Investigation of slug mitigation: self-lifting approach in a deepwater oil field

Slug flow is a flow assurance issue that staggers production and, in some cases, 'kills the flow' of the well. Severe slugging, a type of slugging which usually occurs at the base of the riser column, causes large amplitudes in the fluctuation of pressure within the riser column and consequently damages equipment placed topside. An adaptation of a novel concept to slug mitigation: the self-lifting model, is presented. This model presents variations to the internal diameter of the self-lift bypass to produce effective mitigation to severe slugging

Effects of Household Waste Generation, Disposal and Management on Farmers’ Health in Owerri Metropolis of IMO State, Nigeria

The study investigated the effects of household waste generation, disposal and management on farmers' health in Owerri metropolis. It specifically ascertained the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, identified the types and sources of waste in the study area, examined the waste disposal and management methods in the study area examined the effects of inappropriate waste disposal and ascertained the appropriate waste disposal methods used in the study area. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select one hundred and eight farmers from the three Local Government Area in Owerri metropolis. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive statistics tool such as mean, frequency, percentage, and mean scores. Results show that waste is majorly generated from markets and residential homes. Waste disposal methods were mainly burning, landfills and open dumping. Its effects includes destroys the beauty of the environment, blocks gutters and drainage system, pollutes the environment among others. Subsequently, appropriate waste disposal methods in the study area includes burning of waste (29.17%), placing of bins at appropriate places (16.07%). The study recommends amongst others that waste management environmental agency should make waste dumps or receptacles accessible to residents, public campaigns should be embarked upon to educate the citizens on ills of dirty environment

Gender and Resource Productivity in Rice Production n Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract: The inadequacy of information on resource productivity and their differentials by gender in rice production has prevented rice farmers from knowing the resources they are yet to realize their full potentials. This study analyzed resource productivity by gender in rice production in Ebonyi State of Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling techniques were used to select a sample of 130 rice farmers comprised of 65 males and 65 females from the 13 Local government areas of Ebonyi State. Data were collected with structured and validated questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and productivity model. Results showed that marginal productivity of labour, capital and land for male farmers were higher than those of female farmers, while the marginal productivity of fertilizer and seed for female farmers were higher than those of male farmers. Rice farmers should be encouraged to use more of the resource imputs since a unit change in their use increases rice output

Perceived Role of Agricultural Extension Services in Promoting Cooperative Entrepreneurship among Farmers in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, IMO State

Cooperative entrepreneurship avails participating entrepreneurs the opportunity to combine different skills and competencies to set up an enterprise. This study assessed the perceived roles of agricultural extension services in promoting cooperative entrepreneurship among farmers in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State. Data was collected from 120 respondents with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. Results revealed that farmers in the study area were engaged in different entrepreneurial activities. They perceived the roles of agricultural extension services as effective in promoting cooperative entrepreneurship with the provision of vocational/skill training; sanitation activities; provision of storage/processing facilities; procurement of agricultural input and information on credit sources. The perceived constraints militating against extension service delivery to the respondents were inadequate finding; lack of technical support and poor infrastructure in communities. It was recommended that government and non-governmental organizations should provide adequate funding and technical support to extension personnel to enable them deliver agricultural extension services geared at promoting cooperative entrepreneurship to farmers

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Treatment of produced water from Niger Delta oil fields using simultaneous mixture of local materials

Abstract Produced water (PW) from petroleum reservoirs often contains heavy metals and other contaminants that are harmful to the environment. Most of the commonly used treatment techniques have been reported to be ineffective in reducing some of the contaminants’ concentrations to recommended disposal levels. This study evaluated the effectiveness of four selected bio-adsorbents combined for treating PW from Niger Delta oil fields. In this study, orange peels (I), banana peels (II), sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) (III) and palm kernel fibers (IV) were washed with distilled water, sun-dried (24 h) and dried in the oven at 105 ± 5 °C (3 h, I and II), 150 °C (30 min, III) and 80 °C (3 h, IV). They were ground into powder, sieved (150 μ, Group A) and (300 μ, Group B), washed with 0.4 mol/L HNO3, filtered and rinsed with distilled water. Samples of PW were obtained from fields R, X, and Y in the Niger Delta and analysed for heavy metals using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Samples were treated in adsorption column over 6 h using the adsorbents simultaneously. Treated samples were analysed with AAS and characterised. Adsorption of heavy metals were assessed using Langmuir and Freundlich models. Data were analysed using regression and other statistical methods. For the 150 μ size of sample R, the percentage reductions for the metal concentrations (Pb, Ni, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Cr, Zn, Mn, Ca, Ar, B, Sn and Ba) were found to be 100%, 52.7%, 100%, 100%, 85.87%, 19.48%, 100%, 92.8%, 17.74%, 98.86%, 22.32%, 29.56%, 78.06% and 44.74%, respectively, while the reduction in 300 μ size were 1.52%, 97.2%, 71.4%, 17.1%, 43.8%, 45.6%, 7.04%, 89.6%, 35.4%, 99.6%, 0.0001%, 1.19%, 14.19% and 0.002%, respectively. The finer adsorbents were more effective. Similar results were obtained for PW samples from the other fields. Produced water from Niger Delta oil fields was effectively treated of contaminants using four selected bio-adsorbents mixed simultaneously

Landscape Ecology: A Helicopter View

This article reviews some of the main areas of landscape ecology. It includes the ideas and views of authors to the knowledge and understanding of the interplay between spatial heterogeneity and ecological processes, both in terrestrial and aquatic habitats at their varying scales. Moreover, the ecological consequences of landscape disturbance and landscape fragmentation are reviewed. Man and fire are discussed as the main agents of alternation of the natural landscape both at local and global scales. Studies on landscape restoration and management that emphasize the integration of various stakeholders for effective landscape restoration and management for sustainable biodiversity and socioeconomic benefits to man are as well reviewed. This paper further highlights the integration of the innovative remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies in the generation and analyses of spatial data. The current integration of population genetics in landscape ecology is also visited in this review