A model of assessment of collateral damage on power grids based on complex network theory

As power grids are gradually adjusted to fit into a smart grid paradigm, a common problem is to identify locations where it is most beneficial to introduce distributed generation. In order to assist in such a decision, we work on a graph model of a regional power grid, and propose a method to assess collateral damage to the network resulting from a localized failure. We perform complex network analysis on multiple instances of the network, looking for correlations between estimated damages and betweenness centrality indices, attempting to determine which model is best suited to predict features of our network

Identification of Potential Risks and Controlling Factors Associated with Helicopter Operation: A Mix-Method Investigation from Oil and Gas Industries

This research article focuses on the identification of the characteristics of potential hazards and their suitable controlling factors for offshore helicopter operation at Malaysia and Saudi Arabia oil and gas drilling domains. In this study explanatory (Quantitative Leading to Qualitative) research design has been used for data collection and analysis process. While, 160 respondents for quantitative and 06 respondents for quantitative research has been participated in this study from targeted industries of Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Likewise, descriptive statistical approach (Mean, Standard Deviation and Percentage) has been adapted for quantitative study and thematic analysis method has been used for qualitative part of this research. According to the descriptive statistical findings, respondents from Malaysian and Saudi Arabian oil and Gas industries are mutually considered Mechanical failure; Bad weather condition and pilot mistake are the major cause of offshore helicopter accidents with overall mean range 3.48 from Malaysia and 3.43 from Saudi Arabian respondent. Similarly, from qualitative results, respondent have highlighted mechanical and environmental hazard characteristics as a major cause of life-threatening accidents and injuries during offshore helicopter operation at targeted industries. Whereas, respondents from targeted industries highlights engineering and administrative controls as highly effective mitigating strategy to overcome potential hazards associated with helicopter operation

Development of A Work-based Vestibule Training E-module For Accident Prevention at Malaysian Oil and Gas Drilling Industries: A Proposed Framework

This article discusses the conceptual action plan and detailed methodology for the identification of potential hazard controls and the development of work integrated E-vestibule training module for safe onshore and offshore oil and gas drilling operation at Malaysian industries. According to the previous studies, there is a sheer industrial need of an effective work integrated vestibule training module for accident prevention at oil and gas drilling sites at Malaysian drilling domains. In this proposed study, 80 drilling crew will be randomly selected for quantitative research phase. Similarly, 03 safety experts will be purposively selected for qualitative research from each drilling domain. Whereas, for the identification of hazard controlling measures What-If analysis and thematic analysis approaches will be adopted. Furthermore, the open source vestibule training module will be developed by using ADDIE based on identified hazard controlling measures. However, the visual studio and MySQL software will use to develop the E-Module for drilling crew safety training. The proposed E-vestibule training module development framework will be used as an effective source for the elimination of life-threatening drilling hazards associated with its activities at oil and gas industries. Similarly, the proposed framework can also be implemented on other work-based learning training designs. Moreover, this proposed safety and health vestibule training module will be the first E- drilling safety module which covers all onshore and offshore drilling operation in Malaysian oil and gas extraction settings

An Analysis of the Role of Management in Nuclear Disasters using Text Mining

This study uses text mining as a method of examining the role of management and culture in three disasters in the nuclear energy sector, Three Mile Island nuclear reactor explosion (USA 1979), Chernobyl nuclear plant explosion (Ukraine then USSR 1986) and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster (Japan 2011). The findings identify the role of management in shaping the quality of the crisis and disaster mitigation and preparedness management process employed by organisations. The implications of the findings are that it is imperative for organisations to develop and employ effective crisis/disaster management practice

Decision making in Engineering Projects

Even though risk management is a vital aspect of project management, the way that risk-based decisions are taken in projects is not well documented. Economic theory employs the concept of utility and assumes that decision makers are rational. Behavioural economics and prospect theory challenge this idea, making a number of specific claims about how decision-making behaviour deviates from rationality in practice. Based on a focus group discussion with project managers, this research highlights the importance of risk management in underpinning decision making and investigates the extent of rationality and applicability of prospect theory in an engineering project context. Prospect theory’s claims of reference dependence and loss aversion are found to be important, but the claims of diminishing sensitivity and probability weighting appear to be less relevant

OIL AND WATER: CORPORATE INTEREST AND RISK COMMUNICATION PRECEDING THE DEEPWATER HORIZON DISASTER

Palenchar and Heath (2006) claim that, “organizations find reason to implement programs whereby they increase the public’s understanding of technical processes as a means for lessening the fear of the threatening unknown and of increasing trust.” The research being proposed will hold the British Petroleum Company (BP) to these standards as they relate to communicating emanating from BP before, during, and after the Deepwater Horizon disaster of 2010

Root causes analysis of the Blow out of oil and gas wells in the drilling industry using Bow-Tie Analysis

Abstract Background and aims: One of the major concerns in the oil and gas drilling industry are Blowouts. Blowout could have severe consequences, such as fire and explosions, releases of toxic gases and environmental disasters. The aim of this study is to identify the root causes of kick and blowout in drilling industry. Methods: In this study, FTA investigates root causes of a kick while ETA explores the possible consequences (including blowout) arising from a kick. Bow Tie Analysis (BTA) combines FTA and ETA to explore the root causes and consequences (blowout) of a kick in onshore exploration Results: 28 basic event (root causes) have been identified for kick. Also to mitigate kick consequences, 8 safety barriers recognized. The probability of kick and blowout was calculated as 1/23×  and 2/94×  , respectively. The order of importance measure of each root causes was listed. Conclusions, In this study, Getting into the high pressure zone and not filling well with drilling mud during the trip up, was identified as the most important root causes of kick. Furthermore, early diagnosis of kick and the proper functioning of Blow-Out Preventer (BOP) were recognized as the first safety barrier to prevent the blowout

Present knowledge and future direction for risk management in offshore oil and gas project

Oil and gas offshore projects generally characterized as very high risk. The activities are well known exposed to a high level of risk that can't be ignored, but it still can be able to manage. In the past two decades since the 1980s, there are many studies in various aspects of managing risk in oil and gas projects have been conducted. The studies conducted includes risk identification, risk assessment, risk response and risk monitoring, and control. Although the number of studies conducted has been increasingly focused on risk management in offshore oil and gas projects, there are still limited number of published studies that summarise the literature. Hence, this paper aims to examine the present published studies on managing risk in oil and gas projects from a holistic outlook which may be used as a future guideline. To fulfil this paper aims, a systematic literature review was carried out by giving the areas focused on areas fields in oil and gas projects, studied approaches used by others researchers, by showing the pattern in research through the previous years. These paper also discussed the research gap found which might be used for future prospective studies

Offshore drilling blowout risk model : an integration of basic causes, safety barriers, risk influencing factors and operational performance indicators

We would like to thank Witt O’Brien’s Brasil and Pemex Exploration and Production for partially sponsoring this work, and most of all: Adriano Ranieri, Greg Fenton, Flavio Andrade, Dr. Faustino Fuentes Nucamendi and Eduardo Zavala Nacer. Thanks also to Mr. Thiago Molina for providing his expertise on latest generation Deepwater MODU's, which enabled to add current and practical aspects to the academic research on kick detection and well control issues.Peer reviewedPostprin