Cuttings transport and hydraulics optimisation for underbalanced drilling (UBD) operations in concentric and eccentric, directional and extended reach wells.

Underbalanced drilling facilitates the effective control of wellbore pressures - amongst several other important advantages - when compared to conventional drilling technology. However, this involves the flow of multiphase fluids, which introduces additional complexities due to highly transient flow patterns, unpredictable wellbore hydraulics and increased tendency for the settling of drilled cuttings in the wellbore. An accurate prediction of fluid dynamics and cutting transport efficiency is required to achieve an effective pressure-management hole-cleaning operation. In this research, a theoretical, numerical and experimental study was performed to analyse and investigate cutting transport dynamics and wellbore hydraulics. The analytical study involved the development of several mechanistic models, which are valid for both single phase and two-phase flows in the concentric and eccentric annuli, both with and without inner pipe rotation. The study derives and presents Reynolds number and effective viscosity equations valid for annuli flow of both Newtonian and non-Newtonian Power law, Bingham plastic and Yield power law fluids. The study also used the solution of the continuity equation of motion for axial steady-state flows to formulate new Laminar and turbulent friction geometry parameter and friction factor equations, which take into account the combined effect of the fluid rheology, fluid circulation rate, pipe eccentricity and inner pipe rotation speed for the evaluation of the flow dynamics and pressure losses in the annuli. In addition, the study developed new flow gas-liquid pattern-dependent multi-layered models for the different cuttings transport mechanisms, valid for both horizontal and inclined annuli flows. Numerical computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed to discretise and solve the governing equations for fluid flow, using a finite volume mathematical approach to obtain velocity, viscosity and pressure fields for different input conditions. Furthermore, an experimental study was carried out to evaluate the interplay between the two-phase gas-liquid flow patterns and the major drilling parameters, and to investigate the influence on the cuttings and fluid flow dynamics in a horizontal and inclined drilling wellbore. Results showed that the effect of the drillpipe rotation on cuttings transport in the annuli is highly dependent on the fluid rheological properties, the drillpipe eccentricity, the wellbore inclination and fluid flow pattern. The annuli pressure gradient was found to be dependent on the fluid flow pattern and the prevailing cutting transport mechanism. The minimum requirements to clean an eccentric annulus is higher than that required for the concentric annulus. Furthermore, the local mixture properties and gas-liquid flow pattern of the fluid is strongly influenced by the inclination angle of the wellbore, which consequently influences annuli pressure losses and cutting transport dynamics. Although drillpipe rotation can improve cuttings transport through the annuli, the influence of drillpipe rotation on the cutting's movement in the two-phase gas-liquid drilling fluid is much less than that of the single-phase drilling fluid. Overall, a good match was found when the mathematical models were compared to the experimental data. The output of this research is very useful for implementing an efficient cutting transport operation, hydraulic program optimisation and effective wellbore control, particularly for managed pressure drilling operations

Resource Control and Niger Delta Struggle

This paper will critically focus on the production of oil as Nigeria’s source of foreign exchange income and the struggle of the Niger Delta  to achieve the resource control. The paper examines the grievance of the people of Niger Delta and their increased agitation for a share of the oil benefits. It also analyses the agitation for resources control in southern Nigeria in general and Niger Delta in particular. The paper identifies the actors in the struggle for resource control agitation and the issue in context. About 95 percent of  Nigeria’s export earnings come from the oil resources of the Niger Delta region in Southern Nigeria. But only a small fraction of the revenue generated gets to the Niger Delta. Therefore, the Region is the least developed part of Nigeria. Keywords: Resource Control, revenue allocation

Analysis Of Electronic Voting Schemes In The Real World

Voting is at the heart of a country’s democracy. Assurance in the integrity of the electoral process is pivotal for voters to have any trust in the system. Often, electronic voting schemes proposed in the literature, or even implemented in real world elections do not always consider all issues that may exist in the environment in which they might be deployed. In this paper, we identify some real - world issues and threats to electronic voting schemes. We then use the threats we have identified to present an analysis of schemes recently used in Australia and Estonia and present recommendations to mitigate threats to such schemes when deployed in an untrustworthy environment

Cultural and Socio-political issues: Gender Politics of Military & Civilian; The Nigerian woman

The pattern of culture and socio-political development in any given society generates peculiar structural inequalities between men and women. This goes a long way in determining the opportunities available to both sexes in the economy, politics, religion, education etc which in turn reinforces the roles played by the sexes in the prevailing culture and socio-political order. Thus paper argues and sheds light on the structural inequalities that exist between men and women in which woman’s right are abused is due largely to the patrilineal nature of the society. In Nigeria, Gender politics of military and civilian rule is largely a function of the prevailing and entrenched pattern of human rights practice, the role of the military and political gladiators cannot be overemphasized, which of course is a reflection of the cultural and socio-political values of the Nigerian society

Peace and Conflict Resolution: A dimensional discourse of the oil producing communities in NIGERIA.

Conflict is a national phenomenon and an unavoidable consequence of human interaction in any society. It can take many shapes in the work place and community; it can occur between people representing different organizational units, it can occur between people who work together. Conflict is a dynamic process that is precipitated, developed and governed by the joint communication strategies of the parties involved. In support of the above viewpoint is Ukadu (1999) who stated that conflict is a natural occurrence in everyday inter-relationship. Any organization without conflict problems implies that the organization is not dynamic and nothing significant is going on in the organization. Conflict is a fact of life and it occurs between individuals (inter-personal conflict) or between groups (inter-group conflict) individuals engaged in conflict typically experience  stress, anger, bitterness, frustration and anxiety, yet this natural outcome of relationship between individuals and groups makes an organization  move forward if well managed. However, indifference to it, threatens the very existence of an organization. On the other hand, peace is an agreement or treaty between warring or antagonistic Nations, groups etc. it is also a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, especially in personal relationships. It is the cessation of or freedom   of  any strife or dissension. On the premise of the above expressions, this piece of work discusses the following salient issues. *The meaning, nature, concept of conflict and peace. *The need for peace. *The causes of conflicts in  the oil producing communities. *The ingredients of conflict. *The effects or consequences of conflicts. *The different methods adopted in the management of conflicts . *Conflicts Resolution strategies. *How to end the conflicts in the oil producing Areas

Globalization and its Effect in Nigeria Public Service

The study aimed at analyzing the impact of globalization on the economic sovereignty of Nigeria. The study posits that globalization undermines the National Policy of developing countries. Its methodology pivots a critical analysis of secondary data. Its findings reveal that indeed globalization undermines the capacity of the Nigerian state to pursue independent economic policy. It however recommends amongst others the need for Nigeria to organize her economy to strive for more democratic global systems in order to enhance her bargaining power. This should be done in addition to increase her volume of trade, investment and communication through economic diversification

Militancy and Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta: Excerpts from the Fourth Republic

The resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and Delta State in particular has reached a seemingly high level, which has contributed to the crumbling economy of Nigeria as these series of attacks on oil facilities have reduced the barrel production of crude oil per day in the region. This has posed an imminent threat with the ongoing economic meltdown in the country. The identified reasons have been the cutbacks on the amnesty arrangements, the environmental degradation and continuous deprivation of the oil rich regions from the proceeds of the oil derived from their region and demand for ownership of the region by residents which has affected sustainable development in Delta state. This work however, through the means of empirical study, pinpoints the several reasons for the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region and its effect on sustainable development in Delta state and the viability of the group’s bluff in crippling the Nigerian economy. The Study is anchored on the frustration Aggression theory and adopted the primary method of data collection. The study recommends some viable solutions amongst which are; giving more credence to the importance of Niger Delta region, developmental projects that are supervised by stakeholders and disinterested organizations in the region and Delta state in Particular. Keywords: Militancy, Sustainable Development, Securit

Restructuring for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria: The Role of Political Education and Information Communication Technology

The study examined the role of political education and Information Communication Technology (ICT) for sustainable democracy in Nigeria. The paper conceptualized political education and IC T for sustainable democracy. The paper adopted observation and secondary methods of data gathering. The paper argued that electoral violence and fraud that marred conducted elections in Nigeria was  due to decades of military rule that militarized the psyche of most Nigerians, and lack of continuous political education to redirect the militarized mentality they do display in electoral process, to democratized mentality to sustain democracy in Nigeria. This is because the anti-democratic mentality of most Nigerians has created loopholes for politicians to manipulate the electoral process which portents a threat to democracy in Nigeria. The paper revealed that continuous political education through the use of ICT tools like social network sites will create political awareness that will enlighten Nigerians to deter them from electoral violence and fraud, and other related anti-democratic behaviour to bring about sustainable democracy in Nigeria. Therefore, the paper recommends among others, that the Nigerian government should liaise with advanced countries that have successfully built ICT in their democratic governance, to see areas where they can collaborate to ensure stable use of ICT facilities in Nigeria. Keywords: Restructuring, Sustainable Democracy, Political Education, Information Communication Technology (ICT