Absence of effects of herbicides use on yam rots : a case study in Wulensi, Ghana

Yam farmers in Ghana have, over the years, used herbicides for weed control, particularly glyphosate. Although this has been helpful to them, there are complaints and concerns, among the yam farmers and a section of the public, that the yam tuber rots easily under the use of herbicides. This study, therefore, was set up at the field level to investigate the possibility of herbicides use causing yam rot. Two yam varieties, laribako and olodo, were grown under the conditions of chemical weed control (use of glyphosate) and manual weed control in three replicate sites in Wulensi in the Nanumba traditional area of northern Ghana. The study revealed that there was no difference in rots between herbicide treated yams and manually weeded yams, but that there was a difference in rots between laribako and olodo yam varieties. The results also showed that there was no difference in yield between herbicide treated yams and manually weeded yams. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that, there was no difference in yam rot and yield between herbicides treated and manually weeded yams, but laribako was more susceptible to rot than olodo

The Comparative Analysis of Bonny Light& Bonny Medum Crude Oil Using Simple Distillation and Preflash Model For Maximum Distillate Cuts Recovery (Crude Oil Topping Refinery)

Although Nigeria is currently ranked as the eleventh largest crude oil producing country in the world, scarcity of refined products still exists within the country due to the sub-optimum performance of the four conventional refineries as none can boast of working above 60 percent of its design capacity. In an attempt to curb this saddening state, the country is faced with setting up modular topping refineries at strategic locations within the country as other alternatives seem to yield little or no result. This paper makes a comparative analysis on the simple crude topping unit, the preflash added model and the preflash-stripping-pump around model for maximum distillate cuts yield using Bonny light and Bonny medium crude sample. Crude oil characterization with the use of Aspen Hysys was done to reveal the maximum liquid volume fraction of the different distillate at an ideal condition. The different crude assays were simulated against the different topping refinery models where variation between the characterized and stimulated volumetric cuts in barrel per day was observed and analyzed. The analysis shows that Bonny light favours the production of off gas, light naphtha and kerosene while Bonny medium favours the production of heavy naphtha, diesel, gas oil and atmospheric residue. The best scheme for different distillates was also determined. The results gotten from this research will help both Nigerian and foreign investors to determine the preferable model for individual distillate products in terms of maximum yield

Library Materials and Human Health: Vulnerability and Preservative Measures

This manuscript documents a study on the materials and users of selected libraries in Nigeria, with a view to providing vital information on the effects of library-associated organisms on the library materials, and the health of people in its proximity. The study evaluated the modes of action of library-associated biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors, stated the impacts of the activities of the organism(s) on library materials and users, and investigated the prevalent environmental factors necessary for the well-being of the organisms. The modes of action of the non-living degradation agents were also analyzed and preventive measures were implemented accordingly. Nonbiodegradable library materials made from synthetic or inorganic sources might be a degradationfree option but on the other hand manufacturing of synthetic products would aggravate environmental pollution challenges. Organisms in the library depend on the ambient conditions to thrive, therefore strategic regulation of the library environment is important. Safety of library users and library materials can be guaranteed by the recommended precautions which were based on the study of the organisms

Measurement of the Best Z-Factor Correlation Using Gas Well Inflow Performance Data in Niger-Delta

Gas compressibility has a long and important history for gas industries. The use of z-factor in real gas analysis is unavoidable; hence study of the effects of different z-factor correlations against real life data was carried out. This research establishes the need and a solution for a simple, robust and flexible technique requiring the use of different z-factor correlations. The most common sources of z-factor values are experimental measurement, equations of state method and empirical correlations. Necessity arises when there is no available experimental data for the required composition, pressure and temperature conditions. Presented here is a technique to predict z-factor values using Gas Well Inflow Performance data. The three gas correlations under study are Hall and Yarborough, Dranchuk, Abu and Kassem and Dranchuk, Purvis and Robbinson. The interest of the research was to show the best Z-Factor correlation for Niger Delta. The method or approach used was to review existing models, developed a computer program to evaluate numerically the three correlations and the best correlation is shown by running a statistical absolute average error for each of the calculated gas well performance against the history inflow performance data. Based on the study analysis performed using the Niger-Delta, the Hall and Yarborough is ranked first, followed by Dranchukpurvis-Robbinson, while Dranchuk-Abu-Kaseem is recorded the last in the ranking model. Based on this study, it is recommended that the Hall and Yarborough gas deviation model is the best model for Niger Delta

Physico-chemical, malting and biochemical properties of some improved Nigerian barley cultivars and their malts

Five improved Nigerian barley cultivars (ESCOBA, ASE-2, ALOE, GOB-2, SUMBARD) were obtained from Lake Chad Research Institute Maiduguri, Nigeria, and their physicochemical, malting and biochemical properties investigated employing standard procedures. Data were analyzed by means of ANOVA [at 95% significant level] and correlations using SPSS 14 software. Results showed GOB-2 grain and malt recording the highest kernel weight (47.50 g) and kernel volume (41.21 ml); whereas ALOE grain had the longest kernel length (13.40 mm) and GOB-2 the shortest (9.40 mm). GOB-2 had the largest major diameter (3.39 mm) and SUMBARD had the least (2.86 mm). ESCOBA, SUMBARD and ASE-2 cultivars had the highest protein values (as %N) of 14.90%, 13.90% and 13.69% respectively, while ALOE, ASE-2 and GOB-2had the highest total carbohydrates of 69.97, 69.39 and 68.90% respectively. All the cultivars had good germinative capacities (> 90%), with GOB-2 and ASE-2 having the highest germinative energy values of 96.65% and 95.00%. No significant (p > 0.05) changes in the dimension of the kernels after malting. SUMBARD recorded the highest malt yields (88.55%)followed by ASE-2 (83.45%) and ALOE (82.00%). The highest α-amylase activities of 105.34 and 96.23 unit/mg protein/min were recorded by ASE-2 and ALOE, respectively, with corresponding diastatic powers of 81.92 and 76.23oL. Thousand kernel weight correlated positivelywith protein (r = 0.500, P < 0.05) and with total soluble solids (r = 0.435, p < 0.05) but negatively with α-amylase (r = -0.869, p < 0.05) and with diastatic power (r = -0.838, p < 0.05). This study showed that the cultivars have good potentials for use as malting materials in beverage making

Data on shale-water based drilling fluid interaction for drilling operation

The shale dispersion test (rolling test) is a common procedure that is used to measure the interactions between drilling fluids and shales. The shale rolling test depends on the moisture content of the shale, the shale composition, the viscosity of the test fluid, the rotation speed of the rollers, and the test temperature. The rheological behavior of the test fluid has the strongest influence on test results. The data was generated experimentally, shale samples from Agbada formation Niger-Delta was used. These shale samples were cored at a depth of 2000ft and 3400ft. Water based mud that will minimize shaledispersionandswellingofshalewasformulated.Thedispersion test was conducted, and it involves exposing a weighted quantity of sized shale to the formulated mud in roller-oven. This test is used to design fluids and screen the effectiveness of inhibitor additives to maintain the integrityof the cuttings and minimize the interaction of fluids with the shale sections during the drilling and completion operations.Theswellingtest wasconductedandthe linearexpansion adopted because it is the most representative of the increase seen by the wellbore but was measured in the direction perpendicular to the bedding plane as this is the direction of swelling into the wellbore

Economic Advantage of In-Country Utilization of Nigeria Crude Oil

Crude oil refining is a unique and important link in the supply chain of petroleum products from the wellhead to the end user. Refining adds value through conversion of crude oil and other flows into dozens of co-refined products. Nigeria is probably the largest importer of refined petroleum products on the continent, creating a lucrative refinery market in Europe and the United States. Subsidies have also contributed to the low capacity utilization in our refineries. The current situation of the four National refineries and high dependency on crude oil proceeds has made Nigeria government a full time exporter of crude oil. Because of our population, the demand for refined products which are imported in foreign currency have induced pressure on our local currency; thus, presenting a large cost to the economy. Instead of looking for international crude oil traders or embarking on discounted sales of our sweet crude in this era of low crude oil price, it will be profitable to utilize this crude oil in Nigeria. We will not only export the raw crude but also enrich our petrochemical industries and agricultural sector with the byproducts or co-products from its refining. Investment in petrochemical industry will really bring about an astounding effect in our economy because of enlargement of private domain which will usher new phase of life by reducing inequalities in the nation’s income. There has never been a doubt about the large size of the Nigerian market for refined crude oil and petrochemical products. As more countries are discovering crude oil, Nigeria’s crude oil export will gradually drop leaving us with excess crude oil instead of excess crude account. There is a need for government to develop industrial sectors that support or leverage its energy resources. The actualization will make it possible for Nigeria to change from raw material supplier to value-added product supplier

A Review on Gas Well Optimization Using Production Performance Models—A Case Study of Horizontal Well

This study considered the solution methods to determine optimal production rates and the rates of lift gas to optimize regular operational objectives. The foremost tools used in this research are offered as software platforms. Most of the optimization hitches are solved using derivative-free optimization based on a controlled well Performance Analysis, PERFORM. In line with production optimization goal to maximize ultimate recovery at minimum operating expenditure, pressure losses faced in the flow process are reduced between the wellbore and the separator. Nodal analysis is the solution technique used to enhance the flow rate in order to produce wells, categorize constraints and design corrective solution. A hypothetical case is considered and sensitivity analysis using the IPR Models for horizontal gas wells provides the effect on pressure and liquid drop out. The gas lift method is economically valuable as it produced an optimal economic water cut of 80 percent with 2 - 4 MM scf/day rate of gas injection; thus, 1800 - 2000 STB/day gas was produced

Negation and Silenced Love: A Critical Stylistic Analysis of Abdulrazak Gurnah’s The Last Gift

Abdulrazak Gurnah’s The Last Gift revolves around delicate existential issues migrants face living abroad. This study highlights the expression of love particularly the paradox of its manifestation in a foreign land. The word ‘silence’ appears eighty-two times and is integral to the silencing of love. Abbas has the rare opportunity to attend school and relish the potential opportunities which a Western education portends but he is restricted by a forced early marriage to a girl he doesn’t know. Abbas’ life comes spiraling after this. Ironically, he becomes silent after getting married to the girl he truly loves and bottles up his past, particularly about running away from a previous marriage, which he felt was a trap till his dying days. Through Leslie Jeffries ‘Negating’ as a textual conceptual function tool, this study presents the paradox of love and its silencing in Gurnah’s text as ‘negating has the effect of producing mental images of both the negated and the positive proposition’

Offshore Gas Well Flow and Orifice Metering System: An Overview

This research presents a concise account of offshore surface well test from objective, organization, to practical approach and in relation to orifice metering system of natural gas; against the perspective of regulatory standards. With reference to reliability, availability, affordability and including control measures governing the design, the orifice meter sometimes called a head loss flow meter is chosen most often because of its reputation in the oil and gas industry. Alternative metering system of natural gas, including robust and cost effective innovations within the industry which addressed some key limitations of orifice meter was examined. The advanced flow computer with transducers suited for orifice measurement installations is a cost effective electronic flow real time measurement system. It has telemetry features and improved accuracy under fluctuating flow conditions based on functional differential pressure root mean squared volume calculation principles. These new developments and their capabilities have reduced the market share of the mechanical orifice chart meters. Except that Electronic flow meters has environmental limitations; thus, the proven mechanical orifice metering systems are still an effective solution for many flow measurement applications