Implication of Future Carbon Dioxide Injection on Selected Niger-Delta Reservoir Rocks and Fluids

Mitigation against increasing carbon dioxide, CO2, in the atmosphere is uppermost in environmental research due to its negative effects and the most effective approach is in the area of underground carbon storage. In this research, a model was developed to study the possible alteration of porosity and permeability during CO2 injection to Kwale sandstone reservoir, Kwale shales, Imeri oil sand and Ota Kaolinitic clay. The proposed model combined the Timur model irreducible water saturation equation and the Coates-Dumanoir permeability equation, to describe CO2 injection influence on the Kwale reservoir permeability. The proposed model gave permeability values ranging from 0.06 milliDarcy to 92.46 milliDarcy for the Kwale sandstones and shale; 2.01 to 10.2 milliDarcy for Imeri oil sand and 1.8 to 10.2 milliDarcy for Ota Kaolinitic clay samples. In comparison, the Timur model gave permeability values from 0.0 to 634 milliDarcy; Tixier values range from 0.0 to 10053 milliDarcy; Coates-Dumanoir gave values of 6.68 - 8550 milliDarcy while Aigbedion gave values ranging from -3.7 to 5.94 milliDarcy. The published Kwale sands permeability ranges from 0.8 to 87 milliDarcy. During this research it was discovered that the injection of CO2 into Kwale sandstones resulted in an increase in the porosity of the sandstone, which is an indication of possible reaction between the injected CO2 and the formation. This made the Kwale sandstone formation a potential CO2 storage reservoir. It was concluded that the black Kwale shale lacked storage integrity as the stored gas may migrate to nearby reservoirs. The grey shale is recommended for CO2 storage as there was observed increase in porosity which is an indication of possible reaction with the CO2 to form new minerals which will make the gas to remain underground. Imeri oil sand formation is too porous and is recommended, with reservation, as a potential CO2 storage reservoir. The Ota Kaolinitic clay with its moderate initial porosity and reducing porosity with CO2 injection is a potential storage reservoir for CO2. It was observed that there is no single equation to describe the permeability variation with time for the samples considered but the permeability is a second degree polynomial in time and porosity immediately after injection but has an exponential relationship with the time/porosity after some days of injection. Moreover, research was conducted on the possible leakage of the stored CO2 to a nearby formation being drilled or produced. It was observed that this leakage will create drilling problems due to its side effect on the properties of the drilling mud and the oil in place. CO2 leakage into a nearby producing reservoir will affect the property of the producing oil negatively and there may be need for further treatment of the crude at the surfac

Africa and the Principles and Theories of International Relations: Problems of Analyses

To what extent have the principles and theories of international relations (as formulated) accommodated the specific needs and circumstances of Africa? In other words, how can the circumstances and peculiarities of Africa be made to shape and influence the established principles and theories of international relations as already conceived and propagated? The article critically examines and analyses the principles and theories of international relations and places these principles and theories within Africa conditions and circumstances. Using qualitative data sources, the article presents those problems of epistemology that impinge on the discussion and analysis of these principles and theories with the objective of providing opportunities for creatively reinventing these principles and theories to serve adequately the peculiar needs of Africa as she strives to develop.Key Words: International Relations. International Relations Principles. International Relations Theories

A Critique of the Meta-theoretical Explanations and Analyses of the Pre-conditions for the Stimulation and Attraction of Foreign Direct Investments

Is it correct to assert that Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) stimulation and attraction are based on certain preconditions? To what extent should the preconditions be allowed to determine the content, character and method of studying and analysing FDI? Should research efforts be focused on these preconditions? Are the preconditions the necessary determinants of FDI stimulation and attraction? What are these preconditions, and to what extent are they fundamental and critical to the stimulation and attraction of FDI? Do the preconditions only exist in an economy? Do they exist in the polity as well? How can their existence and totality be explained, analysed and interpreted? To what extent have existing efforts been able to accurately explain, analyse and interpret these preconditions? What conclusions that can be drawn from these existing efforts and initiatives? Finally, what are the implications for theory construction and formulation? Approached from the angle of critique as a method of social inquiry, the article interrogates these efforts and initiatives to reveal their bogus intellectual claims and logical inconsistencies. The methodology of research is rooted in the very eclectic sources in which these explanations and analyses are contained. The overall objective is to determine the extent to which these explanations and analyses are able to sufficiently account for, and capture the critical forces, processes and factors that tend to shape the movement of capital globally. The article concludes that the existing initiatives and efforts still remain inadequate in helping to concretely address how well the assumed preconditions are indeed the needed prerequisites for FDI attraction and stimulation.Keywords: Meta-theoretical explanations and analyses, Foreign Direct Investments, Foreign Direct Investments Precondition

Effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum G. on biochemical and haematological parameters of albino Wistar rats

The effect of oral administration of the leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum G. on biochemical and haematological parameters were investigated in albino rats for 16 days. The extract did not show any significant effect (p > 0.05) on the plasma concentrations of total bilirubin, albumin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), reticulocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH). The concentration of the platelets was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) at 1000 mg/kg body weight, while white blood cell (WBC) was significantly increased at 500 mg/kg body weight. The doses significantly reduced (p < 0.05) plasma levels of AST, ALT, total protein, glucose and creatinine while urea was significantly increased. While the extract significantly increased the lung, brain and liver-body weights, the kidney, heart, testis, spleen and epididymis-body weights were not significantly affected. The result suggests that the leaf extract of C. albidum contains antiplatelet and hypoglycemic properties and exhibited selective organ toxicity to the rats

Investigation of pumpkin pod extract as corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in HCl Solution

This work focused on the use of natural, and eco-friendly waste material as an inhibitor for inhibiting carbon steel corrosion. In order to obtain minimum rate of corrosion on carbon steel, optimization of the process factors that affect carbon steel corrosion was undertaken using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Three parameters were fluctuated viz; temperature, pumpkin pod extract concentration and time of exposure and their corresponding effects on rate of corrosion of carbon steel were ascertained. The data obtained was fitted to a model that is quadratic which was subsequently validated. The predicted lowest rate of corrosion by the model is 2.5427mm/yr with optimal conditions of 178.07ppm of pumpkin extract concentration, exposure time of 2.26hrs, and 35.28oC of temperature. The conditions were validated in three replicates and corrosion rate of 2.75mm/yr was obtained. Keywords: corrosion, optimization, pumpkin pod, response surface methodology

IMPACT OF FOREIGN AIDS ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN NIGERIA

The aim of the study is to examine the impact of foreign aid on poverty alleviation in Nigeria over the period of 1990 to 2017. Data were collected from UNCTAD World Bank database and CBN Statistical Bulletin. Consequently, Cointegration, DOLS and Granger Causality techniques were utilized to address the objective of the study. The major findings are summarized as follow: Foreign aid has not led to poverty alleviation in Nigeria. Similarly, FDI has a negative impact on household consumption per capita and not significant at 10% level of significance. This implies that FDI does not reduce poverty in Nigeria. In addition, there is an existence of insignificant positive relationship between inflation rate and household consumption per capita in Nigeria. Furthermore, there is a unidirectional causality which runs from foreign aid to household consumption per capita. However, there is no feedback relationship between foreign aid and FDI, likewise FDI and household consumption per capita. Also, there is a unidirectional causal relationship flowing from inflation rate to household consumption per capita. Finally, due to the findings it is recommended that since foreign aid has no reducing impact on poverty in Nigeria, the policy makers should not depend on foreign aid as the only means of combating poverty in Nigeria. Therefore, a holistic approach for tackling the challenge of poverty in Nigeria is suggested and should be embraced

Factors that affect the uptake of community-based health insurance in low-income and middle-income countries : a systematic protocol

Many people residing in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) are regularly exposed to catastrophic healthcare expenditure. It is therefore pertinent that LMICs should finance their health systems in ways that ensure that their citizens can use needed healthcare services and are protected from potential impoverishment arising from having to pay for services. Ways of financing health systems include government funding, health insurance schemes and out-of-pocket payment. A health insurance scheme refers to pooling of prepaid funds in a way that allows for risks to be shared. The health insurance scheme particularly suitable for the rural poor and the informal sector in LMICs is community-based health insurance (CBHI), that is, insurance schemes operated by organisations other than governments or private for-profit companies. We plan to search for and summarise currently available evidence on factors associated with the uptake of CBHI, as we are not aware of previous systematic reviews that have looked at this important topic

WHALE OPTIMIZATION ALGORITHM FOR OPTIMAL LOCATION AND SIZING OF RENEWABLE DISTRIBUTED GENERATION

Renewable generation is a viable source of clean and smart energy in a modern distribution network. Thus, the synergy between photovoltaic and small-hydropower yields a complementary and uninterruptible power output. However, location and sizing mostly affect operational output. This paper presents a combined Voltage Stability Index estimation (VSI) and Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) for the optimal allocation of renewable-based energy sources. The nodes voltage stability index is ranked to signal the whale optimization selection of candidate solution agents at each algorithm iterations. Thereby turning the Distributed Generation (DG) node selection into non-random mode to improve simulation time and performance. The WOA technique is modeled using the hunting activities of whales and analysed on IEEE 33 bus systems. The results confirm the algorithm’s improved performance of 89% voltage improvement and 48.50 power loss reduction for single PV integration. The technique ensures efficient network resource management for improved output

Post-Vaccination Pharyngeal-Cervical-Brachial Variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome

The pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is very rare. It is characterized by weakness of the upper extremities associated with bulbar symptoms and facial diplegia. Documented cases were post-infectious, a post-vaccination occurrence has not been documented in the available literature. Even rarer is the occurrence of any variant of GBS following the mumps measles rubella (MMR) vaccine. The neurophysiological hallmark of PCB variant of GBS is a combination of myelinopathy and axonopathy, hence, its consideration as a subtype of the acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) variant. It should be suspected in any case of acute-onset flaccid symmetrical weakness of the upper extremities, as early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing fatal bulbar weakness. Here we report a case of a middle-aged man, who presented with features of PCB a fortnight after being vaccinated for MMR