A Survey on Subsurface Signal Propagation

Wireless Underground Communication (WUC) is an emerging field that is being developed continuously. It provides secure mechanism of deploying nodes underground which shields them from any outside temperament or harsh weather conditions. This paper works towards introducing WUC and give a detail overview of WUC. It discusses system architecture of WUC along with the anatomy of the underground sensor motes deployed in WUC systems. It also compares Over-the-Air and Underground and highlights the major differences between the both type of channels. Since, UG communication is an evolving field, this paper also presents the evolution of the field along with the components and example UG wireless communication systems. Finally, the current research challenges of the system are presented for further improvement of the WUCs

Towards a Policy Framework for Iraq’s Petroleum Industry and an Integrated Federal Energy Strategy

The “Policy Framework for Iraq’s Petroleum Industry” is a logical structure that establishes the rules to guide decisions and manage processes to achieve economically efficient outcomes within the energy sector. It divides policy applications between regulatory and regulated practices, and defines the governance of the public sector across the petroleum industry and relevant energy portfolios. In many “Rentier States” where countries depend on a single source of income such as oil revenues, overlapping powers of authority within the public sector between policy makers and operators has led to significant conflicts of interest that have resulted in the mismanagement of resources and revenues, corruption, failed strategies and the ultimate failure of the system. Some countries have succeeded in identifying areas for progressive reform, whilst others failed due to various reasons discussed in this thesis. Iraq fits into the category of a country that has failed to implement reform and has become a classic case of a rentier state. The primary aim of this research is to produce a policy framework applicable to the local settings of Iraq’s petroleum industry, together with an implementation strategy that helps the country in its transition from legacy practices to sustainable policies compatible with the federal constitution of 2005. Such a framework would observe the legislative applications that appeared in the aftermath of establishing a federal regime. The framework will help to rationalise the decisions and processes that sustain the governance and business practices across the energy value chain of Iraq. The development of a policy framework exemplified by the final setting of the Federal Energy Council (FEC) proposed in this thesis has to take into account the existing legal framework, the legacy of previous policies and the governance arrangements of developing policy under a new federal regime. A review of federal models of major resource holders that may share similar attributes to Iraq is subsequently necessary to identify the appropriate fiscal regime which fits Iraq’s legal system. Conflicts of interest and how they have been reduced or eliminated in case study countries, must be identified to instruct the final proposed framework. This research also examines key factors that influence the petroleum sector of a federalized major resource holder. Furthermore, qualitative in-depth case studies have been conducted to investigate the research problem. This research is complemented by numerous interviews that took place with high profile executives, policy makers and senior officials, as well as a review of data relevant to Iraq from an array of historical literature. The findings of this thesis will comprise a proposed “policy framework for Iraq’s petroleum industry,” exemplified by the FEC that the federal government of Iraq needs to adopt to transition energy institutions from the legacy of centralised rule to a modern and efficient petroleum industry in a democratic setting

Exploring flexible strategies in engineering systems using screening models : applications to offshore petroleum projects

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, February 2009."December 2008." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 290-297).Engineering Systems, such as offshore petroleum exploration and production systems, generally require a significant amount of capital investment under various technical and market uncertainties. Choosing appropriate designs and field development strategies is a very challenging task for decision makers because they need to integrate information from multiple disciplines to make decisions while the various uncertainties are still evolving. Traditional engineering practice often focuses on finding "the optimal" solution under deterministic assumptions very early in the conceptual study phase, which leaves a large amount of opportunity unexploited, particularly the value of flexible strategies. This thesis proposes a new approach to tackle this issue - exploring flexible strategies using midfidelity screening models. The screening models interconnect and model physical systems, project development, and economics quantitatively at the mid-fidelity level, which allows decision-makers to explore different strategies with significantly less computational effort compared to high fidelity models. The screening models are at a level of detail that gives reliable rank orders of different strategies under realistic assumptions. Flexibilities are identified and classified at strategic, tactical, and operational levels over a system's lifecycle. Intelligent decision rules will then exercise flexible strategies as uncertainties unfold. This approach can be applied as a "front-end" strategic tool to conduct virtual experiments. This helps identify good strategies from a large number of possibilities and then discipline-based tools can be used for detailed engineering design and economics evaluation.(cont.) The present study implemented the use of such screening models for petroleum exploration and production projects. Through two simulation case studies, this thesis illustrates that flexible strategies can significantly improve a project's Expected Net Present Value (ENPV), mitigate downside risks, and capture upside opportunities. As shown in the flexible tieback oilfield development case study, the simulations predicted a 82% improvement of ENPV by enabling architectural and operational flexibility. The distributions of outcomes for different strategies are shown in terms of Value-at-Risk-Gain curves. This thesis develops and demonstrates a generic four-step process and a simulation framework for screening flexible strategies with multi-domain uncertainty for capital-intensive engineering systems.by Jijun Lin.Ph.D

Use of Life Cycle Costing to Compare and Assess Business Performance Differences and Opportunities Regarding Traditional Topsides versus Subsea Chemical Storage and Injection for Subsea Wells

As a significant aspect of sustainable development, Equinor is currently engaged in a substantial technology advancement involving subsea all-electric (AE) functions as a replacement for the conventional topside electro-hydraulic (EH) functions. Within the AE function, subsea infrastructure developers are planning and developing a Subsea Chemical Storage and Injection System (SCSIS) on the seafloor infrastructure. The system consists of storage units for chemical products located on the seafloor, connected to the manifold for onwards distribution. It serves as an alternative to the conventional distribution system where chemical products are stored in storage tanks on the topsides facility (e.g. fixed or floating platform) and injected into the subsea production system via an umbilical. The primary objective of this thesis was to conduct an evaluation of the business performance differences between the EH function and the AE function within the domain of chemical injection, over a 20-year design life. To achieve this objective, the thesis employed the life cycle costing methodology as presented in ISO 15663:2021. The methodology served as a comprehensive tool for comparing the life cycle costs of two alternative options. By identifying cost elements and cost drivers for each of the options associated with the main elements of life cycle costing, namely CAPEX, OPEX, and LOSTREV, the life cycle costing methodology could be utilized. Furthermore, by employing a diverse range of economic evaluation measures, coupled with trade-off considerations in life cycle costing such as HSE and sustainability factors, the thesis study aimed to determine which option offered superior benefits. The economic evaluation measures encompassed a variety of Monte Carlo simulations implemented within an Excel model to facilitate probabilistic cost estimations for each of the economic evaluation measures. The model was executed utilizing modified Equinor-specific data that aligned with the technical and operational basis outlined in Chapter 2 of the thesis. These modifications ensured that the data employed in the analysis were tailored to meet the specific requirements and standards established in the theoretical framework of the thesis. The thesis has demonstrated that employing the life cycle costing methodology for a project with a 20-year life cycle yields significant insights that aid in the decision-making process for investments within the petroleum industry. The accuracy of the cost estimations has been substantiated through a comparative analysis conducted on an offshore project of comparable scale, as well as consultation with Equinor representatives. Moreover, the thesis has illustrated that employing a probabilistic estimation methodology, supported by both top-down and bottom-up estimation approaches, can effectively address substantial uncertainties inherent in the life cycle cost analysis, resulting in sound results

Modelling uncertainty in global natural gas resources and markets

This thesis explores uncertainties in global gas resources and markets. Whilst global gas consumption growth has been strong in recent years, the need to shift the global energy system to net zero has raised significant questions about the role of gas in this transition. In addition to the global context of addressing climate change, gas markets have undergone significant shifts in recent years, driven by a multitude of factors including, but by no means limited to, rapid production growth from unconventional gas in the United States, rapidly increasing demand in China, and increased competition along the gas supply chain. This thesis finds that if global temperatures are to be kept towards-1.5oC, then gas consumption needs to peak now. Significant regional variations were found in this result, with European and North American demand declining from the present day, whilst key Asian markets (including China) see consumption growth to 2035 but then rapid decline. Therefore, several transition risks are identified in this work. This also has implications for price formation across different import markets, with a significant result from this thesis suggesting that prices in major Asian (e.g. China and Japan) markets converge, whilst European prices remain consistently lower. To generate novel insights in this thesis, two models were used, which have been soft linked to generate consistency of inputs and outputs. The existing TIMES Integrated Assessment Model at UCL (TIAM-UCL) provides long-term insights into the role of gas in the wider energy system, particularly under ambitious decarbonisation pathways. Additionally, a new global GAs Production, Trade and Annual Pricing model (GAPTAP), provides a novel representation of gas markets, with insights into regional price formation mechanisms, investment in new fields, the role of associated gas on price formation mechanisms, and variations in government revenues from gas production

Report of the Nova Scotia Independent Panel on Hydraulic Fracturing

On August 28, 2013, the Province of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Department of Energy signed an agreement with the Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment at Cape Breton University to conduct an external review on the environmental, socio-economic, and health impacts of hydraulic fracturing. Simultaneously, Dr. David Wheeler, President and Vice Chancellor of Cape Breton University, was asked to convene and Chair the review and expert panel on a voluntary and unpaid basis.1 The mandate for the review was to: create a panel of technical experts based on input from the public and hire technical consultant(s) to facilitate the work of the panel; hire a part-time project administrator; conduct public consultations on the process of hydraulic fracturing with online tools and face-to-face meetings with stakeholders; and conduct a literature review on the health and socio-economic impacts of hydraulic fracturing. These activities would result in a final report to the Government of Nova Scotia with recommendations on the potential of hydraulic fracturing to develop unconventional gas and oil resources in the Province. The scope of work included, but was not limited to, the following areas of research: effects on groundwater - including both water quality and quantity issues; effects on surface water; impacts on land; management of additives to hydraulic fracturing fluids; waste management; site restoration; requirements for hydraulic fracturing design including chemicals used; and the engineered design and financial security considerations that operators are required prior to conducting activity in the Province. The intended outcome for the project was for the Province of Nova Scotia to be able to make an informed decision on the future of hydraulic fracturing activity in Nova Scotia, based on input from technical experts and the public on environmental, health, and socio-economic impacts. The original end date for the review was June 30, 2014, but the deadline was extended until August 31, 2014

Federal Register

Daily publication of the U.S. Office of the Federal Register contains rules and regulations, proposed legislation and rule changes, and other notices, including "Presidential proclamations and Executive Orders, Federal agency documents having general applicability and legal effect, documents required to be published by act of Congress, and other Federal agency documents of public interest" (p. ii). Table of Contents starts on page iii

Holistic environmental assessment of oil and gas field development

This study has developed a new life-of-field, goal orientated process of analysis called Holistic Environmental Assessment (HEA). HEA assesses the total environmental risk associated with a proposed oil and gas field development. It prioritises environmental risks and identifies cost effective strategies to reduce them. For the first time the process was applied to a real 'case study' field development programme to test its effectiveness. The application identified that it is a useful tool to help design eco-efficient and costeffective oil and gas field developments. Furthermore, it was discovered that much of the information required by HEA could be obtained in a quick and user-friendly format. The new assessment process was developed after a review of the interaction of the offshore oil and gas industry with the environment, and techniques employed to evaluate this interaction. The review identified that the industry interacts with the environment in a number of different ways, and that the level of interaction transgresses the boundaries of sea, air and land locally, regionally and internationally. Legislation and public concern demand no damage to the environment from offshore oil and gas field exploration and development. UK environmental legislation and people's expectations for environmental performance are in a state of change. This change, coupled with the uncertainty over how resilient the environment is to perturbation, and the increasing risk of environmental liability presents a need for operators to clearly manage environmental information and assess total environmental risk. It was discovered that Environmental Assessment, Lifecycle Analysis and Cost Benefit Analysis, when used separately, failed to assess total environmental risk, but when used in combination under the HEA process could. Many organisations, such as the British Medical Association, European Oilfield Speciality Chemicals Association, the Royal Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (Norway) and Shell Expro, now recognise that a holistic approach is essential to assess total environmental risk. The author proposes that HEA would be effective as a software tool to analyse different environmental risk mitigation systems. This would facilitate the identification of a system that steers an operator towards the triple bottom line of Sustainable Development.Schlumberger LimitedEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Counci

Can range in information technology boost innovation in a mature industry? A case study of a work-oriented social media platform for innovative ideas and solutions in a large upstream oil & gas enterprise

This work explores the potential for enterprises in mature industries to employ the construct of Range, through its embodiment in software and processes that enable domain-crossing, to boost innovation. It builds on a theoretical framework proposed by Nobbay (2015), the Five Rs of IT-Enabled Innovation, which distinguishes Range as a separate concept in information science. Range involves the enablement of human networks across functional domains and socio-cultural boundaries. Work-Oriented Social Media (WOSM) platforms are prime examples of applications embodying Range. In a case study presented in this Doc 5 paper, a single WOSM platform, focused on innovation, is analysed from the perspective of features influencing adoption. The features are examined using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework (Venkatesh et al., 2003), which built on the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis, 1989) and other theoretical lenses of technology adoption. Primary research was conducted in two phases, both using mixed methods. In the first phase, 55 professionals from multiple organizations were surveyed on expectations of IT service delivery in the Oil and Gas industry. Separately, six expert practitioners were interviewed in depth. The construct of Range was developed and explored in the context of domain-crossing potential. Detailed results of this first phase were presented in Docs 3 and 4, and are summarized and referenced in this paper. The second phase was a study on the use of a WOSM platform called BrightIdea to promote crowdsourced innovation. The work included investigation of features that influenced adoption and usage of the platform. Additionally, the potential for domain-crossing innovation was explored through data analysis of ideas on the platform. The study was built on data collected from a survey of 144 employees of Empco1, a large company in the Oil and Gas (O&G) sector. The study also included interviews with Empco staff tasked with promoting innovation. Key findings were: (a) Social media features such as Likes and Comments favour platform participation, (b) Graphics and Statistics are desirable features of the platform, (c) Senior leadership encouragement was observed, but the platform was not boosted by Empco's middle and lower management, and (d) There was evidence of domain-crossing ideas, but technical disciplines had limited crossing. This work contributes to theory in the fields of Information Strategy and Organisation and Innovation Management through the development of the Five Rs conceptual framework and examination of the potential for Range to promote innovation. It extends the UTAUT model to WOSM platforms. The case study of the BrightIdea platform also informs professional practice, through analysis of factors that promote participation. Both platform-intrinsic and enterprise-determined factors are covered