Energy efficient drill cuttings treatment plant designed by Norwegian-Group AS A feasibility study

Masters Thesis in Environmental technologyThe cuttings produced by the oil and gas industry must be handled according to legislations. According to OSPAR, drill cuttings should contain less than 1 percent oil by weigh before discharged. There is several cuttings waste handling options. Treating the drill cuttings offshore is considered economically favorable. Some offshore treatment technologies are able to meet the legislation requirements. Norwegian-Group AS provides a treatment plant concept intended for treating cuttings offshore. The treatment plant is based on three separation technologies. The first separation stage is a steam assisted cuttings dryer. The cuttings are then transported to the thermal separation. The thermal separation chamber is fitted with steam assistance combined with a heat source. Oil and water vapor from the cuttings dryer and thermal separation chamber is separated by a membrane. Clean steam is recirculated and reused. This thesis evaluates the following topics. Potential steam supply systems for the cuttings dryer. Potential heat sources that can be combined with steam assistance in the thermal separation chamber. The feasibility of separating oil and water by membranes to reduce the energy consumption and cuttings handling cost. Potential advantages and limitations that the treatment plant may feature. Increased the separation degree by utilizing steam in combination with the cuttings dryer is considered feasible. The recommended heat source to be combined with steam in the thermal separation chamber is microwave radiation due to its energy efficiency and unique ability to desorb capillary bond water and oil. On the other hand, the idea of using a membrane to reduce the energy consumption and cuttings handling costs is considered not attractive. As it cannot satisfy the aim of cost reduction. The treatment plant may serve great advantages over the current cuttings handling options suited for offshore treatment. The potential advantages are related to treatment capacity, energy consumption and handling costs. Potential limitations are related to reaching the legislation of various cuttings characteristics

Clinical features of suspected Ebola cases referred to the Moyamba ETC, Sierra Leone: Challenges in the later stages of the 2014 outbreak

Background The last ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak has been the most important since 1976. EVD cases decreased drastically in Sierra Leone at the beginning of 2015. We aim to determine the clinical findings and evolution of patients admitted to an Ebola treatment center (ETC) during the epidemic’s late phase. Methods We analyze retrospectively data of patients admitted to the Moyamba ETC (December 2014-March 2015). Patients were classified in EVD or non-EVD patients according to the results of Ebola virus real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (ZAIRE-RT-PCR). Results Seventy-five patients were included, 41.3 % were positive for ZAIRE-RT-PCR. More women (68 % vs 28 %, p = 0.001) were EVD-positive. More EVD patients had previous contact with an Ebola patient (74.2 % vs 36.3 %, p < 0.001). At admission, EVD patients were more likely to have fatigue (96.7 %, p < 0.001), diarrhea (67.7 %, p = 0.002), and muscle pain (61.3 %, p = 0.009); but only objective fevers in 35.5 % of EVD patients. The most reliable criteria for diagnosis were: contact with an Ebola patient plus three WHO symptoms (LR + =3.7, 95 % CI = 1.9–7.3), and positive contact (LR + =2.3, 95 % CI = 1.15–4.20). Only 45.2 % of EVD patients developed fevers during stay, but 75 % developed gastrointestinal symptoms. Non-EVD patients had gastrointestinal problems (33 %), respiratory conditions (26.6 %), and others such as malaria, HIV or tuberculosis with a mortality rate of 11.4 %. vs 58 % in EVD group (p < 0.001). Conclusions More non-EVD patients were admitted in the outbreak’s late phases. The low percentage of initial fever highlights the need to emphasize the epidemiological information. EVD patients presented new symptoms getting worse and requiring closer follow-up. Diagnoses of non-EVD patients were diverse with a remarkable mortality, presenting a challenge for the health system

Clinical Features of and Risk Factors for Fatal Ebola Virus Disease, Moyamba District, Sierra Leone, December 2014–February 2015

The 2013–2016 outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa infected >28,000 people, including >11,000 who died, and disrupted social life in the region. We retrospectively studied clinical signs and symptoms and risk factors for fatal outcome among 31 Ebola virus–positive patients admitted to the Ebola Treatment Center in Moyamba District, Sierra Leone. We found a higher rate of bleeding manifestations than reported elsewhere during the outbreak. Significant predictors for death were shorter time from symptom onset to admission, male sex, high viral load on initial laboratory testing, severe pain, diarrhea, bloody feces, and development of other bleeding manifestations during hospitalization. These risk factors for death could be used to identify patients in need of more intensive medical support. The lack of fever in as many as one third of EVD cases may have implications for temperature-screening practices and case definitions