Using Process and Lifecycle Analysis to Deliver Economically Effective Environmental Health, Safety and Sustainability Public Policy

The intense focus on the intersection of energy and the environment has led to extensive discussion of both environmental issues and energy practices. While the environmental health and safety (EHS) issues in oil and gas is a topic of concern for the industry, policy makers, and citizens, it is typically overshadowed by the economic viability of oil and gas operations. Many policy makers believe that EHS practices represent an increase in cost on capital businesses. As a result, they develop environmental policy using methods which force businesses to choose between costs and the environment. This research proposes a systematic approach to process analyses, based on the lean – six sigma discipline. It analyzes the economic and environmental footprints of existing oil and gas operations using a series of case studies and recommends environmentally favorable solutions. It then evaluates the impacts of these substitutions on both costs and EHS, combining economically and environmentally favorable solutions for oil and gas operations. The results are used to recommend environmental policy that should encourage adoption of the proposed solutions. Two types of processes were analyzed, a carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) operation associated with liquefied natural gas production, and shale gas production. In analyzing these operations, both environmentally and economically favorable solutions were reached. In addition, by looking at the microeconomic footprints of the operations, public policy recommendations were suggested to more effectively drive adoption of environmentally favorable technologies. In the case of CCS, the net present value (NPV) for operators with the $23/ton CO2 proposed carbon price is about$700,000,000. In the case of shale operations, environmental remediation options resulted in an NPV of $20,000,000 to$30,000,000, and a reduction of 20,000 to 40,000 tons of CO2 for a single well cluster. The lean‐six sigma approach has demonstrated the ability to develop both economically and environmentally favorable solutions. With this understanding of the economics of oil and gas operations, more effective public policy can be recommended. This approach can be used across industries in a similar manner to drive effective global environmental policy and encourage environmental technology adoption

Sporadic Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva in an Egyptian Infant with c.617G > A Mutation in ACVR1 Gene: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an autosomal dominant severe musculoskeletal disease characterized by extensive new bone formation within soft connective tissues and unique skeletal malformations of the big toes which represent a birth hallmark for the disease. Most of the isolated classic cases of FOP showed heterozygous mutation in the ACVR1 gene on chromosome 2q23 that encodes a bone morphogenetic protein BMP (ALK2). The most common mutation is (c.617G > A) leading to the amino acid substitution of arginine by histidine (p.Arg206His). We currently report on an Egyptian infant with a sporadic classic FOP in whom c.617G > A mutation had been documented. The patient presented with the unique congenital malformation of big toe and radiological evidence of heterotopic ossification in the back muscles. The triggering trauma was related to the infant's head, however; neither neck region nor sites of routine intramuscular vaccination given during the first year showed any ossifications. Characterization of the big toe malformation is detailed to serve as an early diagnostic marker for this rare disabling disease