play and the reservoir characteristics. The specific objectives of the enclosed research were to (1) characterize geologic, geochemical, and geomechanical rock properties of target zones in the two designated basins by compiling data and by analyzing available cores, cuttings, and well logs; (2) describe outcrop reservoir analogs of GRF plays (Cane Creek shale is not exposed) and compare them to subsurface data; (3) map major regional trends for targeted intervals and identify “sweet spots” that have the greatest oil potential; (4) reduce exploration costs and drilling risks, especially in environmentally sensitive areas; (5) improve drilling and fracturing effectiveness by determining optimal well completion design; and (6) reduce field development costs, maximize oil recovery, and increase reserves. These objectives are all addressed in a series of nine publications that resulted from this extensive research project. Each publication is included in this report as an independent appendix.« less

  12. Costa Rican data synthesis indicates oil, gas potential

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Barrientos, J.; Bottazzi, G.; Fernandez, A.

    The hydrocarbon exploration data base in Costa Rica, gathered through various recent periods, indicates promising hydrocarbon potential in the country. During 1980--94, Recope SA, the state petroleum company, performed a series of studies to evaluate the petroleum potential in the whole Costa Rican territory. As a first step, the information compiled during previous studies was re-evaluated, and later new information was collected with the aid of foreign governments and cooperating institutions. A new exploratory era began with the Costa Rican Congress` approval in 1994 of the Hydrocarbon Law, which allows private companies to participate in hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation. Thismore » article brings together some highlights about Costa Rica oil potential and gives basic information on future hydrocarbon exploration and development under the regulation of the new Hydrocarbon Law.« less

  13. 76 FR 76612 - Amendments to OMB Control Numbers and Certain Forms

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-12-08

    ..., Geothermal energy, Government contracts, Indians--lands, Mineral royalties, Oil and gas exploration, Public..., Geothermal energy, Government contracts, Indians--lands, Mineral royalties, Oil and gas exploration, Public... shelf, Electronic funds transfers, Geothermal energy, Indians--lands, Mineral royalties, Oil and gas...

  14. Corruption and oil exploration: expert agreement about the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.

    PubMed

    Udoh, Isidore A; Stammen, Ronald M; Mantell, Joanne E

    2008-08-01

    The Niger Delta, according to the Nigerian Ministry of Health, has a disproportionately high HIV infection rate, which is double the national average. The United Nations Development Program attributes the spiraling HIV infection rate in the region to poverty, migration and gender inequality. This paper examines two complementary suppositions: Is the high prevalence of HIV in the Niger Delta related to incompetent leadership and corruption? Is it related to the negative effects of oil exploration in the region? Currently, there is a dearth of research on the effectiveness of government programs or the role of the oil industry on the impact of AIDS in Nigeria. To address this gap, we conducted a survey with 27 internationally renowned experts from diverse disciplines using a three-round modified Delphi to formulate consensus about the impact of weak governance and oil corruption on AIDS in the Niger Delta. Results from the Delphi suggest that these factors and others have exacerbated the transmission of HIV in the region. To mitigate the impact of AIDS in the region, efforts to engage oil companies in implementing HIV prevention programs as part of their corporate environmental responsibility to the community are urgently needed.

  15. Iraq: Oil and Gas Legislation, Revenue Sharing, and U.S. Policy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-07-17

    Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq - June 2007, pp. 9, 11-12. 23 Some of the presumptive contracts for oil exploration in Iraq, signed with the...production,” Annex 3 listed 27 fields not near production and open to international oil companies or the INOC , and Annex 4 delineated 65 exploration...legislative package are proposed laws that will reorganize Iraq’s Ministry of Oil and establish an Iraqi National Oil Company ( INOC ). Under the hydrocarbon

  16. Recent developments in fast pyrolysis of ligno-cellulosic materials.

    PubMed

    Kersten, Sascha; Garcia-Perez, Manuel

    2013-06-01

    Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process to convert ligno-cellulosic materials into bio-char and pyrolysis oil. This oil can be further upgraded or refined for electricity, transportation fuels and chemicals production. At the time of writing, several demonstration factories are considered worldwide aiming at maturing the technology. Research is focusing on understanding the underlying processes at all relevant scales, ranging from the chemistry of cell wall deconstruction to optimization of pyrolysis factories, in order to produce better quality oils for targeted uses. Among the several bio-oil applications that are currently investigated the production and fermentation of pyrolytic sugars explores the promising interface between thermochemistry and biotechnology. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Forrest, M.C.

    International projects will be the major exploration focus during 1992. New opportunities continue to become available, as the world's governments and major national oil companies are changing their monopolistic policies to allow joint ventures within the industry. Exploration within the U.S. by major oil companies will continue to decrease, while the independents are expected to maintain modest prospecting activity. The opportunity to participate in a billion-barrel oil discovery will continue to attract both the major oil companies and independents to international exploration. A good example is the recently announced discovery in Colombia's Llanos basin. Large exploration programs are active currentlymore » in several countries that opened their doors to the industry in recent years-notably, Yemen, Myanmar, Peru and Algeria. This paper reports that these countries are under-explored, and the potential exists for large discoveries.« less

  18. 43 CFR 3930.10 - General performance standards.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.10 General performance standards... drill holes that could adversely affect the recovery of shale oil or other minerals producible under an...

  19. 43 CFR 3930.10 - General performance standards.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.10 General performance standards... drill holes that could adversely affect the recovery of shale oil or other minerals producible under an...

  20. 43 CFR 3930.10 - General performance standards.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.10 General performance standards... drill holes that could adversely affect the recovery of shale oil or other minerals producible under an...

  1. Interior Department Suggests Improvements for Offshore Arctic Oil and Gas Drilling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Showstack, Randy

    2013-03-01

    Shell's "difficulties" during its 2012 program to drill offshore oil and natural gas exploration wells in the Alaskan Arctic Ocean "have raised serious questions regarding its ability to operate safely and responsibly in the challenging and unpredictable conditions offshore Alaska," according to the report "Review of Shell's 2012 Alaska Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration Program," issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on 8 March. Noting the company's lack of adequate preparation for drilling in the Arctic, its failure to deploy a specialized Arctic Containment System, and the grounding of the Kulluk drilling rig near Kodiak Island last December, the report recommends that Shell develop a comprehensive and integrated plan describing its future drilling program and related operations and that it commission a third-party audit of its management systems, including its safety and environmental management systems program.

  2. Russian joint ventures, upstream deals hit fast clip

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1992-06-29

    This paper reports that Russia is stepping up the pace of joint ventures and imports of petroleum technology and hardware. Among the latest action: Polar Lights, a 50-50 venture of Conoco Timan-Pechora Ltd. and Arkhangelskgeologia (AAG), started drilling in the first new-field oil-development project in Russia to include a US partner; The governments of Oman and the Kazakhstan republic signed an agreement covering oil and gas exploration, field development, and production in Kazakhstan; Phibro Energy Inc., Greenwich, Conn., last week reported the sale and delivery of the first full cargo of Russian crude oil produced and exported by a Russian-Americanmore » joint venture; Era Aviation Inc., Anchorage, Alas., is sending two helicopters with crewmen to Russia to help assess the feasibility of oil and gas development off Sakhalin Island; In deals involving Canadian companies, SNC-Lavalin Inc., Montreal, received a contract for initial work on a $350 million (US) modernization of the Volvograd refinery in southern Russia.« less

  3. Hydrologic-information needs for oil-shale development, northwestern Colorado

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Taylor, O.J.

    1982-01-01

    Hydrologic information is not adequate for proper development of the large oil-shale reserves of Piceance basin in northwestern Colorado. Exploratory drilling and aquifer testing are needed to define the hydrologic system, to provide wells for aquifer testing, to design mine-drainage techniques, and to explore for additional water supplies. Sampling networks are needed to supply hydrologic data on the quantity and quality of surface water, ground water, and springs. A detailed sampling network is proposed for the White River basin because of expected impacts related to water supplies and waste disposal. Emissions from oil-shale retorts to the atmosphere need additional study because of possible resulting corrosion problems and the destruction of fisheries. Studies of the leachate materials and the stability of disposed retorted shale piles are needed to insure that these materials will not cause problems. Hazards related to in-situ retorts, and the wastes related to oil-shale development in general also need further investigation. (USGS)

  4. The Effect of Geographic Proximity to Unconventional Oil and Gas Development on Public Support for Hydraulic Fracturing.

    PubMed

    Boudet, Hilary S; Zanocco, Chad M; Howe, Peter D; Clarke, Christopher E

    2018-04-10

    With the rapid growth of unconventional oil and natural gas development transforming the U.S. economic and physical landscape, social scientists have increasingly explored the spatial dynamics of public support for this issue-that is, whether people closer to unconventional oil and gas development are more supportive or more opposed. While theoretical frameworks like construal-level theory and the "Not in My Backyard" (or NIMBY) moniker provide insight into these spatial dynamics, case studies in specific locations experiencing energy development reveal substantial variation in community responses. Larger-scale studies exploring the link between proximity and support have been hampered by data quality and availability. We draw on a unique data set that includes geo-coded data from national surveys (nine waves; n = 19,098) and high-resolution well location data to explore the relationship between proximity and both familiarity with and support for hydraulic fracturing. We use two different measures of proximity-respondent distance to the nearest well and the density of wells within a certain radius of the respondent's location. We find that both types of proximity to new development are linked to more familiarity with hydraulic fracturing, even after controlling for various individual and contextual factors, but only distance-based proximity is linked to more support for the practice. When significant, these relationships are similar to or exceed the effects of race, income, gender, and age. We discuss the implications of these findings for effective risk communication as well as the importance of incorporating spatial analysis into public opinion research on perceptions of energy development. © 2018 Society for Risk Analysis.

  5. Artificial intelligence exploration of unstable protocells leads to predictable properties and discovery of collective behavior.

    PubMed

    Points, Laurie J; Taylor, James Ward; Grizou, Jonathan; Donkers, Kevin; Cronin, Leroy

    2018-01-30

    Protocell models are used to investigate how cells might have first assembled on Earth. Some, like oil-in-water droplets, can be seemingly simple models, while able to exhibit complex and unpredictable behaviors. How such simple oil-in-water systems can come together to yield complex and life-like behaviors remains a key question. Herein, we illustrate how the combination of automated experimentation and image processing, physicochemical analysis, and machine learning allows significant advances to be made in understanding the driving forces behind oil-in-water droplet behaviors. Utilizing >7,000 experiments collected using an autonomous robotic platform, we illustrate how smart automation cannot only help with exploration, optimization, and discovery of new behaviors, but can also be core to developing fundamental understanding of such systems. Using this process, we were able to relate droplet formulation to behavior via predicted physical properties, and to identify and predict more occurrences of a rare collective droplet behavior, droplet swarming. Proton NMR spectroscopic and qualitative pH methods enabled us to better understand oil dissolution, chemical change, phase transitions, and droplet and aqueous phase flows, illustrating the utility of the combination of smart-automation and traditional analytical chemistry techniques. We further extended our study for the simultaneous exploration of both the oil and aqueous phases using a robotic platform. Overall, this work shows that the combination of chemistry, robotics, and artificial intelligence enables discovery, prediction, and mechanistic understanding in ways that no one approach could achieve alone.

  6. Estimating the impacts of oil spills on polar bears

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Durner, George M.; Amstrup, Steven C.; McDonald, Trent L.

    2000-01-01

    The polar bear is the apical predator and universal symbol of the Arctic. They occur throughout the Arctic marine environment wherever sea ice is prevalent. In the southern Beaufort Sea, polar bears are most common within the area of the outer continental shelf, where the hunt for seals along persistent leads and openings in the ice. Polar bears are a significant cultural and subsistence component of the lifestyles of indigenous people. They may also be one of the most important indicators of the health of the Arctic marine environment. Polar bears have a late age of maturation, a long inter0brth period, and small liter sizes. These life history features make polar bear populations susceptible to natural and human perturbations.Petroleum exploration and extraction have been in progress along the coast of northern Alaska for more than 25 years. Until recently, most activity has taken place on the mainland or at sites connected to the shore by a causeway. In 1999, BP Exploration-Alaska began constructing the first artificial production island designed to transport oil through sub-seafloor pipelines. Other similar projects have been proposed to begin in the next several years.The proximity of oil exploration and development to principal polar bear habitats raises concerns, and with the advent of true off-shore development projects, these concerns are compounded. Contact with oil and other industrial chemicals by polar bears, through grooming, consumption of tainted food, or direct consumption of chemicals, may be lethal. The active ice where polar bears hunt is also where spilled oil may be expected to concentrate during spring break-up and autumn freeze-up. Because of this, we could expect that an oil spill in the waters and ice of the continental shelf would have profound effects on polar bears. Assessments of the effects of spills, however, have not been done. This report described a promising method for estimating the effects of oil spills on polar bears in the Arctic marine environment. It uses enough real data to illuminate necessary calculations and illustrate the value of the methods. The results and conclusions presented here are only examples of possible scenarios resulting from a new estimation method. Final assessment of the potential impacts to polar bears of an oil spill remains a work in progress.

  7. Deformable Self-Propelled Micro-Object Comprising Underwater Oil Droplets

    PubMed Central

    Banno, Taisuke; Asami, Arisa; Ueno, Naoko; Kitahata, Hiroyuki; Koyano, Yuki; Asakura, Kouichi; Toyota, Taro

    2016-01-01

    The self-propelled motion with deformation of micrometer-sized soft matter in water has potential application not only for underwater carriers or probes in very narrow spaces but also for understanding cell locomotion in terms of non-equilibrium physics. As far as we know, there have been no reports about micrometer-sized self-propelled soft matter mimicking amoeboid motion underwater. Here, we report an artificial molecular system of underwater oil droplets exhibiting self-propelled motion with deformation as an initial experimental model. We describe the heterogeneity in a deformable self-propelled oil droplet system in aqueous and oil phases and at their interface based on the behavior and interaction of surfactant and oil molecules. The current results have great importance for scientific frontiers such as developing deformable micro-swimmers and exploring the emergence of self-locomotion of oil droplet-type protocells. PMID:27503336

  8. Satellite monitoring of sea surface pollution

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fielder, G.; Telfer, D. J. (Principal Investigator)

    1979-01-01

    The author has identified the following significant results. Image processing techniques developed are well adapted to the exploration and isolation of local areas which exhibit small temperature differences between themselves and their surroundings. In the worst case of imagery of small areal extent of sea surface having no coastal boundary in the area, there is yet no method of distinguishing unambiguously an oil spill from fog, cloud, the effect produced by shallow sediments, or the effects of naturally occuring thermal fronts. In the case of uniform slicks of liquid North Sea oil in still air, laboratory simulation experiments show that, for oil thicknesses in excess of 1 or 2 mm, there is, under equilibrium conditions, little dependence of oil surface temperature on the thickness of the oil layer. The surface temperature of oil is consistently higher than that of water, the difference being about 1 K at low values of relative humidity, but tending to increase as the relative humidity increases.

  9. 30 CFR 250.202 - What criteria must the Exploration Plan (EP), Development and Production Plan (DPP), or...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false What criteria must the Exploration Plan (EP... Section 250.202 Mineral Resources MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFSHORE OIL AND... stipulations, and other Federal laws; (b) Is safe; (c) Conforms to sound conservation practices and protects...

  10. Advanced computational tools for 3-D seismic analysis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Barhen, J.; Glover, C.W.; Protopopescu, V.A.

    1996-06-01

    The global objective of this effort is to develop advanced computational tools for 3-D seismic analysis, and test the products using a model dataset developed under the joint aegis of the United States` Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and the European Association of Exploration Geophysicists (EAEG). The goal is to enhance the value to the oil industry of the SEG/EAEG modeling project, carried out with US Department of Energy (DOE) funding in FY` 93-95. The primary objective of the ORNL Center for Engineering Systems Advanced Research (CESAR) is to spearhead the computational innovations techniques that would enable a revolutionary advancemore » in 3-D seismic analysis. The CESAR effort is carried out in collaboration with world-class domain experts from leading universities, and in close coordination with other national laboratories and oil industry partners.« less

  11. Harsh-Environment Solid-State Gamma Detector for Down-hole Gas and Oil Exploration

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Peter Sandvik; Stanislav Soloviev; Emad Andarawis

    2007-08-10

    The goal of this program was to develop a revolutionary solid-state gamma-ray detector suitable for use in down-hole gas and oil exploration. This advanced detector would employ wide-bandgap semiconductor technology to extend the gamma sensor's temperature capability up to 200 C as well as extended reliability, which significantly exceeds current designs based on photomultiplier tubes. In Phase II, project tasks were focused on optimization of the final APD design, growing and characterizing the full scintillator crystals of the selected composition, arranging the APD device packaging, developing the needed optical coupling between scintillator and APD, and characterizing the combined elements asmore » a full detector system preparing for commercialization. What follows is a summary report from the second 18-month phase of this program.« less

  12. 43 CFR 3930.13 - Performance standards for surface mines.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR RANGE MANAGEMENT (4000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.13 Performance standards for surface mines. (a) Pit widths for each oil shale seam must be engineered and designed to eliminate...

  13. 43 CFR 3930.13 - Performance standards for surface mines.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.13 Performance standards for surface mines. (a) Pit widths for each oil shale seam must be engineered and designed to eliminate...

  14. 43 CFR 3930.13 - Performance standards for surface mines.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.13 Performance standards for surface mines. (a) Pit widths for each oil shale seam must be engineered and designed to eliminate...

  15. 43 CFR 3930.13 - Performance standards for surface mines.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.13 Performance standards for surface mines. (a) Pit widths for each oil shale seam must be engineered and designed to eliminate...

  16. SEASAT economic assessment. Volume 6: Arctic operations case study and generalization. [economic benefits of SEASAT satellites to oil exploration in the Arctic

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1975-01-01

    The hypothetical development and transportation of Arctic oil and other resources by ice breaking super tanker fleets to the continental East Coast are discussed. The utilization of SEASAT ice mapping data is shown to contribute to a more effective transportation operation through the Arctic ice by reducing transportation costs as a consequence of reduced transit time per voyage.

  17. Thailand: World Oil Report 1991

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Khin, J.A.

    This paper reports that, out of 104 new concessions offered during 1990 by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) in Thailand, 33 concession blocks were recently awarded to 17 oil companies. Thailand and Vietnam also agreed last December to set up a joint committee as soon as possible to study exploration possibilities in the overlapping area both claim in the eastern Gulf of Thailand. PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) also is planning the joint development of an offshore area claimed by Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. If it materializes, all benefits and costs will be split three ways. The area betweenmore » Thailand and Cambodia is thought to have high potential for hydrocarbons.« less

  18. Onshore planning for offshore oil: lessons from Scotland

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Baldwin, P.L.; Baldwin, M.F.

    1975-01-01

    This book examines the physical, social, and economic effects onshore that accompany oil development offshore, namely: (1) the phases of oil development--exploration, platform construction, supply base development, pipeline construction, drilling, processing, and transportation--each of which generates its own impacts in its own time frame; many of the impacts are felt surprisingly early; (2) the strains placed on planning systems as the unforeseen magnitude of oil discoveries, the speed of development, and the need for onshore support facilities can overwhelm local planning capacity; (3) the experience of the sparsely populated Shetland Islands, where the County Council succeeded in pushing special legislationmore » throug Parliament to ''Shetlandize'' oil facilities within its boundaries and limit them to a single location; (4) the transformation of the once sleepy fishing village of Peterhead (pop. 14,500) and its fine natural harbor into a major supply base, with a power plant, pipeline landings, storage tanks, and processing plants planned for nearby; and (5) the growth of Aberdeen, formerly a university and fishing city, into the ''Houston of the North,'' with direct flights to and from Texas and high-heeled boots and Stetson hats displayed in store windows. Finally, the authors relate the Scottish experience directly to the U.S. with specific policy recommendations to permit coastal areas about to undergo an oil boom to take advantage of the lessons the Scots have learned--in many cases, the hard way.« less

  19. Marine Environmental Emergencies in the North Pacific Ocean: Lessons Learned from Recent Oil Spills.

    PubMed

    Yim, Un Hyuk; Short, Jeffrey

    2017-07-01

    Increasing marine vessel traffic, and oil and gas exploration and development throughout the North Pacific basin brings increasing risks of oil spills. Recognizing the serious challenges presented to response authorities, this Special Issue was organized by the North Pacific Marine Science Organization to provide an introduction to the current state of scientific understanding regarding the environmental effects of oil spills. Because interactions of spilled oils with biota and their habitats are complex, the most serious environmental damages from these spills are not necessarily those of greatest immediate concern by the public. Our overarching goal for this Special Issue is to provide an efficient introduction to the most important ways that oil spills can harm biota, habitats, and ecosystems through invited, targeted mini-reviews augmented by original research articles. We provide a brief background on the challenges posed by large oil spills to response authorities, summarize findings from the articles published in this Special Issue, and highlight some key research needs.

  20. Novel and Emerging Technologies for Produced Water Treatment, March 30, 2011

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Development of unconventional gas resources, including coalbed methane (CBM), shale gas, and tight sand is currently one of the most rapidly growing trends in domestic oil and gas exploration and production.

  1. Oil and gas developments in Far East in 1984

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Soeparjadi, R.A.; Valachi, L.Z.; Sosromihardjo, S.

    1985-10-01

    In 1984, the Far East region was no exception to the general worldwide slowdown in petroleum activities, although exploration and production were maintained at relatively high rates. Exploratory drilling decreased by 14%, and development drilling was down by 7%. The slowdown in Indonesia, the most active country for which data are available, was the main reason for the overall decline. In contrast, Brunei, Burma, Pakistan significantly increased their exploration drilling. Seismic activity in the region was up by 6%. A significant increase in marine seismic acquisition occurred in India, whereas Indonesia, Burma, and Brunei had a slowdown. As in themore » past, Indonesia maintained its role as the most active country in the region. No detailed exploration data were available for the People's Republic of China. The bulk of the exploration efforts in the region took place in relatively mature areas; frontier areas had a relatively low level of activity. There were no major oil or gas discoveries in the region, although Brunei, Burma, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand had multiple successes in finding modest hydrocarbon reserves. Record acreage awards were made in Pakistan and Thailand, in contrast to Indonesia where awards were at the lowest level in recent years. A general increase of farm-out offering reflected the need to spread the risk of large exploration commitments. Production of both oil and gas increased significantly. Output of crude and condensate was up by 10% (an increase of 445,000 BOPD). A 21% increase was achieved in gas production, mainly due to expansions at Mobil's Arun and Huffcoi's Bontang LNG plants in North Sumatra and East Kalimantan, respectively. 31 figures, 9 tables.« less

  2. Oil and gas developments in Far East in 1984

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Soeparjadi, R.A.; Sosromihardjo, S.; Valachi, L.Z.

    1985-10-01

    In 1984, the Far East region was no exception to the general worldwide slowdown in petroleum activities, although exploration and production were maintained at relatively high rates. Exploratory drilling decreased by 14%, and development drilling was down by 7%. The slowdown in Indonesia, the most active country for which data are available, was the main reason for the overall decline. In contrast, Brunei, Burma, and Pakistan significantly increased their exploration drilling. Seismic activity in the region was up by 6%. A significant increase in marine seismic acquisition occurred in India, whereas Indonesia, Burma, and Brunei had a slowdown. As inmore » the past, Indonesia maintained its role as the most active country in the region. No detailed exploration data were available for the People's Republic of China. The bulk of the exploration efforts in the region took place in relatively mature areas; frontier areas had a relatively low level of activity. There were no major oil or gas discoveries in the region, although Brunei, Burma, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand had multiple successes in finding modest hydrocarbon reserves. Record acreage awards were made in Pakistan and Thailand, in contrast to Indonesia where awards were at the lowest level in recent years. A general increase in farm-out offerings reflected the need to spread the risk of large exploration commitments. Production of both oil and gas increased significantly. Output of crude and condensate was up by 10% (an increase of 445,000 BOPD). A 21% increase was achieved in gas production, mainly due to expansions at Mobil's Arun and Huffco's Bontang LNG plants in North Sumatra and East Kalimantan, respectively.« less

  3. SEG and AAPG: common background, common problems, common future

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Larner, K.

    1989-03-01

    Today, products of the geophysical method are considered indispensable for geologic interpretation in petroleum exploration. Few exploration case histories today lack the evidence of seismic data upon which structural and stratigraphic interpretations have been constrained. Likewise, during the deep recession that exploration has been experiencing, exploration geophysicists are increasingly realizing that their tools have value only to the extent that they can yield geological and reservoir information that is more directly relevant to oil finding and field development than in the past. Geophysicists are now preoccupied with more than just their wavelets, static correction, and migration. As the papers inmore » this session indicate, geophysicists are extending their technology to estimate lithology, fluid content, monitoring of EOR efforts, and characterization and development of reservoirs. The three-dimensional seismic method, for example, is being brought right to the borehole with the use of the drill bit as the energy source. The futures of their two societies and their members are fully intertwined. Geologists and petroleum engineers who wish to gain considerably more information, cost-effectively, about their prospects, fields, and reservoirs must stay in touch with the exciting new developments from the geophysical community. Equally, geophysicists can maintain their relevance to oil finding only by staying closely in touch with developments in understanding of geology and the reservoir, and with the working interests and needs of geologists and petroleum engineers.« less

  4. 2010 updated assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA)

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Houseknecht, D.W.; Bird, K.J.; Schuenemeyer, J.H.; Attanasi, E.D.; Garrity, C.P.; Schenk, C.J.; Charpentier, R.R.; Pollastro, R.M.; Cook, T.A.; and Klett, T.R.

    2010-01-01

    Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean volumes of 896 million barrels of oil (MMBO) and about 53 trillion cubic feet (TCFG) of nonassociated natural gas in conventional, undiscovered accumulations within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and adjacent State waters. The estimated volume of undiscovered oil is significantly lower than estimates released in 2002, owing primarily to recent exploration drilling that revealed an abrupt transition from oil to gas and reduced reservoir quality in the Alpine sandstone 15-20 miles west of the giant Alpine oil field. The National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) has been the focus of oil exploration during the past decade, stimulated by the mid-1990s discovery of the adjacent Alpine field-the largest onshore oil discovery in the United States during the past 25 years. Recent activities in NPRA, including extensive 3-D seismic surveys, six Federal lease sales totaling more than $250 million in bonus bids, and completion of more than 30 exploration wells on Federal and Native lands, indicate in key formations more gas than oil and poorer reservoir quality than anticipated. In the absence of a gas pipeline from northern Alaska, exploration has waned and several petroleum companies have relinquished assets in the NPRA. This fact sheet updates U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates of undiscovered oil and gas in NPRA, based on publicly released information from exploration wells completed during the past decade and on the results of research that documents significant Cenozoic uplift and erosion in NPRA. The results included in this fact sheet-released in October 2010-supersede those of a previous assessment completed by the USGS in 2002.

  5. Effects of untreated and treated oilfield-produced water on seed germination, seedling development, and biomass production of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

    PubMed

    da Costa Marques, Mônica Regina; de Souza, Paulo Sérgio Alves; Rigo, Michelle Machado; Cerqueira, Alexandre Andrade; de Paiva, Julieta L; Merçon, Fábio; Perez, Daniel Vidal

    2015-10-01

    This study aims to evaluate possible toxic effects of oil and other contaminants from oilfield-produced water from oil exploration and production, on seed germination, and seedling development of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). In comparison, as treated by electroflocculation, oilfield-produced water, with lower oil and organic matter content, was also used. Electroflocculation treatment of oilfield-produced water achieved significant removals of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (94 %), oil and grease (O&G) (96 %), color (97 %), and turbidity (99 %). Different O&G, COD, and salt levels of untreated and treated oilfield-produced water did not influence germination process and seedling biomass production. Normal seedlings percentage and vigor tended to decrease more intensely in O&G and COD levels, higher than 337.5 mg L(-1) and 1321 mg O2 L(-1), respectively, using untreated oilfield-produced water. These results indicate that this industrial effluent must be treated, in order to not affect adversely seedling development. This way, electroflocculation treatment appears as an interesting alternative to removing oil and soluble organic matter in excess from oilfield-produced water improving sunflower's seedling development and providing a friendly environmental destination for this wastewater, reducing its potential to harm water resources, soil, and biota.

  6. Assessment of the petroleum, coal, and geothermal resources of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Mattick, R. E.

    1982-01-01

    Approximately 85 percent of the land area of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) region is covered by basement rocks (igneous and highly metamorphosed rocks) or relatively thin layers of Paleozoic, Upper Precambrian, and 'Continental Intercalaire? sedimentary rocks. These areas have little or no petroleum potential. Areas of the ECOWAS region that have potential for petroleum production or potential for increased petroleum production include the narrow belt of sedimentary rocks that stretches along the continental margin from Mauritania to Nigeria and the Niger Delta and the Benue depression. The Senegal Basin, located on the continental margin of Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, and Guinea, has been intensely explored by the oil industry and most of the larger structures onshore and on the shelf probably have been tested by drilling with little or no resulting commercial production. Unless basic ideas pertaining to the petroleum geology of the Senegal Basin are revised, future discoveries are expected to be limited to small fields overlooked by industry at a time when petroleum prices were low. On the continental shelf of Sierra Leone and the continental shelf of northeast and central Liberia, the sedimentary rocks are relatively thin, and industry has shown little interest in the area. On the continental rise of these countries, however, the sedimentary section, deposited in a complex fault-block system, increases in thickness. A renewal of industry interest in this deep-water area will probably follow further development of deep-water production technology. A recent oil discovery on the continental slope off the Ivory Coast is expected to spur further exploration offshore of southeastern Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. This relatively unexplored area in the Gulf of Guinea has good possibilities .for the discovery of giant oil fields. Nigeria's oil development from the Niger Delta may have peaked, as 13 of 14 giant oil fields were discovered prior to 1969 and the greatest number of fields were discovered in the period 1965 through 1967. Like delta regions in other parts of the world, individual oil fields of the Niger Delta are small to medium by world standards and future discoveries, therefore, are likely to reflect this reality. The natural gas resources of the Niger Delta, unlike its oil resources, are comparatively underdeveloped. Parts of the Benue depression in Nigeria and Niger could contain significant deposits of petroleum. The lower Benue depression, immediately north of the Niger Delta, has been extensively explored by drilling. Except for noncommercial discoveries of oil and gas and traces of oil and gas on the ground surface, the results of exploration in the lower Benue depression were negative. However, in the Lake Chad area of Chad and in southern Chad near the Central African Republic boundary, oil and gas discoveries were made just prior to the cessation of all drilling and exploration activity in early 1979. It is rumored that these discoveries may be large although little information is available. The relation between the two areas in Chad and their overall relation to the Benue depression is poorly understood; however, the possibility of thick sedimentary sections containing Cretaceous marine source rock and Tertiary reservoir beds-all contained within grabens in a highly faulted failed-arm system subjected to high heat flow--is attractive. Of the ECOWAS countries, only Nigeria and Niger produce coal commercially. Nigeria produces subbituminous coal from Paleocene-Maestrichtian and Maestrichtian (Late Cretaceous) age rocks of the Niger Delta region; reserves are estimated, on the basis of extensive drilling, to be 350 million tons (standard coal equivalent). In addition, lignite deposits of the Niger Delta appear to be large but have not been developed. Niger produces small amounts of coal used locally by uranium mine and mill operations from C

  7. Corruption and oil exploration: expert agreement about the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the Niger Delta of Nigeria

    PubMed Central

    Udoh, Isidore A.; Stammen, Ronald M.; Mantell, Joanne E.

    2008-01-01

    The Niger Delta, according to the Nigerian Ministry of Health, has a disproportionately high HIV infection rate, which is double the national average. The United Nations Development Program attributes the spiraling HIV infection rate in the region to poverty, migration and gender inequality. This paper examines two complementary suppositions: Is the high prevalence of HIV in the Niger Delta related to incompetent leadership and corruption? Is it related to the negative effects of oil exploration in the region? Currently, there is a dearth of research on the effectiveness of government programs or the role of the oil industry on the impact of AIDS in Nigeria. To address this gap, we conducted a survey with 27 internationally renowned experts from diverse disciplines using a three-round modified Delphi to formulate consensus about the impact of weak governance and oil corruption on AIDS in the Niger Delta. Results from the Delphi suggest that these factors and others have exacerbated the transmission of HIV in the region. To mitigate the impact of AIDS in the region, efforts to engage oil companies in implementing HIV prevention programs as part of their corporate environmental responsibility to the community are urgently needed. PMID:17906312

  8. Oil on Paper: A Collaborative Conservation Challenge

    PubMed Central

    Herro, Holly; Nolley, Scott; Cowan, Wendy; Wright, Kristi

    2018-01-01

    The application of oil-based leather dressing, while once considered a best practice in libraries, led to undesirable long-term consequences for bound materials. At the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the National Library of Medicine (NLM), many leather-bound volumes had multiple applications of a mixture of neatsfoot oil and lanolin dressings liberally applied. The oils not only absorbed into the leather bindings but also migrated onto the pastedowns, end sheets, gutters, and text blocks. The oiling process at NLM was documented by call number, year(s), number of applications, and dressing formula. While investigating treatment options, the NLM senior conservator consulted a paintings and objects conservator for insight on viable options for the removal of oil from artifacts. An art-on-paper conservator joined the collaborative effort to develop a treatment protocol for NLM’s oil saturated collections. Together, they investigated the issue and devised an effective method for removal of this oil from the NIH collection materials. The protocol involves washing with an alkaline solution followed by alternating applications of petroleum ether and acetone applied either over suction or by immersion. Oil components are solubilized by the alternating polarities of the solvents and then removed from the paper using suction or immersion. After the oil is removed, the paper is washed again with alkaline water to remove any remaining water soluble discoloration. This article will explore further details of the treatment protocol, its development and applications, and the benefits of cross-disciplinary collaboration. PMID:29630074

  9. Forecasting of reservoir pressures of oil and gas bearing complexes in northern part of West Siberia for safety oil and gas deposits exploration and development

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gorbunov, P. A.; Vorobyov, S. V.

    2017-10-01

    In the paper the features of reservoir pressures changes in the northern part of West Siberian oil-and gas province are described. This research is based on the results of hydrodynamic studies in prospecting and explorating wells in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District. In the Cenomanian, Albian, Aptian and in the top of Neocomian deposits, according to the research, reservoir pressure is usually equal to hydrostatic pressure. At the bottom of the Neocomian and Jurassic deposits zones with abnormally high reservoir pressures (AHRP) are distinguished within Gydan and Yamal Peninsula and in the Nadym-Pur-Taz interfluve. Authors performed the unique zoning of the territory of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District according to the patterns of changes of reservoir pressures in the section of the sedimentary cover. The performed zoning and structural modeling allow authors to create a set of the initial reservoir pressures maps for the main oil and gas bearing complexes of the northern part of West Siberia. The results of the survey should improve the efficiency of exploration drilling by preventing complications and accidents during this operation in zones with abnormally high reservoir pressures. In addition, the results of the study can be used to estimate gas resources within prospective areas of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District.

  10. Oil and gas markets, companies, and technology in the 1990`s and beyond

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kennedy, J.L.

    1995-08-01

    During the late 1990`s and beyond, oil prices will be stagnant while costs increase, competition for markets and capital will be fierce, funds available for exploration and development will be limited, and environmental extremists will keep prospective areas off-limits. Higher taxes will limit growth in oil and gas demand and reapportion energy market shares. And a campaign to brand oil use as an ``addiction`` that must be cured will gather steam. But opportunities abound, too, even in the US High-quality properties are available throughout the US, independents can find and develop reserves cheaper than the majors, and new tools aremore » available to reduce risks both in the field and in the market. Gas prices are firming and natural gas is often labeled the ``fuel of the future.`` To succeed in the petroleum industry of the 1990`s, all companies must accept change, be creative, and take initiative. To prosper, oil and gas producers and refiners and those who supply and serve the industry must face the new realities of the market. They cannot mark time until the return of 4,000 active rigs and $40/bbl oil. those days are never coming back. Never.« less

  11. The Resource Relationship: The Institutional Legacies of Oil in Venezuela

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bridgewater, Elliot

    This thesis problematizes the concept of the 'Resource Curse', addressing the arguments of several theorists that resource dependence results in state monopolization of natural resource production, and causes poor development outcomes in resource dependent states. A single case study of the Venezuelan experience is used in order to take a longer-run historical approach that considers economic and political determinants of oil-dependent development starting with the impressive growth and emerging democracy of the post war period, economic stagnation of the 1980's and 1990's, and the divisive contemporary era of 'Chavismo'. To deconstruct the thesis that oil and development do not mix, each chapter explores the dynamic connections between the fiscal structure of the Venezuelan state, institutionalized patterns of political conflict and compromise, and their socio-economic consequences. It is argued that such a multi-faceted approach moves beyond static interpretations of the resource curse to grasp more firmly the ever-changing resource relationship.

  12. Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Anadarko Basin Province of Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and Colorado, 2010

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Higley, D.K.; Gaswirth, S.B.; Abbott, M.M.; Charpentier, R.R.; Cook, T.A.; Ellis, G.S.; Gianoutsos, N.J.; Hatch, J.R.; Klett, T.R.; Nelson, Philip H.; Pawlewicz, M.J.; Pearson, O.N.; Pollastro, R.M.; Schenk, C.J.

    2011-01-01

    The U.S. Geological Survey, using a geoscience-based assessment methodology, estimated mean technically-recoverable undiscovered continuous and conventional resources that total 495 million barrels of oil, 27.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and 410 million barrels of natural gas liquids in the Anadarko Basin Province; this assessment includes the Las Animas arch area of southeastern Colorado. The province is at a mature stage of exploration and development for conventional resources. Mean undiscovered continuous resources are estimated at 79 percent of oil, 90 percent of natural gas, and 81 percent of natural gas liquids in the province.

  13. Uzbek licensing round brings geology, potential into focus

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Heafford, A.P.; Lichtman, G.S.

    1993-08-09

    Uzbekistan is a Central Asian Republic that declared independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991. Uzbekistan produces about 18 million bbl/year of oil and 40 bcf/year of gas. It is the third largest gas producer in the Commonwealth of Independent States and imports oil. The Uzbek government and oil and gas industry are offering exploration acreage for foreign participation via competitive bid. Acreage on offer includes fields for development and unproven-underexplored areas. Terms awaiting approval by the Cabinet of Ministers provide financial incentives for rapid development of existing reserves, creation of required infrastructure, and long term investment growth. Licensemore » areas concentrate on acreage where western equipment and technology can bring new reserves economically on line in the near future. National oil company Uzbekneftegaz was created in 1992 to oversee the extraction, transport, and refining of hydrocarbons in Uzbekistan. The paper describes some of the fields and infrastructure in place, the structural geology, stratigraphy, petroleum distribution, source rocks, reservoir rocks, cap rocks, traps, and hydrocarbon composition, which includes oil, gases, and gas condensates.« less

  14. Design, fabrication, and integration testing of the Garden Banks 388 subsea production template

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ledbetter, W.R.; Smith, D.W.; Pierce, D.M.

    1995-12-31

    Enserch Exploration`s Garden Banks 388 development has a production scheme based around a floating drilling and production facility and subsea drilling/production template. The Floating Production Facility (FPF) is a converted semisubmersible drilling rig that will drill and produce through a 24-well slot subsea template. This development is located in Block 388 of the Garden Banks area in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 200 miles southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana. The production system is being installed in an area of known oil and gas reserves and will produce to a shallow water platform 54 miles away at Eugene Island 315. Themore » FPF will be permanently moored above the template. The subsea template has been installed in 2190 feet of water and will produce through a 2,000 foot free-standing production riser system to the FPF. The produced fluids are partially separated on the FPF before oil and gas are pumped through the template to export gathering lines that are connected to the shallow water facility. The system designed through-put is 40,000 BOPD of oil and 120 MMSCFD of gas.« less

  15. Union Texas hopes to reproduce its Pakistan Badin experience

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Petzet, G.A.

    1997-11-03

    Union Texas Petroleum Holdings Inc. has resolved to transplant elsewhere in the world the success of tis 20 year old grass-roots exploration effort on the Badin block in Pakistan. Union Texas Pakistan Inc. (UTP) is actively seeking exploration concessions in Pakistan, and the parent company is on an international bent aimed at finding other areas where it might reproduce its performance in Pakistan. The 104 exploratory wells drilled through April 1, 1997, resulted in 47 discoveries and 57 dry holes for a 45% success rate. Some oil and gas are produced from the Middle Sand units, and some gas ismore » produced from the Basal Sand units. The 1997 Badin exploration plan called for 11 exploratory wells, including one, Tarai Deep-3, that would test a new play concept in Jurassic Chiltan. It also called for Badin`s first 3D seismic surveys, at South Buzdar and Tangri fields on the northern part of the block, and 146 km of 2D seismic acquisition. The paper discusses Badin development, drilling status, operating challenges, oil price and sales, gas markets, local effects, and future developments.« less

  16. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gay, B.; Portman, C.

    Oil reserves two miles beneath the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in northern Alaska could stimulate the economy, reduce US petroleum imports, create jobs, and improve the US trade balance, insist Becky Gay and Carl Portman of the non-profit Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc. Efforts to tap these oil reserves would be confined to the coastal plain. The rest of the refuge would remain unaffected. US Department of the Interior geologists estimate that the coastal plain could produce as much as 1 million barrels of crude oil per day for at least 25 years. Thatmore » level of production would represent 12 percent of current domestic production. [open quotes]It also could increase the gross national product more than $50 billion by 2005 and save the United States more than $14 billion annually in imports,[close quotes] Gay and Portman write. And, they say, these rewards would come at only a modest price in terms of loss of wilderness. [open quotes]While it is impossible to develop without environmental impact, environmental protection and oil development in the arctic are not mutually exclusive,[close quotes] the authors contend. They claim that advances in drilling, construction, and operating practices have reduced the environmental impact associated with oil development in Alaska. Those opposed to oil exploration in ANWR contend that energy conservation measures such as higher gasoline mileage for automobiles may offset the need for additional Alaskan oil. The authors insist, however, that even [open quotes]the most sincere efforts by consumers to conserve would still leave a sizable gap between the energy America produces and the energy it consumes.[close quotes]« less

  17. Advances in carbonate exploration and reservoir analysis

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Garland, J.; Neilson, J.; Laubach, S.E.; Whidden, Katherine J.

    2012-01-01

    The development of innovative techniques and concepts, and the emergence of new plays in carbonate rocks are creating a resurgence of oil and gas discoveries worldwide. The maturity of a basin and the application of exploration concepts have a fundamental influence on exploration strategies. Exploration success often occurs in underexplored basins by applying existing established geological concepts. This approach is commonly undertaken when new basins ‘open up’ owing to previous political upheavals. The strategy of using new techniques in a proven mature area is particularly appropriate when dealing with unconventional resources (heavy oil, bitumen, stranded gas), while the application of new play concepts (such as lacustrine carbonates) to new areas (i.e. ultra-deep South Atlantic basins) epitomizes frontier exploration. Many low-matrix-porosity hydrocarbon reservoirs are productive because permeability is controlled by fractures and faults. Understanding basic fracture properties is critical in reducing geological risk and therefore reducing well costs and increasing well recovery. The advent of resource plays in carbonate rocks, and the long-standing recognition of naturally fractured carbonate reservoirs means that new fracture and fault analysis and prediction techniques and concepts are essential.

  18. Hefty tests buoy Philippine oil sector

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1992-04-13

    This paper reports that Alcorn International Inc., Houston, has disclosed a test of another hefty oil flow off Philippines. Alcorn last month completed its third high flowing delineation well in the West Linapacan area off Palawan Island. Development of West Linapacan field will help boost lagging Philippines oil production, which fell 31% in 1991 from 1990 levels. Philippines Office of Energy Affairs (OEA) also outlined other aspects of the country's oil and gas activity in 1991. Recent drilling successes have redirected the country's focus north to the West Linapacan area from older Northwest Palawan oil fields. Meantime, two geophysical surveymore » and exploration contracts (GSECs) were awarded in 1991, and two service contracts (SCs) were relinquished during the year. Several seismic program were completed last year, and in agreement between Australia and Philippines will yield added seismic data during the next 3 years.« less

  19. US crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids reserves, 1992 annual report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1993-10-18

    This report presents estimates of proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids as of December 31, 1992, as well as production volumes for the United States, and selected States and State subdivisions for the year 1992. Estimates are presented for the following four categories of natural gas: total gas (wet after lease separation), its two major components (nonassociated and associated-dissolved gas), and total dry gas (wet gas adjusted for the removal of liquids at natural gas processing plants). In addition, two components of natural gas liquids, lease condensate and natural gas plant liquids, have their reservesmore » and production data presented. Also included is information on indicated additional crude oil reserves and crude oil, natural gas, and lease condensate reserves in nonproducing reservoirs. A discussion of notable oil and gas exploration and development activities during 1992 is provided.« less

  20. 43 CFR 3930.40 - Assessments for missing diligence milestones.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ...) BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR RANGE MANAGEMENT (4000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.40 Assessments for...

  1. 43 CFR 3930.40 - Assessments for missing diligence milestones.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ...) BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.40 Assessments for...

  2. 43 CFR 3930.40 - Assessments for missing diligence milestones.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ...) BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.40 Assessments for...

  3. 43 CFR 3930.40 - Assessments for missing diligence milestones.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ...) BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Management of Oil Shale Exploration Licenses and Leases § 3930.40 Assessments for...

  4. Production of crude oils in Pakistan: Outlook for the future

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ahmad, S.

    1995-12-31

    Pakistan`s sedimentary basins cover an area of 827,000 km{sub 2} that stretches from the Karakurum Mountains in the north to the Arabian Sea in the south. The first exploration well in the region was drilled near Kundal in 1866, just seven years after the Drake well in Pennsylvania. To date, 384 exploration wells have been drilled in Pakistan resulting in 45 oil and 55 gas discoveries, thus generating a highly favourable success ratio of 1:4. The drilling density in Pakistan is one well/1000 square kilometers. Pakistan has proven oil reserves of around 500 million barrels of oil, whereas proven gasmore » reserves are about 31 trillion cubic feet. However, Pakistan`s resource potential is estimated to be 40 billion barrels of oil and 200 TCF of gas. The purpose of this paper is to describe: (i) habitat and production of crude oil in Pakistan, (ii) Pakistan`s current energy needs and future outlook, and (iii) steps being taken by the Government of Pakistan to promote exploration for oil and gas.« less

  5. Experimental measurement of oil-water two-phase flow by data fusion of electrical tomography sensors and venturi tube

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Yinyan; Deng, Yuchi; Zhang, Maomao; Yu, Peining; Li, Yi

    2017-09-01

    Oil-water two-phase flows are commonly found in the production processes of the petroleum industry. Accurate online measurement of flow rates is crucial to ensure the safety and efficiency of oil exploration and production. A research team from Tsinghua University has developed an experimental apparatus for multiphase flow measurement based on an electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) sensor, an electrical resistance tomography (ERT) sensor, and a venturi tube. This work presents the phase fraction and flow rate measurements of oil-water two-phase flows based on the developed apparatus. Full-range phase fraction can be obtained by the combination of the ECT sensor and the ERT sensor. By data fusion of differential pressures measured by venturi tube and the phase fraction, the total flow rate and single-phase flow rate can be calculated. Dynamic experiments were conducted on the multiphase flow loop in horizontal and vertical pipelines and at various flow rates.

  6. Offshore Europe 95: Securing the future: 12th Aberdeen-based conference & exhibition to examine future of European oil & gas industry

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    NONE

    1995-08-01

    Offshore Europe 95 - which will be held September 5-8, 1995, in Aberdeen, Scotland - was designed to generate interest across the oil and gas industry and to be relevant to everyone from CEOs to trainee engineers. While the European offshore oil and gas industry has had some remarkable success in reducing its costs, it faces difficult and growing challenges, and Offshore Eurpoe is the perfect opportunity for companies to learn from each other how to successfully face these hurdles. Sessions will be held on every aspect of the oil and gas industry and are organized under eight technical categories:more » drilling; exploration; management and economics; development and abandonment; well intervention; health, safety, and environment; production; and reservoir management. Much greater operating effectiveness and striking technological advances have enabled us to maintain reserves, prolong the lives of mature producing fields, and continue the pace of new development.« less

  7. Novel adverse outcome pathways revealed by chemical genetics in a developing marine fish

    PubMed Central

    Sørhus, Elin; Incardona, John P; Furmanek, Tomasz; Goetz, Giles W; Scholz, Nathaniel L; Meier, Sonnich; Edvardsen, Rolf B; Jentoft, Sissel

    2017-01-01

    Crude oil spills are a worldwide ocean conservation threat. Fish are particularly vulnerable to the oiling of spawning habitats, and crude oil causes severe abnormalities in embryos and larvae. However, the underlying mechanisms for these developmental defects are not well understood. Here, we explore the transcriptional basis for four discrete crude oil injury phenotypes in the early life stages of the commercially important Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus). These include defects in (1) cardiac form and function, (2) craniofacial development, (3) ionoregulation and fluid balance, and (4) cholesterol synthesis and homeostasis. Our findings suggest a key role for intracellular calcium cycling and excitation-transcription coupling in the dysregulation of heart and jaw morphogenesis. Moreover, the disruption of ionoregulatory pathways sheds new light on buoyancy control in marine fish embryos. Overall, our chemical-genetic approach identifies initiating events for distinct adverse outcome pathways and novel roles for individual genes in fundamental developmental processes. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.20707.001 PMID:28117666

  8. Special Issue on Earth Science: The View From '76

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Geotimes, 1976

    1976-01-01

    Presents the latest developments concerning the following topics: astrogeology, coal, deep sea drilling project, engineering geology; environmental geology, exploration geophysics, geochemistry, geodynamics project, hydrology, industrial minerals, international geology, mapping, mathematical geology, metals, mineralogy, oil and gas, invertebrate…

  9. Sequence Stratigraphic Framework Analysis of Putaohua Oil Reservoir in Chaochang Area of Songliao Basin

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chang, Yan; Liu, Dameng; Yao, Yanbin

    2018-01-01

    The regional structure of the Changchang area in the Songliao Basin is located on the Chaoyangou terrace and Changchunling anticline belt in the central depression of the northern part of the Songliao Basin, across the two secondary tectonic units of the Chaoyanggou terrace and Changchunling anticline. However, with the continuous development of oil and gas, the unused reserves of Fuyu oil reservoir decreased year by year, and the oil field faced a serious shortage of reserve reserves. At the same time, during the evaluation process, a better oil-bearing display was found during the drilling and test oil in the Putao depression to the Chaoyanggou terraces, the Yudong-Taipingchuan area, and in the process of drilling and testing oil in the Putaohua reservoir. Zhao41, Zhao18-1, Shu38 and other exploration wells to obtain oil oil, indicating that the area has a further evaluation of the potential. Based on the principle of stratification, the Putao area was divided into three parts by using the core, logging and logging. It is concluded that the middle and western strata of the study area are well developed, including three sequences, one cycle from bottom to top (three small layers), two cycles (one small layer), three cycles (two small layers) Rhythm is positive-anti-positive. From the Midwest to the southeastern part of the strata, the strata are overtaken, the lower strata are missing, and the top rhythms become rhythmic.

  10. Measurement of atmospheric pollutants associated with oil and natural gas exploration and production activity in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest.

    PubMed

    Pekney, Natalie J; Veloski, Garret; Reeder, Matthew; Tamilia, Joseph; Rupp, Erik; Wetzel, Alan

    2014-09-01

    Oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) activities generate emissions from diesel engines, compressor stations, condensate tanks, leaks and venting of natural gas, construction of well pads, and well access roads that can negatively impact air quality on both local and regional scales. A mobile, autonomous air quality monitoring laboratory was constructed to collect measurements of ambient concentrations of pollutants associated with oil and natural gas E&P activities. This air-monitoring laboratory was deployed to the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) in northwestern Pennsylvania for a campaign that resulted in the collection of approximately 7 months of data split between three monitoring locations between July 2010 and June 2011. The three monitoring locations were the Kane Experimental Forest (KEF) area in Elk County, which is downwind of the Sackett oilfield; the Bradford Ranger Station (BRS) in McKean County, which is downwind of a large area of historic oil and gas productivity; and the U.S. Forest Service Hearts Content campground (HC) in Warren County, which is in an area relatively unimpacted by oil and gas development and which therefore yielded background pollutant concentrations in the ANF. Concentrations of criteria pollutants ozone and NO2 did not vary significantly from site to site; averages were below National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with oil and natural gas (ethane, propane, butane, pentane) were highly correlated. Applying the conditional probability function (CPF) to the ethane data yielded most probable directions of the sources that were coincident with known location of existing wells and activity. Differences between the two impacted and one background site were difficult to discern, suggesting the that the monitoring laboratory was a great enough distance downwind of active areas to allow for sufficient dispersion with background air such that the localized plumes were not detected. Implications: Monitoring of pollutants associated with oil and natural gas exploration and production activity at three sites within the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) showed only slight site-to-site differences even with one site far removed from these activities. However, the impact was evident not in detection of localized plumes but in regional elevated ethane concentrations, as ethane can be considered a tracer species for oil and natural gas activity. The data presented serve as baseline conditions for evaluation of impacts from future development of Marcellus or Utica shale gas reserves.

  11. Iraq: Oil and Gas Legislation, Revenue Sharing, and U.S. Policy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-10-01

    the Kurdistan Regional Government as an official English draft version. It is available online at [h t t p : / /www. kr g . o r g / u p l o a d s...law states that contract holders may be given exclusive rights to exploration, development, production, and marketing of Iraqi oil for specified periods...Speaking: Amb. Samir Sumaidaie” Newsweek Online , September 24, 2007. Available at [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20958064/site/newsweek/page/0/]. 20

  12. Commercial Essential Oils as Potential Antimicrobials to Treat Skin Diseases

    PubMed Central

    Orchard, Ané

    2017-01-01

    Essential oils are one of the most notorious natural products used for medical purposes. Combined with their popular use in dermatology, their availability, and the development of antimicrobial resistance, commercial essential oils are often an option for therapy. At least 90 essential oils can be identified as being recommended for dermatological use, with at least 1500 combinations. This review explores the fundamental knowledge available on the antimicrobial properties against pathogens responsible for dermatological infections and compares the scientific evidence to what is recommended for use in common layman's literature. Also included is a review of combinations with other essential oils and antimicrobials. The minimum inhibitory concentration dilution method is the preferred means of determining antimicrobial activity. While dermatological skin pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus have been well studied, other pathogens such as Streptococcus pyogenes, Propionibacterium acnes, Haemophilus influenzae, and Brevibacterium species have been sorely neglected. Combination studies incorporating oil blends, as well as interactions with conventional antimicrobials, have shown that mostly synergy is reported. Very few viral studies of relevance to the skin have been made. Encouragement is made for further research into essential oil combinations with other essential oils, antimicrobials, and carrier oils. PMID:28546822

  13. Influence of occupational stress on mental health among Chinese off-shore oil workers.

    PubMed

    Chen, Wei-Qing; Wong, Tze-Wai; Yu, Tak-Sun

    2009-09-01

    To explore the influence of occupational stress on mental health in off-shore oil production. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 561 Chinese off-shore oil workers. The workers were invited to fill in a self-administered questionnaire exploring their socio-demographic characteristics, occupational stress levels, and 12-item general health questionnaire. A hierarchical multiple regression procedure was used to assess the effects of occupational stress on mental health. After controlling for age, educational level, marital status and years of off-shore work, poor mental health was found to have a significant positive association with seven of the nine identified sources of occupational stress. They were: conflict between job and family/social life, poor development of career and achievement at work, safety problems at work, management problems and poor relationship with others at work, poor physical environment of the work place, uncomfortable ergonomic factors at work, and poor organizational structure at work. All of these occupational stress sources together explained 19.9% of the total variance. The results confirmed that occupational stress was a major risk factor for poor mental health among Chinese off-shore oil workers. Reducing or eliminating occupational stressors at work would benefit workers' mental health.

  14. ADA Title I allegations and the Mining, Quarrying, and Oil/Gas Extraction industry.

    PubMed

    Van Wieren, Todd A; Rhoades, Laura; McMahon, Brian T

    2017-01-01

    The majority of research about employment discrimination in the U.S. Mining, Quarrying, and Oil/Gas (MQOGE) industries has concentrated on gender and race, while little attention has focused on disability. To explore allegations of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title I discrimination made to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by individuals with disabilities against MQOGE employers. Key data available to this study included demographic characteristics of charging parties, size of employers, types of allegations, and case outcomes. Using descriptive analysis, allegation profiles were developed for MQOGE's three main sectors (i.e., Oil/Gas Extraction, Mining except Oil/Gas, and Support Activities). These three profiles where then comparatively analyzed. Lastly, regression analysis explored whether some of the available data could partially predict MQOGE case outcomes. The predominant characteristics of MQOGE allegations were found to be quite similar to the allegation profile of U.S. private-sector industry as a whole, and fairly representative of MQOGE's workforce demographics. Significant differences between MQOGE's three main sector profiles were noted on some important characteristics. Lastly, it was found that MQOGE case outcomes could be partially predicted via some of the available variables. The study's limitations were presented and recommendations were offered for further research.

  15. Exploring Oil Pollution

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rillo, Thomas J.

    1974-01-01

    Discusses damages of oil tanker spillage to the marine organisms and scientists' research in oil pollution removal techniques. Included is a list of learning activities concerning the causes and effects of oil pollution and methods of solving the problem. (CC)

  16. Exploration for fossil and nuclear fuels from orbital altitudes. [results of ERTS program for oil exploration

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Short, N. M.

    1974-01-01

    Results from the ERTS program pertinent to exploration for oil, gas, and uranium are discussed. A review of achievements in relevant geological studies from ERTS, and a survey of accomplishments oriented towards exploration for energy sources are presented along with an evaluation of the prospects and limitations of the space platform approach to fuel exploration, and an examination of continuing programs designed to prove out the use of ERTS and other space system in exploring for fuel resources.

  17. Development of the Multi-Level Seismic Receiver (MLSR)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sleefe, G. E.; Engler, B. P.; Drozda, P. M.; Franco, R. J.; Morgan, Jeff

    1995-02-01

    The Advanced Geophysical Technology Department (6114) and the Telemetry Technology Development Department (2664) have, in conjunction with the Oil Recovery Technology Partnership, developed a Multi-Level Seismic Receiver (MLSR) for use in crosswell seismic surveys. The MLSR was designed and evaluated with the significant support of many industry partners in the oil exploration industry. The unit was designed to record and process superior quality seismic data operating in severe borehole environments, including high temperature (up to 200 C) and static pressure (10,000 psi). This development has utilized state-of-the-art technology in transducers, data acquisition, and real-time data communication and data processing. The mechanical design of the receiver has been carefully modeled and evaluated to insure excellent signal coupling into the receiver.

  18. Analysis and functional annotation of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from multiple tissues of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

    PubMed Central

    Ho, Chai-Ling; Kwan, Yen-Yen; Choi, Mei-Chooi; Tee, Sue-Sean; Ng, Wai-Har; Lim, Kok-Ang; Lee, Yang-Ping; Ooi, Siew-Eng; Lee, Weng-Wah; Tee, Jin-Ming; Tan, Siang-Hee; Kulaveerasingam, Harikrishna; Alwee, Sharifah Shahrul Rabiah Syed; Abdullah, Meilina Ong

    2007-01-01

    Background Oil palm is the second largest source of edible oil which contributes to approximately 20% of the world's production of oils and fats. In order to understand the molecular biology involved in in vitro propagation, flowering, efficient utilization of nitrogen sources and root diseases, we have initiated an expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis on oil palm. Results In this study, six cDNA libraries from oil palm zygotic embryos, suspension cells, shoot apical meristems, young flowers, mature flowers and roots, were constructed. We have generated a total of 14537 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from these libraries, from which 6464 tentative unique contigs (TUCs) and 2129 singletons were obtained. Approximately 6008 of these tentative unique genes (TUGs) have significant matches to the non-redundant protein database, from which 2361 were assigned to one or more Gene Ontology categories. Predominant transcripts and differentially expressed genes were identified in multiple oil palm tissues. Homologues of genes involved in many aspects of flower development were also identified among the EST collection, such as CONSTANS-like, AGAMOUS-like (AGL)2, AGL20, LFY-like, SQUAMOSA, SQUAMOSA binding protein (SBP) etc. Majority of them are the first representatives in oil palm, providing opportunities to explore the cause of epigenetic homeotic flowering abnormality in oil palm, given the importance of flowering in fruit production. The transcript levels of two flowering-related genes, EgSBP and EgSEP were analysed in the flower tissues of various developmental stages. Gene homologues for enzymes involved in oil biosynthesis, utilization of nitrogen sources, and scavenging of oxygen radicals, were also uncovered among the oil palm ESTs. Conclusion The EST sequences generated will allow comparative genomic studies between oil palm and other monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants, development of gene-targeted markers for the reference genetic map, design and fabrication of DNA array for future studies of oil palm. The outcomes of such studies will contribute to oil palm improvements through the establishment of breeding program using marker-assisted selection, development of diagnostic assays using gene targeted markers, and discovery of candidate genes related to important agronomic traits of oil palm. PMID:17953740

  19. 75 FR 15718 - MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0086, Sulphur Operations, Extension of a Collection...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-03-30

    ... under a lease. Operations on the OCS must preserve, protect, and develop oil and natural gas resources... human, marine, and coastal environments; to ensure the public a fair and equitable return on the...; provide for safety and protection of the environment; and result in diligent exploration, development, and...

  20. 75 FR 62418 - Notice of Intent To Conduct a Review of Categorical Exclusions for Outer Continental Shelf Decisions

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-10-08

    ... Shelf Oil and Gas Exploration and Development'' (August 16, 2010). Furthermore, this notice provides the... amended, established a national policy to protect the environment and also established the President's... procedures to implement NEPA, to consult with CEQ during their development, to provide an opportunity for...

  1. Effects of oil and dispersant on formation of marine oil snow and transport of oil hydrocarbons.

    PubMed

    Fu, Jie; Gong, Yanyan; Zhao, Xiao; O'Reilly, S E; Zhao, Dongye

    2014-12-16

    This work explored the formation mechanism of marine oil snow (MOS) and the associated transport of oil hydrocarbons in the presence of a stereotype oil dispersant, Corexit EC9500A. Roller table experiments were carried out to simulate natural marine processes that lead to formation of marine snow. We found that both oil and the dispersant greatly promoted the formation of MOS, and MOS flocs as large as 1.6-2.1 mm (mean diameter) were developed within 3-6 days. Natural suspended solids and indigenous microorganisms play critical roles in the MOS formation. The addition of oil and the dispersant greatly enhanced the bacterial growth and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) content, resulting in increased flocculation and formation of MOS. The dispersant not only enhanced dissolution of n-alkanes (C9-C40) from oil slicks into the aqueous phase, but facilitated sorption of more oil components onto MOS. The incorporation of oil droplets in MOS resulted in a two-way (rising and sinking) transport of the MOS particles. More lower-molecular-weight (LMW) n-alkanes (C9-C18) were partitioned in MOS than in the aqueous phase in the presence of the dispersant. The information can aid in our understanding of dispersant effects on MOS formation and oil transport following an oil spill event.

  2. Wavelength-dependent excess permittivity as indicator of kerosene in diesel oil.

    PubMed

    Kanyathare, Boniphace; Peiponen, Kai-Erik

    2018-04-20

    Adulteration of diesel oil by kerosene is a serious problem because of air pollution resulting from car exhaust gases. The objective of this study was to develop a relatively simple optical measurement and data analysis method to screen low-adulterated diesel oils. For this purpose, we introduce the utilization of refractive index measurement with a refractometer, scanning of visible-near-infrared transmittance, transmittance data inversion using the singly subtractive Kramers-Kronig relation, and exploitation of so-called wavelength-dependent relative excess permittivity. It is shown for three different diesel oil grades, adulterated with kerosene, that the excess permittivity is a powerful measure for screening fake diesel oils. The excess relative permittivity of such binary mixtures also reveals hidden spectral fingerprints that are neither visible in dispersion data alone nor in spectral transmittance measurements alone. We believe that the excess permittivity data are useful in the case of screening adulteration of diesel oil by kerosene and can further be explored for practical sensing solutions, e.g., in quality inspection of diesel oils in refineries.

  3. Mesoscale carbon sequestration site screening and CCS infrastructure analysis.

    PubMed

    Keating, Gordon N; Middleton, Richard S; Stauffer, Philip H; Viswanathan, Hari S; Letellier, Bruce C; Pasqualini, Donatella; Pawar, Rajesh J; Wolfsberg, Andrew V

    2011-01-01

    We explore carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) at the meso-scale, a level of study between regional carbon accounting and highly detailed reservoir models for individual sites. We develop an approach to CO(2) sequestration site screening for industries or energy development policies that involves identification of appropriate sequestration basin, analysis of geologic formations, definition of surface sites, design of infrastructure, and analysis of CO(2) transport and storage costs. Our case study involves carbon management for potential oil shale development in the Piceance-Uinta Basin, CO and UT. This study uses new capabilities of the CO(2)-PENS model for site screening, including reservoir capacity, injectivity, and cost calculations for simple reservoirs at multiple sites. We couple this with a model of optimized source-sink-network infrastructure (SimCCS) to design pipeline networks and minimize CCS cost for a given industry or region. The CLEAR(uff) dynamical assessment model calculates the CO(2) source term for various oil production levels. Nine sites in a 13,300 km(2) area have the capacity to store 6.5 GtCO(2), corresponding to shale-oil production of 1.3 Mbbl/day for 50 years (about 1/4 of U.S. crude oil production). Our results highlight the complex, nonlinear relationship between the spatial deployment of CCS infrastructure and the oil-shale production rate.

  4. Polymerized and functionalized triglycerides

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Plant oils are useful sustainable raw materials for the development of new chemical products. As part of our research emphasis in sustainability and green polymer chemistry, we have explored a new method for polymerizing epoxidized triglycerides with the use of fluorosulfonic acid. Depending on the ...

  5. COST EFFECTIVE REGULATORY APPROACHES TO ENHANCE DOMESTIC OIL & GAS PRODUCTION AND ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ben Grunewald; Paul Jehn; Tom Gillespie

    The Environmental Information Management Suite/Risk Based Data Management System (EIMS/RBDMS) and Cost Effective Regulatory Approach (CERA) programs continue to be successful. All oil and gas state regulatory programs participate in these efforts. Significant accomplishments include: streamline regulatory approaches, enhancing environmental protection, and making oil and gas data available via the Internet. Oil and gas companies worldwide now have access to data on state web sites. This reduces the cost of exploration and enables companies to develop properties in areas that would have been cost prohibited for exploration. Early in project, GWPC and State Oil and Gas agencies developed the EIMSmore » and CERA strategic plan to prioritize long term development and implementation. The planning process identifies electronic commerce and coal bed methane as high priorities. The group has involved strategic partners in industry and government to develop a common data exchange process. Technical assistance to Alaska continues to improve their program management capabilities. New initiatives in Alaska include the development of an electronic permit tracking system. This system allows managers to expedite the permitting process. Nationwide, the RBDMS system is largely completed with 22 states and one Indian Nation now using this nationally accepted data management system. Additional remaining tasks include routine maintenance and the installation of the program upon request for the remaining oil and gas states. The GWPC in working with the BLM and MMS to develop an XML schema to facilitate electronic permitting and reporting (Appendix A, B, and C). This is a significant effort and, in years to come, will increase access to federal lands by reducing regulatory barriers. The new initiatives are coal bed methane and e-commerce. The e-commerce program will provide industry and BLM/MMS access to the millions of data points housed in the RBDMS system. E-commerce will streamline regulatory approaches and allow small operators to produce energy from areas that have become sub-economic for the major producers. The GWPC is working with states to develop a coal bed methane program, which will both manage the data and develop a public education program on the benefits of produced water. The CERA program benefits all oil and gas states by reducing the cost of regulatory compliance, increasing environmental protection, and providing industry and regulatory agencies a discussion forum. Activities included many small and large group forum settings for discussions of technical and policy issues as well as the ongoing State Class II UIC peer review effort. The accomplishments detailed in this report will be the basis for the next initiative which is RBDMS On-Line. RBDMS On-Line will combine data mining, electronic permitting and electronic reporting with .net technology. Industry, BLM, GWPC and all Oil and Gas states are partnering this effort.« less

  6. Wilderness in the Circumpolar North: searching for compatibility in ecological, traditional, and ecotourism values; 2001 May 15-16; Anchorage, AK

    Treesearch

    Alan E. Watson; Lilian Alessa; Janet Sproull

    2002-01-01

    There are growing pressures on undeveloped (wild) places in the Circumpolar North. Among them are pressures for economic development, oil and gas exploration and extraction, development of geothermal energy resources, development of heavy industry close to energy sources, and lack of appreciation for "other" orientations toward wilderness resources by...

  7. Growing pressures on Circumpolar North wilderness: A case for coordinated research and education

    Treesearch

    Lilian Alessa; Alan Watson

    2002-01-01

    Pressures are growing on undeveloped (wild) places in the Circumpolar North. Among them are economic development, oil and gas exploration and extraction, development of geothermal energy resources, development of heavy industry close to energy sources, and lack of appreciation for “other” orientations toward wilderness resources. An international seminar in Anchorage,...

  8. Advanced Oil Spill Detection Algorithms For Satellite Based Maritime Environment Monitoring

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Radius, Andrea; Azevedo, Rui; Sapage, Tania; Carmo, Paulo

    2013-12-01

    During the last years, the increasing pollution occurrence and the alarming deterioration of the environmental health conditions of the sea, lead to the need of global monitoring capabilities, namely for marine environment management in terms of oil spill detection and indication of the suspected polluter. The sensitivity of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to the different phenomena on the sea, especially for oil spill and vessel detection, makes it a key instrument for global pollution monitoring. The SAR performances in maritime pollution monitoring are being operationally explored by a set of service providers on behalf of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), which has launched in 2007 the CleanSeaNet (CSN) project - a pan-European satellite based oil monitoring service. EDISOFT, which is from the beginning a service provider for CSN, is continuously investing in R&D activities that will ultimately lead to better algorithms and better performance on oil spill detection from SAR imagery. This strategy is being pursued through EDISOFT participation in the FP7 EC Sea-U project and in the Automatic Oil Spill Detection (AOSD) ESA project. The Sea-U project has the aim to improve the current state of oil spill detection algorithms, through the informative content maximization obtained with data fusion, the exploitation of different type of data/ sensors and the development of advanced image processing, segmentation and classification techniques. The AOSD project is closely related to the operational segment, because it is focused on the automation of the oil spill detection processing chain, integrating auxiliary data, like wind information, together with image and geometry analysis techniques. The synergy between these different objectives (R&D versus operational) allowed EDISOFT to develop oil spill detection software, that combines the operational automatic aspect, obtained through dedicated integration of the processing chain in the existing open source NEST software, with new detection, filtering and classification algorithms. Particularly, dedicated filtering algorithm development based on Wavelet filtering was exploited for the improvement of oil spill detection and classification. In this work we present the functionalities of the developed software and the main results in support of the developed algorithm validity.

  9. Gas shale/oil shale

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Fishman, N.S.; Bereskin, S.R.; Bowker, K.A.; Cardott, B.J.; Chidsey, T.C.; Dubiel, R.F.; Enomoto, C.B.; Harrison, W.B.; Jarvie, D.M.; Jenkins, C.L.; LeFever, J.A.; Li, Peng; McCracken, J.N.; Morgan, C.D.; Nordeng, S.H.; Nyahay, R.E.; Schamel, Steven; Sumner, R.L.; Wray, L.L.

    2011-01-01

    The production of natural gas from shales continues to increase in North America, and shale gas exploration is on the rise in other parts of the world since the previous report by this committee was published by American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Energy Minerals Division (2009). For the United States, the volume of proved reserves of natural gas increased 11% from 2008 to 2009, the increase driven largely by shale gas development (Energy Information Administration 2010c). Furthermore, shales have increasingly become targets of exploration for oil and condensate as well as gas, which has served to greatly expand their significance as ‘‘unconventional’’ petroleum reservoirs.This report provides information about specific shales across North America and Europe from which gas (biogenic or thermogenic), oil, or natural gas liquids are produced or is actively being explored. The intent is to reflect the recently expanded mission of the Energy Minerals Division (EMD) Gas Shales Committee to serve as a single point of access to technical information on shales regardless of the type of hydrocarbon produced from them. The contents of this report were drawn largely from contributions by numerous members of the EMD Gas Shales Advisory Committee, with much of the data being available from public websites such as state or provincial geological surveys or other public institutions. Shales from which gas or oil is being produced in the United States are listed in alphabetical order by shale name. Information for Canada is presented by province, whereas for Europe, it is presented by country.

  10. Essential Oils from Ugandan Aromatic Medicinal Plants: Chemical Composition and Growth Inhibitory Effects on Oral Pathogens

    PubMed Central

    Ocheng, Francis; Bwanga, Freddie; Joloba, Moses; Softrata, Abier; Azeem, Muhammad; Pütsep, Katrin; Borg-Karlson, Anna-Karin; Obua, Celestino; Gustafsson, Anders

    2015-01-01

    The study assessed the growth inhibitory effects of essential oils extracted from ten Ugandan medicinal plants (Bidens pilosa, Helichrysum odoratissimum, Vernonia amygdalina, Hoslundia opposita, Ocimum gratissimum, Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon nardus, Teclea nobilis, Zanthoxylum chalybeum, and Lantana trifolia) used traditionally in the management of oral diseases against oral pathogens. Chemical compositions of the oils were explored by GC-MS. Inhibitory effects of the oils were assessed on periodontopathic Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and cariogenic Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus using broth dilution methods at concentrations of 1%, 0.1%, and 0.01%. The most sensitive organism was A. actinomycetemcomitans. Its growth was markedly inhibited by six of the oils at all the concentrations tested. Essential oil from C. nardus exhibited the highest activity with complete growth inhibition of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis at all the three concentrations tested, the major constituents in the oil being mainly oxygenated sesquiterpenes. Most of the oils exhibited limited effects on L. acidophilus. We conclude that essential oils from the studied plants show marked growth inhibitory effects on periodontopathic A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis, moderate effects on cariogenic S. mutans, and the least effect on L. acidophilus. The present study constitutes a basis for further investigations and development of certain oils into alternative antiplaque agents. PMID:26170872

  11. Identifying Oil Exploration Leads using Intergrated Remote Sensing and Seismic Data Analysis, Lake Sakakawea, Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, Willistion Basin

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Scott R. Reeves; Randal L. Billingsley

    2004-02-26

    The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, inhabited by the Arikara, Mandan and Hidatsa Tribes (now united to form the Three Affiliated Tribes) covers a total area of 1530 mi{sup 2} (980,000 acres). The Reservation is located approximately 15 miles east of the depocenter of the Williston basin, and to the southeast of a major structural feature and petroleum producing province, the Nesson anticline. Several published studies document the widespread existence of mature source rocks, favorable reservoir/caprock combinations, and production throughout the Reservation and surrounding areas indicating high potential for undiscovered oil and gas resources. This technical assessment was performed to bettermore » define the oil exploration opportunity, and stimulate exploration and development activities for the benefit of the Tribes. The need for this assessment is underscored by the fact that, despite its considerable potential, there is currently no meaningful production on the Reservation, and only 2% of it is currently leased. Of particular interest (and the focus of this study) is the area under the Lake Sakakawea (formed as result of the Garrison Dam). This 'reservoir taking' area, which has never been drilled, encompasses an area of 150,000 acres, and represents the largest contiguous acreage block under control of the Tribes. Furthermore, these lands are Tribal (non-allotted), hence leasing requirements are relatively simple. The opportunity for exploration success insofar as identifying potential leads under the lake is high. According to the Bureau of Land Management, there have been 591 tests for oil and gas on or immediately adjacent to the Reservation, resulting in a total of 392 producing wells and 179 plugged and abandoned wells, for a success ratio of 69%. Based on statistical probability alone, the opportunity for success is high.« less

  12. Oil and gas developments in far East in 1982

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Fletcher, G.L.

    1983-10-01

    In 1982, the Far East region was one of the brighter parts of the world for the petroleum industry. Exploratory acreage acquisition, drilling, and seismic activity maintained the busy pace set in 1981. Most parts of the Far East region showed significant and even increased activity compared with 1981. Although drilling was active in 1982, there were no nationally important oil or gas discoveries in the region. Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and India all recorded multiple discoveries, but these for the most part followed the pattern of previous years. Indonesia was the most active country outside of China. A record numbermore » of exploratory and delineation wells was drilled in 1982. As in previous years, a plethora of oil and gas discoveries was recorded, but only 1 discovery, a gas discovery in onshore east Kalimantan, is possibly of major significance. Countries which had disappointing exploration programs in 1982 are Bangladesh, Burma, Japan, Philippines, and Taiwan. Exploration in these countries did little to enhance their resource bases. Production in the Far East declined slightly in 1982 to approximately 4.3 million BOPD from 4.4 million BOPD in 1981. This appears to have been mainly due to market conditions. Curtailment of production in Indonesia as a result of the worldwide oil glut offset healthy production gains in India, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand. The general attitude of the petroleum industry toward the region was enthusiasm for exploration prospects. Acreage acquisition was brisk in Indonesia, Malyasia, and Thailand. Drilling was on the increase in India, Indonesia, and Thailand. Seismic activity continued strong in most parts of the reporting area. Exploration appears to be alive and well in the Far East.« less

  13. Exploration limited since '70s in Libya's Sirte basin

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Thomas, D.

    1995-03-13

    Esso Standard made the first Libyan oil discovery in the western Ghadames basin in 1957. The Atshan-2 well tested oil from Devonian sandstones, and the play was a continuation of the Paleozoic trend found productive in the neighboring Edjeleh region of eastern Algeria. Exploration in the Sirte basin began in earnest in 1958. Within the next 10 years, 16 major oil fields had been discovered, each with recoverable reserves greater than 500 million bbl of oil. Libya currently produces under OPEC quota approximately 1.4 million b/d of oil, with discovered in-place reserves of 130 billion bbl of oil. The papermore » describes the structural framework, sedimentary basins of Libya, the Sirte basin, petroleum geology, play types, source rocks, generation and migration of hydrocarbons, oil reserves, potential, and acreage availability.« less

  14. Spray atomization of bio-oil/ethanol blends with externally mixed nozzles

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Experiments were conducted to investigate the properties of sprays of pyrolysis oil from biomass (bio-oil) using an air assisted atomization nozzle operated without combustion to explore the potential of pyrolysis oil combustion in industrial and home furnaces. Bio-oil was blended with ethanol to im...

  15. Oil Spill!

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ansberry, Karen Rohrich; Morgan, Emily

    2005-01-01

    An oil spill occurs somewhere in the world almost every day of the year, and the consequences can be devastating. In this month's column, students explore the effects of oil spills on plants, animals, and the environment and investigate oil spill clean-up methods through a simulated oil spill. The activities described in this article give students…

  16. Hydrocarbon seeps in petroliferous basins in China: A first inventory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zheng, Guodong; Xu, Wang; Etiope, Giuseppe; Ma, Xiangxian; Liang, Shouyun; Fan, Qiaohui; Sajjad, Wasim; Li, Yang

    2018-01-01

    Natural hydrocarbon seepage is a widespread phenomenon in sedimentary basins, with important implications in petroleum exploration and emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. China has vast petroleum (oil and gas) bearing sedimentary basins, but hydrocarbon seepage has rarely been the object of systematic studies and measurements. Based on the available Chinese literature, we report a first inventory of 932 hydrocarbon seeps or seepage zones (710 onshore seeps and 222 offshore seeps), including 81 mud volcanoes, 449 oil seeps, 215 gas seeps, and 187 solid seeps (bitumen outcrops). The seeps are located within the main 20 Mesozoic-Cenozoic petroliferous sedimentary basins, especially along the marginal, regional and local faults. The type of manifestations (oil, gas or mud volcano) reflects the type and maturity of the subsurface petroleum system and the sedimentary conditions of the basin. Oil seeps are particularly abundant in the Junggar Basin. Gas seeps mostly developed in the Lunpola Basin, in smaller basins of the eastern Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, onshore Taiwan and in the offshore Yinggehai Basin. Mud volcanoes developed in basins (Junggar, Qaidam, Qiangtang, onshore and offshore Taiwan) that experienced rapid sedimentation, which induced gravitative instability of shales and diapirism. In comparison to available global onshore seep data-bases, China results to be the country with the highest number of seeps in the world. The massive gas seepage in China could represent a considerable natural source of methane to the atmosphere, and a key process that may drive future hydrocarbon exploration.

  17. Disentangling oil weathering using GC x GC. 1. chromatogram analysis.

    PubMed

    Arey, J Samuel; Nelson, Robert K; Reddy, Christopher M

    2007-08-15

    Historically, the thousands of compounds found in oils constituted an "unresolved complex mixture" that frustrated efforts to analyze oil weathering. Moreover, different weathering processes inflict rich and diverse signatures of compositional change in oil, and conventional methods do not effectively decode this elaborate record. Using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC), we can separate thousands of hydrocarbon components and simultaneously estimate their chemical properties. We investigated 13 weathered field samples collected from the Bouchard 120 heavy fuel oil spill in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts in 2003. We first mapped hydrocarbon vapor pressures and aqueous solubilities onto the compositional space explored by GC x GC chromatograms of weathered samples. Then we developed methods to quantitatively decouple mass loss patterns associated with evaporation and dissolution. The compositional complexity of oil, traditionally considered an obstacle, was now an advantage. We exploited the large inventory of chemical information encoded in oil to robustly differentiate signatures of mass transfer to air and water. With this new approach, we can evaluate mass transfer models (the Part 2 companion to this paper) and more properly account for evaporation, dissolution, and degradation of oil in the environment.

  18. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Koen, A.D.

    Colombia plans to play a growing role in international oil markets while expanding and privatizing its domestic gas and electricity industries. Officials intend to curb the government`s spending on energy development while increasing its energy revenues. Their plans imply growing participation in energy projects by private companies. Also certain to help attract investment capital is the country`s new standing as a world-class oil and gas province. Discovery of Cusiana oil field in 1989 and of Cupiagua oil field in 1992 added 2 billion bbl of oil and 3 tcf of gas reserves, effectively doubling Colombia`s totals. Exploration near the giantmore » Cusiana-Cupiagua complex, in the eastern foothills of the Andes about 100 miles northeast of Bogota, has turned up an estimated 10 tcf of gas and 1 billion bbl of oil in Volcanera field and two discoveries overlying it, Florena and Pauto Sur. Colombia`s critics say that, despite its laudable economic stability and improving oil and gas prospectivity, political impediments could interfere with progress toward its lofty energy goals. The paper discusses the heightened political risks, unequal pace of reform, gas pipeline construction, gas regulations, tying gas to power, reform in the oil sector, achieving sustainable change, and the appeal to investors.« less

  19. Geothermal resource development for electric power generation in Indonesia: results and future promises

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sumitramihardja, A.; Robert, D.; Ibrahim, K.

    1986-07-01

    Indonesia is one of the largest developing countries in southeast Asia; therefore, energy demand tends to increase continuously. Fortunately, large amounts of energy resource potentials are available, among which is energy from geothermal resources. Some of these energy resources comprise exportable commodities such as oil, natural gas, and coal; others are for domestic consumption such as hydrothermal and geothermal energy. During the next several years the Indonesian government intends to accelerate development of nonexportable energies used to generate electrical power in order to save exportable energies that can bring foreign currencies. Therefore, geothermal has become a priority goal. Moreover, thismore » type of energy is of particular interest because Indonesia has a large geothermal energy potential related to the Circum-Pacific volcanic belts. These geothermal manifestations are spread throughout almost the entire archipelago, except the island of Kalimantan. Geothermal exploration in Indonesia began in 1929 when some shallow wells were drilled in Kamojang, West Java. Actual exploration for geothermal energy to generate electricity commenced in 1972. Preliminary reconnaissance surveys were made by the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia. In 1982, the state oil company, Pertamina, was placed in charge of exploration and development activities for geothermal energy in different fields, either by its own activities or in the form of joint-operation contracts with foreign companies. In addition, the state electrical company, PLN, is responsible for installing a power plant to generate and distribute electricity. Presently, several projects are at different stages of maturity. Some fields are in an exploration stage, and others are already developed.« less

  20. Subsurface Hybrid Power Options for Oil & Gas Production at Deep Ocean Sites

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Farmer, J C; Haut, R; Jahn, G

    2010-02-19

    An investment in deep-sea (deep-ocean) hybrid power systems may enable certain off-shore oil and gas exploration and production. Advanced deep-ocean drilling and production operations, locally powered, may provide commercial access to oil and gas reserves otherwise inaccessible. Further, subsea generation of electrical power has the potential of featuring a low carbon output resulting in improved environmental conditions. Such technology therefore, enhances the energy security of the United States in a green and environmentally friendly manner. The objective of this study is to evaluate alternatives and recommend equipment to develop into hybrid energy conversion and storage systems for deep ocean operations.more » Such power systems will be located on the ocean floor and will be used to power offshore oil and gas exploration and production operations. Such power systems will be located on the oceans floor, and will be used to supply oil and gas exploration activities, as well as drilling operations required to harvest petroleum reserves. The following conceptual hybrid systems have been identified as candidates for powering sub-surface oil and gas production operations: (1) PWR = Pressurized-Water Nuclear Reactor + Lead-Acid Battery; (2) FC1 = Line for Surface O{sub 2} + Well Head Gas + Reformer + PEMFC + Lead-Acid & Li-Ion Batteries; (3) FC2 = Stored O2 + Well Head Gas + Reformer + Fuel Cell + Lead-Acid & Li-Ion Batteries; (4) SV1 = Submersible Vehicle + Stored O{sub 2} + Fuel Cell + Lead-Acid & Li-Ion Batteries; (5) SV2 = Submersible Vehicle + Stored O{sub 2} + Engine or Turbine + Lead-Acid & Li-Ion Batteries; (6) SV3 = Submersible Vehicle + Charge at Docking Station + ZEBRA & Li-Ion Batteries; (7) PWR TEG = PWR + Thermoelectric Generator + Lead-Acid Battery; (8) WELL TEG = Thermoelectric Generator + Well Head Waste Heat + Lead-Acid Battery; (9) GRID = Ocean Floor Electrical Grid + Lead-Acid Battery; and (10) DOC = Deep Ocean Current + Lead-Acid Battery.« less

  1. National Assessment of Oil and Gas Project: Areas of Historical Oil and Gas Exploration and Production in the United States

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Biewick, Laura

    2008-01-01

    This report contains maps and associated spatial data showing historical oil and gas exploration and production in the United States. Because of the proprietary nature of many oil and gas well databases, the United States was divided into cells one-quarter square mile and the production status of all wells in a given cell was aggregated. Base-map reference data are included, using the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Map, the USGS and American Geological Institute (AGI) Global GIS, and a World Shaded Relief map service from the ESRI Geography Network. A hardcopy map was created to synthesize recorded exploration data from 1859, when the first oil well was drilled in the U.S., to 2005. In addition to the hardcopy map product, the data have been refined and made more accessible through the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. The cell data are included in a GIS database constructed for spatial analysis via the USGS Internet Map Service or by importing the data into GIS software such as ArcGIS. The USGS internet map service provides a number of useful and sophisticated geoprocessing and cartographic functions via an internet browser. Also included is a video clip of U.S. oil and gas exploration and production through time.

  2. Future of American oil: the experts testify. [Fourteen professors, economists, ang financial experts

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wyman, H. Jr.; Markun, P.M.

    In this volume, the American Petroleum Institute has gathered from the record the Congressional testimony of fourteen authorities on two burning issues that deeply affect the petroleum industry. One is a bill to legalize divestiture/dismemberment of integrated oil companies of the United States--to limit these companies to just one aspect of petroleum development: exploration/production, transportation, refining, or marketing. The other proposal would prevent the oil companies, the nation's most experienced energy producers, from participating in developing other sources of energy. Ten testimonies on vertical divestiture are included: Legal Consequences of Dismemberment, Bator, Peter A.; The Energy Crisis and the Oilmore » Industry, Erickson, Edward W.; The Effect of Petroleum Divestiture on Price and Supply, Friedman, Barry A.; Twenty Years of Chaos, Gary, Raymond B.; International Aspects of Divestiture, Jacoby, Neil H.; Competition in the Petroleum Industry, Mancke, Richard B.; The Case for Vertical Integration, Mitchell, Edward J.; Pipelines: The Cost of Capital, Myers, Stewart C.; Vertical Integration into Oil Pipelines, Swenson, Gary L.; and Financing the Oil Industry, Wilson, Wallace W. Six testimonials on horizontal divestiture are entitled: Public Policy and the Monopoly Myth, Erickson, Edward W.; Justice Looks at Energy Diversification, Kauper, Thomas E.; Horizontal Diversification by Oil Companies, Moore, Thomas Gale; Oil Companies in the Coal Industry, Moyer, Reed; Oil Companies in the Uranium Industry, Ray, Dixy Lee; and Who's Mining the Coal, Wilson, Wallace W. (MCW)« less

  3. 30 CFR 250.1602 - Applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... Mineral Resources MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Sulphur Operations § 250.1602 Applicability. (a) The requirements of this subpart P are applicable to all exploration, development, and production operations under an...

  4. 77 FR 32994 - Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-06-04

    ... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Geological and Geophysical...: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior. ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period... managed by BOEM: oil and gas exploration and development; renewable energy; and marine minerals. BOEM is...

  5. Publications - GMC 268 | Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical

    Science.gov Websites

    DGGS GMC 268 Publication Details Title: Whole oil-gas chromatogram of Prudhoe Bay Sadlerochit oil from Unknown, 1996, Whole oil-gas chromatogram of Prudhoe Bay Sadlerochit oil from the BP Exploration (Alaska

  6. 50 CFR 18.111 - What specified activities does this subpart cover?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... Walruses and Polar Bears Incidental to Oil and Gas Exploration Activities in the Chukchi Sea and Adjacent... polar bears by you (U.S. citizens as defined in § 18.27(c)) while engaged in oil and gas exploration...

  7. 50 CFR 18.111 - What specified activities does this subpart cover?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... Walruses and Polar Bears Incidental to Oil and Gas Exploration Activities in the Chukchi Sea and Adjacent... polar bears by you (U.S. citizens as defined in § 18.27(c)) while engaged in oil and gas exploration...

  8. 50 CFR 18.111 - What specified activities does this subpart cover?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... Walruses and Polar Bears Incidental to Oil and Gas Exploration Activities in the Chukchi Sea and Adjacent... polar bears by you (U.S. citizens as defined in § 18.27(c)) while engaged in oil and gas exploration...

  9. 50 CFR 18.111 - What specified activities does this subpart cover?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... Walruses and Polar Bears Incidental to Oil and Gas Exploration Activities in the Chukchi Sea and Adjacent... polar bears by you (U.S. citizens as defined in § 18.27(c)) while engaged in oil and gas exploration...

  10. 50 CFR 18.111 - What specified activities does this subpart cover?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... Walruses and Polar Bears Incidental to Oil and Gas Exploration Activities in the Chukchi Sea and Adjacent... polar bears by you (U.S. citizens as defined in § 18.27(c)) while engaged in oil and gas exploration...

  11. Statistics of Petroleum Exploration in the World Outside the United States and Canada Through 2001

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Attanasi, E.D.; Freeman, P.A.; Glovier, Jennifer A.

    2007-01-01

    Future oil and gas supplies depend, in part, on the reserves that are expected to be added through exploration and new discoveries. This Circular presents a summary of the statistics and an analysis of petroleum exploration in the world outside the United States and Canada (the study area) through 2001. It updates U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1096 (by E.D. Attanasi and D.H. Root, 1993) and expands coverage of the statistics to areas where drilling and discovery data have recently become available. These new areas include China, the formerly Communist countries of Eastern Europe, and the countries that once were part of the former Soviet Union in Europe and Asia. Data are presented by country but are organized by petroleum provinces delineated by the U.S. Geological Survey World Energy Assessment Team (USGS Digital Data Series DDS?60, published in 2000). The data and analysis are presented in maps and graphs, providing a visual summary of the exploration maturity of an area. The maps show the delineated prospective areas and explored areas through 2001; explored areas have a drilling density that would rule out the occurrence of undetected large petroleum accumulations. Graphs summarize the exploration yields in terms of cumulative recoverable discovered oil and gas by delineated prospective area. From 1992 through 2001 in areas outside the United States and Canada, the delineated prospective area expanded at a rate of about 50,000 square miles per year while the explored area grew at the rate of about 11,000 square miles per year. The delineated prospective area established by 1970 contains about 75 percent of the oil discovered to date in the study area. This area is slightly less than 40 percent of the delineated prospective area established through 2001. Maps and graphs show the extension of the delineated prospective area to deepwater areas offshore of Brazil and West Africa. From 1991 through 2000, offshore discoveries accounted for 59 percent of the oil and 77 percent of the gas discovered in the study area. The petroleum industry's decision to incur the greater costs of moving offshore and into deeper waters appears to be a response to the absence of onshore prospects of comparable quality. Where natural gas can be commercially developed and marketed, data show an expansion of exploration to target gas-prone areas.

  12. Hydroprocessing full-range of heavy oils and bitumen using ultradispersed catalysts at low severity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Peluso, Enzo

    The progressive exhaustion of light crude oils is forcing the petroleum industry to explore new alternatives for the exploitation of unconventional oils. New approaches are searching for technologies able to produce, transport and refine these feedstocks at lower costs, in which symbiotic processes between the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and the conventional upgrading technologies are under investigation. The process explored in this thesis is an interesting alternative for in-situ upgrading of these crude oils in the presence of ultradispersed (UD) catalysts, which are included as a disperse phase able to circulate along with the processed feed. The objectives of this work are: (a) study the performance of UD catalysts in the presence of a full range (non fractioned) heavy oil and bitumen and (b) evaluate the recyclability of the UD catalysts. Four different heavy crude oils were evaluated in the presence with UD catalysts at a total pressure of 2.8 MPa, residence time of 8 hours and reaction temperatures from 360 up to 400ºC. Thermal and catalytic hydro-processing were compared in terms of conversion and product stability. A comparison between the different crude oils was additionally derived in terms of SARA, initial micro-carbon content and virgin oil stability among other properties. Advantages of catalytic hydro-processing over thermal hydro-processing were evidenced, with UD catalysts playing an essential hydrogenating role while retarding coke formation; microcarbon and asphaltenes reduction in the presence of UD catalysts was observed. To evaluate the feasibility of recycling the UD catalysts, a micro-slurry recycled unit was developed as part of this research. These main results showed: (a) a successful design of this unit, (b) that temperature, LHSV and fractional recycling ratio have more impact on VGO conversion, while pressure has almost no effect, and (c) an UD catalysts agglomeration process was detected, however this process is slow and reversible.

  13. Osage orange (Maclura pomifera L) seed oil poly-(-a-hydroxy dibutylamine) triglycerides: Synthesis and characterization

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    In exploring alternative vegetable oils for non-food industrial applications, especially in temperate climates, tree seed oils that are not commonly seen as competitors to soybean, peanut, and corn oils can become valuable sources of new oils. Many trees produce edible fruits and seeds while others ...

  14. An Ultrasonic Compactor for Oil and Gas Exploration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Feeney, Andrew; Sikaneta, Sakalima; Harkness, Patrick; Lucas, Margaret

    The Badger Explorer is a rig-less oil and gas exploration tool which drills into the subsea environment to collect geological data. Drill spoil is transported from the front end of the system to the rear, where the material is compacted. Motivated by the need to develop a highly efficient compaction system, an ultrasonic compactor for application with granular geological materials encountered in subsea environments is designed and fabricated as part of this study. The finite element method is used to design a compactor configuration suitable for subsea exploration, consisting of a vibrating ultrasonic horn called a resonant compactor head, which operates in a longitudinal mode at 20 kHz, driven by a Langevin piezoelectric transducer. A simplified version of the compactor is also designed, due to its ease of incorporating in a lab-based experimental rig, in order to demonstrate enhanced compaction using ultrasonics. Numerical analysis of this simplified compactor system is supported with experimental characterisation using laser Doppler vibrometry. Compaction testing is then conducted on granular geological material, showing that compaction can be enhanced through the use of an ultrasonic compactor.

  15. 75 FR 61051 - Reorganization of Title 30, Code of Federal Regulations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-10-04

    ..., Geothermal energy, Government contracts, Indians--lands, Mineral royalties, Oil and gas exploration, Public..., Royalty relief. 30 CFR Part 206 Coal, Continental shelf, Geothermal energy, Government contracts, Indians..., Geothermal energy, Government contracts, Indians--lands, Mineral royalties, Oil and gas exploration, Public...

  16. Reservoir Characterization for Unconventional Resource Potential, Pitsanulok Basin, Onshore Thailand

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Boonyasatphan, Prat

    The Pitsanulok Basin is the largest onshore basin in Thailand. Located within the basin is the largest oil field in Thailand, the Sirikit field. As conventional oil production has plateaued and EOR is not yet underway, an unconventional play has emerged as a promising alternative to help supply the energy needs. Source rocks in the basin are from the Oligocene lacustrine shale of the Chum Saeng Formation. This study aims to quantify and characterize the potential of shale gas/oil development in the Chum Saeng Formation using advanced reservoir characterization techniques. The study starts with rock physics analysis to determine the relationship between geophysical, lithological, and geomechanical properties of rocks. Simultaneous seismic inversion is later performed. Seismic inversion provides spatial variation of geophysical properties, i.e. P-impedance, S-impedance, and density. With results from rock physics analysis and from seismic inversion, the reservoir is characterized by applying analyses from wells to the inverted seismic data. And a 3D lithofacies cube is generated. TOC is computed from inverted AI. Static moduli are calculated. A seismic derived brittleness cube is calculated from Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus. The reservoir characterization shows a spatial variation in rock facies and shale reservoir properties, including TOC, brittleness, and elastic moduli. From analysis, the most suitable location for shale gas/oil pilot exploration and development are identified. The southern area of the survey near the MD-1 well with an approximate depth around 650-850 m has the highest shale reservoir potential. The shale formation is thick, with intermediate brittleness and high TOC. These properties make it as a potential sweet spot for a future shale reservoir exploration and development.

  17. Analysis of the main active ingredients and bioactivities of essential oil from Osmanthus fragrans Var. thunbergii using a complex network approach.

    PubMed

    Wang, Le; Tan, Nana; Hu, Jiayao; Wang, Huan; Duan, Dongzhu; Ma, Lin; Xiao, Jian; Wang, Xiaoling

    2017-12-28

    Osmanthus fragrans has been used as folk medicine for thousands of years. The extracts of Osmanthus fragrans flowers were reported to have various bioactivities including free radical scavenging, anti-inflammation, neuroprotection and antitumor effects. However, there is still lack of knowledge about its essential oil. In this work, we analyzed the chemical composition of the essential oil from Osmanthus fragrans var. thunbergii by GC-MS. A complex network approach was applied to investigate the interrelationships between the ingredients, target proteins, and related pathways for the essential oil. Statistical characteristics of the networks were further studied to explore the main active ingredients and potential bioactivities of O. fragrans var. thunbergii essential oil. A total of 44 ingredients were selected from the chemical composition of O. fragrans var. thunbergii essential oil, and that 191 potential target proteins together with 70 pathways were collected for these compounds. An ingredient-target-pathway network was constructed based on these data and showed scale-free property as well as power-law degree distribution. Eugenol and geraniol were screened as main active ingredients with much higher degree values. Potential neuroprotective and anti-tumor effect of the essential oil were also found. A core subnetwork was extracted from the ingredient-target-pathway network, and indicated that eugenol and geraniol contributed most to the neuroprotection of this essential oil. Furthermore, a pathway-based protein association network was built and exhibited small-world property. MAPK1 and MAPK3 were considered as key proteins with highest scores of centrality indices, which might play an important role in the anti-tumor effect of the essential oil. This work predicted the main active ingredients and bioactivities of O. fragrans var. thunbergii essential oil, which would benefit the development and utilization of Osmanthus fragrans flowers. The application of complex network theory was proved to be effective in bioactivities studies of essential oil. Moreover, it provides a novel strategy for exploring the molecular mechanisms of traditional medicines.

  18. U.S. Strategy in Southeast Asia: The Spratly Islands Dispute

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1993-06-04

    value of the Spratly Islands due to their location astride critical Pacific SLOCs, the promise of potentially rich offshore oil and natural gas...1992 contract with the )enver-based Crestone Energy Corporation for oil exploration in an area of the Spratlys claimed by Vietnam. China has promised...Crestone’s oil exploration contract with Beijing, the U.S. government has denied any official backing of the agreement.’ 5 At the ASEAN foreign

  19. The oil-dispersion bath in anthroposophic medicine--an integrative review.

    PubMed

    Büssing, Arndt; Cysarz, Dirk; Edelhäuser, Friedrich; Bornhöft, Gudrun; Matthiessen, Peter F; Ostermann, Thomas

    2008-12-04

    Anthroposophic medicine offers a variety of treatments, among others the oil-dispersion bath, developed in the 1930s by Werner Junge. Based on the phenomenon that oil and water do not mix and on recommendations of Rudolf Steiner, Junge developed a vortex mechanism which churns water and essential oils into a fine mist. The oil-covered droplets empty into a tub, where the patient immerses for 15-30 minutes. We review the current literature on oil-dispersion baths. The following databases were searched: Medline, Pubmed, Embase, AMED and CAMbase. The search terms were 'oil-dispersion bath' and 'oil bath', and their translations in German and French. An Internet search was also performed using Google Scholar, adding the search terms 'study' and 'case report' to the search terms above. Finally, we asked several experts for gray literature not listed in the above-mentioned databases. We included only articles which met the criterion of a clinical study or case report, and excluded theoretical contributions. Among several articles found in books, journals and other publications, we identified 1 prospective clinical study, 3 experimental studies (enrolling healthy individuals), 5 case reports, and 3 field-reports. In almost all cases, the studies described beneficial effects - although the methodological quality of most studies was weak. Main indications were internal/metabolic diseases and psychiatric/neurological disorders. Beyond the obvious beneficial effects of warm bathes on the subjective well-being, it remains to be clarified what the unique contribution of the distinct essential oils dispersed in the water can be. There is a lack of clinical studies exploring the efficacy of oil-dispersion baths. Such studies are recommended for the future.

  20. The oil-dispersion bath in anthroposophic medicine – an integrative review

    PubMed Central

    Büssing, Arndt; Cysarz, Dirk; Edelhäuser, Friedrich; Bornhöft, Gudrun; Matthiessen, Peter F; Ostermann, Thomas

    2008-01-01

    Background Anthroposophic medicine offers a variety of treatments, among others the oil-dispersion bath, developed in the 1930s by Werner Junge. Based on the phenomenon that oil and water do not mix and on recommendations of Rudolf Steiner, Junge developed a vortex mechanism which churns water and essential oils into a fine mist. The oil-covered droplets empty into a tub, where the patient immerses for 15–30 minutes. We review the current literature on oil-dispersion baths. Methods The following databases were searched: Medline, Pubmed, Embase, AMED and CAMbase. The search terms were 'oil-dispersion bath' and 'oil bath', and their translations in German and French. An Internet search was also performed using Google Scholar, adding the search terms 'study' and 'case report' to the search terms above. Finally, we asked several experts for gray literature not listed in the above-mentioned databases. We included only articles which met the criterion of a clinical study or case report, and excluded theoretical contributions. Results Among several articles found in books, journals and other publications, we identified 1 prospective clinical study, 3 experimental studies (enrolling healthy individuals), 5 case reports, and 3 field-reports. In almost all cases, the studies described beneficial effects – although the methodological quality of most studies was weak. Main indications were internal/metabolic diseases and psychiatric/neurological disorders. Conclusion Beyond the obvious beneficial effects of warm bathes on the subjective well-being, it remains to be clarified what the unique contribution of the distinct essential oils dispersed in the water can be. There is a lack of clinical studies exploring the efficacy of oil-dispersion baths. Such studies are recommended for the future. PMID:19055811

  1. Exploring the Use of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to Develop Systems Architectures in Naval Ship Design

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-06-01

    data such as the NSMB B-series, or be based on hydrodynamic (lifting line) predict ions. The power including still air drag and any margin that is...Provide Fuel Function 3.6 Fuel Oil System Component REQ.1.4 Fuel Efficiency Requirement 1.1 Generate Mechanical En... Function 1.1 Prime Mover Component...3.3 Provide Lubrication Function 3.7 Lube Oil System Component 3.4 Provide Cooling Water Function 3.3 Cooling System Component 3.5 Provide Combust ion

  2. Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Mineral Resource Management Plan. Potential Exploration, Development, and Production of Oil and Gas Resources; Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-12-01

    this acreage represents good hydrocarbon potential). As a matter of fact, it is Newhall Resources’ intention to actively market its acreage for leasing...gas market conditions were such that they exceeded the assumed "most likely" volumes of oil production over the next 40 years identified in Table 2-1 of...years aqo and the bottom floor housed Perozzi Hardware until it went out of business this year, 1986. Appropriately, there is an antique market there

  3. Remote laser spectroscopy of oil and gas deposits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhevlakov, A. P.; Bespalov, V. G.; Elizarov, V. V.; Grishkanich, A. S.; Kascheev, S. V.; Makarov, E. A.; Bogoslovsky, S. A.; Il'inskiy, A. A.

    2014-06-01

    We developed a Raman lidar with ultraspectral resolution for automatic airborne monitoring of pipeline leaks and for oil and gas exploration. Test flights indicate that a sensitivity of 6 ppm for methane and 2 ppm for hydrogen sulfide has been reached for leakage detection. The lidar is based on the CARS method with a Ti:Sapphire pump laser and a frequencydoubled YLF:Nd probe beam whose frequency is displaced by a BBO crystal. In ground-based experiments, a detection level of 3 to 10 molecules has been reached.

  4. 50 CFR 296.4 - Claims eligible for compensation.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... compensation. (a) Claimants. Damage or loss eligible for Fund compensation must be suffered by a commercial... caused by materials, equipment, tools, containers, or other items associated with OCS oil and gas... gas exploration, development, or production activities in OCS waters. (c) Exceptions. Damage or loss...

  5. 77 FR 303 - Sunshine Act Notice

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-01-04

    ... Alaska Native organizations and federal agencies, research activities in the Arctic, the effects of... Alaska, Arctic oil and gas exploration and development, and conservation and research needs related to marine mammals in the Arctic. The last day of the meeting will be devoted to discussing conservation and...

  6. 30 CFR 250.300 - Pollution prevention.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Pollution prevention. 250.300 Section 250.300... INTERIOR OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Pollution Prevention and Control § 250.300 Pollution prevention. (a) During the exploration, development, production, and...

  7. Indonesia palm oil production without deforestation and peat conversion by 2050.

    PubMed

    Afriyanti, Dian; Kroeze, Carolien; Saad, Asmadi

    2016-07-01

    Palm oil is a promising source of cooking oil and biodiesel. The demand for palm oil has been increasing worldwide. However, concerns exist surrounding the environmental and socio-economic sustainability of palm oil production. Indonesia is a major palm oil producing country. We explored scenarios for palm oil production in Indonesia until 2050, focusing on Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua. Our scenarios describe possible trends in crude palm oil production in Indonesia, while considering the demand for cooking oil and biodiesel, the available land for plantations, production capacity (for crude palm oil and fresh fruit bunches) and environmentally restricting conditions. We first assessed past developments in palm oil production. Next, we analysed scenarios for the future. In the past 20years, 95% of the Indonesian oil palm production area was in Sumatra and Kalimantan and was increasingly cultivated in peatlands. Our scenarios for the future indicate that Indonesia can meet a considerable part of the global and Asian demand for palm oil, while avoiding further cultivation of peatlands and forest. By 2050, 264-447Mt crude palm oil may be needed for cooking oil and biodiesel worldwide. In Indonesia, the area that is potentially suitable for oil palm is 17 to 26Mha with a potential production rate of 27-38t fresh fruit bunches/ha, yielding 130-176Mt crude palm oil. Thus Indonesia can meet 39-60% of the international demand. In our scenarios this would be produced in Sumatra (21-26%), Kalimantan (12-16%), and Papua (2%). The potential areas include the current oil palm plantation in mineral lands, but exclude the current oil palm plantations in peatlands. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. U.S. crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids reserves 1997 annual report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wood, John H.; Grape, Steven G.; Green, Rhonda S.

    1998-12-01

    This report presents estimates of proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids as of December 31, 1997, as well as production volumes for the US and selected States and State subdivisions for the year 1997. Estimates are presented for the following four categories of natural gas: total gas (wet after lease separation), nonassociated gas and associated-dissolved gas (which are the two major types of wet natural gas), and total dry gas (wet gas adjusted for the removal of liquids at natural gas processing plants). In addition, reserve estimates for two types of natural gas liquids, leasemore » condensate and natural gas plant liquids, are presented. Also included is information on indicated additional crude oil reserves and crude oil, natural gas, and lease condensate reserves in nonproducing reservoirs. A discussion of notable oil and gas exploration and development activities during 1997 is provided. 21 figs., 16 tabs.« less

  9. Venezuela positioning itself to take key market role in wake of Gulf War

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1991-08-19

    This paper reports on Venezuela which continues efforts to position itself in world markets to capitalize on fallout from the Persian Gulf war. The central government and state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA have accelerated already ambitious plans to expand activities in upstream and downstream oil and gas sectors. Pvdsa has sharply increased its 1991-96 investment program from the level planned at the end of last year. The goal is to put Venezuela on a par with major Persian Gulf oil exporters in terms of productive capacity. Linchpin of those efforts could well be further steps toward privatization ofmore » Venezuela's oil sector. For the first time since nationalization in 1976, private foreign and domestic companies are being permitted to participate in Venezuelan exploration and development. In addition, the government is trimming the onerous tax burden the oil sector has carried in Venezuela, as well as its heavy subsidy of domestic petroleum products.« less

  10. Open-source LCA tool for estimating greenhouse gas emissions from crude oil production using field characteristics.

    PubMed

    El-Houjeiri, Hassan M; Brandt, Adam R; Duffy, James E

    2013-06-04

    Existing transportation fuel cycle emissions models are either general and calculate nonspecific values of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from crude oil production, or are not available for public review and auditing. We have developed the Oil Production Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimator (OPGEE) to provide open-source, transparent, rigorous GHG assessments for use in scientific assessment, regulatory processes, and analysis of GHG mitigation options by producers. OPGEE uses petroleum engineering fundamentals to model emissions from oil and gas production operations. We introduce OPGEE and explain the methods and assumptions used in its construction. We run OPGEE on a small set of fictional oil fields and explore model sensitivity to selected input parameters. Results show that upstream emissions from petroleum production operations can vary from 3 gCO2/MJ to over 30 gCO2/MJ using realistic ranges of input parameters. Significant drivers of emissions variation are steam injection rates, water handling requirements, and rates of flaring of associated gas.

  11. Fish oil improves lipid profile in juvenile rats with intrauterine growth retardation by altering the transcriptional expression of lipid-related hepatic genes.

    PubMed

    Chen, Lian-Hui; Liang, Li; Fang, Yan-Lan; Wang, Ying-Min; Zhu, Wei-Fen

    2016-10-01

    To determine whether maternal intrauterine undernutrition and post-weaning fish oil intake influence lipid profile in juvenile offspring, and explore the possible mechanisms at transcriptional levels. After weaning, 32 control offspring and 24 intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) offspring were randomly allocated to standard chow or fish oil diet. At 10 weeks, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol and expressions of related hepatic genes were examined. IUGR offspring without catch-up growth tended to develop hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis. Down-regulation of CPT-1 and LDLR at transcriptional levels were found in IUGR offspring. Early short-term fish oil intervention reversed these unfavorable changes in juvenile rats with IUGR. The mechanisms might be mediated by decreased expression of ACC-1, increased expression of CPT-1, LDLR and ABCG5. These data suggest that IUGR offspring already present lipid abnormality in juvenile stage, and early short-term fish oil consumption is beneficial to prevent these unfavorable changes.

  12. Report of activities, 1997, Resident Geologist program, southern Ontario regional Resident Geologist`s report: Southeastern and Southwestern districts, Mines and Minerals Information Centre, and Petroleum Resources Centre. Ontario Geological Survey open file report number 5974

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sangster, P.J.

    1998-10-01

    This report reviews activities in the Southeastern and Southwestern Ontario Resident Geologist districts for the year, including mining and exploration activity, mineral property examinations, recommendations for exploration, and Ontario Geological Survey activities and research by others. It also reviews activities at the Ontario Geological Survey Mines and Minerals Information Centre and exploration and development activity in the province`s oil and gas sector.

  13. Widening ERTS applications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mercanti, E. P.

    1974-01-01

    In less than two years of operation ERTS-1 is shown to have successfully completed its experimental mission and to be delivering an ever-increasing roster of benefits. The widening ERTS applications reviewed include air quality and weather modification, aid to oil exploration, ore-deposit exploration, short-lived event observation, flood area assessment and flood-plain mapping, land and water quality assessment, soil association mapping, crop production measurements, wildlife resources, drought and desertification studies, ground-water exploration, watershed surveys, snow and ice monitoring, surface water mapping, and iceberg surveys. Future projects and developments are also briefly reviewed.

  14. Oil Slick Observation at Low Incidence Angles in Ku-Band

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Panfilova, M. A.; Karaev, V. Y.; Guo, Jie

    2018-03-01

    On the 20 April 2010 the oil platform Deep Water Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico suffered an explosion during the final phases of drilling an exploratory well. As a result, an oil film covered the sea surface area of several thousand square kilometers. In the present paper the data of the Ku-band Precipitation Radar, which operates at low incidence angles, were used to explore the oil spill event. The two-scale model of the scattering surface was used to describe radar backscatter from the sea surface. The algorithm for retrieval of normalized radar cross section at nadir and the total slope variance of large-scale waves compared to the wavelength of electromagnetic wave (22 mm) was developed for the Precipitation Radar swath. It is shown that measurements at low incidence angles can be used for oil spill detection. This is the first time that the dependence of mean square slope of large-scale waves on wind speed has been obtained for oil slicks from Ku-band data, and compared to mean square slope obtained by Cox and Munk from optical data.

  15. Vetiver Essential Oil in Cosmetics: What Is New?

    PubMed Central

    Burger, Pauline; Landreau, Anne; Watson, Marie; Janci, Laurent; Cassisa, Viviane; Kempf, Marie; Azoulay, Stéphane; Fernandez, Xavier

    2017-01-01

    Background: Vetiver is a key ingredient for the perfume industry nowadays. However, with the constant and rapid changes of personal tastes, this appeal could vanish and this sector could decline quite quickly. New dissemination paths need to be found to tap this valuable resource. Methods: In this way, its potential use in cosmetics either as an active ingredient per se (with cosmeceutical significance or presenting antimicrobial activity) has hence been explored in vitro. Results: In this contribution, we demonstrated that vetiver essential oil displays no particularly significant and innovative cosmetic potential value in formulations apart from its scent already largely exploited. However, evaluated against twenty bacterial strains and two Candida species using the in vitro microbroth dilution method, vetiver oil demonstrated notably some outstanding activities against Gram-positive strains and against one Candida glabrata strain. Conclusions: Based on these findings, vetiver essential oil appears to be an appropriate aspirant for the development of an antimicrobial agent for medicinal purposes and for the development of a cosmetic ingredient used for its scent and displaying antimicrobial activity as an added value. PMID:28930256

  16. Oil and Gas Data Infrastructure Project: Project Accomplishments Summary CRADA No. TO-1111-95

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wagoner, Jeff; Paul, Robert; Chesser, Joe

    2000-11-14

    Obtaining a substantially complete set of the relevant data for an oil or gas producing property is a very time-consuming and nearly impossible task which limits the producer's effectiveness in making sound business and engineering decisions. The data are located in a variety of places, some of which are completely inaccessible to the average user. Access to information on existing wells is a crucial component of a producer's ability to assess the feasibility of purchasing and operating a well. The more effective the access the producer has to the information, the greater the likelihood that a wider suite of choicesmore » can be considered and a profitable business decision reached. California, like a number of other states, provides public access to oil and gas production data, and other types of supplemental well information. However, access mechanisms are often ineffective, tedious, and expensive to maintain as much of the data is centrally located and in a format that is difficult to search, retrieve, and refile. The California Division of Oil and Gas and Geothermal Resources (CADOGGR) regulates California's oil and gas drilling and production operations. The CADOGGR administers the state laws for the conservation of oil and gas resources to prevent damage to life, health, property, and natural resources. The principal mandated objectives in regulating oil and gas exploratory, development, and production operations are to prevent conditions that may be hazardous to health or damaging to the environment. As part of the regulatory program, well records are maintained on each well. There is information for each well consisting of applications to do work, permits issued, drilling and exploration histories, geophysical logs, production data, maps, reports, test results, well logs, abandonment and other types of information which the producers are required to provide to the states on an on-going basis. These well records are also considered vital to the industry because they are the only complete source of public information needed for continued exploration and development work. Making copies of the well records available to the industry and the public is an important function.« less

  17. Exploring the potential of optical remote sensing for oil spill detection in shallow coastal waters--a case study in the Arabian Gulf.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Jun; Temimi, Marouane; Ghedira, Hosni; Hu, Chuanmin

    2014-06-02

    Remote sensing provides an effective tool for timely oil pollution response. In this paper, the spectral signature in the optical and infrared domains of oil slicks observed in shallow coastal waters of the Arabian Gulf was investigated with MODIS, MERIS, and Landsat data. Images of the Floating Algae Index (FAI) and estimates of sea currents from hydrodynamic models supported the multi-sensor oil tracking technique. Scenes with and without sunglint were studied as the spectral signature of oil slicks in the optical domain depends upon the viewing geometry and the solar angle in addition to the type of oil and its thickness. Depending on the combination of those factors, oil slicks may exhibit dark or bright contrasts with respect to oil-free waters. Three oil spills events were thoroughly analyzed, namely, those detected on May 26 2000 by Landsat 7 ETM + and MODIS/Terra, on October 21 2007 by MERIS and MODIS, and on August 17 2013 by Landsat 8 and MODIS/Aqua. The oil slick with bright contrast observed by Landsat 7 ETM + on May 26 2000 showed lower temperature than oil-free areas. The spectral Rayleigh-corrected reflectance (R(rc)) signature of oil-covered areas indicated higher variability due to differences in oil fractions while the R(rc) spectra of the oil-free area were persistent. Combined with RGB composites, FAI images showed potentials in differentiating oil slicks from algal blooms. Ocean circulation and wind data were used to track oil slicks and forecast their potential landfall. The developed oil spill maps were in agreement with official records. The synergistic use of satellite observations and hydrodynamic modeling is recommended for establishing an early warning and decision support system for oil pollution response.

  18. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bray, R.; Lawrence, S.; Swart, R.

    Namibia`s territorial waters occupy a large portion of West Africa`s continental shelf. The area to the 1,000 m isobath is comparable in size to the combined offshore areas of Gabon, Congo, Zaire, and Angola. Around half as much again lies in 1,000--2,500 m of water. The whole unlicensed part of this area will be open for bidding when the Third Licensing Round starts Oct. 1, 1998. Offshore Namibia is underexplored by drilling with only seven exploration wells drilled. Shell`s Kudu field represents a considerable gas resource with reserves of around 3 tcf and is presently the only commercial discovery.Namibia`s offshoremore » area holds enormous exploration potential. Good quality sandstone reservoirs are likely to be distributed widely, and a number of prospective structural and stratigraphic traps have been identified. The recognition of Cretaceous marine oil-prone source rocks combined with the results of new thermal history reconstruction and maturity modeling studies are particularly significant in assessment of the oil potential. The paper discusses resource development and structures, oil source potential, maturity, and hydrocarbon generation.« less

  19. 13 CFR 315.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... drilling for oil or natural gas, or otherwise produces oil or natural gas, shall be considered to be producing articles directly competitive with imports of oil and with imports of natural gas. Firm means an... fishing, agricultural or service sector entities and those which explore, drill or otherwise produce oil...

  20. 43 CFR 3160.0-5 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ..., DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) ONSHORE OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS Onshore Oil and Gas... authorization, approval, ratification or acceptance of the authorized officer and the loss of produced oil or... that authorizes exploration for, extraction of or removal of oil or gas. Lease site means any lands...

  1. 43 CFR 3160.0-5 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ..., DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) ONSHORE OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS Onshore Oil and Gas... authorization, approval, ratification or acceptance of the authorized officer and the loss of produced oil or... that authorizes exploration for, extraction of or removal of oil or gas. Lease site means any lands...

  2. 43 CFR 3160.0-5 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ..., DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) ONSHORE OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS Onshore Oil and Gas... authorization, approval, ratification or acceptance of the authorized officer and the loss of produced oil or... that authorizes exploration for, extraction of or removal of oil or gas. Lease site means any lands...

  3. 43 CFR 3160.0-5 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ..., DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) ONSHORE OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS Onshore Oil and Gas... authorization, approval, ratification or acceptance of the authorized officer and the loss of produced oil or... that authorizes exploration for, extraction of or removal of oil or gas. Lease site means any lands...

  4. Logistics of Oil Spill Dispersant Application. Volume I. Logistics-Related Properties of Oil Spill Dispersants.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1982-11-01

    The use of chemicals for oil spill dispersal, while not presently widespread in the U.S., would have implications for the U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Environmental Protection program. This report explores the logistics of oil disperant application by t...

  5. Petroleum resources of Libya, Algeria, and Egypt. Foreign energy supply assessment series

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1984-03-01

    Part 1 of the report is a synopsis of each country's location, its exploration and development history, crude oil field production history, and markets. Part 2 discusses the production and reserve characteristics of the oil fields and status of the known crude oil resources. Part 3 provides an assessment of the ultimately recoverable crude oil and the possible future rate of availability of the crude oil. Part 4 discusses the status of the known and undiscovered natural gas resources, production, and markets. Part 5 is an overview of the petroleum geology of the three countries and the physical characteristics ofmore » their crude oils. Appendix A presents an annual resume of historical production by field and by basin for Libya; Appendix B shows the historical production by field and by basin for Algeria; Appendix C shows the historical production by field and by basin for Egypt; Appendix D provides production tables for each country. Data presented in Appendixes A through D are derived mostly from the April 1982 publication, Libya, Algeria and Egypt-Crude Oil Potential From Known Deposits DOE/EIA-0338, by William D. Dietzman, Naim R. Rafidi, and Thomas A. Ross. Appendix E is a geologic timetable.« less

  6. Identifying potential conflict associated with oil and gas exploration in Texas state coastal waters: A multicriteria spatial analysis.

    PubMed

    Brody, Samuel D; Grover, Himanshu; Bernhardt, Sarah; Tang, Zhenghong; Whitaker, Bianca; Spence, Colin

    2006-10-01

    Recent interest in expanding offshore oil production within waters of the United States has been met with opposition by groups concerned with recreational, environmental, and aesthetic values associated with the coastal zone. Although the proposition of new oil platforms off the coast has generated conflict over how coastal resources should be utilized, little research has been conducted on where these user conflicts might be most intense and which sites might be most suitable for locating oil production facilities in light of the multiple, and often times, competing interests. In this article, we develop a multiple-criteria spatial decision support tool that identifies the potential degree of conflict associated with oil and gas production activities for existing lease tracts in the coastal margin of Texas. We use geographic information systems to measure and map a range of potentially competing representative values impacted by establishing energy extraction infrastructure and then spatially identify which leased tracts are the least contentious sites for oil and gas production in Texas state waters. Visual and statistical results indicate that oil and gas lease blocks within the study area vary in their potential to generate conflict among multiple stakeholders.

  7. Performance of structured lipids incorporating selected phenolic and ascorbic acids.

    PubMed

    Gruczynska, Eliza; Przybylski, Roman; Aladedunye, Felix

    2015-04-15

    Conditions applied during frying require antioxidant which is stable at these conditions and provides protection for frying oil and fried food. Novel structured lipids containing nutraceuticals and antioxidants were formed by enzymatic transesterification, exploring canola oil and naturally occurring antioxidants such as ascorbic and selected phenolic acids as substrates. Lipozyme RM IM lipase from Rhizomucor miehei was used as biocatalyst. Frying performance and oxidative stability of the final transesterification products were evaluated. The novel lipids showed significantly improved frying performance compared to canola oil. Oxidative stability assessment of the structured lipids showed significant improvement in resistance to oxidative deterioration compared to original canola oil. Interestingly, the presence of ascorbic acid in an acylglycerol structure protected α-tocopherol against thermal degradation, which was not observed for the phenolic acids. Developed structured lipids containing nutraceuticals and antioxidants may directly affect nutritional properties of lipids also offering nutraceutical ingredients for food formulation. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. NPDES permit compliance and enforcement: A resource guide for oil and gas operators

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    NONE

    1998-12-01

    During the fall of 1996, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission sponsored sessions for government and industry representatives to discuss concerns about the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program under the Clean Water Act. In January 1997, the NPDES Education/Communication/Training Workgroup (ECT Workgroup) was established with co-leaders from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and industry. The ECT Workgroup`s purpose was to develop ideas that would improve communication between NPDES regulators and the oil and gas industry regarding NPDES compliance issues. The Workgroup focused on several areas, including permit compliance monitoring and reporting, enforcement activity and options, and treatmentmore » technology. The ECT Workgroup also discussed the need for materials and information to help NPDES regulatory agency personnel understand more about oil and gas industry exploration and extraction operations and treatment processes. This report represents a compendium of the ECT Workgroup`s efforts.« less

  9. Israel: World Oil Report 1991

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1991-08-01

    This paper reports that Major activity in 1990 was Israel National Oil Co.'s startup in November of a $30 million exploratory drilling program near the Dead Sea. Isramco's deep Yam 2 offshore wildcat was apparently suspended after gas shows and mechanical problems. In 1990, the Negev venture 2, led by Isramco, acquired an additional one million-acre offshore exploration license between Ashdod (offshore from which Yam 2 was sited) and Haifa. The group plans a $40-million three-well program. Drilling last year totaled four wells and 31,114 ft of hole. Included were one oil well extension and three dry holes. This year,more » eight onshore wildcats and two development wells, plus one offshore wildcat are expected to be drilled. Production averaged only 248 bopd and 3.2 MMcfgd in 1990. Reserves are estimated at 1.3 million bbl of oil and 6.8 bcfg.« less

  10. Applicability of spectral indices on thickness identification of oil slick

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Niu, Yanfei; Shen, Yonglin; Chen, Qihao; Liu, Xiuguo

    2016-10-01

    Hyperspectral remote sensing technology has played a vital role in the identification and monitoring of oil spill events, and amount of spectral indices have been developed. In this paper, the applicability of six frequently-used indices is analyzed, and a combination of spectral indices in aids of support vector machine (SVM) algorithm is used to identify the oil slicks and corresponding thickness. The six spectral indices are spectral rotation (SR), spectral absorption depth (HI), band ratio of blue and green (BG), band ratio of BG and shortwave infrared index (BGN), 555nm and 645nm normalized by the blue band index (NB) and spectral slope (ND). The experimental study is conducted in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill zone, with Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) hyperspectral imagery captured in May 17, 2010. The results show that SR index is the best in all six indices, which can effectively distinguish the thickness of the oil slick and identify it from seawater; HI index and ND index can obviously distinguish oil slick thickness; BG, BGN and NB are more suitable to identify oil slick from seawater. With the comparison among different kernel functions of SVM, the classify accuracy show that the polynomial and RBF kernel functions have the best effect on the separation of oil slick thickness and the relatively pure seawater. The applicability of spectral indices of oil slick and the method of oil film thickness identification will in aids of oil/gas exploration and oil spill monitoring.

  11. Transporting US oil imports: The impact of oil spill legislation on the tanker market. Draft final report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rowland, P.J.

    1992-05-01

    The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (``OPA``) and an even more problematic array of State pollution laws have raised the cost, and risk, of carrying oil into and out of the US. This report, prepared under contract to the US Department of energy`s Office of Domestic and International Policy, examines the impact of Federal and State oil spill legislation on the tanker market. It reviews the role of marine transportation in US oil supply, explores the OPA and State oil spill laws, studies reactions to OPA in the tanker and tank barge industries and in related industries such as insurancemore » and ship finance, and finally, discusses the likely developments in the years ahead. US waterborne oil imports amounted to 6.5 million B/D in 1991, three-quarters of which was crude oil. Imports will rise by almost 3 million B/D by 2000 according to US Department of energy forecasts, with most of the crude oil growth after 1995. Tanker demand will grow even faster: most of the US imports and the increased traffic to other world consuming regions will be on long-haul trades. Both the number of US port calls by tankers and the volume of offshore lightering will grow. Every aspect of the tanker industry`s behavior is affected by OPA and a variety of State pollution laws.« less

  12. Transporting US oil imports: The impact of oil spill legislation on the tanker market

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rowland, P.J.

    1992-05-01

    The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 ( OPA'') and an even more problematic array of State pollution laws have raised the cost, and risk, of carrying oil into and out of the US. This report, prepared under contract to the US Department of energy's Office of Domestic and International Policy, examines the impact of Federal and State oil spill legislation on the tanker market. It reviews the role of marine transportation in US oil supply, explores the OPA and State oil spill laws, studies reactions to OPA in the tanker and tank barge industries and in related industries such asmore » insurance and ship finance, and finally, discusses the likely developments in the years ahead. US waterborne oil imports amounted to 6.5 million B/D in 1991, three-quarters of which was crude oil. Imports will rise by almost 3 million B/D by 2000 according to US Department of energy forecasts, with most of the crude oil growth after 1995. Tanker demand will grow even faster: most of the US imports and the increased traffic to other world consuming regions will be on long-haul trades. Both the number of US port calls by tankers and the volume of offshore lightering will grow. Every aspect of the tanker industry's behavior is affected by OPA and a variety of State pollution laws.« less

  13. 78 FR 30198 - Amendments to ONRR's Remaining OMB-Approved Forms and Acronyms To Reflect Reorganization

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-22

    ..., Geothermal energy, Government contracts, Indians--lands, Mineral royalties, Oil and gas exploration, Public..., Geothermal energy, Government contracts, Indians--lands, Mineral royalties, Oil and gas exploration, Public... recordkeeping requirements. 30 CFR Part 1210 Continental shelf, Geothermal energy, Government contracts, Indians...

  14. Emerging conservation challenges and prospects in an era of offshore hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation.

    PubMed

    Kark, Salit; Brokovich, Eran; Mazor, Tessa; Levin, Noam

    2015-12-01

    Globally, extensive marine areas important for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning are undergoing exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas resources. Such operations are expanding to previously inaccessible deep waters and other frontier regions, while conservation-related legislation and planning is often lacking. Conservation challenges arising from offshore hydrocarbon development are wide-ranging. These challenges include threats to ecosystems and marine species from oil spills, negative impacts on native biodiversity from invasive species colonizing drilling infrastructure, and increased political conflicts that can delay conservation actions. With mounting offshore operations, conservationists need to urgently consider some possible opportunities that could be leveraged for conservation. Leveraging options, as part of multi-billion dollar marine hydrocarbon operations, include the use of facilities and costly equipment of the deep and ultra-deep hydrocarbon industry for deep-sea conservation research and monitoring and establishing new conservation research, practice, and monitoring funds and environmental offsetting schemes. The conservation community, including conservation scientists, should become more involved in the earliest planning and exploration phases and remain involved throughout the operations so as to influence decision making and promote continuous monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystems. A prompt response by conservation professionals to offshore oil and gas developments can mitigate impacts of future decisions and actions of the industry and governments. New environmental decision support tools can be used to explicitly incorporate the impacts of hydrocarbon operations on biodiversity into marine spatial and conservation plans and thus allow for optimum trade-offs among multiple objectives, costs, and risks. © 2015 Society for Conservation Biology.

  15. Mining Agreements with Indian Tribes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Luebben, Tom

    1976-01-01

    The article discusses aspects of negotiating agreements for exploration, development, and mining of hard minerals on Indian Reservations. The agreements discussed are typical of copper agreements, but the general points under discussion are applicable to most hard minerals except for uranium, coal, and oil which are substantially different.…

  16. Monitoring and localization hydrocarbon and sulfur oxides emissions by SRS-lidar

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhevlakov, A. P.; Konopelko, L. P.; Bespalov, V. G.; Elizarov, V. V.; Grishkanich, A. S.; Redka, D. N.; Bogoslovsky, S. A.; Il'inskiy, A. A.; Chubchenko, Y. K.

    2017-10-01

    We developed a Raman lidar with ultraspectral resolution for automatic airborne monitoring of pipeline leaks and for oil and gas exploration. Test flights indicate that a sensitivity of 6 ppm for methane and 2 ppm for hydrogen sulfide has been reached for leakage detection.

  17. Quantity of flowback and produced waters from unconventional oil and gas exploration.

    PubMed

    Kondash, Andrew J; Albright, Elizabeth; Vengosh, Avner

    2017-01-01

    The management and disposal of flowback and produced waters (FP water) is one of the greatest challenges associated with unconventional oil and gas development. The development and production of unconventional natural gas and oil is projected to increase in the coming years, and a better understanding of the volume and quality of FP water is crucial for the safe management of the associated wastewater. We analyzed production data using multiple statistical methods to estimate the total FP water generated per well from six of the major unconventional oil and gas formations in the United States. The estimated median volume ranges from 1.7 to 14.3millionL (0.5 to 3.8milliongal) of FP per well over the first 5-10years of production. Using temporal volume production and water quality data, we show a rapid increase of the salinity associated with a decrease of FP production rates during the first months of unconventional oil and gas production. Based on mass-balance calculations, we estimate that only 4-8% of FP water is composed of returned hydraulic fracturing fluids, while the remaining 92-96% of FP water is derived from naturally occurring formation brines that is extracted together with oil and gas. The salinity and chemical composition of the formation brines are therefore the main limiting factors for beneficial reuse of unconventional oil and gas wastewater. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. 75 FR 39934 - Oil and Natural Gas Sector-Notice of Public Meeting

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-07-13

    ... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0505; FRL-9174-8] Oil and Natural Gas Sector... EPA's review of air regulations affecting the oil and natural gas industry. The review in progress covers oil and natural gas exploration and production, as well as natural gas processing, transmission...

  19. 43 CFR 3150.0-5 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... for subsurface geologic information or drilling for oil and gas; these activities shall be authorized only by the issuance of an oil and gas lease and the approval of an Application for a Permit to Drill..., DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) ONSHORE OIL AND GAS GEOPHYSICAL EXPLORATION Onshore Oil...

  20. US crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids reserves 1996 annual report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    NONE

    1997-12-01

    The EIA annual reserves report series is the only source of comprehensive domestic proved reserves estimates. This publication is used by the Congress, Federal and State agencies, industry, and other interested parties to obtain accurate estimates of the Nation`s proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. These data are essential to the development, implementation, and evaluation of energy policy and legislation. This report presents estimates of proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids as of December 31, 1996, as well as production volumes for the US and selected States and State subdivisionsmore » for the year 1996. Estimates are presented for the following four categories of natural gas: total gas (wet after lease separation), nonassociated gas and associated-dissolved gas (which are the two major types of wet natural gas), and total dry gas (wet gas adjusted for the removal of liquids at natural gas processing plants). In addition, reserve estimates for two types of natural gas liquids, lease condensate and natural gas plant liquids, are presented. Also included is information on indicated additional crude oil reserves and crude oil, natural gas, and lease condensate reserves in nonproducing reservoirs. A discussion of notable oil and gas exploration and development activities during 1996 is provided. 21 figs., 16 tabs.« less

  1. Concept Study: Exploration and Production in Environmentally Sensitive Arctic Areas

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shirish Patil; Rich Haut; Tom Williams

    2008-12-31

    The Alaska North Slope offers one of the best prospects for increasing U.S. domestic oil and gas production. However, this region faces some of the greatest environmental and logistical challenges to oil and gas production in the world. A number of studies have shown that weather patterns in this region are warming, and the number of days the tundra surface is adequately frozen for tundra travel each year has declined. Operators are not allowed to explore in undeveloped areas until the tundra is sufficiently frozen and adequate snow cover is present. Spring breakup then forces rapid evacuation of the areamore » prior to snowmelt. Using the best available methods, exploration in remote arctic areas can take up to three years to identify a commercial discovery, and then years to build the infrastructure to develop and produce. This makes new exploration costly. It also increases the costs of maintaining field infrastructure, pipeline inspections, and environmental restoration efforts. New technologies are needed, or oil and gas resources may never be developed outside limited exploration stepouts from existing infrastructure. Industry has identified certain low-impact technologies suitable for operations, and has made improvements to reduce the footprint and impact on the environment. Additional improvements are needed for exploration and economic field development and end-of-field restoration. One operator-Anadarko Petroleum Corporation-built a prototype platform for drilling wells in the Arctic that is elevated, modular, and mobile. The system was tested while drilling one of the first hydrate exploration wells in Alaska during 2003-2004. This technology was identified as a potentially enabling technology by the ongoing Joint Industry Program (JIP) Environmentally Friendly Drilling (EFD) program. The EFD is headed by Texas A&M University and the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), and is co-funded by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The EFD participants believe that the platform concept could have far-reaching applications in the Arctic as a drilling and production platform, as originally intended, and as a possible staging area. The overall objective of this project was to document various potential applications, locations, and conceptual designs for the inland platform serving oil and gas operations on the Alaska North Slope. The University of Alaska Fairbanks assisted the HARC/TerraPlatforms team with the characterization of potential resource areas, geotechnical conditions associated with continuous permafrost terrain, and the potential end-user evaluation process. The team discussed the various potential applications with industry, governmental agencies, and environmental organizations. The benefits and concerns associated with industry's use of the technology were identified. In this discussion process, meetings were held with five operating companies (22 people), including asset team leaders, drilling managers, HSE managers, and production and completion managers. Three other operating companies and two service companies were contacted by phone to discuss the project. A questionnaire was distributed and responses were provided, which will be included in the report. Meetings were also held with State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources officials and U.S. Bureau of Land Management regulators. The companies met with included ConcoPhillips, Chevron, Pioneer Natural Resources, Fairweather E&P, BP America, and the Alaska Oil and Gas Association.« less

  2. Application of surface enhanced Raman scattering and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling on detecting furfural dissolved in transformer oil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Weigen; Zou, Jingxin; Wan, Fu; Fan, Zhou; Yang, Dingkun

    2018-03-01

    Detecting the dissolving furfural in mineral oil is an essential technical method to evaluate the ageing condition of oil-paper insulation and the degradation of mechanical properties. Compared with the traditional detection method, Raman spectroscopy is obviously convenient and timesaving in operation. This study explored the method of applying surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on quantitative analysis of the furfural dissolved in oil. Oil solution with different concentration of furfural were prepared and calibrated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Confocal laser Raman spectroscopy (CLRS) and SERS technology were employed to acquire Raman spectral data. Monte Carlo cross validation (MCCV) was used to eliminate the outliers in sample set, then competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) was developed to select an optimal combination of informative variables that most reflect the chemical properties of concern. Based on selected Raman spectral features, support vector machine (SVM) combined with particle swarm algorithm (PSO) was used to set up a furfural quantitative analysis model. Finally, the generalization ability and prediction precision of the established method were verified by the samples made in lab. In summary, a new spectral method is proposed to quickly detect furfural in oil, which lays a foundation for evaluating the ageing of oil-paper insulation in oil immersed electrical equipment.

  3. TSCA Section 21 Petition Requesting EPA to Promulgate TSCA Section 4 and 8 Rules Concerning Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Chemicals and Mixtures

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    This petition requests EPA to promulgate regulations under TSCA Section 4 and 8 rules requiring toxicity testing and reporting of health and safety studies on oil and gas exploration and production chemicals.

  4. Oil Exploration Mapping

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1994-01-01

    After concluding an oil exploration agreement with the Republic of Yemen, Chevron International needed detailed geologic and topographic maps of the area. Chevron's remote sensing team used imagery from Landsat and SPOT, combining images into composite views. The project was successfully concluded and resulted in greatly improved base maps and unique topographic maps.

  5. Notices of Intent for Coverage Under the NPDES General Permit for Oil and Gas Exploration Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Chukchi Sea

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Notices of Intent (NOIs) submitted to EPA for coverage under the NPDES general permit for discharges from oil and gas exploration facilities on the outer continental shelf in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska.

  6. Oil and Gas 101: An Overview of Oil and Gas Upstream Activities and Using EPA's Nonpoint Oil and Gas Emission Estimation Tool for the 2014 NEI (2015 EIC)

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    provide a general overview of the upstream oil and gas exploration and production processes and emissions covered by the tool; a discussion of EPA’s plans for the 2014 NEI pertaining to oil and gas; use of the tool to compile emissions estimates

  7. Tertiary oil discoveries whet explorer interest off Tunisia

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Long, M.

    Prospects for increased Tertiary oil production in the S. Mediterranean have brightened with discoveries off Tunisia, but more evaluation is needed before commercial potential is known. Several groups of U.S. and European companies have tested oil in the relatively unexplored Miocene in the Gulf of Hannamet. These include groups operated by Buttes Resources Tunisia, Elf-Aquitaine Tunisia, and Shell Tunirex. Oil test rates of 1,790 to 1,800 bpd have been reported by the Buttes group in 2 Gulf of Hammamet wells. The initial discovery probably was the first Tertiary oil ever tested in that part of the Mediterranean. The discoveries havemore » helped boost exploratory interest in the northern waters of Tunisia and northeast toward Sicily. There are reports more U.S. and European companies are requesting exploration permits from the government of Tunisia. Companies with permits are planning new exploration for 1978. Probably the most significant discovery to date has been the Buttes group's 1 Jasmine (2 BGH). The group tested high-quality 39.5'-gravity oil at a rate of 1,790 bpd. Test flow was from the Sabri Sand at 6,490 to 6,590 ft. The well was drilled in 458 ft of water.« less

  8. Color Shaded-Relief and Surface-Classification Maps of the Fish Creek Area, Harrison Bay Quadrangle, Northern Alaska

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Mars, John L.; Garrity, Christopher P.; Houseknecht, David W.; Amoroso, Lee; Meares, Donald C.

    2007-01-01

    Introduction The northeastern part of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) has become an area of active petroleum exploration during the past five years. Recent leasing and exploration drilling in the NPRA requires the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to manage and monitor a variety of surface activities that include seismic surveying, exploration drilling, oil-field development drilling, construction of oil-production facilities, and construction of pipelines and access roads. BLM evaluates a variety of permit applications, environmental impact studies, and other documents that require rapid compilation and analysis of data pertaining to surface and subsurface geology, hydrology, and biology. In addition, BLM must monitor these activities and assess their impacts on the natural environment. Timely and accurate completion of these land-management tasks requires elevation, hydrologic, geologic, petroleum-activity, and cadastral data, all integrated in digital formats at a higher resolution than is currently available in nondigital (paper) formats. To support these land-management tasks, a series of maps was generated from remotely sensed data in an area of high petroleum-industry activity (fig. 1). The maps cover an area from approximately latitude 70?00' N. to 70?30' N. and from longitude 151?00' W. to 153?10' W. The area includes the Alpine oil field in the east, the Husky Inigok exploration well (site of a landing strip) in the west, many of the exploration wells drilled in NPRA since 2000, and the route of a proposed pipeline to carry oil from discovery wells in NPRA to the Alpine oil field. This map area is referred to as the 'Fish Creek area' after a creek that flows through the region. The map series includes (1) a color shaded-relief map based on 5-m-resolution data (sheet 1), (2) a surface-classification map based on 30-m-resolution data (sheet 2), and (3) a 5-m-resolution shaded relief-surface classification map that combines the shaded-relief and surface-classification data (sheet 3). Remote sensing datasets that were used to compile the maps include Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper+ (ETM+), and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (IFSAR) data. In addition, a 1:250,000-scale geologic map of the Harrison Bay quadrangle, Alaska (Carter and Galloway, 1985, 2005) was used in conjunction with ETM+ and IFSAR data.

  9. Socioeconomic Impacts Associated with Mineral Exploration: Louisiana Versus Other Mineral-Producing States.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Davis, Donald W.

    1990-01-01

    Compares differences in resource exploitation and energy development in Louisiana and western mineral-producing states. Identifies socioeconomic impacts of Louisiana's offshore drilling and western coal, oil, and natural gas mining, noting the boom and bust cycles and "hyperurbanization" that attends both. Stresses the necessity of…

  10. 75 FR 44010 - Letters of Authorization To Take Marine Mammals

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-07-27

    ... of polar bears and Pacific walrus incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, development, and... authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar bears and Pacific walrus... regulations that allow us to authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar...

  11. Syria Country Analysis Brief

    EIA Publications

    2015-01-01

    Syria's energy sector has encountered a number of challenges as a result of conflict and subsequent sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union. Damage to energy infrastructure—including oil and natural gas pipelines and electricity transmission networks—hindered the exploration, development, production, and transport of the country's energy resources.

  12. Geostatistics and petroleum geology

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hohn, M.E.

    1988-01-01

    This book examines purpose and use of geostatistics in exploration and development of oil and gas with an emphasis on appropriate and pertinent case studies. It present an overview of geostatistics. Topics covered include: The semivariogram; Linear estimation; Multivariate geostatistics; Nonlinear estimation; From indicator variables to nonparametric estimation; and More detail, less certainty; conditional simulation.

  13. 30 CFR 556.71 - Directional drilling.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Directional drilling. 556.71 Section 556.71... SULPHUR OR OIL AND GAS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Assignments, Transfers, and Extensions § 556.71 Directional drilling. In accordance with an approved exploration plan or development and production plan, a...

  14. 30 CFR 256.71 - Directional drilling.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Directional drilling. 256.71 Section 256.71... OIL AND GAS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Assignments, Transfers, and Extensions § 256.71 Directional drilling. In accordance with an approved exploration plan or development and production plan, a lease may...

  15. 30 CFR 256.71 - Directional drilling.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Directional drilling. 256.71 Section 256.71... LEASING OF SULPHUR OR OIL AND GAS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Assignments, Transfers, and Extensions § 256.71 Directional drilling. In accordance with a BOEM-approved exploration plan or development and...

  16. 30 CFR 256.71 - Directional drilling.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Directional drilling. 256.71 Section 256.71... LEASING OF SULPHUR OR OIL AND GAS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Assignments, Transfers, and Extensions § 256.71 Directional drilling. In accordance with a BOEM-approved exploration plan or development and...

  17. 30 CFR 556.71 - Directional drilling.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Directional drilling. 556.71 Section 556.71... SULPHUR OR OIL AND GAS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Assignments, Transfers, and Extensions § 556.71 Directional drilling. In accordance with an approved exploration plan or development and production plan, a...

  18. 30 CFR 556.71 - Directional drilling.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Directional drilling. 556.71 Section 556.71... SULPHUR OR OIL AND GAS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Assignments, Transfers, and Extensions § 556.71 Directional drilling. In accordance with an approved exploration plan or development and production plan, a...

  19. 30 CFR 256.71 - Directional drilling.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Directional drilling. 256.71 Section 256.71... LEASING OF SULPHUR OR OIL AND GAS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Assignments, Transfers, and Extensions § 256.71 Directional drilling. In accordance with a BOEM-approved exploration plan or development and...

  20. 50 CFR 217.140 - Specified activity and specified geographical region.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... geographical region. 217.140 Section 217.140 Wildlife and Fisheries NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, NATIONAL... specified geographical region. (a) Regulations in this subpart apply only to BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc... occurs in the geographic region that encompasses the Northstar Oil and Gas Development area within state...

  1. Politics of oil in Venezuela: A decision-making analysis of PDVSA's internationalisation policy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baena, Cesar E.

    The high degree of international vertical integration achieved by the Venezuelan state oil enterprise, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), has placed it among the most important oil multinationals (MNs). The policy of creating downstream outlets through the establishment of foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the form of refinery assets was given the term of 'internationalisation'. By analysing PDVSA's internationalisation policy, the thesis explores the difficulties encountered by a major state-owned enterprise (SOE) from a developing country in its efforts to grow beyond national borders. The study focuses on the impact of democratic bargaining on the process of oil policymaking in Venezuela, stressing the constraints posed by politics on PDVSA's efforts to expand its foreign operations. Specifically, the study examines the intricate policymaking process that shaped the origins and the development of PDVSA's internationalisation policy, underlying the events and factors that influenced each one of its three distinguishable phases: adoption, formulation, and implementation. The tensions between politics and corporate strategy are highlighted at the core of the policymaking process. The study also looks at the relationship between the oil industry and the other two key decision-making centres involved in the oil policymaking process: the executive and Congress. In exploring the ways in which each one of them sought to influence policy outcome, the study attempts to gain insight into the main factors that prompted the tensions among the policy actors involved. Three environments, or pressure-generating centres, constantly exert influence on the oil industry: the oil market, the political context and the government's financial situation. By seeking to determine the industry's response to their pervasive influence on policy formulation and implementation, this research ascertains the extent to which these variables influenced the decision-making process that characterised PDVSA's internationalisation policy. Being too powerful a company in a developing country context where the executive and the legislature find it increasingly difficult to exert their means of control over it had the effect of minimising some of PDVSA's characteristics as SOE: accountability to Congress and subordination to the executive. The thesis argues that as a result of its role as oil MN PDVSA has minimised some of its attributes as SOE. In turn, the more PDVSA has diminished its status as SOE, the more the government has increased its dependence over it. The successful accomplishment of PDVSA's internationalisation policy has stressed this equation, highlighting the contentious interaction between an excessively dependent govemment and a company struggling to reconcile its roles as both a SOE and a MN. By examining the policy process that brought about the international expansion of a large SOE from a developing country, the findings of the thesis contribute significantly to the political science and public administration literatures and suggests new paths for further research in the area of public policymaking processes. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

  2. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ramey, H.J. Jr.

    Most of the significant contributions to reservoir engineering were made by a handful of prodigious giants in the 1930's and 1940's. The most significant contribution that can be made in the next 20 yr will be to fully understand--perhaps with the help of that latest prodigy, the computer--what those giants were driving at. Even if only the presently known oil-recovery processes are considered, exciting happenings in the area of oil recovery can be forecast for the next 20 yr. During the 1950's and 1960's, thermal recovery, miscible fluid injection, and non-Newtonian (mobility control) fluid injection were developed and widely pilotmore » tested. All of these methods offer the potential for very high oil recoveries--on the order of 80 to 100% of oil in the displaced region. It is hoped that the development of methods will occur, which are capable of recovering 75% of oil in place at the start of fluid injection. Technologically, this is really not a bold forecast--both wet combustion and micellar solution slug injection already appear to have this capability in well-designed operations. The late 1960's was a period of unusually successful exploration. Large finds were made, worldwide, almost daily: Prudhoe Bay, the North Sea, Australia, and Indonesia. (11 refs.)« less

  3. 77 FR 24980 - Notice on Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sales

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-04-26

    ... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Notice on Outer Continental Shelf Oil... Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas lease sales to be held during the bidding period May 1, 2012... Corporation ExxonMobil Exploration Company Group II. Shell Oil Company Shell Offshore Inc. SWEPI LP Shell...

  4. What Drives Crude Oil Prices?

    EIA Publications

    2017-01-01

    An assessment of the various factors that may influence oil prices - physical market factors as well as those related to trading and financial markets. The analysis describes seven key factors that could influence oil markets and explores possible linkages between each factor and oil prices. Regularly updated graphs are included to illustrate aspects of those relationships.

  5. Overview of U.S. Legislation and Regulations Affecting Offshore Natural Gas and Oil Activity

    EIA Publications

    2005-01-01

    This article presents a summary of the legislative and regulatory regime that affects natural gas and oil exploration and production in offshore regions of the United States. It discusses the role and importance of these areas as well as the competing interests surrounding ownership, production, exploration and conservation.

  6. Helicopter support of North Sea oil exploration.

    PubMed

    Preston, F S

    1978-04-01

    Exploration for oil beneath the North Sea started in the early 1960's with the discovery of natural gas and oil in the southern part between the coasts of East Anglia and the Netherlands. Since then oil exploration has built up considerably, the main effort moving northwards between the Shetland Islands and the Norwegian coasts. The helicopter offered the most direct and rapid contact with off-shore oil rigs and since these early days and immense helicopter operation has been built up round the borders of the North Sea by all the nations involved. Flying conditions in this area, particularly in winter, are at times difficult if not to say hazardous. Nevertheless, a sophisticated helicopter support service has been built up using modern aircraft and equipment which is unique in aviation history. This paper attempts to trace the history of the service, the operational problems involved and the special needs such as survival equipment and clothing. In addition, a co-ordinated air/sea rescue service largely based on helicopters has been built up and provides not only rescue facilities for possible rig disasters but also for shipping emergencies in the area.

  7. Developing Terrestrial Trophic Models for Petroleum and Natural Gas Exploration and Production Sites: The Oklahoma Tallgrass Prairie Preserve Example

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Stevenson, M; Coty, J; Stewart, J

    This document details procedures to be used when constructing a conceptual terrestrial trophic model for natural gas and oil exploration and production sites. A site conceptual trophic model is intended for use in evaluating ecological impacts of oil and brine releases at E&P sites from a landscape or ecosystem perspective. The terrestrial trophic model protocol was developed using an example site, the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve (TPP) in Oklahoma. The procedure focuses on developing a terrestrial trophic model using information found in the primary literature, and augmented using site-specific research where available. Although the TPP has been the subject of considerablemore » research and public interest since the high-profile reintroduction of bison (Bison bison) in 1993, little formal work has been done to develop a food web for the plant and animal communities found at the preserve. We describe how to divide species into guilds using explicit criteria on the basis of resource use and spatial distribution. For the TPP, sixteen guilds were developed for use in the trophic model, and the relationships among these guilds were analyzed. A brief discussion of the results of this model is provided, along with considerations for its use and areas for further study.« less

  8. Exploration maturity key to ranking search areas

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Attanasi, E.D.; Freeman, P.A.

    2008-01-01

    The study area of US Geological Survey Circular 1288, the world outside the US and Canada, was partitioned into 44 countries and country groups. Map figures such as Fig. 2 and graphs similar to Figs. 3 and 4 provide a visual summary of maturity of oil and gas exploration. From 1992 through 2001, exploration data show that in the study area the delineated prospective area expanded at a rate of about 50,000 sq miles/year, while the explored area grew at a rate of 11,000 sq miles/year. The delineated prospective area established by 1970 accounts for less than 40% of total delineated prospective area but contains 75% of the oil discovered to date in the study area. From 1991 through 2000, offshore discoveries accounted for 59% of the oil and 77% of the gas discovered in the study area.

  9. Oil Slick Characterization Using Synthetic Aperture Radar

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jones, C. E.; Breivik, O.; Brekke, C.; Skrunes, S.; Holt, B.

    2015-12-01

    Oil spills are a hazard worldwide with potential of causing high impact disasters, and require an active oil spill response capability to protect personnel, the ecosystem, and the energy supply. As the amount of oil in traditionally accessible reserves decline, there will be increasing oil extraction from the Arctic and deep-water wells, both new sources with high risk and high cost for monitoring and response. Although radar has long been used for mapping the spatial extent of oil slicks, it is only since the Deepwater Horizon spill that synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has been shown capable of characterizing oil properties within a slick, and therefore useful for directing response to the recoverable thicker slicks or emulsions. Here we discuss a 2015 Norwegian oil-on-water spill experiment in which emulsions of known quantity and water-to-oil ratio along with a look-alike slick of plant oil were released in the North Sea and imaged with polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) by NASA's UAVSAR instrument for several hours following release. During the experiment, extensive in situ measurements were made from ship or aircraft with meteorological instruments, released drift buoys, and optical/IR imagers. The experiment was designed to provide validation data for development of a physical model relating polarization-dependent electromagnetic scattering to the dielectric properties of oil mixed with ocean water, which is the basis for oil characterization with SAR. Data were acquired with X-, C-, and L-band satellite-based SARs to enable multi-frequency comparison of characterization capabilities. In addition, the data are used to develop methods to differentiate mineral slicks from biogenic look-alikes, and to better understand slick weathering and dispersion. The results will provide a basis for modeling oil-in-ice spills, currently a high priority for nations involved in Arctic oil exploration. Here we discuss the Norwegian experiment, the validation data, and the results of analysis of the SAR data acquired during the experiment. This work was carried out in part at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with NASA. The Norwegian experiment was partly financed by CIRFA - Centre for integrated remote sensing and forecasting for arctic operations.

  10. GIS-and Web-based Water Resource Geospatial Infrastructure for Oil Shale Development

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhou, Wei; Minnick, Matthew; Geza, Mengistu

    2012-09-30

    The Colorado School of Mines (CSM) was awarded a grant by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a research project en- titled GIS- and Web-based Water Resource Geospatial Infrastructure for Oil Shale Development in October of 2008. The ultimate goal of this research project is to develop a water resource geo-spatial infrastructure that serves as “baseline data” for creating solutions on water resource management and for supporting decisions making on oil shale resource development. The project came to the end on September 30, 2012. This final project report will report the key findings frommore » the project activity, major accomplishments, and expected impacts of the research. At meantime, the gamma version (also known as Version 4.0) of the geodatabase as well as other various deliverables stored on digital storage media will be send to the program manager at NETL, DOE via express mail. The key findings from the project activity include the quantitative spatial and temporal distribution of the water resource throughout the Piceance Basin, water consumption with respect to oil shale production, and data gaps identified. Major accomplishments of this project include the creation of a relational geodatabase, automated data processing scripts (Matlab) for database link with surface water and geological model, ArcGIS Model for hydrogeologic data processing for groundwater model input, a 3D geological model, surface water/groundwater models, energy resource development systems model, as well as a web-based geo-spatial infrastructure for data exploration, visualization and dissemination. This research will have broad impacts of the devel- opment of the oil shale resources in the US. The geodatabase provides a “baseline” data for fur- ther study of the oil shale development and identification of further data collection needs. The 3D geological model provides better understanding through data interpolation and visualization techniques of the Piceance Basin structure spatial distribution of the oil shale resources. The sur- face water/groundwater models quantify the water shortage and better understanding the spatial distribution of the available water resources. The energy resource development systems model reveals the phase shift of water usage and the oil shale production, which will facilitate better planning for oil shale development. Detailed descriptions about the key findings from the project activity, major accomplishments, and expected impacts of the research will be given in the sec- tion of “ACCOMPLISHMENTS, RESULTS, AND DISCUSSION” of this report.« less

  11. Association of elevated blood pressure and impaired vasorelaxation in experimental Sprague-Dawley rats fed with heated vegetable oil

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Background Poor control of blood pressure leads to hypertension which is a major risk factor for development of cardiovascular disease. The present study aimed to explore possible mechanisms of elevation in blood pressure following consumption of heated vegetable oil. Methods Forty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into six groups: Group I (control) - normal rat chow, Group II - fresh soy oil, Group III - soy oil heated once, Group IV - soy oil heated twice, Group V - soy oil heated five times, Group VI - soy oil heated ten times. Blood pressure was measured at the baseline level and at a monthly interval for six months. Plasma nitric oxide, heme oxygenase and angiotensin-converting enzyme levels were measured prior to treatment, at month-three and month-six later. At the end of treatment, the rats were sacrificed and thoracic aortas were taken for measurement of vascular reactivity. Results Blood pressure increased significantly (p < 0.01) in the repeatedly heated oil groups compared to the control and fresh soy oil groups. Consumption of diet containing repeatedly heated oil resulted higher plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme level and lower nitric oxide content and heme oxygenase concentration. Reheated soy oil groups exhibited attenuated relaxation in response to acetylcholine or sodium nitroprusside, and greater contraction to phenylephrine. Conclusion As a result of consumption of repeatedly heated soy oil, an elevation in blood pressure was observed which may be due to the quantitative changes in endothelium dependent and independent factors including enzymes directly involved in the regulation of blood pressure. PMID:20573259

  12. Malaysia Country Analysis Brief

    EIA Publications

    2017-01-01

    Malaysia's energy industry is a critical sector of growth for the entire economy, and it makes up almost 20% of the total gross domestic product. New tax and investment incentives, starting in 2010, aim to promote oil and natural gas exploration and development in the country's deepwater and marginal fields as well as promote energy efficiency measures and use of alternative energy sources. These fiscal incentives are part of the country's economic transformation program to leverage its resources and geographic location to be one of Asia's top energy players by 2020. Another key pillar in Malaysia's energy strategy is to become a regional oil and natural gas storage, trading, and development hub that will attract technical expertise and downstream services that can compete in Asia.

  13. Oil and Gas 101 (2017 EIC)

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    provide a general overview of the upstream oil and gas exploration and production processes and emissions covered by the tool; a discussion of EPA’s plans for the 2017 NEI pertaining to oil and gas; use of the tool to compile emissions estimates

  14. Exploring Oil Spills.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Czerniak, Charlene M.; And Others

    1996-01-01

    Presents activities in which elementary and middle school students work together to gain environmental awareness about oil spills. Involves students experiencing a simulated oil spill and attempting to clean it up. Discusses the use of children's literature after the activity in evaluation of the activity. (JRH)

  15. Oil exploration and development in Marib/Al Jawf basin, Yemen Arab Republic

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Maycock, I.D.

    1988-02-01

    In 1981, Yemen Hunt Oil Company (YHOC) negotiated a production-sharing agreement covering 12,600 km/sup 2/ in the northeast part of the Yemen Arab Republic. A reconnaissance seismic program of 1864 km acquired in 1982 revealed the presence of a major half graben, designated the Marib/Al Jawf basin by YHOC. A sedimentary section up to 18,000 ft thick has been recognized. Geologic field mapping identified Jurassic carbonates covered by Cretaceous sands overlying Permian glaciolacustrine sediments, Paleozoic sandstones, or Precambrian basement. The first well, Alif-1, drilled in 1984, aimed at a possible Jurassic carbonate objective, encountered hydrocarbon-bearing sands in the Jurassic-Cretaceous transitionmore » between 5000 and 6000 ft. Appraisal and development drilling followed. The Alif field is believed to contain in excess of 400 million bbl of recoverable oil. Subsequent wildcat drilling has located additional accumulations while further amplifying basin stratigraphy. Rapid basin development took place in the Late Jurassic culminating with the deposition of Tithonian salt. The evaporites provide an excellent seal for hydrocarbons apparently sourced from restricted basin shales and trapped in rapidly deposited clastics.« less

  16. Oil market power and United States national security

    PubMed Central

    Stern, Roger

    2006-01-01

    It is widely believed that an oil weapon could impose scarcity upon the United States. Impending resource exhaustion is thought to exacerbate this threat. However, threat seems implausible when we consider strategic deficits of prospective weapon users and the improbability of impending resource exhaustion. Here, we explore a hypothesis relating oil to national security under a different assumption, abundance. We suggest that an oil cartel exerts market power to keep abundance at bay, commanding monopoly rents [or wealth transfers (wt)] that underwrite security threats. We then compare security threats attributed to the oil weapon to those that may arise from market power. We first reexamine whether oil is abundant or scarce by reviewing current development data, then we estimate a competitive price for oil. From this, we derive wt2004 collections by Persian Gulf states ≈ $132-178 × 109. We find that wt and the behavior of states collecting it interact to actuate security threats. Threats underwritten by wt are (i) the potential for emergence of a Persian Gulf superpower and (ii) terrorism. It is therefore oil market power, not oil per se, that actuates threats. We also describe a paradox in the relation of market power to the United States' defense doctrine of force projection to preempt a Gulf superpower. Because the superpower threat derives from wt, force alone cannot preempt it. A further paradox is that because foreign policy is premised on oil weapon fear, market power is appeased. Threats thereby grow unimpeded. PMID:16428291

  17. Comparative evaluation of solar, fission, fusion, and fossil energy resources. Part 5: Conclusions and recomendations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Williams, J. R.

    1974-01-01

    Air pollution resulting from the use of fossil fuels is discussed. Phenomena relating to the emission of CO2 such as the greenhouse effect and multiplier effect are explored. Particulate release is also discussed. The following recommendations are made for the elimination of fossil fuel combustion products in the United States: development of nuclear breeder reactors, use of solar energy systems, exploration of energy alternatives such as geothermal and fusion, and the substitution of coal for gas and oil use.

  18. Fractal Characteristics of Continental Shale Pores and its Significance to the Occurrence of Shale Oil in China: a Case Study of Biyang Depression

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Jijun; Liu, Zhao; Li, Junqian; Lu, Shuangfang; Zhang, Tongqian; Zhang, Xinwen; Yu, Zhiyuan; Huang, Kaizhan; Shen, Bojian; Ma, Yan; Liu, Jiewen

    Samples from seven major exploration wells in Biyang Depression of Henan Oilfield were compared using low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and shale oil adsorption experiments. Comprehensive analysis of pore development, oiliness and shale oil flowability was conducted by combining fractal dimension. The results show that the fractal dimension of shale in Biyang Depression of Henan Oilfield was negatively correlated with the average pore size and positively correlated with the specific surface area. Compared with the large pore, the small pore has great fractal dimension, indicating the pore structure is more complicated. Using S1 and chloroform bitumen A to evaluate the relationship between shale oiliness and pore structure, it was found that the more heterogeneous the shale pore structure, the higher the complexity and the poorer the oiliness. Clay minerals are the main carriers involved in crude oil adsorption, affecting the mobility of shale oil. When the pore complexity of shale was high, the content of micro- and mesopores was high, and the high specific surface area could enhance the adsorption and reduce the mobility of shale oil.

  19. Using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography to explore the geochemistry of the Santa Barbara oil seeps

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Reddy, Christopher; Nelson, Robert

    The development of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) has expanded the analytical window for studying complex mixtures like oil. Compared to traditional gas chromatography, this technology separates and resolves at least an order of magnitude more compounds, has a much larger signal to noise ratio, and sorts compounds based on their chemical class; hence, providing highly refined inventories of petroleum hydrocarbons in geochemical samples that was previously unattainable. In addition to the increased resolution afforded by GC x GC, the resulting chromatograms have been used to estimate the liquid vapor pressures, aqueous solubilities, octanol-water partition coefficients, and vaporizationmore » enthalpies of petroleum hydrocarbons. With these relationships, powerful and incisive analyses of phase-transfer processes affecting petroleum hydrocarbon mixtures in the environment are available. For example, GC x GC retention data has been used to quantitatively deconvolve the effects of phase transfer processes such as water washing and evaporation. In short, the positive attributes of GC x GC-analysis have led to a methodology that has revolutionized the analysis of petroleum hydrocarbons. Overall, this research has opened numerous fields of study on the biogeochemical "genetics" (referred to as petroleomics) of petroleum samples in both subsurface and surface environments. Furthermore, these new findings have already been applied to the behavior of oil at other seeps as well, for petroleum exploration and oil spill studies.« less

  20. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kelly, P.L.

    This paper reports that last year's conflict in the Persian Gulf reminded the world of the crucial role energy plays in our civilization and placed the issue of energy back near the center of the political stage. Saddam Hussein's callous destruction of much of Kuwait's oil producing capacity highlighted the dependence of the industrial and developing world on a secure supply of oil and gas. This even gave momentum to policymakers in every nation of the world with significant hydrocarbon potential-except the U.S.-to encourage investment, provide incentives for exploration and development, and in so doing, increase the security of theirmore » own supply of oil and natural gas. As the curtain rises on 1992, the U.S. Congress continues to allow misconceptions, rather than fact, to drive energy policy and Outer Continental Shelf (OCSA) leasing decisions. As a result, domestic production will decline further in 1992, jobs and revenue will be lost, imports will rise, and the nation's energy future will be uncertain, because it relies more than ever on Middle Eastern production.« less

  1. Pipeline enhances Norman Wells potential

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    Approval of an oil pipeline from halfway down Canada's MacKenzie River Valley at Norman Wells to N. Alberta has raised the potential for development of large reserves along with controversy over native claims. The project involves 2 closely related proposals. One, by Esso Resources, the exploration and production unit of Imperial Oil, will increase oil production from the Norman Wells field from 3000 bpd currently to 25,000 bpd. The other proposal, by Interprovincial Pipeline (N.W) Ltd., calls for construction of an underground pipeline to transport the additional production from Norman Wells to Alberta. The 560-mile, 12-in. pipeline will extend frommore » Norman Wells, which is 90 miles south of the Arctic Circle on the north shore of the Mackenzie River, south to the end of an existing line at Zama in N. Alberta. There will be 3 pumping stations en route. This work also discusses recovery, potential, drilling limitations, the processing plant, positive impact, and further development of the Norman Wells project.« less

  2. Quantitative assessment of different phenolic compounds in Texas olive oils versus foreign oils

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Texas Olive Ranch is the first one to produce olive oil and has the sole product in the Texas market place; several growers are now starting to cultivate olive at various sites in Texas. The quality of olive oil produced and pressed in Texas has never been explored. This study was conducted to inv...

  3. Bio-Based Nano Composites from Plant Oil and Nano Clay

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, Jue; Hong, Chang K.; Wool, Richard P.

    2003-03-01

    We explored the combination of nanoclay with new chemically functionalized, amphiphilic, plant oil resins to form bio-based nanocomposites with improved physical and mechanical properties. These can be used in many new applications, including the development of self-healing nanocomposites through controlled reversible exfoliation/intercalation, and self-assembled nano-structures. Several chemically modified triglyceride monomers of varying polarity, combined with styrene (ca 30include acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO), maleated acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (MAESO) and soybean oil pentaerythritol glyceride maleates (SOPERMA), containing either hydroxyl group or acid functionality or both. The clay used is a natural montmorillonite modified with methyl tallow bis-2-hydroxyethyl quaternary ammonium chloride, which has hydroxyl groups. Both XRD and TEM showed a completely exfoliated structure at 3 wtwhen the clay content is above 5 wtconsidered a mix of intercalated and partially exfoliated structure. The controlled polarity of the monomer has a major effect on the reversible dispersion of clay in the polymer matrix. The bio-based nanocomposites showed a significant increase in flexural modulus and strength. Supported by EPA and DoE

  4. Revealing the properties of oils from their dissolved hydrocarbon compounds in water with an integrated sensor array system.

    PubMed

    Qi, Xiubin; Crooke, Emma; Ross, Andrew; Bastow, Trevor P; Stalvies, Charlotte

    2011-09-21

    This paper presents a system and method developed to identify a source oil's characteristic properties by testing the oil's dissolved components in water. Through close examination of the oil dissolution process in water, we hypothesise that when oil is in contact with water, the resulting oil-water extract, a complex hydrocarbon mixture, carries the signature property information of the parent oil. If the dominating differences in compositions between such extracts of different oils can be identified, this information could guide the selection of various sensors, capable of capturing such chemical variations. When used as an array, such a sensor system can be used to determine parent oil information from the oil-water extract. To test this hypothesis, 22 oils' water extracts were prepared and selected dominant hydrocarbons analyzed with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS); the subsequent Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicates that the major difference between the extract solutions is the relative concentration between the volatile mono-aromatics and fluorescent polyaromatics. An integrated sensor array system that is composed of 3 volatile hydrocarbon sensors and 2 polyaromatic hydrocarbon sensors was built accordingly to capture the major and subtle differences of these extracts. It was tested by exposure to a total of 110 water extract solutions diluted from the 22 extracts. The sensor response data collected from the testing were processed with two multivariate analysis tools to reveal information retained in the response patterns of the arrayed sensors: by conducting PCA, we were able to demonstrate the ability to qualitatively identify and distinguish different oil samples from their sensor array response patterns. When a supervised PCA, Linear Discriminate Analysis (LDA), was applied, even quantitative classification can be achieved: the multivariate model generated from the LDA achieved 89.7% of successful classification of the type of the oil samples. By grouping the samples based on the level of viscosity and density we were able to reveal the correlation between the oil extracts' sensor array responses and their original oils' feature properties. The equipment and method developed in this study have promising potential to be readily applied in field studies and marine surveys for oil exploration or oil spill monitoring.

  5. Effects of retorting factors on combustion properties of shale char. 3. Distribution of residual organic matters.

    PubMed

    Han, Xiangxin; Jiang, Xiumin; Cui, Zhigang; Liu, Jianguo; Yan, Junwei

    2010-03-15

    Shale char, formed in retort furnaces of oil shale, is classified as a dangerous waste containing several toxic compounds. In order to retort oil shale to produce shale oil as well as treat shale char efficiently and in an environmentally friendly way, a novel kind of comprehensive utilization system was developed to use oil shale for shale oil production, electricity generation (shale char fired) and the extensive application of oil shale ash. For exploring the combustion properties of shale char further, in this paper organic matters within shale chars obtained under different retorting conditions were extracted and identified using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. Subsequently, the effects of retorting factors, including retorting temperature, residence time, particle size and heating rate, were analyzed in detail. As a result, a retorting condition with a retorting temperature of 460-490 degrees C, residence time of <40 min and a middle particle size was recommended for both keeping nitrogenous organic matters and aromatic hydrocarbons in shale char and improving the yield and quality of shale oil. In addition, shale char obtained under such retorting condition can also be treated efficiently using a circulating fluidized bed technology with fractional combustion. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. 76 FR 67759 - Notice on Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sales

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-11-02

    ... and Exploration Company Inexeco Oil Company Group VI Eni Petroleum Co. Inc. Eni Petroleum US LLC Eni Oil US LLC Eni Marketing Inc Eni BB Petroleum Inc. Eni US Operating Co. Inc. Eni BB Pipeline LLC Group...

  7. Pressure effect on dissimilatory sulfate reduction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Williamson, A. J.; Carlson, H. K.; Coates, J. D.

    2015-12-01

    Biosouring is the production of H2S by sulfate reducing microorganisms (SRM) in-situ or in the produced fluids of oil reservoirs. Sulfide is explosive, toxic and corrosive which can trigger equipment and transportation failure, leading to environmental catastrophe. As oil exploration and reservoir development continue, subsequent enhanced recovery is occurring in progressively deeper formations and typical oil reservoir pressures range from 10-50 MPa. Therefore, an understanding of souring control effects will require an accurate understanding of the influence of pressure on SRM metabolism and the efficacy of souring control treatments at high pressure. Considerable work to date has focussed on souring control at ambient pressure; however, the influence of pressure on biogeochemical processes and souring treatments in oil reservoirs is poorly understood. To explore the impact of pressure on SRM, wild type Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20 (isolated from a producing oil well in Ventura County, California) was grown under a range of pressures (0.1-14 MPa) at 30 °C. Complete sulfate reduction occurred in all pressures tested within 3 days, but microbial growth was inhibited with increasing pressure. Bar-seq identified several genes associated with flagella biosynthesis (including FlhB) and assembly as important for survival at elevated pressure and fitness was confirmed using individual transposon mutants. Flagellar genes have previously been implicated with biofilm formation and confocal microscopy on glass slides incubated with wild type D. alaskensis G20 showed more biomass associated with surfaces under pressure, highlighting the link between pressure, flagellar and biofilm formation. To determine the effect of pressure on the efficacy of SRM inhibitors, IC50 experiments were conducted and D. alaskensis G20 showed a greater resistance to nitrate and the antibiotic chloramphenicol, but a lower resistance to perchlorate. These results will be discussed in the context of deep subsurface microbiology and oil reservoir biosouring. Overall, this work furthers our understanding of oil reservoir biogeochemistry and highlights the impact of pressure on biofilm formation and biosouring strategies.

  8. Prospects of developing the Shtokman and Prirazlomnoe Fields in the Barents Sea

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dubin, I.B.

    1994-09-01

    Russia, having the world`s largest oil and gas resources on the shelf, exceeding 60 billion tons of hydrocarbons, has hardly begun to develop them. Such a situation developed because more than 95% of the oil and gas resources of the shelf of the Russian Federation are concentrated in arctic and Far Eastern seas with harsh natural and climatic conditions and require large and long-term capital investments. Nine oil and gas fields have been discovered on the shelf of arctic seas, including three unique ones: the Shtokman gas-condensate field in the Barents Sea with gas reserves of category C{sub 1} ofmore » 1.7 trillion m{sup 3} and of category C{sub 2} of 1.3 trillion m{sup 3}, Rusanov gas-condensate field, and the Leningrad gas field in the Kara Sea with estimated natural gas resources up to 4.0 trillion m{sup 3}. Furthermore, an oil field, the Prirazlomnoe, the recoverable reserves of which are estimated to be up to 70 million tons, was discovered in the Perchora Sea. To execute the orders of the government of the Russian Federation, in 1992 the Russian joint-stock company for developing the oil and gas resources of the continental shelf {open_quotes}Rosshelf{close_quotes} was created for exploration of useful resources on the continental shelf, their extraction and transportation, processing, and sale of the products, as well as design, construction, and manufacture of equipment needed for developing the fields on the basis of converting defence enterprises of the northwestern shipbuilding complex and design departments, institutes, organizations, and enterprises related to them.« less

  9. Exploring seed oil biosynthetic pathway in lesquerella (Physaria fendleri), an important industrial crop

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Lesquerella is currently being developed as a new industrial oilseed. Lesquerella is valued for its unusual hydroxy fatty acid (HFA), lesquerolic acid (20:1OH), which can be used as raw materials for numerous industrial products, such as lubricants, plasticizers and surfactants. As a step towards ge...

  10. Garden Banks 388 subsea drilling/production template: Project management of a fast-track project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ledbetter, W.R.

    1995-10-01

    Enserch Exploration`s Garden Banks 388 development is a production scheme based around a floating drilling and production facility and subsea drilling/production template. The Floating Production Facility (FPF) is a converted semisubmersible drilling rig which will drill and product through a 24-well slot template. This development is located in Block 388 of the Garden Banks area in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 200 miles southwest of New Orleans. Louisiana. This production system is being installed in an area of known oil and gas reserves and will produce to a shallow water platform 54 miles away at Ewing Bank 315. The FPFmore » will be permanently moored on the surface above the template. The subsea template has been installed in 2,190 feet of water and will produce through a 2,000 foot free-standing production riser system to the FPF. The produced fluids are partially separated on the FPF before oil and gas are pumped through the template to export gathering lines which are connected to the shallow water facility.« less

  11. Data Mining of Satellite-Based Measurements to Distinguish Natural From Man-Made Oil Slicks at the Sea Surface in Campeche Bay (Mexico)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Carvalho, G. D. A.; Minnett, P. J.; de Miranda, F. P.; Landau, L.; Paes, E.

    2016-02-01

    Campeche Bay, located in the Mexican portion of the Gulf of Mexico, has a well-established activity engaged with numerous oil rigs exploring and producing natural gas and oil. The associated risk of oil slicks in this region - that include oil spills (i.e. oil floating at the sea surface solely attributed to man-made activities) and oil seeps (i.e. surface footprint of the oil that naturally comes out of the seafloor reaching the surface of the ocean) - leads Pemex to be in a continuous state of alert for reducing possible negative influence on marine and coastal ecosystems. Focusing on a monitoring strategy, a multi-year dataset (2008-2012) of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) measurements from the RADARSAT-2 satellite is used to investigate the spatio-temporal distribution of the oil slicks observed at the surface of the ocean in the Campeche Bay region. The present study is an exploratory data analysis that seeks to discriminate between these two possible oil slick types: oil seeps and oil spills. Multivariate data analysis techniques (e.g. Principal Components Analysis, Clustering Analysis, Discriminant Function, etc.) are explored to design a data-learning classification algorithm to distinguish natural from man-made oil slicks. This analysis promotes a novel idea bridging geochemistry and remote sensing research to express geophysical differences between seeped and spilled oil. Here, SAR backscatter coefficients - i.e. sigma-naught (σo), beta-naught (βo), and gamma-naught (γo) - are combined with attributes referring to the geometry, shape, and dimension that describe the oil slicks. Results indicate that the synergy of combining these various characteristics is capable of distinguishing oil seeps from oil spills observed on the sea surface to a useful accuracy.

  12. Dynamic Metabolic Profiles and Tissue-Specific Source Effects on the Metabolome of Developing Seeds of Brassica napus.

    PubMed

    Tan, Helin; Xie, Qingjun; Xiang, Xiaoe; Li, Jianqiao; Zheng, Suning; Xu, Xinying; Guo, Haolun; Ye, Wenxue

    2015-01-01

    Canola (Brassica napus) is one of several important oil-producing crops, and the physiological processes, enzymes, and genes involved in oil synthesis in canola seeds have been well characterized. However, relatively little is known about the dynamic metabolic changes that occur during oil accumulation in seeds, as well as the mechanistic origins of metabolic changes. To explore the metabolic changes that occur during oil accumulation, we isolated metabolites from both seed and silique wall and identified and characterized them by using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that a total of 443 metabolites were identified from four developmental stages. Dozens of these metabolites were differentially expressed during seed ripening, including 20 known to be involved in seed development. To investigate the contribution of tissue-specific carbon sources to the biosynthesis of these metabolites, we examined the metabolic changes of silique walls and seeds under three treatments: leaf-detachment (Ld), phloem-peeling (Pe), and selective silique darkening (Sd). Our study demonstrated that the oil content was independent of leaf photosynthesis and phloem transport during oil accumulation, but required the metabolic influx from the silique wall. Notably, Sd treatment resulted in seed senescence, which eventually led to a severe reduction of the oil content. Sd treatment also caused a significant accumulation of fatty acids (FA), organic acids and amino acids. Furthermore, an unexpected accumulation of sugar derivatives and organic acid was observed in the Pe- and Sd-treated seeds. Consistent with this, the expression of a subset of genes involved in FA metabolism, sugar and oil storage was significantly altered in Pe and Sd treated seeds. Taken together, our studies suggest the metabolite profiles of canola seeds dynamically varied during the course of oil accumulation, which may provide a new insight into the mechanisms of the oil accumulation at the metabolite level.

  13. Perspective: big oil, rural poverty, and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

    PubMed

    Aaron, K K

    2005-05-01

    The Niger Delta region of Nigeria is richly endowed with both renewable and non-renewable natural resources. It contains 20 billion of Africa's proven 66 billion barrels of oil reserves and more than 3 trillion cubic meters of gas reserves. Oil and gas resources of the Niger Delta account for over 85% of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), over 95% of the national budget, and over 80% of the nation's wealth. Paradoxically, the Niger Delta remains the poorest region, due largely to the ecologically unfriendly exploitation of oil and gas and state policies that expropriate the indigenous peoples of the Niger Delta of their rights to these natural resources. The ecological devastation occasioned by the activities of oil transnational corporations (TNCs) have rendered farming and fishing useless, previously the main occupations of these rural people. The people of the Niger Delta are deprived of their share of the wealth on which the entire nation depends; they "benefit" only from compensation for incidents of oil pollution. At the same time, occurrences of oil spills in the Niger Delta region have increased. In this article, it is argued that the ecologically unfriendly activities of oil TNCs, and the state's petroleum development policies, lead to poverty in the Niger Delta, and poverty in turn leads to environmental degradation. It is the dynamics of this interconnectedness that we wish to explore.

  14. Western Greece unconventional hydrocarbon potential from oil shale and shale gas reservoirs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Karakitsios, Vasileios; Agiadi, Konstantina

    2013-04-01

    It is clear that we are gradually running out of new sedimentary basins to explore for conventional oil and gas and that the reserves of conventional oil, which can be produced cheaply, are limited. This is the reason why several major oil companies invest in what are often called unconventional hydrocarbons: mainly oil shales, heavy oil, tar sand and shale gas. In western Greece exist important oil and gas shale reservoirs which must be added to its hydrocarbon potential1,2. Regarding oil shales, Western Greece presents significant underground immature, or close to the early maturation stage, source rocks with black shale composition. These source rock oils may be produced by applying an in-situ conversion process (ICP). A modern technology, yet unproven at a commercial scale, is the thermally conductive in-situ conversion technology, developed by Shell3. Since most of western Greece source rocks are black shales with high organic content, those, which are immature or close to the maturity limit have sufficient thickness and are located below 1500 meters depth, may be converted artificially by in situ pyrolysis. In western Greece, there are several extensive areas with these characteristics, which may be subject of exploitation in the future2. Shale gas reservoirs in Western Greece are quite possibly present in all areas where shales occur below the ground-water level, with significant extent and organic matter content greater than 1%, and during their geological history, were found under conditions corresponding to the gas window (generally at depths over 5,000 to 6,000m). Western Greece contains argillaceous source rocks, found within the gas window, from which shale gas may be produced and consequently these rocks represent exploitable shale gas reservoirs. Considering the inevitable increase in crude oil prices, it is expected that at some point soon Western Greece shales will most probably be targeted. Exploration for conventional petroleum reservoirs, through the interpretation of seismic profiles and the surface geological data, will simultaneously provide the subsurface geometry of the unconventional reservoirs. Their exploitation should follow that of conventional hydrocarbons, in order to benefit from the anticipated technological advances, eliminating environmental repercussions. As a realistic approach, the environmental consequences of the oil shale and shale gas exploitation to the natural environment of western Greece, which holds other very significant natural resources, should be delved into as early as possible. References 1Karakitsios V. & Rigakis N. 2007. Evolution and Petroleum Potential of Western Greece. J.Petroleum Geology, v. 30, no. 3, p. 197-218. 2Karakitsios V. 2013. Western Greece and Ionian Sea petroleum systems. AAPG Bulletin, in press. 3Bartis J.T., Latourrette T., Dixon L., Peterson D.J., Cecchine G. 2005. Oil Shale Development in the United States: Prospect and Policy Issues. Prepared for the National Energy Tech. Lab. of the U.S. Dept Energy. RAND Corporation, 65 p.

  15. International issues in energy policy, development, and economics

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dorian, J.P.; Fesharaki, F.

    1994-01-01

    Events in the international oil market have shaped energy policies in both developed and developing countries for the last two decades. This collection of 19 articles explores this situation. The articles are grouped under three headings: Global Markets and Policy, Energy Issues and Trends, and Economic development. The focus of the articles is on specific topics such as reformulated gasoline, neoclassical growth theory and energy conservation with a limited focus on the broady picture of the world's energy problems and prospects.

  16. Energy development on Native American lands: Resources and attitudes. An interpretive report on two major Indian conferences of 1980

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lucero, F. J., Jr.

    1982-02-01

    Energy resources (oil, gas, coal, uranium) on Indian lands are assessed and an analysis of Indian attitudes toward energy development on their land is made. An examination is made of how Indians think their governments ought to operate; specific Indian religious and social attitudes towards energy development are explored. Current litigation in taxation, Federal regulation of Indian mineral development, Federal environmental standards, and Indian water-rights disputes are discussed.

  17. Preface--Environmental issues related to oil and gas exploration and production

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Kharaka, Yousif K.; Otton, James K.

    2007-01-01

    Energy is the essential commodity that powers the expanding global economy. Starting in the 1950s, oil and natural gas became the main sources of primary energy for the rapidly increasing world population (Edwards, 1997). In 2003, petroleum was the source for 62.1% of global energy, and projections by energy information administration (EIA) indicate that oil and gas will continue their dominance, supplying 59.5% of global energy in 2030 (EIA, 2007). Unfortunately petroleum and coal consumption carry major detrimental environmental impacts that may be regional or global in scale, including air pollution, global climate change and oil spills. This special volume of Applied Geochemistry, devoted to “Environmental Issues Related to Oil and Gas Exploration and Production”, does not address these major impacts directly because air pollution and global climate change are issues related primarily to the burning of petroleum and coal, and major oil spills generally occur during ocean transport, such as the Exxon Valdez 1989 spill of 42,000 m3 (260,000 bbl) oil into Prince William Sound, Alaska.

  18. Risk of large oil spills: a statistical analysis in the aftermath of Deepwater Horizon.

    PubMed

    Eckle, Petrissa; Burgherr, Peter; Michaux, Edouard

    2012-12-04

    The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that followed the explosion of the exploration platform Deepwater Horizon on 20 April 2010 was the largest accidental oil spill so far. In this paper we evaluate the risk of such very severe oil spills based on global historical data from our Energy-Related Severe Accident Database (ENSAD) and investigate if an accident of this size could have been "expected". We also compare the risk of oil spills from such accidents in exploration and production to accidental spills from other activities in the oil chain (tanker ship transport, pipelines, storage/refinery) and analyze the two components of risk, frequency and severity (quantity of oil spilled) separately. This detailed analysis reveals the differences in the structure of the risk between different spill sources, differences in trends over time and it allows in particular assessing the risk of very severe events such as the Deepwater Horizon spill. Such top down risk assessment can serve as an important input to decision making by complementing bottom up engineering risk assessment and can be combined with impact assessment in environmental risk analysis.

  19. Advanced Gas Turbine (AGT) Technology Development Project, ceramic component developments

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Teneyck, M. O.; Macbeth, J. W.; Sweeting, T. B.

    1987-01-01

    The ceramic component technology development activity conducted by Standard Oil Engineered Materials Company while performing as a principal subcontractor to the Garrett Auxiliary Power Division for the Advanced Gas Turbine (AGT) Technology Development Project (NASA Contract DEN3-167) is summarized. The report covers the period October 1979 through July 1987, and includes information concerning ceramic technology work categorized as common and unique. The former pertains to ceramic development applicable to two parallel AGT projects established by NASA contracts DEN3-168 (AGT100) and DEN3-167 (AGT101), whereas the unique work solely pertains to Garrett directed activity under the latter contract. The AGT101 Technology Development Project is sponsored by DOE and administered by NASA-Lewis. Standard Oil directed its efforts toward the development of ceramic materials in the silicon-carbide family. Various shape forming and fabrication methods, and nondestructive evaluation techniques were explored to produce the static structural components for the ceramic engine. This permitted engine testing to proceed without program slippage.

  20. 43 CFR 3935.10 - Accounting records.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... processing plant and retort; (3) Mineral products produced and sold; (4) Shale oil products, shale gas, and... mined or processed and of all products including synthetic petroleum, shale oil, shale gas, and shale..., DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES...

  1. 43 CFR 3935.10 - Accounting records.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... processing plant and retort; (3) Mineral products produced and sold; (4) Shale oil products, shale gas, and... mined or processed and of all products including synthetic petroleum, shale oil, shale gas, and shale..., DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES...

  2. 43 CFR 3935.10 - Accounting records.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... processing plant and retort; (3) Mineral products produced and sold; (4) Shale oil products, shale gas, and... mined or processed and of all products including synthetic petroleum, shale oil, shale gas, and shale..., DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES...

  3. Preparation of Biofuel Using Acetylatation of Jojoba Fatty Alcohols and Assessment as a Blend Component in Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The majority of biodiesel fuels are produced from vegetable oils or animal fats by transesterification of oil with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. In this study, a new class of biofuel is explored by acetylation of fatty alcohols from Jojoba oil. Recently, we reported Jojoba oil methyl este...

  4. Utilizing Google Earth to Teach Students about Global Oil Spill Disasters

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Guertin, Laura; Neville, Sara

    2011-01-01

    The United States is currently experiencing its worst man-made environmental disaster, the BP Deepwater Horizon oil leak. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill is severe in its impact, but it is only one of several global oil spill disasters in history. Students can utilize the technology of Google Earth to explore the spatial and temporal distribution of…

  5. Driving it home: choosing the right path for fueling North America's transportation future

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ann Bordetsky; Susan Casey-Lefkowitz; Deron Lovaas

    2007-06-15

    North America faces an energy crossroads. With the world fast approaching the end of cheap, plentiful conventional oil, we must choose between developing ever-dirtier sources of fossil fuels -- at great cost to our health and environment -- or setting a course for a more sustainable energy future of clean, renewable fuels. This report explores the full scale of the damage done by attempts to extract oil from liquid coal, oil shale, and tar sands; examines the risks for investors of gambling on these dirty fuel sources; and lays out solutions for guiding us toward a cleaner fuel future. Tablemore » of contents: Executive Summary; Chapter 1: Transportation Fuel at a Crossroads; Chapter 2: Canadian Tar Sands: Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel in Endangered Forests; Chapter 3: Oil Shale Extraction: Drilling Through the American West; Chapter 4: Liquid Coal: A 'Clean Fuel' Mirage; Chapter 5: The Investment Landscape: Dirty Fuels Are Risky Business; Chapter 6: The Clean Path for Transportation and Conclusion.« less

  6. Austin chalk yields oil near basaltic cone

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1990-09-03

    This paper reports on the completion of a Cretaceous Austin chalk horizontal oil well near a basaltic cone in the Uvalde volcanic field area of Dimmit County, Tex. The well is the HDP Inc. 1 autumn Unit, about 9 miles northeast to Carrizo Springs HDP, which stands for horizontal development and production, of Palo Alto, Calif., drilled the well on a farmout from American Exploration Co., Houston. It initially pumped and flowed 1,600 b/d of oil without stimulation from openhole. HDP drilled about 1,500 ft of horizontal and deviated hole in Austin chalk B-1, the producing horizon. Production in latemore » August was about 500 b/d of oil, pending determination of proration unit size and allowable. The well, in the greater Pearsall field Austin chalk play along the Dimmit-Savala county line, is the first horizontal chalk producer in Elaine field. The field has produced mainly from Escondido sand, Olmos sand and Anacacho limestone, all in the Upper Cretaceous.« less

  7. Sweeter E and P terms, Cretaceous Abiod chalk oil play lead to busier exploration in Tunisia

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Davies, W.C.; Haiza, A.B.

    1990-12-10

    This paper reports that Tunisia's oil exploration and production industry is experiencing a boom of almost unprecedented proportions. The catalysts are changes in the fiscal and legislative regime and a high success ratio in an exciting new exploration play, Upper Cretaceous Abiod chalk. The foundation of this renewed phase of activity was laid in 1985. The Tunisian government decided to liberalize the terms and conditions that apply to the hydrocarbon exploration industry, in order to encourage the search for reserves to replace those being rapidly depleted through increased industrial, commercial, and transport consumption.

  8. A Multidisciplinary Approach to Decommissioning Offshore Wells Using Stakeholder Engagement, Risk Identification, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Battalora, L.; Prasad, M.

    2017-12-01

    Context/PurposeThe typical oil and gas project lifecycle includes acquisition, exploration, drilling, production, and decommissioning phases. The oil and gas industry (Industry) has become proactive in identifying and mitigating health, safety, security, environment, and social responsibility risks during these phases as well as designing for sustainable development. With many fields reaching the end stages of the lifecycle, Industry is faced with the challenge of identifying and evaluating risks in the decommissioning phase. The level of challenge is increased when planning for the decommissioning of offshore wells. This paper describes tools that can be applied in the multidisciplinary design of the decommissioning program including use of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). MethodsStakeholder engagement is key to a successful project. Typical stakeholders in an oil and gas project include the community, regulatory agencies, federal, state, and local governments, private investors, academia, and non-governmental organizations. Before engagement begins, stakeholders must be identified as well as their level of influence in the project. Relationships between stakeholders are "mapped" providing a better understanding of priorities and areas of concentration. Project risks are identified and ranked according to likelihood and impact. Mitigations are matched to risks. Sustainable development is implemented through acknowledgement of societal, economic, and environmental impacts in engineering design. InterpretationRecently, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and IPIECA, the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues, partnered to develop the publication, Mapping the oil and gas industry to the Sustainable Development Goals: An Atlas. SDGs have been linked to Industry operations and can serve as a guide for the offshore decommissioning phase ConclusionA multidisciplinary approach using stakeholder engagement and risk identification tools and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is recommended for designing the decommissioning program of offshore wells. This recommendation also applies to onshore decommissioning programs.

  9. Development Optimization and Uncertainty Analysis Methods for Oil and Gas Reservoirs

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ettehadtavakkol, Amin, E-mail: amin.ettehadtavakkol@ttu.edu; Jablonowski, Christopher; Lake, Larry

    Uncertainty complicates the development optimization of oil and gas exploration and production projects, but methods have been devised to analyze uncertainty and its impact on optimal decision-making. This paper compares two methods for development optimization and uncertainty analysis: Monte Carlo (MC) simulation and stochastic programming. Two example problems for a gas field development and an oilfield development are solved and discussed to elaborate the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Development optimization involves decisions regarding the configuration of initial capital investment and subsequent operational decisions. Uncertainty analysis involves the quantification of the impact of uncertain parameters on the optimum designmore » concept. The gas field development problem is designed to highlight the differences in the implementation of the two methods and to show that both methods yield the exact same optimum design. The results show that both MC optimization and stochastic programming provide unique benefits, and that the choice of method depends on the goal of the analysis. While the MC method generates more useful information, along with the optimum design configuration, the stochastic programming method is more computationally efficient in determining the optimal solution. Reservoirs comprise multiple compartments and layers with multiphase flow of oil, water, and gas. We present a workflow for development optimization under uncertainty for these reservoirs, and solve an example on the design optimization of a multicompartment, multilayer oilfield development.« less

  10. Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources of the Timan-Pechora Basin Province, Russia, 2008

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Schenk, C.J.; Bird, K.J.; Charpentier, R.R.; Gautier, D.L.; Houseknecht, D.W.; Klett, T.R.; Moore, T.; Pawlewicz, M.J.; Pittman, J.; Tennyson, Marilyn E.

    2008-01-01

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently assessed the undiscovered oil and gas potential of the Timan-Pechora Basin Province in Russia as part of the USGS Circum-Arctic Oil and Gas Resource Appraisal program. Geologically, the Timan-Pechora Basin Province is a triangular-shaped cratonic block bounded by the northeast-southwest trending Ural Mountains and the northwest-southeast trending Timan Ridge. The northern boundary is shared with the South Barents Sea Province (fig.1). The Timan-Pechora Basin Province has a long history of oil and gas exploration and production. The first field was discovered in 1930 and, after 75 years of exploration, more than 230 fields have been discovered and more than 5,400 wells have been drilled. This has resulted in the discovery of more than 16 billion barrels of oil and 40 trillion cubic feet of gas.

  11. Reevaluating Hubbert's Prediction of U.S. Peak Oil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    van der Veen, C. J.

    2006-05-01

    In 1956, M. King Hubbert, chief consultant for the Shell Development Company's exploration and production research division, forecasted that U.S. oil production would peak in the early 1970s. He subsequently updated this prediction using newer data, but the predicted timing of peaking did not change significantly (see Hubbert [1982] for a review and references to earlier papers). In 1971, U.S. annual production of crude oil peaked at slightly more than three billion barrels (bbl). Yet, Hubbert's model continues to be challenged by some. For instance, according to economist Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy and Economic Research, Inc., Winchester, Mass., it was only after Hubbert published his predictions ``that the Hubbert curve came to be seen as explanatory in and of itself, that is, geology requires that production should follow such a curve'' [Lynch, 2003].

  12. Powerful motors: Kinship, citizenship and the transformation of the Argentine oil industry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shever, Elana

    The privatization of the Argentine oil industry has been described as an unprecedented transfer of property, capital and control from the state to the corporate sphere, but this study demonstrates that the privatization process is better understood as a transformation of the historical configurations of oil-fueled development, political communities and human subjectivities. This dissertation probes the development of the state-led oil industry, and the shift to a corporate-led one, through an ethnography of Argentines differently positioned in relation to the global oil industry. The ethnography explores the lives of middle class oil workers and their families in Northwest Patagonia, impoverished residents of the shanty neighborhoods near the refineries in metropolitan Buenos Aires, and affluent employees of the translocal corporations operating in the Argentine oil fields. After the Introduction delineates this study's four principal interventions into anthropological scholarship, each subsequent chapter engages a particular problem that cuts across the Argentine oil fields and the anthropological theoretical fields. Chapter Two scrutinizes the historical construction of the Argentine subterritory as a "natural" space of value. Chapters Three and Four investigate the articulation of capitalist production and filial reproduction. These chapters argue that sentiment is a crucial generative force that has shaped the oil industry, company towns and worker families from the founding of the state-owned oil company in beginning of the twentieth century to its conversion into a corporate-owned one at the century's close. Chapters Five and Six examine the emergence of consumer citizenship and corporate citizenship out of Argentine neoliberalismo and its transformation of the oil industry. They argue that consumer and corporate citizenship are both reformulations of the older traditions of liberalism and Peronism. All the chapters of this dissertation illustrate that the neoliberal transformation of the Argentine oil industry mutually reconfigured the statal, corporate and domestic domains, and through this process, remade personhood and relationality. They particularly scrutinize the complex web of power relationships that comprise the corporate domain, and argue that the seemingly invincible corporations that inhabit the contemporary world are the effects of a contingent historical process of redomaining people, materials and activities.

  13. Electron Microscopy Imaging of Zinc Soaps Nucleation in Oil Paint.

    PubMed

    Hermans, Joen; Osmond, Gillian; van Loon, Annelies; Iedema, Piet; Chapman, Robyn; Drennan, John; Jack, Kevin; Rasch, Ronald; Morgan, Garry; Zhang, Zhi; Monteiro, Michael; Keune, Katrien

    2018-06-04

    Using the recently developed techniques of electron tomography, we have explored the first stages of disfiguring formation of zinc soaps in modern oil paintings. The formation of complexes of zinc ions with fatty acids in paint layers is a major threat to the stability and appearance of many late 19th and early 20th century oil paintings. Moreover, the occurrence of zinc soaps in oil paintings leading to defects is disturbingly common, but the chemical reactions and migration mechanisms leading to large zinc soap aggregates or zones remain poorly understood. State-of-the-art scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy techniques, primarily developed for biological specimens, have enabled us to visualize the earliest stages of crystalline zinc soap growth in a reconstructed zinc white (ZnO) oil paint sample. In situ sectioning techniques and sequential imaging within the SEM allowed three-dimensional tomographic reconstruction of sample morphology. Improvements in the detection and discrimination of backscattered electrons enabled us to identify local precipitation processes with small atomic number contrast. The SEM images were correlated to low-dose and high-sensitivity TEM images, with high-resolution tomography providing unprecedented insight into the structure of nucleating zinc soaps at the molecular level. The correlative approach applied here to study phase separation, and crystallization processes specific to a problem in art conservation creates possibilities for visualization of phase formation in a wide range of soft materials.

  14. 43 CFR 3935.10 - Accounting records.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... processing plant and retort; (3) Mineral products produced and sold; (4) Shale oil products, shale gas, and... mined or processed and of all products including synthetic petroleum, shale oil, shale gas, and shale..., DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR RANGE MANAGEMENT (4000) MANAGEMENT OF OIL SHALE EXPLORATION AND LEASES Production...

  15. Logistics of Oil Spill Dispersant Application. Volume II. Application Techniques, Stockpiling, Dispersant Selection Strategies

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1982-11-01

    The use of chemicals for oil spill dispersal, while not presently widespread in the U.S., would have implications for the U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Environmental Protection program. This report explores the logistics of oil disperant application by t...

  16. Catalytic cracking of fast and tail gas reactive pyrolysis bio-oils over HZSM-5

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    While hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of pyrolysis oil is well understood as an upgrading method, the high processing pressures associated with it alone justify the exploration of alternative upgrading solutions, especially those that could adapt pyrolysis oils into the existing refinery infrastructure. Ca...

  17. Comparative evaluation of physicochemical properties of jatropha curcas seed oil for coolant-lubricant application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Murad, Muhamad Nasir; Sharif, Safian; Rahim, Erween Abd.; Abdullah, Rozaini

    2017-09-01

    Increased attention to environmental issues due to industrial activities has forced the authorities raise awareness and implement regulations to reduce the use of mineral oil. Some vegetable oils unexplored or less explored, particularly the non-edible oils such as Jatropha curcas oil (JCO) and others. Physicochemical properties of JCO is compared with others edible oils, synthetic ester and fatty alcohol to obtain a viable alternative in metal cutting fluids. The oil was found to show the suitability of properties for coolant-lubricant applications in term of its physicochemical properties and better in flash point and viscosity value.

  18. Egypt: World Oil Report 1991

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1991-08-01

    This paper reports on a selective ban on exploration for oil and gas that resulted for offshore and onshore areas of the Red Sea and South Sinai. Egypt is a new hot spot for environmental concerns. After six months of debate, three concessions in the southern Gulf of Suez were reopened for exploration in late 1990. Companies can resume seismic work and eventually drill, but only in a zone from the shoreline inland and under certain restrictions. If oil is found in the restricted area, discovery wells must be plugged and the location restored. If commercial, companies must go outsidemore » the restricted zone and drill deviated wells. Three companies directly involved are Asamera Egypt (Gulf Canada), Germany's Deminex and Exxon. All foreign exploration companies are now required to submit environmental impact statements.« less

  19. Analytical methods to predict liquid congealing in ram air heat exchangers during cold operation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Coleman, Kenneth; Kosson, Robert

    1989-07-01

    Ram air heat exchangers used to cool liquids such as lube oils or Ethylene-Glycol/water solutions can be subject to congealing in very cold ambients, resulting in a loss of cooling capability. Two-dimensional, transient analytical models have been developed to explore this phenomenon with both continuous and staggered fin cores. Staggered fin predictions are compared to flight test data from the E-2C Allison T56 engine lube oil system during winter conditions. For simpler calculations, a viscosity ratio correction was introduced and found to provide reasonable cold ambient performance predictions for the staggered fin core, using a one-dimensional approach.

  20. Plan for Management of Mineral Assess on Native Tribal Lands and for Formation of a Fully Integrated Natural Gas and Oil Exploration and Production Company

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Blechner, Michael H.; Carroll, Herbert B.; Johnson, William I.

    1999-04-27

    This report describes a plan for Native American tribes to assume responsibility for and operation of tribal mineral resources using the Osage Tribe as an example. Under this plan, the tribal council select and employ a qualified Director to assume responsibility for management of their mineral reservations. The procurement process should begin with an application for contracting to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Under this plan, the Director will develop strategies to increase income by money management and increasing exploitation of natural gas, oil, and other minerals.

  1. BP-Statoil to study Caspian oil project; S. Korea eyes Yakut gas

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1992-09-14

    This paper reports that a combine of British Petroleum Co. plc and Den norske stats oljeselskap AS has agreed to pay $40 million for exclusive rights to study development of a Caspian Sea oil field off Azerbaijan and explore a nearby prospect. Meanwhile, the South Korean press said South Korea and Russia have agreed to form a joint venture to develop undisclosed gas fields in the Yakut Autonomous Republic of eastern Siberia and lay gas pipelines from Yakut to the Korean peninsula. In a 50-50 joint venture with the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan, BP-Statoil will evaluate undeveloped Dostlug field,more » previously known as Kaverochkin, 75 km southeast of Baku. It also will study the adjacent Shak Deniz prospect, formerly known as Shakhovo More.« less

  2. Two stochastic models useful in petroleum exploration

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kaufman, G. M.; Bradley, P. G.

    1972-01-01

    A model of the petroleum exploration process that tests empirically the hypothesis that at an early stage in the exploration of a basin, the process behaves like sampling without replacement is proposed along with a model of the spatial distribution of petroleum reserviors that conforms to observed facts. In developing the model of discovery, the following topics are discussed: probabilitistic proportionality, likelihood function, and maximum likelihood estimation. In addition, the spatial model is described, which is defined as a stochastic process generating values of a sequence or random variables in a way that simulates the frequency distribution of areal extent, the geographic location, and shape of oil deposits

  3. Corrosion in Fuel/Natural Seawater Environments

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-11-18

    of oil amounts to some hundred million dollars in the United States every year.2 Russian investigators3 estimated that 30 percent of the corrosion...damage in equipment used for oil exploration and production was directly attributable to MIC. Alternative fuels have different chemistries and...up of hundreds of different hydrocarbon chains, with residues of sulfur and crude oil remaining. Biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils by

  4. Oil and Floating Objects. Science in Your Classroom

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cowens, John

    2005-01-01

    Despite density differences, oil and water get along just fine when it comes to these experiments. This article explores the relationship between oil and water and provides brief experiments (including materials needed; procedure instructions; and evaluative questions) relating to: making layers with liquids; dropping a few objects in a tall glass…

  5. 40 CFR 122.26 - Storm water discharges (applicable to State NPDES programs, see § 123.25).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... field activities or operations associated with oil and gas exploration, production, processing, or...) of this section. Discharges of sediment from construction activities associated with oil and gas... operators of oil and gas field activities or operations to implement and maintain Best Management Practices...

  6. 40 CFR 122.26 - Storm water discharges (applicable to State NPDES programs, see § 123.25).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... field activities or operations associated with oil and gas exploration, production, processing, or...) of this section. Discharges of sediment from construction activities associated with oil and gas... operators of oil and gas field activities or operations to implement and maintain Best Management Practices...

  7. Oil-Price Shocks: Beyond Standard Aggregate Demand/Aggregate Supply Analysis.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Elwood, S. Kirk

    2001-01-01

    Explores the problems of portraying oil-price shocks using the aggregate demand/aggregate supply model. Presents a simple modification of the model that differentiates between production and absorption of goods, which enables it to better reflect the effects of oil-price shocks on open economies. (RLH)

  8. Eagle Ford Shale BTEX and NOx concentrations are dominated by oil and gas industry emissions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schade, G. W.; Roest, G. S.

    2017-12-01

    US shale oil and gas exploration has been identified as a major source of greenhouse gases and non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) emissions to the atmosphere. Here, we present a detailed analysis of 2015 air quality data acquired by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) at an air quality monitoring station in Karnes County, TX, central to Texas' Eagle Ford shale area. Data include time series of hourly measured NMHCs, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) alongside meteorological measurements. The monitor was located in Karnes City, and thus affected by various anthropogenic emissions, including traffic and oil and gas exploration sources. Highest mixing ratios measured in 2015 included nearly 1 ppm ethane, 0.8 ppm propane, alongside 4 ppb benzene. A least-squares minimization non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) analysis, tested with prior data analyzed using standard PMF-2 software, showed six major emission sources: an evaporative and fugitive source, a flaring source, a traffic source, an oil field source, a diesel source, and an industrial manufacturing source, together accounting for more than 95% of data set variability, and interpreted using NMHC composition and meteorological data. Factor scores strongly suggest that NOx emissions are dominated by flaring and associated sources, such as diesel compressor engines, likely at midstream facilities, while traffic in this rural area is a minor NOx source. The results support, but exceed existing 2012 emission inventories estimating that local traffic emitted seven times fewer NOx than oil and gas exploration sources in the county. Sources of air toxics such as the BTEX compounds are also dominated by oil and gas exploration sources, but are more equally distributed between the associated factors. Benzene abundance is only 20-40% associated with traffic sources, and may thus be 2.5-5 times higher now than prior to the shale boom in this area. Although the monitor was located relatively far from oil and gas exploration sources, these results suggest that exposure to air toxics in this rural population has likely increased manifold since the start of the regional shale boom in 2008.

  9. 30 CFR 250.303 - Facilities described in a new or revised Exploration Plan or Development and Production Plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... further air quality review, the lessee shall use the highest annual-total amount of emissions from the... MANAGEMENT SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER... quality of an onshore area. To make these decisions, the Regional Supervisor shall consider the distance...

  10. 30 CFR 250.303 - Facilities described in a new or revised Exploration Plan or Development and Production Plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... exempt from further air quality review, the lessee shall use the highest annual-total amount of emissions... ENERGY MANAGEMENT, REGULATION, AND ENFORCEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS AND... potential to significantly affect the air quality of an onshore area. To make these decisions, the Regional...

  11. Critical Thinking: The Role of Management Education. Developing Managers To Think Critically.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Pierce, Gloria

    Emphasizing critical thinking as the source of renewal and survival of organizations, this document begins by analyzing the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the destruction of the space shuttle Challenger as examples of inadequate critical thinking. The role of management education in promoting critical thinking is explored as well as the need for a…

  12. Unconventional oil and gas development and its stresses on water resources in the context of Water-Energy-Food Nexus: The case of Weld County, Colorado

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oikonomou, P. D.; Waskom, R.; Boone, K.; Ryan, J. N.

    2015-12-01

    The development of unconventional oil and gas resources in Colorado started to rapidly increase since the early 2000's. The recent oil price plunge resulted in a decline of well starts' rate in the US, but in Weld County, Colorado, it is currently at the 2013-levels. The additional water demand, despite its insignificant percentage in overall state's demand (0.1% in 2012), it competes with traditional ones, since Colorado's water is almost fully appropriated. Presently, the state has 53,597 active producing oil and gas wells. More than 40% of these are located in Weld County, which happens also to be one of top food production U.S. counties. The competition for land and water resources between the energy and agricultural sectors in water stressed areas, like the western U.S., is further intensified if recycle and reuse practices are not preferred to water disposal by the energy industry. Satisfying the multiple objectives of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus in order to achieve sustainable economic development requires balanced management of these resources. Identifying pressures on key areas that food and energy sectors are competing for water, is essential for prudent water management and developing appropriate policies. Weld County, as a water stressed and fossil fuel producing area, was selected for investigating current stresses on local water resources alongside with future climatic and water demand scenarios for exploring probable long-term effects.

  13. Tectonic setting and hydrocarbon habitat of external Carpathian basins in Romania

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dicea, O.; Morariu, D.C.

    1993-09-01

    During the Alpine evolution of Romania, two distinct depositional areas evolved in the external zones of the Carpathians: the Paleogene flysch and Neogene Molasse basin of the eastern Carpathians, and the Paleogene and Neogene Molasse basin of the southern Carpathians. Both basins were compressionally deformed during the Neogene, giving rise to the development of a succession of nappes and thrust sheets. The internal elements of the external Carpathians corresponding to the Tarcau and marginal folds nappes and the external elements forming the sub-carpathian nappe and foredeep were thrusted over significant distances onto the European platform. Intense exploration of the externalmore » Carpathian thrustbelt has led to the discovery of more than 100 oil and gas pools. Reservoirs are provided by Oligocene, Burdigalian, Sarmatian, and Pliocene clastic rocks. A prolific hydrocarbon charge is derived from regionally distributed Oligocene oil source rocks. Traps are mainly of the structural type and involve faulted anticlines, [open quotes]scale folds,[close quotes] and compressional structures modified by salt; stratigraphic pinch-out and unconformity related traps play a secondary role. On the basis of selected examples, the development and distribution of hydrocarbon pools will be discussed in terms of thrust kinematics and the structure of different platform blocks. The philosophy of past exploration activities will be reviewed, and both success cases and failures will be discussed. Remaining oil and gas plays, aimed at shallow as well as at deep objectives, will be highlighted.« less

  14. Oil and gas reserve growth-a model for the Volga-Ural Province, Russia

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Verma, M.K.; Ulmishek, G.F.; Gilbershtein, A.P.

    2000-01-01

    An understanding of reserve growth in known oil and gas fields has become a critical component of energy resource analysis. Significant statistical studies of reserve growth have been published in the U.S., whereas little information is available on other regions of the world. It may be expected that in many countries the magnitude of reserve growth is different from that in the U.S. because of differences in reporting systems and in exploration and production practices. This paper describes the results of a reserve growth study in a group of largest oil and gas fields of the Volga-Ural petroleum province, Russia. The dynamics of reserve growth in these fields shows rapid reserve additions during the first 5 years of field exploration and development, which results from intensive step-out and delineation drilling. Later reserve growth is slow and is related to improvements in recovery technologies and discoveries of new pools and extensions. These two stages of reserve growth are described by two different groups of empirical models. A comparison of these models with the models developed for the lower 48 states and Gulf Coast offshore of the U.S. demonstrates that the reserve growth in the Volga-Ural province is significantly lower than in the U.S. The proposed models may be used for assessment of future reserve additions in known fields of countries that presently have or recently had a centrally-planned economic system.

  15. Egypt western desert activity hits high gear

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Petzet, G.A.

    1996-11-04

    Exploration in Egypt`s western desert is turning up large oil and gas reserves in several sub-basins. Though not a threat to the Gulf of Suez`s oil production dominance, the western desert`s output is climbing. And gas production is also set to rise as more pipelines are built. The paper describes the geology, Qarun field production, further exploration at Qarun and the Khalda/Obaiyed gas.

  16. Emulsion of Chloramphenicol: an Overwhelming Approach for Ocular Delivery.

    PubMed

    Ashara, Kalpesh C; Shah, Ketan V

    2017-03-01

    Ophthalmic formulations of chloramphenicol have poor bioavailability of chloramphenicol in the ocular cavity. The present study aimed at exploring the impact of different oil mixtures in the form of emulsion on the permeability of chloramphenicol after ocular application. Selection of oil mixture and ratio of the components was made by an equilibrium solubility method. An emulsifier was chosen according to its emulsification properties. A constrained simplex centroid design was used for the assessment of the emulsion development. Emulsions were evaluated for physicochemical properties; zone of inhibition, in-vitro diffusion and ex-vivo local accumulation of chloramphenicol. Validation of the design using check-point batch and reduced polynomial equations were also developed. Optimization of the emulsion was developed by software Design® expert 6.0.8. Assessment of the osmolarity, ocular irritation, sterility testing and isotonicity of optimized batch were also made. Parker Neem®, olive and peppermint oils were selected as an oil phase in the ratio 63.64:20.2:16.16. PEG-400 was selected as an emulsifier according to a pseudo-ternary phase diagram. Constrained simplex-centroid design was applied in the range of 25-39% water, 55-69% PEG-400, 5-19% optimized oil mixture, and 1% chloramphenicol. Unpaired Student's t-test showed for in-vitro and ex-vivo studies that there was a significant difference between the optimized batch of emulsion and Chloramphenicol eye caps (a commercial product) according to both were equally safe. The optimized batch of an emulsion of chloramphenicol was found to be as safe as and more effective than Chloramphenicol eye caps.

  17. Evaluating the oil sands reclamation process: Assessing policy capacity and stakeholder access for government and non-governmental organizations operating in Alberta's oil sands

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Patterson, Tyler

    By employing interpretive policy analysis this thesis aims to assess, measure, and explain policy capacity for government and non-government organizations involved in reclaiming Alberta's oil sands. Using this type of analysis to assess policy capacity is a novel approach for understanding reclamation policy; and therefore, this research will provide a unique contribution to the literature surrounding reclamation policy. The oil sands region in northeast Alberta, Canada is an area of interest for a few reasons; primarily because of the vast reserves of bitumen and the environmental cost associated with developing this resource. An increase in global oil demand has established incentive for industry to seek out and develop new reserves. Alberta's oil sands are one of the largest remaining reserves in the world, and there is significant interest in increasing production in this region. Furthermore, tensions in several oil exporting nations in the Middle East remain unresolved, and this has garnered additional support for a supply side solution to North American oil demands. This solution relies upon the development of reserves in both the United States and Canada. These compounding factors have contributed to the increased development in the oil sands of northeastern Alberta. Essentially, a rapid expansion of oil sands operations is ongoing, and is the source of significant disturbance across the region. This disturbance, and the promises of reclamation, is a source of contentious debates amongst stakeholders and continues to be highly visible in the media. If oil sands operations are to retain their social license to operate, it is critical that reclamation efforts be effective. One concern non-governmental organizations (NGOs) expressed criticizes the current monitoring and enforcement of regulatory programs in the oil sands. Alberta's NGOs have suggested the data made available to them originates from industrial sources, and is generally unchecked by government. In an effort to discern the overall status of reclamation in the oil sands this study explores several factors essential to policy capacity: work environment, training, employee attitudes, perceived capacity, policy tools, evidence based work, and networking. Data was collected through key informant interviews with senior policy professionals in government and non-government agencies in Alberta. The following are agencies of interest in this research: Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP); Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (AESRD); Alberta Energy Regulator (AER); Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA); Alberta Environment Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting Agency (AEMERA); Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA). The aim of this research is to explain how and why reclamation policy is conducted in Alberta's oil sands. This will illuminate government capacity, NGO capacity, and the interaction of these two agency typologies. In addition to answering research questions, another goal of this project is to show interpretive analysis of policy capacity can be used to measure and predict policy effectiveness. The oil sands of Alberta will be the focus of this project, however, future projects could focus on any government policy scenario utilizing evidence-based approaches.

  18. Iran sets sights on 5 million b/d of crude

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1992-09-21

    This paper reports that Iran, currently producing 3.2 million b/d of oil, has set a production target of 5 million b/d by March 1994. On the way to that target Iran's oil flow will climb to 4 million b/d by March 1993, says A. Moshtaqhian, director of exploration and production for National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC). With oil reserves of about 100 million bbl, Iran will find it easy to increase productive capacity, Moshtaqhian told the Gulf Oil and Politics publication.

  19. Year in Review: Crude Oil Prices 2014

    EIA Publications

    2015-01-01

    This report gives an overview of the primary drivers of crude oil price movements in 2014, in particular the substantial price decline that took place during the second half of the year. Factors such as increased global supply of crude oil, lower crude oil supply disruptions, lower economic growth expectations, and currency exchange rate movements are explored in the report. In addition, links are provided to several other published EIA articles with further in-depth discussion of topics related to the oil price decline.

  20. Larvicidal Activity of Essential Oils of Five Apiaceae Taxa and Some of Their Main Constituents Against Culex quinquefasciatus.

    PubMed

    Pavela, Roman; Maggi, Filippo; Cianfaglione, Kevin; Bruno, Maurizio; Benelli, Giovanni

    2018-01-01

    Apiaceae are aromatic herbs producing essential oils which are used on an industrial scale for various purposes. Notably, Apiaceae essential oils may replace synthetic insecticides keeping most of their efficacy and avoiding environmental pollution and human poisoning. In the present work, we explored the insecticidal potential of the essential oils from five Apiaceae taxa, namely Sison amomum, Echinophora spinosa, Heracleum sphondylium subsp. sphondylium, Heracleum sphondylium subsp. ternatum, and Trachyspemum ammi, as well as their major constituents (sabinene, p-cymene, terpinolene, myristicin, and thymol), against the filariasis vector Culex quinquefasciatus. For the purpose, the essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and their composition was achieved by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Their acute toxicity on third instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus was determined. The two most active essential oils were those from T. ammi fruits and E. spinosa roots, showing LC 50 below 20 μl/l and LD 90 below 50 μl/l. These oils were dominated by the monoterpene phenol thymol and the phenylpropanoid myristicin, respectively, which showed the strongest larvicidal activity (LC 50 of 15.1 and 16.3 μl/l, respectively) among the pure compounds tested. These results showed that Apiaceae may be useful as source of larvicidal compounds to be used for the development of cheap, effective and eco-friendly insecticidal formulations. © 2018 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.

  1. Essential oils and metal ions as alternative antimicrobial agents: a focus on tea tree oil and silver.

    PubMed

    Low, Wan-Li; Kenward, Ken; Britland, Stephen T; Amin, Mohd Cim; Martin, Claire

    2017-04-01

    The increasing occurrence of hospital-acquired infections and the emerging problems posed by antibiotic-resistant microbial strains have both contributed to the escalating cost of treatment. The presence of infection at the wound site can potentially stall the healing process at the inflammatory stage, leading to the development of a chronic wound. Traditional wound treatment regimes can no longer cope with the complications posed by antibiotic-resistant strains; hence, there is a need to explore the use of alternative antimicrobial agents. Pre-antibiotic compounds, including heavy metal ions and essential oils, have been re-investigated for their potential use as effective antimicrobial agents. Essential oils have potent antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and other beneficial therapeutic properties. Similarly, heavy metal ions have also been used as disinfecting agents because of their broad spectrum activities. Both of these alternative antimicrobials interact with many different intracellular components, thereby resulting in the disruption of vital cell functions and eventually cell death. This review will discuss the application of essential oils and heavy metal ions, particularly tea tree oil and silver ions, as alternative antimicrobial agents for the treatment of chronic, infected wounds. © 2016 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  2. Dynamics of Aviation Biofuel Investment, Incentives, and Market Growth: An Exploration Using the Biomass Scenario Model

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Vimmerstedt, Laura; Newes, Emily

    The Federal Aviation Administration promotes the development of an aviation biofuel market, and has pursued a goal of 1 billion gallons of production annually by 2018. Although this goal is unlikely to be met, this analysis applies the Biomass Scenario Model to explore conditions affecting market growth, and identifies policy incentive and oil price conditions under which this level of production might occur, and by what year. Numerous combinations of conditions that are more favorable than current conditions can reach the goal before 2030.

  3. A systematic quality assessment of Environmental Impact Statements in the oil and gas industry.

    PubMed

    Anifowose, B; Lawler, D M; van der Horst, D; Chapman, L

    2016-12-01

    The global economy relies heavily on oil and gas resources. However, hydrocarbon exploitation projects can cause significant impacts on the environment. But despite the production of numerous Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) to identify/mitigate such impacts, no study has specifically assessed the quality of EISs for both onshore and offshore oil and gas projects, with tested hypotheses. To address this research gap, our paper, for the first time, develops a modified Lee and Colley evaluation model to assess the quality of 19 sampled oil and gas project EISs produced from 1998 to 2008 in Nigeria. Our findings show that Project Description and Communication of Results are the main areas of strength. However, Environmental Impact Prediction, and Project Decommissioning, were among the key areas requiring attention. A key finding, though, is that Mann-Whitney tests suggest that there is no evidence that the quality of EISs for the latter period (2004-2008) is higher than that of the earlier period (1998-2004). We suggest that periodic systematic review of the quality of submitted/approved EISs (c. every 3-5years) should be established to monitor trends in EIS quality and identify strong and weak areas. This would help to drive continual improvement in both the EIA processes and the resultant EISs of technical engineering projects. Such reviews have the potential to illuminate some of the underlying problems of, and solutions to, oil and gas exploration, production and transportation, and their related environmental impacts. This suggested change would also be useful internationally, including for the burgeoning exploration and production of unconventional hydrocarbon resources. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Alaska: A twenty-first-century petroleum province

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Bird, K.J.

    2001-01-01

    Alaska, the least explored of all United States regions, is estimated to contain approximately 40% of total U.S. undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and natural-gas resources, based on the most recent U.S. Department of the Interior (U.S. Geological Survey and Minerals Management Service) estimates. Northern Alaska, including the North Slope and adjacent Beaufort and Chukchi continental shelves, holds the lion's share of the total Alaskan endowment of more than 30 billion barrels (4.8 billion m3) of oil and natural-gas liquids plus nearly 200 trillion cubic feet (5.7 trillion m3) of natural gas. This geologically complex region includes prospective strata within passive-margin, rift, and foreland-basin sequences. Multiple source-rock zones have charged several regionally extensive petroleum systems. Extensional and compressional structures provide ample structural objectives. In addition, recent emphasis on stratigraphic traps has demonstrated significant resource potential in shelf and turbidite systems in Jurassic to Tertiary strata. Despite robust potential, northern Alaska remains a risky exploration frontier - a nexus of geologic complexity, harsh economic conditions, and volatile policy issues. Its role as a major petroleum province in this century will depend on continued technological innovations, not only in exploration and drilling operations, but also in development of huge, currently unmarketable natural-gas resources. Ultimately, policy decisions will determine whether exploration of arctic Alaska will proceed.

  5. The role of analytical chemistry in Niger Delta petroleum exploration: a review.

    PubMed

    Akinlua, Akinsehinwa

    2012-06-12

    Petroleum and organic matter from which the petroleum is derived are composed of organic compounds with some trace elements. These compounds give an insight into the origin, thermal maturity and paleoenvironmental history of petroleum, which are essential elements in petroleum exploration. The main tool to acquire the geochemical data is analytical techniques. Due to progress in the development of new analytical techniques, many hitherto petroleum exploration problems have been resolved. Analytical chemistry has played a significant role in the development of petroleum resources of Niger Delta. Various analytical techniques that have aided the success of petroleum exploration in the Niger Delta are discussed. The analytical techniques that have helped to understand the petroleum system of the basin are also described. Recent and emerging analytical methodologies including green analytical methods as applicable to petroleum exploration particularly Niger Delta petroleum province are discussed in this paper. Analytical chemistry is an invaluable tool in finding the Niger Delta oils. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. 78 FR 1883 - Notice of Lodging of Proposed Partial Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-01-09

    ... lodged in U.S. v. BP Exploration and Production, et al, Civil No. 10-4536 (E.D. La.) (That case is centralized in MDL 2179: In Re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig ``Deepwater Horizon'' in the Gulf of Mexico, on April... al, Civil No. 10-4536 (E.D. La.) (centralized in MDL 2179: In Re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig...

  7. Arab petropolitics

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Al Sowayegh, A.

    1984-01-01

    An examination is given of the role and significance of oil power as used by the Arab producing countries to achieve political aims. The author, a Saudi official, describes the history of petropolitics, OPEC, and the Arab-Israeli conflict; explores the triangular relationship of oil companies, consuming countries, and producing countries; evaluates the policy considerations influencing Arab oil decisions and actions; and focuses in depth on the oil relationship between the Arab nations and the United States.

  8. Installation and testing of a cummins Qsk19 lean burn natural gas engine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sutley, Franklin H.

    The goal for a more efficient engine will never disappear. Over the years many different techniques have been explored within the common goal of higher efficiency. Lean combustion has proven to be effective at increasing efficiencies as well as reducing emissions. The purpose of this thesis is to install a modern Cummins QSK19G and perform certain test that will explore the lean combustion limits and other methods that could possibly increase efficiency even more. The entire installation and instrumentation process is documented within this thesis. The engine was installed in the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory at Colorado State University. The engine was installed with the hopes of instilling the desire for endless future tests from Cummins as well as other companies seeking this type of research engine. The lean limit was explored in the most detail. Cummins supplied a test plan that satisfied their desired stopping at a lean limit when the coefficient of variance of indicated mean effective pressure reached 5%. For the curiosity of others involved and this thesis, the lean limit was explored further until the engine could no longer ignite the ultra-lean combustion mixture. Friction accounts for a significant loss in a modern internal combustion engine. One role of the engine oil is to reduce these frictional losses as much as possible without causing increased wear. A test was conducted on the QSK19G to explore the effects of varying the engine oil viscosity. Frictional losses of two different viscosity oils were compared to the stock engine oil losses. The fact that reducing oil viscosity reduces frictional losses was proven in the test.

  9. Floating production platforms and their applications in the development of oil and gas fields in the South China Sea

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Dagang; Chen, Yongjun; Zhang, Tianyu

    2014-03-01

    This paper studies the current available options for floating production platforms in developing deepwater oil fields and the potential development models of future oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea. A detailed review of current deepwater platforms worldwide was performed through the examples of industry projects, and the pros and cons of each platform are discussed. Four types of platforms are currently used for the deepwater development: tension leg platform, Spar, semi-submersible platform, and the floating production system offloading. Among these, the TLP and Spar can be used for dry tree applications, and have gained popularity in recent years. The dry tree application enables the extension of the drilling application for fixed platforms into floating systems, and greatly reduces the cost and complexity of the subsea operation. Newly built wet tree semi-submersible production platforms for ultra deepwater are also getting their application, mainly due to the much needed payload for deepwater making the conversion of the old drilling semi-submersible platforms impossible. These platforms have been used in different fields around the world for different environments; each has its own advantages and disadvantages. There are many challenges with the successful use of these floating platforms. A lot of lessons have been learned and extensive experience accumulated through the many project applications. Key technologies are being reviewed for the successful use of floating platforms for field development, and potential future development needs are being discussed. Some of the technologies and experience of platform applications can be well used for the development of the South China Sea oil and gas field.

  10. Differential regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis in two Chlorella species in response to nitrate treatments and the potential of binary blending microalgae oils for biodiesel application.

    PubMed

    Cha, Thye San; Chen, Jian Woon; Goh, Eng Giap; Aziz, Ahmad; Loh, Saw Hong

    2011-11-01

    This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of different nitrate concentrations in culture medium on oil content and fatty acid composition of Chlorella vulgaris (UMT-M1) and Chlorella sorokiniana (KS-MB2). Results showed that both species produced significant higher (p<0.05) oil content at nitrate ranging from 0.18 to 0.66 mM with C. vulgaris produced 10.20-11.34% dw, while C. sorokiniana produced 15.44-17.32% dw. The major fatty acids detected include C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3. It is interesting to note that both species displayed differentially regulated fatty acid accumulation patterns in response to nitrate treatments at early stationary growth phase. Their potential use for biodiesel application could be enhanced by exploring the concept of binary blending of the two microalgae oils using developed mathematical equations to calculate the oil mass blending ratio and simultaneously estimated the weight percentage (wt.%) of desirable fatty acid compositions. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Transcriptome profiling analysis reveals the role of silique in controlling seed oil content in Brassica napus.

    PubMed

    Huang, Ke-Lin; Zhang, Mei-Li; Ma, Guang-Jing; Wu, Huan; Wu, Xiao-Ming; Ren, Feng; Li, Xue-Bao

    2017-01-01

    Seed oil content is an important agronomic trait in oilseed rape. However, the molecular mechanism of oil accumulation in rapeseeds is unclear so far. In this report, RNA sequencing technique (RNA-Seq) was performed to explore differentially expressed genes in siliques of two Brassica napus lines (HFA and LFA which contain high and low oil contents in seeds, respectively) at 15 and 25 days after pollination (DAP). The RNA-Seq results showed that 65746 and 66033 genes were detected in siliques of low oil content line at 15 and 25 DAP, and 65236 and 65211 genes were detected in siliques of high oil content line at 15 and 25 DAP, respectively. By comparative analysis, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in siliques of these lines. The DEGs were involved in multiple pathways, including metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolic, photosynthesis, pyruvate metabolism, fatty metabolism, glycophospholipid metabolism, and DNA binding. Also, DEGs were related to photosynthesis, starch and sugar metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and lipid metabolism at different developmental stage, resulting in the differential oil accumulation in seeds. Furthermore, RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR data revealed that some transcription factors positively regulate seed oil content. Thus, our data provide the valuable information for further exploring the molecular mechanism of lipid biosynthesis and oil accumulation in B. nupus.

  12. Transcriptome profiling analysis reveals the role of silique in controlling seed oil content in Brassica napus

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Ke-Lin; Zhang, Mei-Li; Ma, Guang-Jing; Wu, Huan; Wu, Xiao-Ming; Ren, Feng

    2017-01-01

    Seed oil content is an important agronomic trait in oilseed rape. However, the molecular mechanism of oil accumulation in rapeseeds is unclear so far. In this report, RNA sequencing technique (RNA-Seq) was performed to explore differentially expressed genes in siliques of two Brassica napus lines (HFA and LFA which contain high and low oil contents in seeds, respectively) at 15 and 25 days after pollination (DAP). The RNA-Seq results showed that 65746 and 66033 genes were detected in siliques of low oil content line at 15 and 25 DAP, and 65236 and 65211 genes were detected in siliques of high oil content line at 15 and 25 DAP, respectively. By comparative analysis, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in siliques of these lines. The DEGs were involved in multiple pathways, including metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolic, photosynthesis, pyruvate metabolism, fatty metabolism, glycophospholipid metabolism, and DNA binding. Also, DEGs were related to photosynthesis, starch and sugar metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and lipid metabolism at different developmental stage, resulting in the differential oil accumulation in seeds. Furthermore, RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR data revealed that some transcription factors positively regulate seed oil content. Thus, our data provide the valuable information for further exploring the molecular mechanism of lipid biosynthesis and oil accumulation in B. nupus. PMID:28594951

  13. Exploring Alternative Fuels in Middle Schools

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Donley, John F.; Stewardson, Gary A.

    2010-01-01

    Alternative energy sources have become increasingly important as the production of domestic oil has declined and dependence on foreign oil has increased. Historically, there have been four time periods during which the United States was in fact crippled by oil shortages. These time periods include: (1) the early 1900s; (2) World War II; (3) the…

  14. 30 CFR 280.4 - What activities are not covered by this part?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... PROSPECTING FOR MINERALS OTHER THAN OIL, GAS, AND SULPHUR ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF General Information...) Postlease activities for mineral resources other than oil, gas, and sulphur, which are covered by regulations at 30 CFR part 282; and (d) G&G exploration or G&G scientific research activities related to oil...

  15. 43 CFR 3000.12 - What is the fee schedule for fixed fees?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... Processing and Filing Fee Table Document/action FY 2013 fee Oil & Gas (parts 3100, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3150... 320 Lease or lease interest transfer 65 Leasing of Solid Minerals Other Than Coal and Oil Shale (parts...) Adverse claim 105 Protest 65 Oil Shale Management (parts 3900, 3910, 3930) Exploration license application...

  16. 30 CFR 250.219 - What oil and hazardous substance spills information must accompany the EP?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false What oil and hazardous substance spills information must accompany the EP? 250.219 Section 250.219 Mineral Resources MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE... and Information Contents of Exploration Plans (ep) § 250.219 What oil and hazardous substance spills...

  17. The monetary approach to the balance of payments: The case of the oil-based, small, open, developing economies of Libya, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Buzakuk, M.R.

    1988-01-01

    This study explores the determinants of foreign reserves flow in light of the oil-based small open economies of Libya, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The period of study encompasses the major oil price increases of the 1970s and early 1980s, which had led to the huge transfers of foreign exchanges towards these, among other, developing economies. The framework of analysis is basically a monetary approach to the balance of payments. This study is of both a theoretical and empirical nature. It utilizes the monetary forces in the domestic money market to derive a basic balance of payments (BOP) equation that explainsmore » the monetary nature of the balance of payments. The study found that the data from those countries support the monetary relationships as hypothesized by the monetary approach, especially the negative one-to-one relation between domestic credit (DC) and the BOP. Results from the simultaneous estimations of the BOP and DC reported better estimates than the single-equation model. Findings from the reaction function indicated that the monetary authorities of these oil-based economies were actively sterilizing the effect of foreign reserve flows. Findings supported the integrated market hypothesis in Kuwait and Libya, but not in the Saudi case.« less

  18. Origin and accumulation mechanisms of petroleum in the Carboniferous volcanic rocks of the Kebai Fault zone, Western Junggar Basin, China

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Zhonghong; Zha, Ming; Liu, Keyu; Zhang, Yueqian; Yang, Disheng; Tang, Yong; Wu, Kongyou; Chen, Yong

    2016-09-01

    The Kebai Fault zone of the West Junggar Basin in northwestern China is a unique region to gain insights on the formation of large-scale petroleum reservoirs in volcanic rocks of the western Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Carboniferous volcanic rocks are widespread in the Kebai Fault zone and consist of basalt, basaltic andesite, andesite, tuff, volcanic breccia, sandy conglomerate and metamorphic rocks. The volcanic oil reservoirs are characterized by multiple sources and multi-stage charge and filling history, characteristic of a complex petroleum system. Geochemical analysis of the reservoir oil, hydrocarbon inclusions and source rocks associated with these volcanic rocks was conducted to better constrain the oil source, the petroleum filling history, and the dominant mechanisms controlling the petroleum accumulation. Reservoir oil geochemistry indicates that the oil contained in the Carboniferous volcanic rocks of the Kebai Fault zone is a mixture. The oil is primarily derived from the source rock of the Permian Fengcheng Formation (P1f), and secondarily from the Permian Lower Wuerhe Formation (P2w). Compared with the P2w source rock, P1f exhibits lower values of C19 TT/C23 TT, C19+20TT/ΣTT, Ts/(Ts + Tm) and ααα-20R sterane C27/C28 ratios but higher values of TT C23/C21, HHI, gammacerane/αβ C30 hopane, hopane (20S) C34/C33, C29ββ/(ββ + αα), and C29 20S/(20S + 20R) ratios. Three major stages of oil charge occurred in the Carboniferous, in the Middle Triassic, Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, and in the Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic periods, respectively. Most of the oil charged during the first stage was lost, while moderately and highly mature oils were generated and accumulated during the second and third stages. Oil migration and accumulation in the large-scale stratigraphic reservoir was primarily controlled by the top Carboniferous unconformity with better porosity and high oil enrichment developed near the unconformity. Secondary dissolution pores and fractures are the two major reservoir storage-space types in the reservoirs. Structural highs and reservoirs near the unconformity are two favorable oil accumulation places. The recognition of the large-scale Carboniferous volcanic reservoirs in the Kebai Fault zone and understanding of the associated petroleum accumulation mechanisms provide new insights for exploring various types of volcanic reservoir plays in old volcanic provinces, and will undoubtedly encourage future oil and gas exploration of deeper strata in the region and basins elsewhere with similar settings.

  19. The petroleum explorationist's guide to contracts used in oil and gas operations

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mosburg, L.G. Jr.

    This volume provides articles and current sample forms of contract negotiation and drafting. The contents include: An introduction to oil and gas contracts; Effective deal negotiation; General principles of contract law and negotiation; Problems and pitfalls in support agreements; Sample support agreements; Basic concept of farmout agreements; Farmout negotiation checklist; ''Area of mutual interest'' provisions, Problems and pitfalls in 'contract (minimum) depth' and 'farmout (earned) depth' provisions; Options in interests assigned and reserved; Sample 'AMI' provision; ''conventional'' and ''revenue ruling 77-176'' farmout agreement forms; the AAPL model from operating agreement; 1982 revisions to the model form; Side-by-side comparisons of themore » 1956, 1977 and 1982 model forms, 1984 (1985) COPAS accounting procedure; Tax consequences of oil and gas exploration and development, revenue ruling 77-176; Use of tax partnerships and present assignments; Also materials on gas balancing agreements: Seismic options; and Structuring considerations.« less

  20. New exploration targets in Malaysia: Deep sandstone reservoirs in Malay basin and turbidites in Sabah basin

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ngah, K.B.

    1996-12-31

    Much of the production in Malaysia is from middle to upper Miocene sandstones and carbonates in three main basins: Malay, Sarawak (Its three subbasins-Central Luconia, Balingian and Baram), and Sabah. Fifteen fields produce an average of 630,000 bopd and 3.0 bcfgpd. More than 4.0 billion barrels of oil and 20 tcf of gas have been produced, and reserves are 4.2 billion barrels of oil and 90 tcf. Oil production will decline within the next 1 0 years unless new discoveries are made and/or improved oil recovery methods introduced, but gas production of 5 tcf, expected after the turn of themore » century, can be sustained for several decades. Successful exploratory wells continue to be drilled in the Malaysian Tertiary basins, and others are anticipated with application of new ideas and technology. In the Malay basin, Miocene sandstone reservoirs in Groups L and M have been considered as very {open_quote}high risk{close_quotes} targets, the quality of the reservoirs has generally been thought to be poor, especially toward the basinal center, where they occur at greater depth. The cause of porosity loss is primarily burial-related. Because of this factor and overpressuring, drilling of many exploration wells has been suspended at or near the top of Group L. In a recent prospect drilled near the basinal axis on the basis of advanced seismic technology, Groups L and M sandstones show fair porosity (8-15%) and contain gas. In the Sabah basin, turbidite play has received little attention, partly because of generally poor seismic resolution in a very complex structural setting. Only one field is known to produce oil from middle Miocene turbidities. However, using recently acquired 3-D seismic data over this field, new oil pools have been discovered, and they are currently being developed. These finds have created new interest, as has Shell`s recent major gas discovery from a turbidite play in this basin.« less

  1. New exploration targets in Malaysia: Deep sandstone reservoirs in Malay basin and turbidites in Sabah basin

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ngah, K.B.

    1996-01-01

    Much of the production in Malaysia is from middle to upper Miocene sandstones and carbonates in three main basins: Malay, Sarawak (Its three subbasins-Central Luconia, Balingian and Baram), and Sabah. Fifteen fields produce an average of 630,000 bopd and 3.0 bcfgpd. More than 4.0 billion barrels of oil and 20 tcf of gas have been produced, and reserves are 4.2 billion barrels of oil and 90 tcf. Oil production will decline within the next 1 0 years unless new discoveries are made and/or improved oil recovery methods introduced, but gas production of 5 tcf, expected after the turn of themore » century, can be sustained for several decades. Successful exploratory wells continue to be drilled in the Malaysian Tertiary basins, and others are anticipated with application of new ideas and technology. In the Malay basin, Miocene sandstone reservoirs in Groups L and M have been considered as very [open quote]high risk[close quotes] targets, the quality of the reservoirs has generally been thought to be poor, especially toward the basinal center, where they occur at greater depth. The cause of porosity loss is primarily burial-related. Because of this factor and overpressuring, drilling of many exploration wells has been suspended at or near the top of Group L. In a recent prospect drilled near the basinal axis on the basis of advanced seismic technology, Groups L and M sandstones show fair porosity (8-15%) and contain gas. In the Sabah basin, turbidite play has received little attention, partly because of generally poor seismic resolution in a very complex structural setting. Only one field is known to produce oil from middle Miocene turbidities. However, using recently acquired 3-D seismic data over this field, new oil pools have been discovered, and they are currently being developed. These finds have created new interest, as has Shell's recent major gas discovery from a turbidite play in this basin.« less

  2. Childhood hematologic cancer and residential proximity to oil and gas development.

    PubMed

    McKenzie, Lisa M; Allshouse, William B; Byers, Tim E; Bedrick, Edward J; Serdar, Berrin; Adgate, John L

    2017-01-01

    Oil and gas development emits known hematological carcinogens, such as benzene, and increasingly occurs in residential areas. We explored whether residential proximity to oil and gas development was associated with risk for hematologic cancers using a registry-based case-control study design. Participants were 0-24 years old, living in rural Colorado, and diagnosed with cancer between 2001-2013. For each child in our study, we calculated inverse distance weighted (IDW) oil and gas well counts within a 16.1-kilometer radius of residence at cancer diagnosis for each year in a 10 year latency period to estimate density of oil and gas development. Logistic regression, adjusted for age, race, gender, income, and elevation was used to estimate associations across IDW well count tertiles for 87 acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) cases and 50 non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cases, compared to 528 controls with non-hematologic cancers. Overall, ALL cases 0-24 years old were more likely to live in the highest IDW well count tertiles compared to controls, but findings differed substantially by age. For ages 5-24, ALL cases were 4.3 times as likely to live in the highest tertile, compared to controls (95% CI: 1.1 to 16), with a monotonic increase in risk across tertiles (trend p-value = 0.035). Further adjustment for year of diagnosis increased the association. No association was found between ALL for children aged 0-4 years or NHL and IDW well counts. While our study benefited from the ability to select cases and controls from the same population, use of cancer-controls, the limited number of ALL and NHL cases, and aggregation of ages into five year ranges, may have biased our associations toward the null. In addition, absence of information on O&G well activities, meteorology, and topography likely reduced temporal and spatial specificity in IDW well counts. Because oil and gas development has potential to expose a large population to known hematologic carcinogens, further study is clearly needed to substantiate both our positive and negative findings. Future studies should incorporate information on oil and gas development activities and production levels, as well as levels of specific pollutants of interest (e.g. benzene) near homes, schools, and day care centers; provide age-specific residential histories; compare cases to controls without cancer; and address other potential confounders, and environmental stressors.

  3. Independent focuses Philippines exploration on Visayan basin

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rillera, F.G.

    1995-08-21

    Cophil Exploration Corp., a Filipino public company, spearheaded 1995 Philippine oil and gas exploration activity with the start of its gas delineation drilling operations in Libertad, northern Cebu. Cophil and its Australian partners, Coplex Resources NL and PacRim Energy NL, have set out to complete a seven well onshore drilling program within this block this year. The companies are testing two modest shallow gas plays, Libertad and Dalingding, and a small oil play, Maya, all in northern Cebu about 500 km southeast of Manila. Following a short discussion on the geology and exploration history of the Visayan basin, this articlemore » briefly summarizes Cophil`s ongoing Cebu onshore drilling program. Afterwards, discussion focuses on identified exploration opportunities in the basin`s offshore sector.« less

  4. 76 FR 26768 - Notice of Lodging of a Consent Decree Under The Clean Water Act, The Clean Air Act, and The...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-05-09

    ... BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. (``BPXA'')'s operation of oil pipelines on the North Slope of Alaska... Consent Decree in United States v. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., Civil Action No. 3:09-CV-00064-JWS was..., 1321, as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.; the Clean Air Act (CAA), 42...

  5. Alaskan North Slope Oil & Gas Transportation Support

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lilly, Michael Russell

    North Slope oil and gas resources are a critical part of US energy supplies and their development is facing a period of new growth to meet increasing national energy needs. While this growth is taking place in areas active in development for more than 20 years, there are many increasing environmental challenges facing industry and management agencies. A majority of all exploration and development activities, pipeline maintenance and other field support activities take place in the middle of winter, when the fragile tundra surface is more stable. The window for the critical oil and gas winter operational season has beenmore » steadily decreasing over the last 25 years. The number of companies working on the North Slope is increasing. Many of these companies are smaller and working with fewer resources than the current major companies. The winter operations season starts with the tundra-travel opening, which requires 15 cm of snow on the land surface in the coastal management areas and 23 cm in the foothills management areas. All state managed areas require -5°C soil temperatures at a soil depth of 30 cm. Currently there are no methods to forecast this opening date, so field mobilization efforts are dependent on agency personnel visiting field sites to measure snow and soil temperature conditions. Weeks can be easily lost in the winter operating season due to delays in field verification of tundra conditions and the resulting mobilization. After the season is open, a significant percentage of exploration, construction, and maintenance do not proceed until ice roads and pads can be built. This effort is dependent on access to lake ice and under-ice water. Ice chipping is a common ice-road construction technique used to build faster and stronger ice roads. Seasonal variability in water availability and permitting approaches are a constant constraint to industry. At the end of the winter season, projects reliant on ice-road networks are often faced with ending operations early or risk being caught on ice roads with flooded stream crossings, or unusable sections of ice road due to local melt. These challenges result in higher oil and gas field exploration and operational costs. Much of the scientific understanding to address transportation issues for oil and gas development on the North Slope exists, but has not been placed into a set of tools and data sets useful for industry and management agencies. Optimizing North Slope transportation networks during winter operation seasons is critical in managing increasing resource development and will provide a framework for environmentally-responsive development. Understanding the physical environment (such as snow, water, ice, soils) is necessary to ensure protection of fisheries and other natural resources on the sensitive tundra landscape. Solutions also have to do more than just describe current conditions, they need the ability to forecast short-term conditions. This will allow management agencies to respond to future variability in snow cover, soil temperature, and water availability more effectively. In turn, industry will then have more time to plan the significant mobilization taking place every winter season.« less

  6. Multiobjective Policy Analysis to Evaluate Air Quality Impacts of Oil and Gas Regulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alongi, M.; Kasprzyk, J. R.; Milford, J.; Ryan, J. N.; Estep, M.

    2016-12-01

    Unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) using hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling has recently fostered an unprecedented acceleration in energy development. Regulations seek to protect the public health of communities in proximity to UOGD and the environmental quality of these regions, while maintaining economic benefits. One such regulation is the setback distance, which dictates the minimum distance between an oil and gas well and an occupied structure, such as a residential or commercial building, or an area of special concern. This presentation discusses a new policy analysis framework for UOGD regulations, using the Borg multiobjective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) coupled with AERMOD, a regulatory air dispersion model. The initial results explore how setback distance and well density regulations could impact the number of wells that can be drilled, based on a set of performance objectives that model potential increases in benzene, a hazardous air pollutant that has been linked to cancer and other detrimental health effects. The simulation calculates daily benzene averages using meteorological data from Greeley, CO. An important aspect of this work is to define representative quantitative objectives that accurately capture salient characteristics of the pollutant time series. For example, our framework will characterize the maximum concentration found over the entire spatial domain and over the duration of the simulation. Frequency-based objectives will also be explored, such as the number of exceedances of the benchmark annual average benzene concentration corresponding to a given level of cancer risk. The multiobjective analysis can also be expanded to integrate other objectives that represent performance-based outcomes on UOGD such as energy development profits, increases in noise pollution and decreases in property value. This research represents one application of how MOEAs can be used to inform policymaking for environmental regulations.

  7. Iraq: Oil and Gas Legislation, Revenue Sharing, and U.S. Policy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-07-25

    production and open to international oil companies or the INOC , and Annex 4 delineated 65 exploration blocks. The KRG posted its analysis of the draft...Oil Company ( INOC ). Under the hydrocarbon framework law, the responsibilities and authorities of the Ministry of Oil and the INOC would be altered...significantly, and the draft Ministry and INOC laws are necessary to ensure proper oversight, accountability, and separation of powers between the two

  8. Iraq: Oil and Gas Legislation, Revenue Sharing, and U.S. Policy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-04-02

    international oil companies or the INOC , and Annex 4 delineated 65 exploration blocks. The KRG posted its analysis of the draft annexes on its website...establish an Iraqi National Oil Company ( INOC ). Under the hydrocarbon framework law, the responsibilities and authorities of the Ministry of Oil and the... INOC would be altered significantly, and the draft Ministry and INOC laws are necessary to ensure proper oversight, accountability, and separation of

  9. Iraq: Oil and Gas Legislation, Revenue Sharing, and U.S. Policy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-06-26

    INOC , and Annex 4 delineates 65 exploration blocks. 9 For example, Ashti Hawrami, Minister of Natural Resources for the Kurdistan Regional Government...package are laws that will reorganize Iraq’s Ministry of Oil and establish an Iraqi National Oil Company ( INOC ). Under the hydrocarbon framework law, the...responsibilities and authorities of the Ministry of Oil and the INOC would be altered significantly, and the draft Ministry and INOC laws are

  10. 30 CFR 550.303 - Facilities described in a new or revised Exploration Plan or Development and Production Plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... ENERGY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER... necessary. (b) Applicability of § 550.303 to existing facilities. (1) The Regional Supervisor may review any... should be subject to review under this section and has the potential to significantly affect the air...

  11. 30 CFR 550.303 - Facilities described in a new or revised Exploration Plan or Development and Production Plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... ENERGY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER... necessary. (b) Applicability of § 550.303 to existing facilities. (1) The Regional Supervisor may review any... should be subject to review under this section and has the potential to significantly affect the air...

  12. 30 CFR 550.303 - Facilities described in a new or revised Exploration Plan or Development and Production Plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... ENERGY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER... necessary. (b) Applicability of § 550.303 to existing facilities. (1) The Regional Supervisor may review any... should be subject to review under this section and has the potential to significantly affect the air...

  13. 76 FR 68749 - Effluent Limits Under the NPDES General Permit for Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-11-07

    .... SUMMARY: EPA Region 10 today issues a final action for six effluent limits for produced water under the... hydrocarbons (TAH), total aqueous hydrocarbons (TAqH), silver, and whole effluent toxicity (WET), pursuant to the provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA or ``the Act''), 33 U.S.C. 1251. The Permit continues to...

  14. Analysis of hydrocarbon-bearing fluid inclusions (HCFI) using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Przyjalgowski, Milosz A.; Ryder, Alan G.; Feely, Martin; Glynn, Thomas J.

    2005-06-01

    Hydrocarbon-bearing fluid inclusions (HCFI) are microscopic cavities within rocks that are filled with petroleum oil, the composition of which may not have changed since the trapping event. Thus, the composition of that entrapped oil can provide information about the formation and evolution of the oil reservoir. This type of information is important to the petroleum production and exploration industries. Crude oil fluorescence originates from the presence of cyclic aromatic compounds and the nature of the emission is governed by the chemical composition of the oil. Fluorescence based methods are widely used for analysis of crude oil because they offer robust, non-contact and non-destructive measurement options. The goal of our group is the development of a non-destructive analytical method for HCFI using time-resolved fluorescence methods. In broad terms, crude oil fluorescence behavior is governed by the concentration of quenching species and the distribution of fluorophores. For the intensity averaged fluorescence lifetime, the best correlations have been found between polar or alkane concentrations, but these are not suitable for robust, quantitative analysis. We have recently started to investigate another approach for characterizing oils by looking at Time-resolved Emission Spectra (TRES). TRES are constructed from intensities sampled at discrete times during the fluorescence decay of the sample. In this study, TRES, from a series of 10 crude oils from the Middle East, have been measured at discrete time gates (0.5 ns, 1 ns, 2 ns, 4 ns) over the 450-700 nm wavelength range. The spectral changes in TRES, such as time gate dependent Stokes' shift and spectral broadening, are analyzed in the context of energy transfer rates. In this work, the efficacy of using TRES for fingerprinting individual oils and HCFI is also demonstrated.

  15. Oil and Gas Wells and Pipelines on U.S. Wildlife Refuges: Challenges for Managers

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    The increased demand for oil and gas places a burden on lands set aside for natural resource conservation. Oil and gas development alters the environment locally and on a much broader spatial scale depending on the intensity and extent of mineral resource extraction. The current increase in oil and gas exploration and production in the United States prompted an update of the number of pipelines and wells associated with oil and gas production on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands. We obtained geospatial data on the location of oil and gas wells and pipelines within and close to the boundaries of NWRS lands (units) acquired as fee simple (i.e. absolute title to the surface land) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We found that 5,002 wells are located in 107 NWRS units and 595 pipelines transect 149 of the 599 NWRS units. Almost half of the wells (2,196) were inactive, one-third (1,665) were active, and the remainder of the wells were either plugged and abandoned or the status was unknown. Pipelines crossed a total of 2,155 kilometers (1,339 miles) of NWRS fee simple lands. The high level of oil and gas activity warrants follow up assessments for wells lacking information on production type or well status with emphasis on verifying the well status and identifying abandoned and unplugged wells. NWRS fee simple lands should also be assessed for impacts from brine, oil and other hydrocarbon spills, as well as habitat alteration associated with oil and gas, including the identification of abandoned oil and gas facilities requiring equipment removal and site restoration. PMID:25915417

  16. The Red Sea Basin Province: Sudr-Nubia(!) and Maqna(!) Petroleum Systems

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Lindquist, Sandra J.

    1999-01-01

    The Sudr-Nubia(!) oil-prone total petroleum system dominates the densely explored Gulf of Suez part of the rifted Red Sea Basin Province. Upper Cretaceous to Eocene source rocks, primarily the Senonian Sudr Formation, are organic-rich, areally uniform marine carbonates that have generated known ultimate recoverable reserves exceeding 11 BBOE. The name Nubia is used for sandstone reservoirs with a wide range of poorly constrained, pre-rift geologic ages ranging from Early Paleozoic to Early Cretaceous. Syn- and post-rift Tertiary reservoirs, especially the Kareem Formation, also contain significant reserves. Partly overlapping Sudr-Nubia(!) is the areally larger and geochemically distinct, oil-and-gas-prone Maqna(!) total petroleum system within the southern Gulf of Suez basin and the sparsely explored remaining Red Sea basin. Known ultimate recoverable reserves are 50-100 MMBOE and more than 900 MMBOE, respectively, in those areas. Both the source and reservoir rocks in this petroleum system are Tertiary, dominantly Miocene, in age. Maqna(!) has the greater potential for future resource development.

  17. The free radical chain mechanism of the initial stages of crude oil oxidation in term of SARA fractions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ushakova, A.; Emelyanov, D.; Zatsepin, V.; Varfolomeev, M.

    2018-05-01

    The formation and decomposition of hydro-peroxides are the key stages of combustion. These stages strongly depend on the several factors accelerating or slowing this process. The aim of this work is to estimate experimentally which oil components act as inhibitors of initial stages of oxidation and which accelerate the process. The next aim is to explore the process of adsorption of oil components on the grain of rock, which turned to be also a key process in the low temperature oxidation. The work includes experimental part where differential scanning calorimeter (PDSC) experiments with pure saturates, mixtures of saturates and aromatic oil fractions and mixtures of saturates, aromatic fractions and rock samples are considered. Effects of inhibition and acceleration of the initial oxidation stages are explored.

  18. Indonesian drilling maintains steady pace

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1985-05-01

    Offshore drilling activity in Indonesia increased nominally the first quarter of 1985 to an average 29 rigs. Barring any further problems with oil prices and markets, operators are expected to maintain essentially the current general level of appraisal/development work for the rest of this year. There are still a number of prospective regions to be explored in Southeast Asia. Regional developments are described for the South China Sea area, the Java Sea, South Sumatra, Kalimantan, Irian Jaya and the Malacca Strait.

  19. Near-surface, SH-wave surveys in unconsolidated, alluvial sediments

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Young, Roger A.; Hoyos, Jorge

    2001-01-01

    The past decade of hydrocarbon exploration has been marked by sweeping technological innovations that have greatly advanced methods for exploration and development of oil and gas reserves. An example of major importance is the use of shear waves in marine oil and gas exploration to image reflectors beneath gas chimneys. This technology grew from infancy to maturity in the 1990s, is now incorporated into commercial processing packages, and is being used with success in a number of situations. Recent SEG Annual Meetings and the Special Section of this issue of TLE have had many documented case histories about the use of converted (P-SV) waves.The SH-wave (another type of shear wave), however, has been of less interest to the energy industry during the past decade. Near-surface applications of SH-waves, in contrast, have received increasing attention. The present article briefly reviews shear-wave technology advances made in the energy industry over the past decade that prepared the way for the present near-surface application of SH-waves. The article concludes with a near-surface case study using combined P- and SH-wave interpretation in an unconsolidated, alluvial setting.

  20. Assessment of oil content and fatty acid composition variability in two economically important Hibiscus species.

    PubMed

    Wang, Ming Li; Morris, Brad; Tonnis, Brandon; Davis, Jerry; Pederson, Gary A

    2012-07-04

    The Hibiscus genus encompasses more than 300 species, but kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) and roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) are the two most economically important species within the genus. Seeds from these two Hibiscus species contain a relatively high amount of oil with two unusual fatty acids: dihydrosterculic and vernolic acids. The fatty acid composition in the oil can directly affect oil quality and its utilization. However, the variability in oil content and fatty acid composition for these two species is unclear. For these two species, 329 available accessions were acquired from the USDA germplasm collection. Their oil content and fatty acid composition were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography (GC), respectively. Using NMR and GC analyses, we found that Hibiscus seeds on average contained 18% oil and seed oil was composed of six major fatty acids (each >1%) and seven minor fatty acids (each <1%). Hibiscus cannabinus seeds contained significantly higher amounts of oil (18.14%), palmitic (20.75%), oleic (28.91%), vernolic acids (VA, 4.16%), and significantly lower amounts of stearic (3.96%), linoleic (39.49%), and dihydrosterculic acids (DHSA, 1.08%) than H. sabdariffa seeds (17.35%, 18.52%, 25.16%, 3.52%, 4.31%, 44.72%, and 1.57%, respectively). For edible oils, a higher oleic/linoleic (O/L) ratio and lower level of DHSA are preferred, and for industrial oils a high level of VA is preferred. Our results indicate that seeds from H. cannabinus may be of higher quality than H. sabdariffa seeds for these reasons. Significant variability in oil content and major fatty acids was also detected within both species. The variability in oil content and fatty acid composition revealed from this study will be useful for exploring seed utilization and developing new cultivars in these Hibiscus species.

  1. 43 CFR 3141.2-2 - Exploration licenses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... license to conduct core drilling and other exploration activities to collect geologic, environmental and... drilling for oil or gas will be allowed under an exploration license issued under this subpart. No specific...

  2. 43 CFR 3141.2-2 - Exploration licenses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... license to conduct core drilling and other exploration activities to collect geologic, environmental and... drilling for oil or gas will be allowed under an exploration license issued under this subpart. No specific...

  3. 43 CFR 3141.2-2 - Exploration licenses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... license to conduct core drilling and other exploration activities to collect geologic, environmental and... drilling for oil or gas will be allowed under an exploration license issued under this subpart. No specific...

  4. 43 CFR 3141.2-2 - Exploration licenses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... license to conduct core drilling and other exploration activities to collect geologic, environmental and... drilling for oil or gas will be allowed under an exploration license issued under this subpart. No specific...

  5. 30 CFR 250.219 - What oil and hazardous substance spills information must accompany the EP?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false What oil and hazardous substance spills information must accompany the EP? 250.219 Section 250.219 Mineral Resources BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT... OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF Plans and Information Contents of Exploration Plans (ep) § 250.219 What oil and...

  6. 76 FR 66080 - Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease CACA 52030, California

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-25

    ... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA 52030, LLCA920000 L1310000 FI0000] Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease CACA 52030, California AGENCY: Bureau of... oil and gas lease CACA 52030 from Plains Exploration & Production Co. The petition was filed on time...

  7. Comparison of the Insecticidal Characteristics of Commercially Available Plant Essential Oils Against Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae).

    PubMed

    Norris, Edmund J; Gross, Aaron D; Dunphy, Brendan M; Bessette, Steven; Bartholomay, Lyric; Coats, Joel R

    2015-09-01

    Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae are two mosquito species that represent significant threats to global public health as vectors of Dengue virus and malaria parasites, respectively. Although mosquito populations have been effectively controlled through the use of synthetic insecticides, the emergence of widespread insecticide-resistance in wild mosquito populations is a strong motivation to explore new insecticidal chemistries. For these studies, Ae. aegypti and An. gambiae were treated with commercially available plant essential oils via topical application. The relative toxicity of each essential oil was determined, as measured by the 24-h LD(50) and percentage knockdown at 1 h, as compared with a variety of synthetic pyrethroids. For Ae. aegypti, the most toxic essential oil (patchouli oil) was ∼1,700-times less toxic than the least toxic synthetic pyrethroid, bifenthrin. For An. gambiae, the most toxic essential oil (patchouli oil) was ∼685-times less toxic than the least toxic synthetic pyrethroid. A wide variety of toxicities were observed among the essential oils screened. Also, plant essential oils were analyzed via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify the major components in each of the samples screened in this study. While the toxicities of these plant essential oils were demonstrated to be lower than those of the synthetic pyrethroids tested, the large amount of GC/MS data and bioactivity data for each essential oil presented in this study will serve as a valuable resource for future studies exploring the insecticidal quality of plant essential oils. © The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  8. Analysis of fatty acid methyl esters and oxidative stability of seed purpose watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) genotypes for edible oil.

    PubMed

    Mahla, H R; Rathore, S S; Venkatesan, K; Sharma, R

    2018-04-01

    World's vegetable oil demand is increasing day by day and oil seed supply is limited to a dozen oil seed crops on commercial scale. Efforts were made to explore the potential of water melon a traditionally grown native crop of Indian arid zone having oil content over 30% and seed yield potential of 500-600 kg per hectare under rainfed conditions. An analysis was carried out to explore the suitability of watermelon [ Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.)] oil for human consumption on the basis of fatty acid (FA) composition in selected genotypes. Total oil content ranged between 10.0 and 31.0%. Eleven FA were identified in seed oil. Linoleic, stearic, palmitic and oleic acid were found as major FA while myristic, heptadecanoic, arachidic, 9-hexadecenoic and 14-eicosenoic acid was present in traces. Linoleic acid single polyunsaturated FA contributor found in the range of 43.95% (WM-44) to 55.29% (WM-18). Saturated FA content ranged between 32.24 and 37.61%. Significant genetic variation was observed for mono-unsaturated FA. Metabolic capacity to inter-conversion of FA and nutritive value of watermelon oil was described on the basis of ratio of FA group. Total phenolics, antioxidant activity, peroxide value and oxidizability were also estimated along with oxidative stability of oil. Multivariate analysis showed that, oil content has positive correlation with linoleic acid. The Euclidean based UPGMA clustering revealed that genotypes WM-18 is most suitable for trait specific breeding program for high linoleic acid ( n -6), desaturation ratio and oleic desaturation ratio with higher oil content and lowest palmitic acid.

  9. Methodology for assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources for the 2008 Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Charpentier, Ronald R.; Moore, Thomas E.; Gautier, D.L.

    2017-11-15

    The methodological procedures used in the geologic assessments of the 2008 Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal (CARA) were based largely on the methodology developed for the 2000 U.S. Geological Survey World Petroleum Assessment. The main variables were probability distributions for numbers and sizes of undiscovered accumulations with an associated risk of occurrence. The CARA methodology expanded on the previous methodology in providing additional tools and procedures more applicable to the many Arctic basins that have little or no exploration history. Most importantly, geologic analogs from a database constructed for this study were used in many of the assessments to constrain numbers and sizes of undiscovered oil and gas accumulations.

  10. Transverse tectonic zonation of Cuba and its significance for oil exploration

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Levchenko, V.A.

    The Laramide structures of Cuba and its continental shelf, which are oriented sublatitudinally, are divided into variously elevated blocks by transverse faults of submeridional strike, movements along which have occurred since the end of the Paleozoic. This division, inherited from the region's pre-Mesozoic stage of development, has determined the heterogeneous composition of the Cuban geosyncline's folded basement, which may be characterized by an alternation of areas of Paleozoic uplifts and intervening grabens filled with metamorphosed deposits of Early and Middle Jurassic and Triassic age, and also areas of oceanic crust. In the concluding phase of the Laramide orogeny, there weremore » northward strike-slip movements of individual blocks in the central part of Cuba. The oil potential of Cuba is associated mainly with the depressed blocks, above which the section through the Mesozoic deposits may be presumed to be more complete. The best potential for finding oil exists in the zones of the transverse regional faults along which there may have been both lateral and vertical migration of oil hydrocarbons in the stages of crustal upwarp and extension.« less

  11. Dynamics of Heterocapsa sp. and the associated attached and free-living bacteria under the influence of dispersed and undispersed crude oil.

    PubMed

    Severin, T; Bacosa, H P; Sato, A; Erdner, D L

    2016-12-01

    While many studies have examined the impact of oil on phytoplankton or bacteria, very few considered the effects on the biological complex formed by phytoplankton and their associated phytoplankton-attached (PA) and free-living (FL) bacteria. However, associated bacteria can affect the physiology of phytoplankton and influence their stress responses. In this study, we monitored the growth of Heterocapsa sp., an armoured dinoflagellate, exposed to crude oil, Corexit dispersant, or both. Growth of Heterocapsa sp. is unaffected by crude oil up to 25 ppm, a concentration similar to the lower range measured on Florida beaches after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The PA bacteria community was resistant to exposure, whereas the FL community shifted towards oil degraders; both responses could contribute to Heterocapsa sp. oil resistance. The growth rate of Heterocapsa sp. decreased significantly only when exposed to dispersed oil at 25 ppm, indicating a synergistic effect of dispersant on oil toxicity in this organism. For the first time, we demonstrated the decoupling of the responses of the PA and FL bacteria communities after exposure to an environmental stress, in this case oil and dispersant. Our findings suggest new directions to explore in the understanding of interactions between unicellular eukaryotes and prokaryotes. In the environment, oil spills have the capacity to modify phytoplankton communities, with important consequences on the food web and the carbon cycle. We are just beginning to understand the oil resistance of phytoplankton species, making it difficult to predict community response. In this study we highlighted the strong resistance of Heterocapsa sp. to oil, which could be associated with its resilient attached bacteria and oil degradation by the free-living bacteria. This finding suggests new directions to explore in the understanding of oil impacts and interactions between eukaryotic and prokaryotic microbes. © 2016 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

  12. The Oil Industries Fake Abundance Story: Is Distortion of the Truth Ever Appropriate?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Murray, J. W.

    2014-12-01

    The oil industries and their cornucopian supporters (press, politicians, energy agencies) promote the story that in the oil is abundant and oil production will increase. The reality is that 1) World crude oil production has been on a plateau since 2005, in spite of new technology (fracking), record high prices (Brent Oil > 100 per barrel) and record spending on exploration and development (5.4 trillion over the past six years) and 2) The price of oil has risen steadily from 1999 to present. Typically when commodities are abundant the price tends to fall. How is this reality being distorted? 1) Resources are being equated with reserves (both are amounts), neither of which can be equated with each other or with production (a rate). 2) Crude oil (the price or which is rigorously defined by API density) has been redefined as total liquids, which includes substances (lease condensates, natural gas liquids, biofuels, refinery gains) which can not be used in the same way oil is or sold for the same price as oil. If what you are selling cannot be sold on the world market as crude oil, then it is not crude oil. 3) The demand for oil remains high, but World production is stagnant and World net-export production has been decreasing since 2005. Thus the price remains high and will only increase in the future. Growth in Global GDP is impacted by high-priced oil. How do you know unethical behavior when you see it? It has to do with intentionality and motivation. "Advocacy science" often reports data to support their cause. Is that unethical? Where is the divide between being an "Issue Advocate" and "Advocacy Science"? If data are reported poorly, is it unethical or just "bad science"? Do the same ethical standards apply to businesses (when profits are involved) and politicians (when elections are at stake)? Why would the definition of oil include NGL, condensates and refinery gains if not trying to inflate the numbers. The standards should be the same, but when there are no reliable independent sources of data, different definitions and uncertainty in the data allow a range of interpretations. Within these limits it allows some to bend the truth for their needs. What is the solution? With so much at stake, why have the uncertainties in these issues been so poorly examined by the academic community? Doing so will encourage alternative sources of energy to be developed.

  13. Estimation of the probability of success in petroleum exploration

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Davis, J.C.

    1977-01-01

    A probabilistic model for oil exploration can be developed by assessing the conditional relationship between perceived geologic variables and the subsequent discovery of petroleum. Such a model includes two probabilistic components, the first reflecting the association between a geologic condition (structural closure, for example) and the occurrence of oil, and the second reflecting the uncertainty associated with the estimation of geologic variables in areas of limited control. Estimates of the conditional relationship between geologic variables and subsequent production can be found by analyzing the exploration history of a "training area" judged to be geologically similar to the exploration area. The geologic variables are assessed over the training area using an historical subset of the available data, whose density corresponds to the present control density in the exploration area. The success or failure of wells drilled in the training area subsequent to the time corresponding to the historical subset provides empirical estimates of the probability of success conditional upon geology. Uncertainty in perception of geological conditions may be estimated from the distribution of errors made in geologic assessment using the historical subset of control wells. These errors may be expressed as a linear function of distance from available control. Alternatively, the uncertainty may be found by calculating the semivariogram of the geologic variables used in the analysis: the two procedures will yield approximately equivalent results. The empirical probability functions may then be transferred to the exploration area and used to estimate the likelihood of success of specific exploration plays. These estimates will reflect both the conditional relationship between the geological variables used to guide exploration and the uncertainty resulting from lack of control. The technique is illustrated with case histories from the mid-Continent area of the U.S.A. ?? 1977 Plenum Publishing Corp.

  14. Polarimetric synthetic aperture radar utilized to track oil spills

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Migliaccio, Maurizio; Nunziata, Ferdinando; Brown, Carl E.; Holt, Benjamin; Li, Xiaofeng; Pichel, William; Shimada, Masanobu

    2012-04-01

    The continued demand for crude oil and related petroleum products along with the resulting upward spiral of the market price of oil have forced oil exploration and production companies to seek out new reserves farther offshore and in deeper waters. The United States is among the top five nations globally in terms of estimated offshore oil reserves and petroleum production. Yet deepwater drilling to extract these reserves is a major engineering challenge for oil companies. Moreover, such drilling activity also comes with a significant environmental risk, and the extremely high pressures associated with deepwater oil wells mean that the mitigation of accidental releases from a deepwater spill is truly a challenging endeavor.

  15. Sub-Saharan Africa Report No 2832

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-08-15

    Editorial on UNITA 9 Lubota on MPLA-UNITA Negotiations 10 Foreign Minister’s 5-Day Visit 10 Norwegians Explore for Oil in Cotonou (Flemming Dahl...study in Cuba, for those who leave Angola after finishing the fourth grade, are spent in the ESBEC. Upon reaching tenth grade—after completing the...Luanda Domestic Service in Portuguese 0500 GMT 26 Jul 83] CSO: 3442/304 10 BENIN NORWEGIANS EXPLORE FOR OIL IN COTONOU Oslo AFTENPOSTEN in

  16. Histograms showing variations in oil yield, water yield, and specific gravity of oil from Fischer assay analyses of oil-shale drill cores and cuttings from the Piceance Basin, northwestern Colorado

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Dietrich, John D.; Brownfield, Michael E.; Johnson, Ronald C.; Mercier, Tracey J.

    2014-01-01

    Recent studies indicate that the Piceance Basin in northwestern Colorado contains over 1.5 trillion barrels of oil in place, making the basin the largest known oil-shale deposit in the world. Previously published histograms display oil-yield variations with depth and widely correlate rich and lean oil-shale beds and zones throughout the basin. Histograms in this report display oil-yield data plotted alongside either water-yield or oil specific-gravity data. Fischer assay analyses of core and cutting samples collected from exploration drill holes penetrating the Eocene Green River Formation in the Piceance Basin can aid in determining the origins of those deposits, as well as estimating the amount of organic matter, halite, nahcolite, and water-bearing minerals. This report focuses only on the oil yield plotted against water yield and oil specific gravity.

  17. Iraq: Oil and Gas Legislation, Revenue Sharing, and U.S. Policy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-10-02

    INOC , and Annex 4 delineated 65 exploration blocks. The KRG posted its analysis of the draft annexes on its website, available at [http://www.krg.org...legislative package are proposed laws that will reorganize Iraq’s Ministry of Oil and establish an Iraqi National Oil Company ( INOC ). Under the hydrocarbon...framework law, the responsibilities and authorities of the Ministry of Oil and the INOC would be altered significantly, and the draft Ministry and INOC

  18. Oil spill modeling in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea in support of accelerated offshore oil and gas exploration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brenner, Steve

    2015-12-01

    Since the discovery of major reserves in the Israeli exclusive economic zone (EEZ) 6 years ago, exploration and drilling for natural gas and oil have proceeded at an accelerated pace. As part of the licensing procedure for drilling, an environmental impact assessment and an emergency response plan must be presented to the authorities, which include several prespecified oil spill simulations. In this study, the MEDSLIK oil spill model has been applied for this purpose. The model accounts for time-dependent advection, dispersion, and physiochemical weathering of the surface slick. It is driven by currents produced by high-resolution dynamic downscaling of ocean reanalysis data and winds extracted from global atmospheric analyses. Worst case scenarios based on 30-day well blowouts under four sets of environmental conditions were simulated for wells located at 140, 70, and 20 km off the coast of central Israel. For the well furthest from the coast, the amount of oil remaining in the surface slick always exceeds the amount deposited on the coast. For the mid-distance well, the cases were evenly split. For the well closest to the coast, coastal deposition always exceeds the oil remaining in the slick. Additional simulations with the wind switched off helped highlight the importance of the wind in evaporation of the oil and in transporting the slick toward the southeastern coast.

  19. Using Stream Chemistry Measurements by Scientists and Nonscientists to Assess Leakage from Oil and Gas Wells in Pennsylvania

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brantley, S. L.; Wendt, A.; Sowers, T. A.

    2016-12-01

    The recent controversies concerning the role of hydraulic fracturing in impacting water quality in the United States document that decision-making must include both scientists and nonscientists. The most common water quality problem documented in Pennsylvania with respect to shale gas well development is the occasional migration of methane into private groundwater wells. Assessing the rate of migration is difficult and has led to controversial estimates. We explore the use of nonscientists in helping to collect data from streams for comparison to groundwater data collected by government and academic scientists. Stream waters in upland landscapes generally act as collectors for upwelling groundwater, including both natural and anthropogenic methane. Collection of stream water for methane analysis is simple and robust and can be completed by nonscientists throughout the state. We have discovered several locations in the state where new or legacy gas or oil wells are leaking methane into aquifers and into streams. Methane also seeps out of landfills and from natural sources. We present stream methane data from across the oil and gas development region in Pennsylvania, including sites of release of biogenic gas, natural thermogenic gas, legacy oil/gas well leakage, shale gas well leakage, and landfill leakage, and we assess the natural background of methane in stream water in the state. In some locations we compare methane in streams to methane in groundwater. As the state with the oldest oil wells in the U.S.A., Pennsylvania is a natural laboratory to understand not only the science of methane migration but also how to incorporate citizens into strategies to understand water quality impacts related to hydrocarbon development.

  20. A Plastid Phosphatidylglycerol Lipase Contributes to the Export of Acyl Groups from Plastids for Seed Oil Biosynthesis.

    PubMed

    Wang, Kun; Froehlich, John E; Zienkiewicz, Agnieszka; Hersh, Hope Lynn; Benning, Christoph

    2017-07-01

    The lipid composition of thylakoid membranes inside chloroplasts is conserved from leaves to developing embryos. A finely tuned lipid assembly machinery is required to build these membranes during Arabidopsis thaliana development. Contrary to thylakoid lipid biosynthetic enzymes, the functions of most predicted chloroplast lipid-degrading enzymes remain to be elucidated. Here, we explore the biochemistry and physiological function of an Arabidopsis thylakoid membrane-associated lipase, PLASTID LIPASE1 (PLIP1). PLIP1 is a phospholipase A 1 In vivo, PLIP1 hydrolyzes polyunsaturated acyl groups from a unique chloroplast-specific phosphatidylglycerol that contains 16:1 Δ3trans as its second acyl group. Thus far, a specific function of this 16:1 Δ3trans -containing phosphatidylglycerol in chloroplasts has remained elusive. The PLIP1 gene is highly expressed in seeds, and plip1 mutant seeds contain less oil and exhibit delayed germination compared with the wild type. Acyl groups released by PLIP1 are exported from the chloroplast, reincorporated into phosphatidylcholine, and ultimately enter seed triacylglycerol. Thus, 16:1 Δ3trans uniquely labels a small but biochemically active plastid phosphatidylglycerol pool in developing Arabidopsis embryos, which is subject to PLIP1 activity, thereby contributing a small fraction of the polyunsaturated fatty acids present in seed oil. We propose that acyl exchange involving thylakoid lipids functions in acyl export from plastids and seed oil biosynthesis. © 2017 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved.

  1. Oil removal of spent hydrotreating catalyst CoMo/Al2O3 via a facile method with enhanced metal recovery.

    PubMed

    Yang, Yue; Xu, Shengming; Li, Zhen; Wang, Jianlong; Zhao, Zhongwei; Xu, Zhenghe

    2016-11-15

    Deoiling process is a key issue for recovering metal values from spent hydrotreating catalysts. The oils can be removed with organic solvents, but the industrialized application of this method is greatly hampered by the high cost and complex processes. Despite the roasting method is simple and low-cost, it generates hardest-to-recycle impurities (CoMoO4 or NiMoO4) and enormous toxic gases. In this study, a novel and facile approach to remove oils from the spent hydrotreating catalysts is developed. Firstly, surface properties of spent catalysts are characterized to reveal the possibility of oil removal. And then, oils are removed with water solution under the conditions of 90°C, 0.1wt% SDS, 2.0wt% NaOH and 10ml/gL/S ratio for 4h. Finally, thermal treatment and leaching tests are carried out to further explore the advantages of oil removal. The results show that no hardest-to-recycle impurity CoMoO4 is found in XPS spectra of thermally treated samples after deoiling and molybdenum is leached completely with sodium carbonate solution. It means that the proposed deoiling method can not only remove oils simply and without enormous harmful gases generating, but also avoid the generation of detrimental impurity and promote recycling of valuable metals from spent hydrotreating catalysts. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Maternal control of seed oil content in Brassica napus: the role of silique wall photosynthesis.

    PubMed

    Hua, Wei; Li, Rong-Jun; Zhan, Gao-Miao; Liu, Jing; Li, Jun; Wang, Xin-Fa; Liu, Gui-Hua; Wang, Han-Zhong

    2012-02-01

    Seed oil content is an important agronomic trait in rapeseed. However, our understanding of the regulatory processes controlling oil accumulation is still limited. Using two rapeseed lines (zy036 and 51070) with contrasting oil content, we found that maternal genotype greatly affects seed oil content. Genetic and physiological evidence indicated that difference in the local and tissue-specific photosynthetic activity in the silique wall (a maternal tissue) was responsible for the different seed oil contents. This effect was mimicked by in planta manipulation of silique wall photosynthesis. Furthermore, the starch content and expression of the important lipid synthesis regulatory gene WRINKLED1 in developing seeds were linked with silique wall photosynthetic activity. 454 pyrosequencing was performed to explore the possible molecular mechanism for the difference in silique wall photosynthesis between zy036 and 51070. Interestingly, the results suggested that photosynthesis-related genes were over-represented in both total silique wall expressed genes and genes that were differentially expressed between genotypes. A potential regulatory mechanism for elevated photosynthesis in the zy036 silique wall is proposed on the basis of knowledge from Arabidopsis. Differentially expressed ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco)-related genes were used for further investigations. Oil content correlated closely with BnRBCS1A expression levels and Rubisco activities in the silique wall, but not in the leaf. Taken together, our results highlight an important role of silique wall photosynthesis in the regulation of seed oil content in terms of maternal effects. © 2011 The Authors. The Plant Journal © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  3. Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils from the Aerial Parts of Asteriscus graveolens (Forssk.) Less. and Pulicaria incisa (Lam.) DC.: Two Asteraceae Herbs Growing Wild in the Hoggar.

    PubMed

    Chaib, Faiza; Allali, Hocine; Bennaceur, Malika; Flamini, Guido

    2017-08-01

    In recent years, antimicrobial activities of essential oils have been intensively explored, mainly in researching and developing new antimicrobial agents to overcome microbial resistance. The present study investigates the chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of essential oils obtained from two Asteraceae: Asteriscus graveolens (Forssk.) Less. and Pulicaria incisa (Lam.) DC. Chemical analysis was performed using a combination of capillary GC-FID and GC/MS analytical techniques. The major component of Asteriscus graveolens were cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (31.1%), myrtenyl acetate (15.1%), and kessane (11.5%), while for Pulicaria incisa the main components were chrysanthenone (45.3%) and 2,6-dimethylphenol (12.6%). The oils obtained from the aerial parts were tested against sixteen microbial strains by agar well diffusion technique and dilution methods and showed minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) in the range of 19 - 1250 μg/ml. A good antibacterial activity against a common nosocomial pathogen, Acinetobacter baumanniiATCC 19606 was observed, especially from Pulicaria incisa essential oil, with a MIC value up to 19 μg/ml. These results give significant information about the pharmacological activity of these essential oils, which suggest their benefits to human health, having the potential to be used for medical purposes. © 2017 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.

  4. NMR and IR Spectroscopy for the Structural Characterization of Edible Fats and Oils: An Instrumental Analysis Laboratory

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Crowther, Molly W.

    2008-01-01

    This article describes an upper-level instrumental laboratory for undergraduates that explores the complementary nature of IR and NMR spectroscopy for analysis of several edible fats and oils that are structurally similar but differ in physical properties and health implications. Five different fats and oils are analyzed for average chain length,…

  5. Regulation of Oil Biosynthesis in Algae

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-03-14

    transportation fuels can potentially be addressed by exploring oil (triacylglycerol) biosynthesis in microalgae . Many microalgae , including Chlamydomonas...biosynthesis in microalgae have not been studied at the molecular level. Chlamydomonas is being used as a microalgal model to identify genes and regulatory...of this phenomenon will shed light on the physiological significance of oil production in microalgae . A first paper describing this interesting

  6. Preliminary geologic map of the Turayf Quadrangle, sheet 31C, and part of the An Nabk quadrangle, sheet 31B, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Meissner, C.R.; Riddler, G.P.; Van Eck, Marcel; Aspinall, N.C.; Farasani, A.M.; Dini, S.M.

    1989-01-01

    Oil shows have been reported in Cretaceous rocks of the Wadi As Sirhan depression, and oil has been discovered recently nearby in Jordan. Geologic and geophysical conditions are favorable for the entrapment of oil in the Wadi As Sirhan area and additional exploration is recommended.

  7. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Khin, J.A.; Johnston, D.

    This paper reports that following licensing efforts in 1989-90, Myanmar has been gearing up with activity both onshore and offshore. The industry gave a strong response to the first round of exploration licensing. The license awards in the first round carried fairly aggressive work commitments in terms of both dollars and timing. Work commitments on each of the first nine blocks ranged from $12 million to $70 million for each block. Most companies committed to spudding their first wells within the first 12-14 months. The drilling results are starting to come in. Although no significant oil discovery has been mademore » yet, the country expects to speed up its exploration activities in the next few years. Following the first round of licensing onshore, Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), the national oil company, is negotiating terms for offshore blocks as well as additional onshore blocks for improved oil recovery (IOR) and rehabilitation/redevelopment rights for existing fields.« less

  8. Biodiesels from microbial oils: Opportunity and challenges.

    PubMed

    Ma, Yingqun; Gao, Zhen; Wang, Qunhui; Liu, Yu

    2018-05-08

    Although biodiesel has been extensively explored as an important renewable energy source, the raw materials-associated cost poses a serious challenge on its large-scale commercial production. The first and second generations of biodiesel are mainly produced from usable raw materials, e.g. edible oils, crops etc. Such a situation inevitably imposes higher demands on land and water usage, which in turn compromise future food and water supply. Obviously, there is an urgent need to explore alternative feedstock, e.g. microbial oils which can be produced by many types of microorganisms including microalgae, fungi and bacteria with the advantages of small footprint, high lipid content and efficient uptake of carbon dioxide. Therefore, this review offers a comprehensive picture of microbial oil-based technology for biodiesel production. The perspectives and directions forward are also outlined for future biodiesel production and commercialization. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. CARS technique for geological exploration of hydrocarbons deposits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhevlakov, A. P.; Bespalov, Victor; Elizarov, V. V.; Grishkanich, A. S.; Kascheev, S. V.; Makarov, E. A.; Bogoslovsky, S. A.; Il'inskiy, A. A.

    2014-10-01

    We developed a Raman lidar with ultraspectral resolution for automatic airborne monitoring of pipeline leaks and for oil and gas exploration. Experiments were carried out under the CARS circuit. Minimal concentrations of 200 ppb of heavy hydrocarbon gas have been remotely measured in laboratory tests. Test flights indicate that a sensitivity of 6 ppm for methane and 2 ppm for hydrogen sulfide has been reached for leakage detection. As estimations have shown the reliability of heavy hydrocarbon gas detection by the integration method of seismic prospecting and remote laser sensing in CARS circuit can exceed 80%.

  10. Recent glacial events in the Norwegian North Sea - implications towards a better understanding of charging/leakage of oil fields and its impact oil exploration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stoddart, Daniel

    2014-05-01

    Recent drilling and appraisal on the Southern Utsira High, Norwegian North Sea, has proved several large oil/gas discoveries, including the giant Johan Sverdrup, Edvard Grieg, Draupne, Ragnarrock and Apollo oil fields, making this a prolific petroleum area. The Southern Utsira High contains a variety of hydrocarbon density fluids found at several stratigraphic levels illustrating the compartmentalized nature of accumulations and charge history. The Southern Utsira High has been in a position to receive an oil/gas charge for a considerable period of time, with the basin towards the west most likely generating petroleum from early Eocene (50M Mabp) to its maximum present day burial depth. However, reservoir temperatures on the Southern Utsira High are just above the threshold for biodegradation (80°C). The Southern Utsira High oils are non-biodegraded suggesting that the majority of the oil charged relatively late - ca.3 million years ago to present day. The effects of the glaciation on the filling history of the Southern Utsira High are currently being assessed. It is clear that several erosional surfaces in the Pliocene can be identified, as well as glacial channels and moraine deposits, indicating that significant deposition and erosion occurred in the last five million years. Importantly, the effects of glacial rebound mean that the Southern Utsira High more than likely underwent tilting and possible leakage, not just once, but several times in the last 1 million years. The effects of tilting/leakage of geological areas on oil migration have been recognized by several authors. However, the detailed integration of geological mapping and geochemical evidence has not previously been published. The implications of a detailed assessment of tilting of a ''high' through time are; 1) opening up areas where oil migration is thought to be high risk or impossible; 2) identify possible paleo-oil columns aiding the de-risking of discovery appraisal strategies. The evidence of tilting/leakage of oil accumulations through time can be recognized in several oil fields on the Utsira High. The giant Johan Sverdrup discovery oil columns contain paleo-OWC, residual oil zones/paleo-oil columns, and oil shows considerably deeper than the current OWC or residual oil columns. Lundin has performed detailed mapping of the seabed and water column in the Alvheim/Utsira High areas in order to identify areas of gas leakage and its geological manifestations on the seabed and ultimately resulting in the collection of high quality samples. Results shows that gas leakage is prominent over the Alvheim and Utsira High areas and the implications of this to oil exploration will be discussed. In summary, Lundin's approach to oil migration is to better understand the fluid/gas movement throughout the whole basin through time. The talk will focus on the role of glaciations on the timing of charge from the South Viking Graben, fill-spill directions on the Southern Utsira High, the effects of late tilting/leakage on the charge/re-distribution of oil, and seabed / water column characterization and sampling. All placed in the context of oil exploration.

  11. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Evans, R.D.; Lekia, S.D.L.

    This paper presents the results of parametric studies of two naturally fractured lenticular tight gas reservoirs, Fluvial E-1 and Puludal Zones 3 and 4, of the U.S. Department of Energy Multi-Well Experiment (MWX) site of Northwestern Colorado. The three-dimensional, two-phase, black oil reservoir simulator that was developed in a previous phase of this research program is also discussed and the capabilities further explored by applying it to several example problems.

  12. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: an exploration of the meanings embodied in America's last great wilderness

    Treesearch

    Roger W. Kaye

    2000-01-01

    The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has been the subject of more than 50 major studies investigating the bio-physical resources potentially threatened by oil development. This continuing project investigates the more elusive qualities at risk: the set of meanings this place holds for those who value it as wilderness. Findings indicate that these meanings may also be...

  13. Weathered oil: effect on hatchability of heron and gull eggs

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Macko, S.A.; King, S.M.

    1980-08-01

    Contact with weathered oil seems more likely for waterbirds than contact with fresh oil; however, the effects of weathered oil on embryo survival have only partially been explored. Results of one study showed that 20 ..mu..L of 4 week-old crude oil applied to the eggshell surface caused a significant decrease in embryo survival of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) eggs. In that study, oil was weathered under laboratory conditions using fresh water. To our knowledge, there have been no tests to determine the effects on egg hatchability of oil naturally weathered in marine habitats. The present study assesses the effects of externalmore » applications of naturally weathered crude oil on embryo survival of Louisiana heron (Hydranassa tricolor) and laughing gull (Larus atricilla) eggs.« less

  14. Buried Mesozoic rift basins of Moroccan Atlantic continental margin

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mohamed, N.; Jabour, H.; El Mostaine, M.

    1995-08-01

    The Atlantic continental margin is the largest frontier area for oil and gas exploration in Morocco. Most of the activity has been concentrated where Upper Jurassic carbonate rocks have been the drilling objectives, with only one significant but non commercial oil discovery. Recent exploration activities have focused on early Mesozoic Rift basins buried beneath the post-rift sediments of the Middle Atlantic coastal plain. Many of these basins are of interest because they contain fine-grained lacustrine rocks that have sufficient organic richness to be classified as efficient oil prone source rock. Location of inferred rift basins beneath the Atlantic coastal plainmore » were determined by analysis of drilled-hole data in combination with gravity anomaly and aeromagnetic maps. These rift basins are characterized by several half graben filled by synrift sediments of Triassic age probably deposited in lacustrine environment. Coeval rift basins are known to be present in the U.S. Atlantic continental margin. Basin modeling suggested that many of the less deeply bored rift basins beneath the coastal plain are still within the oil window and present the most attractive exploration targets in the area.« less

  15. 75 FR 35082 - Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease, Wyoming

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-06-21

    ... reinstatement from Medallion Exploration for competitive oil and gas lease WYW146295 for land in Sheridan County... terminated under the law. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Land Management, Julie L. Weaver, Chief...

  16. Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-05-08

    an oil shale exploration agreement with the Jordanian government. Estonia’s Enefit Eesti Energia AS also has signed agreements on oil shale...of sectors including democracy assistance, water preservation, and education (particularly building and renovating public schools). In the democracy

  17. Implications of Abundant Gas and Oil for Climate Forcing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Edmonds, J.

    2015-12-01

    Perhaps the most important development in the field of energy over the past decade has been the advent of technologies that enable the production of larger volumes of natural gas and oil at lower cost. The availability of more abundant gas and oil is reshaping the global energy system, with implications for both evolving emissions of CO2 and other climate forcers. More abundant gas and oil will also transform the character of greenhouse gas emissions mitigation. We review recent findings regarding the impact of abundant gas and oil for climate forcing and the challenge of emissions mitigation. We find strong evidence that, absent policies to limits its penetration against renewable energy, abundant gas has little observable impact on CO2 emissions, and tends to increase overall climate forcing, though the latter finding is subject to substantial uncertainty. The presence of abundant gas also affects emissions mitigation. There is relatively little literature exploring the implication of expanded gas availability on the difficulty in meeting emissions mitigation goals. However, preliminary results indicate that on global scales abundant gas does not substantially affect the cost of emissions mitigation, even though natural gas could have an expanded role in emissions mitigation scenarios as compared with scenarios in which natural gas is less abundant.

  18. [Monitoring of public health in the Kashagan oil and gas field].

    PubMed

    Kenessariev, U I; Zinulin, U Z; Yerzhanova, A E; Amrin, M K; Aybasova, Zh A

    According to explored hydrocarbon reserves the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) is among ten top countries rich in oil deposits. In connection with the intensive development of oil and gas industry environmental protection and public health issues became subject of a great interest from both scientists ’ and health practitioners ’ side. Results of the study included in this article are devoted to the study of health of the population, living near the “Bolashak” installation of complex preparation of oil and gas. There is a preliminary oil refining process coming from the Kashagan field and its further export. Analysis proved air pollution to be the one of the major risk factors for the health of the residing people. In the area there are problems of fresh water supply and frequent accidents at sewage plants. Landfills for municipal solid waste does not meet sanitary standards. The health care system of Makat district is characterized by uncompleted personnel and lack of beds. Indices of the mortality rate over the study period declined by 28.8%. As a result, population growth over the study the period was characterized by a tendency to increase. In 2013 population sought medical advice due to respiratory diseases, injuries and poisoning, diseases of blood and hemopoietic organs, diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue and nervous system.

  19. Environmental issues of petroleum exploration and production: Introduction

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Kharaka, Yousif K.; Dorsey, Nancy S.

    2005-01-01

    Energy is the lifeblood of our planet Earth, an essential commod- ity that powers the expanding global economy. Starting in the 1950s, oil and natural gas became the main sources of primary energy for the increasing world population, and this dominance is expected to continue for several more decades (Edwards, 1997; Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2004). In the United States, petroleum production started in 1859 when Drake's well was drilled near Titusville, Pennsylvania, and oil and natural gas currently supply approximately 63% of the energy consumption; forecasts indicate that by 2025, their use will increase by about 40% to 28.3 million bbl/day and to 31.4 tcf/yr (EIA, 2004). The clear benefits of petroleum consumption, however, can carry major environmental impacts that may be regional or global in scale, in- cluding air pollution, global climate change, and oil spills. This vol- ume of Environmental Geosciences, covering environmental impacts of petroleum exploration and production, does not address these major impacts directly because air pollution and global warming are issues related primarily to petroleum and coal uses, and major oil spills are generally attributed to marine petroleum transportation, such as the Exxon Valdez's 1989 spill of 260,000 bbl of oil into Prince William Sound, Alaska. Exploration for and production of petroleum, however, have caused local detrimental impacts to soils, surface and groundwa- ters, and ecosystems in the 36 producing states in the United States (Richter and Kreitler, 1993; Kharaka and Hanor, 2003). These im- pacts arose primarily from the improper disposal of some of the large volumes (presently estimated at 20 billion bbl/yr total pro- duced) of saline water produced with oil and gas, from accidental hydrocarbon and produced-water releases, and from abandoned oil wells that were orphaned or not correctly plugged (Kharaka et al., 1995; Veil et al., 2004). Impacts and ground-surface disturbances, in the order of several acres per well, can also arise from related activities such as site clearance, construction of roads, tank bat- teries, brine pits and pipelines, and other land modifications nec- essary for the drilling of exploration and production wells and construction of production facilities. The cumulative impacts from these operations are high, because a total of about 3.5 million oil. 

  20. SEASAT - A candidate ocean industry economic verification experiments

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Miller, B. P.

    1976-01-01

    The economic benefits of an operational SEASAT system are discussed in the areas of marine transportation, offshore oil and natural gas exploration and development, ocean fishing, and Arctic operations. A description of the candidate economic verification experiments which could be performed with SEASAT-A is given. With the exception of the area of Arctic operations, experiments have been identified in each of the areas of ocean based activity that are expected to show an economic impact from the use of operational SEASAT data. Experiments have been identified in the areas of the offshore oil and natural gas industry, as well as ice monitoring and coastal zone applications. Emphasis has been placed on the identification and the development of those experiments which meet criteria for: (1) end user participation; (2) SEASAT-A data utility; (3) measurability of operational parameters to demonstrate economic effect; and (4) non-proprietary nature of results.

  1. Big oil's top explorer takes to the high seas. [Shell Oil drills 100 mi off NJ coast in 6500 ft of water

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nulty, P.

    1984-01-23

    The lower 48 states are the most pawed-over, poked-into oil and gas producing region on earth. Yet in deep water beyond the continental shelves of both coasts lie vast tracts of essentially untouched acreage. However, in December 1983, Shell Oil completed a well in 6500 feet of water 100 miles off Cape May, New Jersey in an area called Wilmington Canyon. The well was in water 800 feet deeper than any attempted before, and more than six times the depth of the deepest producing well. It was dry, but competitors aren't laughing. The drilling program, costing $500 million calls formore » four more wells this year in waters up to 7500 feet deep. While representing an enormous gamble for Shell, one of the last great exploration frontiers will be open for business if any of the wells proves out. In the event of success, however, very formidable problems must be overcome to produce the oil or gas.« less

  2. Studies on piston bowl geometries using single blend ratio of various non-edible oils.

    PubMed

    Viswanathan, Karthickeyan; Pasupathy, Balamurugan

    2017-07-01

    The depletion of fossil fuels and hike in crude oil prices were some of the main reasons to explore new alternatives from renewable source of energy. This work presents the impact of various bowl geometries on diesel engine with diesel and biodiesel samples. Three non-edible oils were selected, namely pumpkin seed oil, orange oil and neem oil. These oils were converted into respective biodiesel using transesterification process in the presence of catalyst and alcohol. After transesterification process, the oils were termed as pumpkin seed oil methyl ester (PSOME), orange oil methyl ester (OME) and neem oil methyl ester (NOME), respectively. The engine used for experimentation was a single-cylinder four-stroke water-cooled direct-injection diesel engine and loads were applied to the engine using eddy current dynamometer. Two bowl geometries were developed, namely toroidal combustion chamber (TCC) and trapezoidal combustion chamber (TRCC). Also, the engine was inbuilt with hemispherical combustion chamber (HCC). The base line readings were recorded using neat diesel fuel with HCC for various loads. Followed by 20% of biodiesel mixed with 80% neat diesel for all prepared methyl esters and termed as B1 (20% PSOME with 80% diesel), B2 (20% OME with 80% diesel) and B3 (20% NOME with 80% diesel). All fuel samples were tested in HCC, TCC and TRCC bowl geometries under standard injection timing and with compression ratio of 18. Increased brake thermal efficiency and reduced brake specific fuel consumption were observed with diesel in TCC geometry. Also, higher heat release and cylinder pressures with lower ignition delay were recorded with TCC bowl geometry. TCC bowl geometry showed lower CO, HC and smoke emissions with B2 fuel sample than diesel and other biodiesel samples. But, higher NOx emission was observed in HCC and TCC than that in TRCC bowl geometry. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

  3. 78 FR 38031 - Application for Final Commitment for a Long-Term Loan or Financial Guarantee in Excess of $100...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-25

    ... Petroquimica Basica. Description of Items Being Exported: Drilling rigs, platform rentals, compressors, oil... U.S. goods and services from U.S. small businesses to be used in its oil and gas projects. Brief non...'s on- and off-shore oil and gas exploration and production areas. To the extent that Ex-Im Bank is...

  4. Synthetic fuels for ground transportation with special emphasis on hydrogen

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Singh, J. J.

    1975-01-01

    The role of various synthetic fuels, for ground transportation in the United States, was examined for the near term (by 1985) and the longer term applications (1985-2000 and beyond 2000). Feasible options include synthetic oil, methanol, electric propulsion, and hydrogen. It is concluded that (1) the competition during the next 50 years will be for the fuels of all types, rather than among the fuels; (2) extensive domestic oil and gas exploration should be initiated concurrent with the development of several alternate fuels and related ancillaries; and (3) hydrogen, as an automotive fuel, seems to be equivalent to gasoline for optimum fuel to air mixtures. As a pollution free, high energy density fuel, hydrogen deserves consideration as the logical replacement for the hydrocarbons. Several research and development requirements, essential for the implementation of hydrogen economy for ground transportation, were identified. Extensive engineering development and testing activities should be initiated to establish hydrogen as the future automotive fuel, followed by demonstration projects and concerted efforts at public education.

  5. Guidelines for riser splash zone design and repair

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    NONE

    1995-02-01

    The many years of offshore oil and gas development has established the subsea pipeline as a reliable and cost effective means of transportation for produced hydrocarbons. The requirement for subsea pipeline systems will continue to move into deeper water and more remote locations with the future development of oil and gas exploration. The integrity of subsea pipeline and riser systems, throughout their operating lifetime, is an important area for operators to consider in maximizing reliability and serviceability for economic, contractual and environmental reasons. Adequate design and installation are the basis for ensuring the integrity of any subsea pipeline and risermore » systems. In the event of system damage, from any source, quick and accurate repair and reinstatement of the pipeline system is essential. This report has been developed to provide guidelines for riser and splash zone design, to perform a detailed overview of existing riser repair techniques and products, and to prepare comprehensive guidelines identifying the capabilities and limits of riser reinstatement systems.« less

  6. Investigations of the petrogeneration zones western Bering sea by airborne geophysical data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Litvinova, T.; Petrova, A.

    2012-04-01

    In 2011, work continued on the interpretation of geophysical data in western Bering Sea. Bering Sea oil-and-gas bearing province occupies a single sedimentary megabasin of the Bering Sea, the formation of which is caused by stage of the Alpine geodynamic development cycle of the Pacific mobile belt. At present, the geological-geophysical exploration maturity of the Bering Sea with respect to oil-gasbearing prognosis is at the level of regional study stage. In 2003, an additional study of oil-gas prospective zones of the Kamchatka Shelf of the Bering Sea was carried out. In the course of works, profile seismic studies and airborne gravity-magnetic survey at 1:200,000 scale were made at three territories: Ilpinsky, Olyutorsky I, and Olyutorsky II. Average survey elevation for the whole area is 300 meters. Geological modeling of sedimentary basin systems was made for this area. Geomagnetic sections it possible to compare the location of the magnetic and weakly magnetic structures with seismic and geological boundaries marker and conducting layers of geoelectric sections. This makes it possible to trace the features of placing magnetic differences in the geologic rock section, to identify their stratigraphic association, select the layers flyuidstubborn, adumbrate reservoir heterogeneity and establish the heterogeneity of internal structure oil-gasbearing zones. Age correlation, thickness estimation and formational characteristics of litho-stratigraphic complexes building up sections are carried out. Geomagnetic deep sections transecting main zones of prospective oil-gas accumulation to airborne magnetic data. Distribution of magnetization in the development interval of potentially productive sandy strata at depths from 1 to 5 km is obtained. The most prospective zones of possible oil-gas accumulation are distinguished in the Olyutorsky and Ilpinsky sedimentary basins. At height of 400 km this minimum keeps the form that speaks about stability of a condition of the permeable zones supervising oil-gas-bearing.

  7. Advances of Researches on Improving the Stability of Foams by Nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, G.; Wang, K. L.; Lu, C. J.

    2017-09-01

    Recently, nano-tech made a change of traditional oil-gas exploration. Considering that foam fluid had a poor stability, investigators proposed to add nanoparticles to stabilize the foam fluid system. This paper described the mechanism of particles to improve the stability of the foam fluid in detail; and emphasized the synergistic effect between nanoparticles and surfactants and its effect on the foaming and foam stability of dispersions; and reviewed the latest applications of foam fluid that was stabilized by nanoparticle in enhancing oil-gas recovery, in which there are analysis that showed that the nanoparticles not only greatly increase the stability of the foam fluid, but also improve the efficiency of foam fluid; and lastly, forecasted the development of nanotechnology in petroleum areas.

  8. Novel CO 2 Foam Concepts and Injection Schemes for Improving CO 2 Sweep Efficiency in Sandstone and Carbonate Hydrocarbon Formations

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nguyen, Quoc; Hirasaki, George; Johnston, Keith

    2015-02-05

    We explored cationic, nonionic and zwitterionic surfactants to identify candidates that have the potential to satisfy all the key requirements for CO 2 foams in EOR. We have examined the formation, texture, rheology and stability of CO 2 foams as a function of the surfactant structure and formulation variables including temperature, pressure, water/CO 2 ratio, surfactant concentration, salinity and concentration of oil. Furthermore, the partitioning of surfactants between oil and water as well as CO 2 and water was examined in conjunction with adsorption measurements on limestone by the Hirasaki lab to develop strategies to optimize the transport of surfactantsmore » in reservoirs.« less

  9. ERP System Implementation: An Oil and Gas Exploration Sector Perspective

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mishra, Alok; Mishra, Deepti

    Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems provide integration and optimization of various business processes which leads to improved planning and decision quality, smoother coordination between business units resulting in higher efficiency, and quicker response time to customer demands and inquiries. This paper reports challenges, opportunities and outcome of ERP implementation in Oil & Gas exploration sector. This study will facilitate in understanding transition, constraints and implementation of ERP in this sector and also provide guidelines from lessons learned in this regard.

  10. Petroleum geology of Cook Inlet basin - an exploration model

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Magoon, L.B.; Claypool, G.E.

    1981-01-01

    Oil exploration commenced onshore adjacent to lower Cook Inlet on the Iniskin Peninsula in 1900, shifted with considerable success to upper Cook Inlet from 1957 through 1965, then returned to lower Cook Inlet in 1977 with the COST well and Federal OCS sale. Lower Cook Inlet COST No. 1 well, drilled to a total depth of 3,775.6 m, penetrated basinwide unconformities at the tops of Upper Cretaceous, Lower Cretaceous, and Upper Jurassic strata at 797.1, 1,540.8, and 2,112.3 m, respectively. Sandstone of potential reservoir quality is present in the Cretaceous and lower Tertiary rocks. All siltstones and shales analyzed are low (0 to 0.5 wt. %) in oil-prone organic matter, and only coals are high in humic organic matter. At total depth, vitrinite readings reached a maximum ave age reflectance of 0.65. Several indications of hydrocarbons were present. Oil analyses suggest that oils from the major fields of the Cook Inlet region, most of which produce from the Tertiary Hemlock Conglomerate, have a common source. More detailed work on stable carbon isotope ratios and the distribution of gasoline-range and heavy (C12+) hydrocarbons confirms this genetic relation among the major fields. In addition, oils from Jurassic rocks under the Iniskin Peninsula and from the Hemlock Conglomerate at the southwestern tip of the Kenai lowland are members of the same or a very similar oil family. The Middle Jurassic strata of the Iniskin Peninsula are moderately rich in organic carbon (0.5 to 1.5 wt. %) and yield shows of oil and of gas in wells and in surface seeps. Extractable hydrocarbons from this strata are similar in chemi al and isotopic composition to the Cook Inlet oils. Organic matter in Cretaceous and Tertiary rocks is thermally immature in all wells analyzed. Oil reservoirs in the major producing fields are of Tertiary age and unconformably overlie Jurassic rocks; the pre-Tertiary unconformity may be significant in exploration for new oil reserves. The unconformable relation between reservoir rocks and likely Middle Jurassic source rocks also implies a delay in the generation and expulsion of oil from Jurassic until late Tertiary when localized basin subsidence and thick sedimentary fill brought older, deeper rocks to the temperature required for petroleum generation. Reservoir porosities, crude oil properties, the type of oil field traps, and the tectonic framework of the oil fields on the west flank of the basin provide evidence used to reconstruct an oil migration route. The route is inferred to commence deep in the truncated Middle Jur ssic rocks and pass through the porous West Foreland Formation in the McArthur River field area to a stratigraphic trap in the Oligocene Hemlock Conglomerate and the Oligocene part of the Tyonek Formation at the end of Miocene time. Pliocene deformation shut off this route and created localized structural traps, into which the oil moved by secondary migration to form the Middle Ground Shoal, McArthur River, and Trading Bay oil fields. Oil generation continued into the Pliocene, but this higher API gravity oil migrated along a different route to the Granite Point field.

  11. Childhood hematologic cancer and residential proximity to oil and gas development

    PubMed Central

    McKenzie, Lisa M.; Allshouse, William B.; Byers, Tim E.; Bedrick, Edward J.; Serdar, Berrin; Adgate, John L.

    2017-01-01

    Background Oil and gas development emits known hematological carcinogens, such as benzene, and increasingly occurs in residential areas. We explored whether residential proximity to oil and gas development was associated with risk for hematologic cancers using a registry-based case-control study design. Methods Participants were 0–24 years old, living in rural Colorado, and diagnosed with cancer between 2001–2013. For each child in our study, we calculated inverse distance weighted (IDW) oil and gas well counts within a 16.1-kilometer radius of residence at cancer diagnosis for each year in a 10 year latency period to estimate density of oil and gas development. Logistic regression, adjusted for age, race, gender, income, and elevation was used to estimate associations across IDW well count tertiles for 87 acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) cases and 50 non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cases, compared to 528 controls with non-hematologic cancers. Findings Overall, ALL cases 0–24 years old were more likely to live in the highest IDW well count tertiles compared to controls, but findings differed substantially by age. For ages 5–24, ALL cases were 4.3 times as likely to live in the highest tertile, compared to controls (95% CI: 1.1 to 16), with a monotonic increase in risk across tertiles (trend p-value = 0.035). Further adjustment for year of diagnosis increased the association. No association was found between ALL for children aged 0–4 years or NHL and IDW well counts. While our study benefited from the ability to select cases and controls from the same population, use of cancer-controls, the limited number of ALL and NHL cases, and aggregation of ages into five year ranges, may have biased our associations toward the null. In addition, absence of information on O&G well activities, meteorology, and topography likely reduced temporal and spatial specificity in IDW well counts. Conclusion Because oil and gas development has potential to expose a large population to known hematologic carcinogens, further study is clearly needed to substantiate both our positive and negative findings. Future studies should incorporate information on oil and gas development activities and production levels, as well as levels of specific pollutants of interest (e.g. benzene) near homes, schools, and day care centers; provide age-specific residential histories; compare cases to controls without cancer; and address other potential confounders, and environmental stressors. PMID:28199334

  12. Combining molecular fingerprints with multidimensional scaling analyses to identify the source of spilled oil from highly similar suspected oils.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Peiyu; Chen, Changshu; Ye, Jianjun; Shen, Wenjie; Xiong, Xiaofei; Hu, Ping; Fang, Hongda; Huang, Chuguang; Sun, Yongge

    2015-04-15

    Oil fingerprints have been a powerful tool widely used for determining the source of spilled oil. In most cases, this tool works well. However, it is usually difficult to identify the source if the oil spill accident occurs during offshore petroleum exploration due to the highly similar physiochemical characteristics of suspected oils from the same drilling platform. In this report, a case study from the waters of the South China Sea is presented, and multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS) is introduced to demonstrate how oil fingerprints can be combined with mathematical methods to identify the source of spilled oil from highly similar suspected sources. The results suggest that the MDS calculation based on oil fingerprints and subsequently integrated with specific biomarkers in spilled oils is the most effective method with a great potential for determining the source in terms of highly similar suspected oils. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Environmental risk management and preparations for the first deep water well in Nigeria

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Berger, F.

    Statoil is among the leaders in protecting health, environment and safety in all aspects of the business. The evaluations of business opportunities and development of blocks opened by authorities for petroleum exploration, are assessed in accordance with the goals for environmental protection. Progressive improvement of environmental performance is secured through proper environmental risk management. In 1995, Statoil, the technical operator on Block 210 off the Nigerian coast, was the first company to drill in deep waters in this area. An exploration well was drilled in a water depth of about 320 meters. The drilling preparations included environmental assessment, drillers Hazop,more » oil spill drift calculations, oil spill response plans and environmental risk analysis. In the environmental preparations for the well, Statoil adhered to local and national government legislation, as well as to international guidelines and company standards. Special attention was paid to the environmental sensitivity of potentially affected areas. Statoil co-operated with experienced local companies, with the authorities and other international and national oil companies. This being the first deep water well offshore Nigeria, it was a challenge to co-operate with other operators in the area. The preparations that were carried out, will set the standard for future environmental work in the area. Co-operation difficulties in the beginning were turned positively into a attitude to the environmental challenge.« less

  14. Future climate effects on suitability for growth of oil palms in Malaysia and Indonesia

    PubMed Central

    Paterson, R. Russell M.; Kumar, Lalit; Taylor, Subhashni; Lima, Nelson

    2015-01-01

    The production of palm oil (PO) is highly profitable. The economies of the principal producers, Malaysia and Indonesia, and others, benefit considerably. Climate change (CC) will most likely have an impact on the distribution of oil palms (OP) (Elaeis guineensis). Here we present modelled CC projections with respect to the suitability of growing OP, in Malaysia and Indonesia. A process-oriented niche model of OP was developed using CLIMEX to estimate its potential distribution under current and future climate scenarios. Two Global Climate Models (GCMs), CSIRO-Mk3.0 and MIROC-H, were used to explore the impacts of CC under the A1B and A2 scenarios for 2030, 2070 and 2100. Decreases in climatic suitability for OP in the region were gradual by 2030 but became more pronounced by 2100. These projections imply that OP growth will be affected severely by CC, with obvious implications to the economies of (a) Indonesia and Malaysia and (b) the PO industry, but with potential benefits towards reducing CC. A possible remedial action is to concentrate research on development of new varieties of OP that are less vulnerable to CC. PMID:26399638

  15. Chemical fingerprinting of naphthenic acids at an oil sands end pit lake by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC/TOFMS)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bowman, D. T.; Arriaga, D.; Morris, P.; Risacher, F.; Warren, L. A.; McCarry, B. E.; Slater, G.

    2016-12-01

    Naphthenic acids (NAs) are naturally occurring in Athabasca oil sands and accumulate in tailings as a result of water-based extraction processes. NAs contribute to the toxicity of tailings and oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). NAs exist as a complex mixture, so the development of an analytical technique to characterize them has been an on-going challenge. The monitoring of individual NAs and their associated isomers through multidimensional chromatography has the potential to provide greater insight into the behavior of NAs in the environment. For NAs whose proportions do not change during environmental processing, NA ratios may provide a means to develop fingerprints characteristic of specific sources. Alternatively, relative changes in the proportions of NAs may provide a tracer of their occurrence and extent of removal. As yet, only a few studies have begun to explore these possibilities. In this study, comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to monitor individual naphthenic acids in an end pit lake in Alberta, Canada. NA profiles from different depths and sampling locations were compared to evaluate the spatial variations at the site.

  16. Future climate effects on suitability for growth of oil palms in Malaysia and Indonesia.

    PubMed

    Paterson, R Russell M; Kumar, Lalit; Taylor, Subhashni; Lima, Nelson

    2015-09-24

    The production of palm oil (PO) is highly profitable. The economies of the principal producers, Malaysia and Indonesia, and others, benefit considerably. Climate change (CC) will most likely have an impact on the distribution of oil palms (OP) (Elaeis guineensis). Here we present modelled CC projections with respect to the suitability of growing OP, in Malaysia and Indonesia. A process-oriented niche model of OP was developed using CLIMEX to estimate its potential distribution under current and future climate scenarios. Two Global Climate Models (GCMs), CSIRO-Mk3.0 and MIROC-H, were used to explore the impacts of CC under the A1B and A2 scenarios for 2030, 2070 and 2100. Decreases in climatic suitability for OP in the region were gradual by 2030 but became more pronounced by 2100. These projections imply that OP growth will be affected severely by CC, with obvious implications to the economies of (a) Indonesia and Malaysia and (b) the PO industry, but with potential benefits towards reducing CC. A possible remedial action is to concentrate research on development of new varieties of OP that are less vulnerable to CC.

  17. Microkinetic modeling of the autoxidative curing of an alkyd and oil-based paint model system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oakley, Lindsay H.; Casadio, Francesca; Shull, Kenneth R.; Broadbelt, Linda J.

    2015-11-01

    Elucidating the curing and aging mechanisms of alkyd and other oil-based paints is valuable for the fields of conservation and bio-based coatings. Recent research has demonstrated the limitations of artificial aging in predicting the actual properties of paints that are hundreds of years old. Kinetic modeling offers pathways to develop a realistic and dynamic description of the composition of these oil-based paint coatings and facilitates the exploration of the effects of various environmental conditions on their long-term chemical stability. This work presents the construction of a kinetic Monte Carlo framework from elementary steps for the cobalt-catalyzed autoxidative curing of an ethyl linoleate model system up to the formation of single cross-links. Kinetic correlations for reaction families of similar chemistry are employed to reduce the number of parameters required to calculate rate constants in Arrhenius form. The model, developed from mechanisms proposed in the literature, shows good agreement with experiment for the formation of primary products in the early stages of curing. The model has also revealed that the mechanisms proposed in the literature for the formation of secondary products, such as volatile aldehydes, are still not well established, and alternative routes are under evaluation.

  18. Proceedings of the 1999 Oil and Gas Conference: Technology Options for Producer Survival

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    None available

    2000-04-12

    The 1999 Oil & Gas Conference was cosponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Fossil Energy, Federal Energy Technology Center (FETC) and National Petroleum Technology Office (NPTO) on June 28 to 30 in Dallas, Texas. The Oil & Gas Conference theme, Technology Options for Producer Survival, reflects the need for development and implementation of new technologies to ensure an affordable, reliable energy future. The conference was attended by nearly 250 representatives from industry, academia, national laboratories, DOE, and other Government agencies. Three preconference workshops (Downhole Separation Technologies: Is it Applicable for Your Operations, Exploring and developing Naturallymore » Fractured Low-Permeability Gas Reservoirs from the Rocky Mountains to the Austin Chalk, and Software Program Applications) were held. The conference agenda included an opening plenary session, three platform sessions (Sessions 2 and 3 were split into 2 concurrent topics), and a poster presentation reception. The platform session topics were Converting Your Resources Into Reserves (Sessions 1 and 2A), Clarifying Your Subsurface Vision (Session 2B), and High Performance, Cost Effective Drilling, Completion, Stimulation Technologies (Session 3B). In total, there were 5 opening speakers, 30 presenters, and 16 poster presentations.« less

  19. 50 CFR 37.1 - Purpose.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL EXPLORATION OF THE COASTAL PLAIN, ARCTIC NATIONAL... exploration for oil and gas within the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Section 1002...

  20. 50 CFR 37.1 - Purpose.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL EXPLORATION OF THE COASTAL PLAIN, ARCTIC NATIONAL... exploration for oil and gas within the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Section 1002...

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