An Investigation of Recovery Mechanisms for Oil Field Optimization by Three-Phase Core Flood and Simulation Studies

Two potential recovery mechanisms are being considered for a major field which required laboratory measurements to investigate the efficiency of the two scenarios: gas flood followed by water flood and water flood followed by gas flood. Although simply stated, the recovery scenarios involved complex three-phase processes which had to be replicated in the laboratory at reservoir conditions to provide reliable data upon which reservoir development decisions could be made. The first sequence consisted of water displacing oil to residual oil saturation (Sorw), oil displacing water to residual water saturation (Swro) and gas displacing both oil and water to Sor3φ,g and Swr3φ,g. The second sequence consisted of gas displacing oil to residual oil saturation (Sorg), oil displacing gas to trapped gas saturation (Sgto) and water displacing both oil and gas to Sor3φ,w and Sgt3φ,w respectively. Composite cores of four well-matched plugs at Swi were used and all measurements were made at bubble point conditions. A vertical core holder was housed inside a reservoir condition facility equipped with gamma attenuation saturation monitoring (GASM). Temperature stability and the use of GASM were paramount for the accurate measurement of produced fluids, especially trapped gas saturation. Oil, gas and water produced volumes were also measured using a separator housed inside the core flood oven to provide optimum temperature stability. The laboratory results were modelled in a compositional simulator using an equation of state tuned to conventional PVT data and both swelling and multiple contact experiments. The objective was to build a three-phase predictive model from the constituent two-phase relative permeability data. The paper details the experimental methods and presents results for each section of the two sequences. The key conclusions are that Sorg>Sorw> Sor3φ,g> Sor3φ,w and Sgt3φ,w< Sgto

Health and health belief factors associated with screening and help-seeking behaviours for breast cancer symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the European evidence

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to identify health or health belief factors associated with mammography attendance or with self-initiated medical help-seeking for breast cancer symptoms among women in Europe. Methods: Five databases were searched for articles published between 2005 and 2018. Meta-analyses were conducted for 13 factors related to screening attendance and two factors associated with help-seeking behaviour. Where there were too few studies to include in the meta-analysis a narrative synthesis was undertaken. Results: Sixty-five studies were included. Never having had cervical screening (d=-0.72, p<0.001) and higher perceived barriers to mammography (d=-0.40, p<0.001) were associated with lower levels of screening attendance. Possessing health insurance (d=0.49, p<0.001), greater perceived benefits (d=0.31, p<0.001) and motivation (d=0.36, p=0.003) towards screening, and higher perceived seriousness (d=0.24, p=0.019) and susceptibility (d=0.20, p=0.024) towards breast cancer were associated with a higher level of screening attendance. Presenting with a non-lump symptom was associated with a longer time to presentation (d=0.32, p<0.001). The narrative synthesis revealed that previous benign breast disease was associated with a higher level of screening attendance but with a longer time to presentation. Conclusions: The review identified key similarities in factors associated with screening and help-seeking behaviours which offer scope for combined interventions aimed at women that target both behaviours. Furthermore, the review highlighted that fewer studies have focused on help-seeking behaviour, despite two thirds of breast cancer cases being self-detected. Future research should further examine predictors of help-seeking behaviour including a focus on modifiable factors, such as BMI, and physical activity

What characterizes leading companies within business excellence models? An analysis of “EFQM recognized for excellence” recipients in Spain

This paper investigates whether there is a specific approach to the adoption of best management practices embedded in the EFQM Excellence Model, which characterizes leading “Recognized for Excellence” organizations in Spain. In addition, it studies which practices within EFQM’s enablers predict high performance. In contrast to most previous research that used surveys of managers’ perceptions, this study uses the actual criteria and sub-criteria scores attained by organizations in their assessment for EFQM recognition. Scores of a population of 216 organizations, which were assessed in the period from March 2011 to March 2013, are analyzed via ANOVA, factor and regression analyses. The findings show that Spanish organizations adopt the best practices encompassing the EFQM model in a similar fashion: organizations on average follow parallel trends in the scores received per criterion, and there are no significant differences in the importance attributed to enablers. Either role models are being followed, or most organizations know what is expected by the assessors and try to fulfil these expectations. Consequently, an imitative process disseminates and legitimizes the EFQM model in Spain. In addition, it is found that the People criterion makes a difference in attaining high performance, thus emphasizing the relative importance of the softer dimension in Quality Management. This study contributes to the management literature on best practices, by highlighting a consistent trend in the use of the EFQM model, and also provides insights to managers on how to better allocate resources within Business Excellence Models

Innovation capability and its role in enhancing the relationship between TQM practices and innovation performance

Innovation plays a critical role in predicting the long-term survival of organizations, determining an organization’s success and sustaining its global competitiveness, especially in an environment where technologies, competitive position and customer demands can change almost overnight, and where the life-cycle of products and services are becoming shorter.Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to extend the existing knowledge as to the relationship between TQM practices and innovation performance by exploring the expected role of innovation capability as mediator to enhance this relationship.At the same time, this study attempted to shed a light on how to improve innovation performance of manufacturing companies in Malaysia.The gained results indicated that innovation capability mediates the relationship between TQM practices and innovation performance. More importantly, this study supports the findings of the past studies that questioned the role of TQM practices in improving innovation performance. Finally, in light of the obtained results, several recommendations were introduced to assist decision makers in manufacturing companies

An Investigation of Recovery Mechanisms for Oil Field Optimization by Three-Phase Core Flood and Simulation Studies

Two potential recovery mechanisms are being considered for a major field which required laboratory measurements to investigate the efficiency of the two scenarios: gas flood followed by water flood and water flood followed by gas flood. Although simply stated, the recovery scenarios involved complex three-phase processes which had to be replicated in the laboratory at reservoir conditions to provide reliable data upon which reservoir development decisions could be made. The first sequence consisted of water displacing oil to residual oil saturation (Sorw), oil displacing water to residual water saturation (Swro) and gas displacing both oil and water to Sor3φ,g and Swr3φ,g. The second sequence consisted of gas displacing oil to residual oil saturation (Sorg), oil displacing gas to trapped gas saturation (Sgto) and water displacing both oil and gas to Sor3φ,w and Sgt3φ,w respectively. Composite cores of four well-matched plugs at Swi were used and all measurements were made at bubble point conditions. A vertical core holder was housed inside a reservoir condition facility equipped with gamma attenuation saturation monitoring (GASM). Temperature stability and the use of GASM were paramount for the accurate measurement of produced fluids, especially trapped gas saturation. Oil, gas and water produced volumes were also measured using a separator housed inside the core flood oven to provide optimum temperature stability. The laboratory results were modelled in a compositional simulator using an equation of state tuned to conventional PVT data and both swelling and multiple contact experiments. The objective was to build a three-phase predictive model from the constituent two-phase relative permeability data. The paper details the experimental methods and presents results for each section of the two sequences. The key conclusions are that Sorg>Sorw> Sor3φ,g> Sor3φ,w and Sgt3φ,w< Sgto