Search results for " petroleum"

Computer-aided study of the gas flow within a natural gas storage and the associated collection network

2017

The current paper presents a computer-aided analysis of the way in which a natural gas storage created in a depleted gas deposit and the associated gas collection network are operated, both during the extraction phase and during the injection phase. In a first step, an analysis is carried out on a two-dimensional, nonstationary model for the gas storage, based on the deposit’s geometry and the rock properties, but also on the gas motions. Also, a dynamic simulation of the injection and extraction processes is unfolded, allowing the study and optimisation of elements such as well placement and gas flows through the wells with the goal of maximising the storable gas quantities. A second model…

Isotopic ordering in eggshells reflects body temperatures and suggests differing thermophysiology in two Cretaceous dinosaurs

2015

International audience; Our understanding of the evolutionary transitions leading to the modern endothermic state of birds and mammals is incomplete, partly because tools available to study the thermo-physiology of extinct vertebrates are limited. Here we show that clumped isotope analysis of eggshells can be used to determine body temperatures of females during periods of ovulation. Late Cretaceous titanosaurid eggshells yield temperatures similar to large modern endo-therms. In contrast, oviraptorid eggshells yield temperatures lower than most modern endotherms but B6 °C higher than co-occurring abiogenic carbonates, implying that this taxon did not have thermoregulation comparable to mod…

DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT IN THE UPSTREAM OIL INDUSTRY

This is a study about investments in the upstream oil industry. The goal is to describe how investments that lead to oil and gas production, are made. The study of oil supply is central, because it represents 60% of the world’s primary energy supply. It is vital for energy renewables policy makers, in order to assess oil supply scenarios and adjust incentives for lower fossils consumption. It is also important for consuming countries. Previous studies have stressed the importance of market volatility for investment appraisal in the UK; irreversibility of investments; and remaining reserves as main drivers of investment and production in the UK. My study differs, since my results can be comp…

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ATMOSPHERIC BULK DEPOSITION AT THE INDUSTRIAL AREA OF GELA (SICILY, ITALY)

2014

Bulk deposition has been collected at six sampling sites in area of Gela plain (Italy) in the period from February 2008 to May 2009. Samples collected each two weeks were analysed for the major ion and trace elements content. Preliminary results allow identifying three different sources that control the abundance of the elements in atmospheric deposition: (1) sea spray, (2)geogenic dust, and (3) anthropogenic pollution. Due to the closeness of the coast, clear evidence of sea spray input is detectable for most of the samples. The high excess of non sea-salt sulphate(50 - 90% of the total) is prevailingly ascribable to the abundant SO2 emissions of the refinery.The pH values of the collected…

The effect of hydrocarbon on a pilot plant membrane bioreactor system

2015

The paper reports the main results from an experimental gathering campaign carried out on a bench scale plant for the evaluation of hydrocarbon effect on the system performance. In particular, a membrane bioreactor (MBR) under submerged configuration was analysed. The MBR plant was fed with synthetic wastewater containing hydrocarbons. Organic carbon, hydrocarbons and ammonium removal, kinetic constants, extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) production and membranes fouling rates have been assessed. The observed results highlighted good system performance in terms of both COD removal and nitrification, thus showing a sort of biomass adaptation to hydrocarbon. Such a result has been also…

Molecular Biomineralization: Toward an Understanding of the Biogenic Origin of Polymetallic Nodules, Seamount Crusts, and Hydrothermal Vents

2011

Polymetallic nodules and crusts, hydrothermal vents from the Deep Sea are economically interesting, since they contain alloying components, e.g., manganese or cobalt, that are used in the production of special steels; in addition, they contain rare metals applied for plasma screens, for magnets in hard disks, or in hybrid car motors. While hydrothermal vents can regenerate in weeks, polymetallic nodules and seamount crusts grow slowly. Even though the geochemical basis for the growth of the nodules and crusts has been well studied, the contribution of microorganisms to the formation of these minerals remained obscure. Recent HR-SEM (high-resolution scanning electron microscopy) analyses of …

Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) determination in surfactant stabilized marine water emulsions

2022

Bilge waters are wastewaters produced on boats during navigation and usually contain hydrocarbons and oils. They cannot be released into the sea if not below certain hydrocarbon concentration limits set by current legislation. Surfactants are often used to improve the solubility of petroleum hydrocarbons in water and in this work, the analytical approach proposed is suitable to determine accurately the concentration of hydrocarbons in surfactant-rich waters, as found in bilge water or similar wastewater. The method relies on the surfactant precipitation by addition of potassium and calcium salts, which also promote TPH extraction through a “salting out” effect. This allows for an accurate d…

Design and Analysis of Electric Powertrains for Offshore Drilling Applications

2016

Doktorgradsavhandling ved Institutt for ingeniørvitenskap, Universitetet i Agder, 2016 The global energy market is challenged with an ever increasing need for resources to meet the growing demands for electric power, transportation fuels, etc. Although we witness the expansion of the renewable energy industry, it is still the fossil fuels, with oil and gas dominating the scene of global energy supply sector, that provide majority of worldwide power generation.However, many of the easily accessible hydrocarbon reserves are depleted which requires from the producers of drilling equipment to focus on cost-effective operations and technology to compete in a challenging market. Particularly high…

Performance and combustion analysis of a supercharged double-fuel spark ignition engine

2019

In order to increase fuel economy and reduce pollutant emissions in the last decades light duty spark ignition (SI) engines have become smaller, supercharged and equipped with direct injection. A suitable alternative to oil derived fuel is represented by gaseous fuels, such as Natural Gas (NG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), whose higher knock resistance and better mixing capabilities substantially improve vehicle fuel economy and pollutant emissions. The simultaneous combustion of gasoline and gaseous fuel (Double-Fuel operation, DF) in a naturally aspirated SI engine has already been investigated in the past also by the same authors, proving remarkable results in terms of engine effici…

Innovation by co-evolution in natural resource industries: The Norwegian experience

2011

Author's version of an article published in the journal: Geoforum. Also avaliable from the publisher at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2011.01.008 Some resource-based economies become wealthy while others stay poor and Norway belongs to the first category. This paper argues that part of the answer to why Norway has managed to benefit from its rich natural resources is found in the formation of a well-functioning national innovation system. The paper integrates the innovation system approach with a historical approach through the concept of co-evolution. The empirical study investigates how innovation systems evolve in natural resource industries through analysing the co-evolution bet…