Improved storage efficiency through geologic modeling and reservoir simulation

The US Department of Energy (DOE), through partnerships with industry, is demonstrating the importance of geologic modeling and reservoir simulation for optimizing the development and operation of gas storage fields. The geologic modeling and reservoir simulation study for the Natural Fuel Gas Supply Corporation CRADA was completed in September 1995. The results of this study were presented at the 1995 Society of Petroleum Engineers` (SPE) Eastern Regional Meeting. Although there has been no field verification of the modeling results, the study has shown the potential advantages and cost savings opportunities of using horizontal wells for storage enhancement. The geologic modeling for the Equitrans` CRADA was completed in September 1995 and was also presented at the 1995 SPE Eastern Regional Meeting. The reservoir modeling of past field performance was completed in November 1996 and prediction runs are currently being made to investigate the potential of offering either a 10 day or 30 day peaking service in addition to the existing 110 day base load service. Initial results have shown that peaking services can be provided through remediation of well damage and by drilling either several new vertical wells or one new horizontal well. The geologic modeling for the Northern Indiana Public Service Company CRADA was completed in November 1996 with a horizontal well being completed in January 1997. Based on well test results, the well will significantly enhance gas deliverability from the field and will allow the utilization of gas from an area of the storage field that was not accessible from their existing vertical wells. Results are presented from these three case studies

A geological and geophysical assessment of the Royal Center Gas Storage Field in north-central Indiana, a joint NIPSCO, DOE and GRI case study

An effort to evaluate the Royal Center Storage Field was initiated to determine the feasibility of using horizontal well technology to improve the ratio of working gas to base gas and improve deliverability. The geophysical survey and interpretation was initiated by GRI and the geological modeling and reservoir analysis is being accomplished through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between Northern Indiana Power Supply Company and US DOE Federal Energy Technology Center. An integrated analysis of well logs, core data, and seismic survey data was applied to the Royal Center Storage Field in the Trenton Limestone aquifer. Core permeability data was compared to Epilog calculated porosity and gas saturations. The data show very complex relationships exist when compared in three dimensions. A correlation of seismic amplitude anomalies with the porosity and gas saturation on cross section was also used to evaluate potential well sites. A downhole seismic survey was then run to determine if the amplitude anomalies from the surface seismic survey could be detected and their orientations calculated to assist in designing the horizontal well. The integrated results from all of the studies were used to site a horizontal well in the northern portion of the field

Efeito do monocultivo de Pinus e da queima do campo nativo em atributos biológicos do solo no Planalto Sul Catarinense Effects of native pasture burning and Pinus monoculture on changes in soil biological attributes on the Southern Plateau of Santa Catarina - Brazil

O presente estudo objetivou avaliar o impacto da queima tradicional de campo nativo e do monocultivo de Pinus sp. em Lages (SC), no CO total do solo (COT), carbono da biomassa microbiana (CBM), respiração basal (C-CO2), quociente metabólico microbiano (qCO2) e relação CBM:COT. Foram selecionadas quatro áreas representativas da região, de 0,5 ha cada, sendo: (a) Campo nativo, sem queima nos últimos 50 anos (CN); (b) Campo nativo submetido à queima tradicional (CNQ), ambas, pastagens naturais; (c) Mata natural com predominância de Araucaria angustifolia (MATA); e (d) Reflorestamento de Pinus taeda com oito anos (PINUS). Para tanto, coletaram-se seis amostras, compostas de nove subamostras de solo em cada área, na profundidade de 0-5 cm, em dezembro de 2002. Para avaliar o CBM, foi utilizado o método da fumigação-extração. O C-CO2 foi determinado em laboratório. Os maiores valores de liberação de C-CO2 foram encontrados na MATA e no PINUS, seguidos de CNQ e CN, respectivamente. Os maiores valores de CBM, COT e relação CBM:COT foram encontrados na MATA, não tendo as demais áreas estudadas apresentado diferenças entre si. O qCO2 foi maior no PINUS, seguido de CNQ, em comparação com MATA e CN. A análise multivariada mostrou ser uma ferramenta auxiliar importante ao discriminar o CBM como sendo o atributo que mais contribuiu na separação entre as áreas estudadas.<br>The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of burning native pastures and of cultivating Pinus sp in monoculture in Lages, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Total organic carbon (TOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial basal respiration (C-CO2), the microbial metabolic quotient (qCO2), and the ratio MBC/TOC were analyzed. Four representative areas of the region with 0.5 ha each were selected: (a) native pasture without burning for at least 50 years (NP); (b) native pasture burnt off every year (NPF); (c) natural forest (NF) with predominance of Araucaria angustifolia and (d) eight-year-old Pinus taeda monoculture (PINUS). Data were obtained from six replicate samples composed of nine sub-samples each, from a depth of 0-5 cm, in the four studied areas. The fumigation-extraction method was used for the evaluation of MBC. C-CO2 evolution was obtained under laboratory conditions. The highest C-CO2 values were detected in NF and PINUS, followed by NPF and NP, respectively. The highest values of MBC, TOC and MBC:TOC were detected in NF, but the other areas did not present significant differences among each other. The qCO2 rate was higher in PINUS followed by NPF in comparison with NF and NP. Multivariate analysis was an important auxiliary tool for suggesting MBC as an attribute to discriminate the studied areas

Citizens of the academic community? A societal perspective on leadership in UK higher education

This paper presents a societal perspective on academic leadership by exploring the preoccupations of academics as citizens rather than as employees, managers or individuals. It uses a listening post methodology to ask 'what is it like to be a citizen of an academic institution in contemporary Britain?' Three listening posts, comprising 26 participants from 15 higher education institutions, were conducted and analysed. A number of common themes were identified, including a sense of ambiguity and ambivalence about one's relationship with the employing institution and a concern about the fragmentation of academic identities. Whilst this paper contributes towards debates about the marketisation of higher education and the implications for leadership and management practice, its main contribution is to challenge dominant individual and organisational perspectives on leadership by exposing an alternative discourse, based on citizenship, which may offer new opportunities for engagement in the civic life of universities. © 2013 © 2013 Society for Research into Higher Education