Petroleum Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K in raw and waste petroleum materials (Egypt and Kuwait) were measured using gamma ray spectrometer. The average values of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K were 21.1 ± 3.2, 7.6 ± 1.3 and 88.4 ± 8.2 Bq kg −1 for Egyptian samples while for Kuwaiti samples, they were 25.2 ± 3.4, 6.1 ± 2.2 and 67.8 ± 6.4 Bq kg −1 , respectively. All samples had activity less than the exemption level recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Moreover, radiological indices of radium equivalent, external, internal, alpha and gamma indices and radiation dose as well were calculated and their values were lower than the recommended regulatory limits. Thus, radiation exposure to petroleum materials did not present a significant radiological hazard.

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- Nuclear Physics, Petroleum, Kuwait

Investigation has been made to characterize the surfactant solution in terms of its ability to reduce the surface tension and the interaction between surfactant and polymer in its aqueous solution. A series of flooding experiments have been carried out to find the additional recovery using surfactant and surfactant polymer slug. Approximately 0.5 pore volume (PV) surfactant (Sodium dodecylsulfate) slug was injected in surfactant flooding, while 0.3 PV surfactant slug and 0.2 PV polymer (partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide) slug were injected for surfactantpolymer flooding. In each case chase water was used to maintain the pressure gradient. The additional recovery in surfactant and polymer augmented surfactant flooding were found around 20% and 23% respectively.

- by Keka Ojha
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- Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Petroleum, Enhanced Oil Recovery

This is a study of monthly natural gas production in Nigeria as a time series. The realization sampled and analyzed spans from January 2008 to December 2015. Knowledge of the trend of the production and a model which adequately accounts for variability in the series could be helpful for planning and administrative purposes. The time plot shows a generally increasing trend. It is observed that the series is also seasonal of period 12 months. A nonseasonal differencing of the series is stationary and a first order moving average model is fitted to it. That is, fitted to the original data is the BoxJenkins model, ARIMA(0,1,1). Taking advantage of the seasonality of the series, a seasonal differencing is done on the differenced series and a SARIMA(0,1,1)x(0,1,1)12 model is fitted to the original series. This latter model is found to outdo the former in adequacy on all counts. In addition, using the January to May 2016 data, with this model, there is out-of-sample observation/forecast go...

- by ette etuk
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- Statistics, Petroleum, Time series analysis

Atmospheric mercury pollution was recognized after a large oil spill on the west coast of Korea on 7 December 2007. In this study, the concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM: Hg 0 ) in air were measured both shortly after the oil spill (∼100 h) and 1 month after the accident near the accident site. When the Hg concentration levels were compared between two seashore sites and two parallel sites offshore, the values tend to decrease further offshore. The unusual rise in Hg concentration levels observed on the seashore area shortly after the accident (mean of 16.4 ± 9.85 ng m −3 ) dropped dramatically after 1 month with active cleanup activities (2.99 ± 1.40 ng m −3 ). Because of the connection between crude oil and Hg (one of the major impurities), the unusual rise in the atmospheric Hg after the oil spill can be explained by the active evasion of Hg from the spilled crude oil. Although Hg levels determined a few days after the accident did not exceed the reference exposure limits (REL) proposed by several agencies, the early build-up of elemental mercury level due to the oil spill might have exerted certain impacts on the surrounding environments.

- by Sudhir Pandey
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- Engineering, Petroleum, Environmental Pollution, Oil Spill

Helaeomyia petrolei (oil fly) larvae inhabit the asphalt seeps of Rancho La Brea in Los Angeles, Calif. The culturable microbial gut contents of larvae collected from the viscous oil were recently examined, and the majority (9 of 14) of the strains were identified as Providencia spp. Subsequently, 12 of the bacterial strains isolated were tested for their resistance or sensitivity to 23 commonly used antibiotics. All nine strains classified as Providencia rettgeri exhibited dramatic resistance to tetracycline, vancomycin, bacitracin, erythromycin, novobiocin, polymyxin, colistin, and nitrofurantoin. Eight of nine Providencia strains showed resistance to spectinomycin, six of nine showed resistance to chloramphenicol, and five of nine showed resistance to neomycin. All 12 isolates were sensitive to nalidixic acid, streptomycin, norfloxacin, aztreonam, cipericillin, pipericillin, and cefotaxime, and all but OF008 (Morganella morganii) were sensitive to ampicillin and cefoxitin. The oil fly bacteria were not resistant to multiple antibiotics due to an elevated mutation rate. For each bacterium, the number of resistant mutants per 10 8 cells was determined separately on rifampin, nalidixic acid, and spectinomycin. In each case, the average frequencies of resistant colonies were at least 50-fold lower than those established for known mutator strain ECOR 48. In addition, the oil fly bacteria do not appear to excrete antimicrobial agents. When tested, none of the oil fly bacteria produced detectable zones of inhibition on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, or Candida albicans cultures. Furthermore, the resistance properties of oil fly bacteria extended to organic solvents as well as antibiotics. When pre-exposed to 20 g of tetracycline per ml, seven of nine oil fly bacteria tolerated overlays of 100% cyclohexane, six of nine tolerated 10% xylene, benzene, or toluene (10:90 in cyclohexane), and three of nine (OF007, OF010, and OF011) tolerated overlays of 50% xylene-50% cyclohexane. The observed correlation between antibiotic resistance and organic solvent tolerance is likely explained by an active efflux pump that is maintained in oil fly bacteria by the constant selective pressure of La Brea's solvent-rich environment. We suggest that the oil fly bacteria and their genes for solvent tolerance may provide a microbial reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes.

- by Adrienne Smyth
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- Petroleum, Multidisciplinary, Antibiotic Resistance, Los Angeles

effectsfrom residential exposure to chemicals from an oil reprocessing facility and superfund site. NEUROTOXICOL TERATOL 17(Z) [89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][101][102] 1995. -Neurotoxicity has been described in workers exposed to solvents, PCBs, certain metals, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons but not often in residents near refineries or factories. We compared the neurobehavioral performance of residents near a plant that reprocessed used motor oil and chemical waste from 1966-1983 to referents from beyond the plant's modeled air dispersal and water drainage zones. Neurophysiological and psychological tests, a Profile of Mood States (POMS) and a symptom questionnaire were administered to 131 subjects exposed at the site who were matched for age, sex, and ethnicity 2 : 1 with 66 unexposed subjects from 35 km away. Test scores were adjusted for a 1.4-year difference in educational attainment by coefficients from regression equations but not for income as the latter coefficients were not significant. Exposed subjects were significantly impaired for body balance (sway speed) and simple and two choice visual reaction time as compared to referents. Blink reflex latency (R-l) and eye closure speed were normal in both groups. Cognitive function in the exposed was impaired as measured by Culture Fair and by block design from the WAIS. Placing pegs in a grooved board and making of trails (A and B) were also impaired. Group differences in recall and memory were not significant. The exposed group's symptom frequencies and POMS scores for depression, anger, confusion, tension, and fatigue were elevated indicating depression. Confounding from medical and neurological disorders or occupational exposures was minimal. Subjects exposed residentially for up to 17 years to chemicals dispersed from a waste oil reprocessing plant showed neurophysiological and neuropsychological impairment.

- by Raphael Warshaw
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- Cognitive Science, Petroleum, Environmental Health, Hazardous Waste

Low solubility of certain hydrophobic soil contaminants limits remediation process. Surface-active compounds can improve the solubility and removal of hydrophobic compounds from contaminated soils and, consequently, their biodegradation. Hence, this paper aims to study desorption efficiency of oil from soil of SPB1 lipopeptide biosurfactant. The effect of different physicochemical parameters on desorption potency was assessed. Taguchi experimental design method was applied in order to enhance the desorption capacity and establish the best washing parameters. Mobilization potency was compared to those of chemical surfactants under the newly defined conditions. Better desorption capacity was obtained using 0.1 % biosurfacatnt solution and the mobilization potency shows great tolerance to acidic and alkaline pH values and salinity. Results show an optimum value of oil removal from diesel-contaminated soil of about 87 %. The optimum washing conditions for surfactant solution volume, biosurfactant concentration, agitation speed, temperature, and time were found to be 12 ml/g of soil, 0.1 % biosurfactant, 200 rpm, 30 °C, and 24 h, respectively. The obtained results were compared to those of SDS and Tween 80 at the optimal conditions described above, and the study reveals an effectiveness of SPB1 biosurfactant comparable to the reported chemical emulsifiers. (1) The obtained findings suggest (a) the competence of Bacillus subtilis biosurfactant in promoting diesel desorption from soil towards chemical surfactants and (b) the applicability of this method in decontaminating crude oil-contaminated soil and, therefore, improving bioavailability of hydrophobic compounds. (2) The obtained findings also suggest the adequacy of Taguchi design in promoting process efficiency. Our findings suggest that preoptimized desorption process using microbial-derived emulsifier can contribute significantly to enhancement of hydrophobic pollutants' bioavailability. This study can be complemented with the investigation of potential role in improving the biodegradation of the diesel adsorbed to the soil.

- by Dhouha Ghribi
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- Chemistry, Soil, Petroleum, Medicine

Petroleum hydrocarbons are widespread environmental pollutants. Although biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons has been the subject of numerous investigations, information on their toxicity to microorganisms in soil is limited, with virtually no work conducted on soil algae. We carried out a screening experiment for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and their toxicity to soil algal populations, microbial biomass, and soil enzymes (dehydrogenase and urease) in a long-term TPH-polluted site with reference to an adjacent unpolluted site. Microbial biomass, soil enzyme activity, and microalgae declined in medium to high-level (5,200-21,430 mg kg Ϫ1 soil) TPH-polluted soils, whereas low-level (Ͻ2,120 mg kg Ϫ1 soil) pollution stimulated the algal populations and showed no effect on microbial biomass and enzymes. However, inhibition of all the tested parameters was more severe in soil considered to have medium-level pollution than in soils that were highly polluted. This result could not be explained by chemical analysis alone. Of particular interest was an observed shift in the species composition of algae in polluted soils with elimination of sensitive species in the medium to high polluted soils. Also, an algal growth inhibition test carried out using aqueous eluates prepared from polluted soils supported these results. Given the sensitivity of algae to synthetic pollutants, alteration in the algal species composition can serve as a useful bioindicator of pollution. The results of this experiment suggest that chemical analysis alone is not adequate for toxicological estimations and should be used in conjunction with bioassays. Furthermore, changes in species composition of algae proved to be more sensitive than microbial biomass and soil enzyme activity measurements. Enormous quantities of petroleum and its products are produced annually, refined, and transported on land and sea across the world. Consequently, risks and concern over petroleum hydro

- by M. Megharaj
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- Petroleum, Biomass, Cyanobacteria, Environmental Monitoring

The prediction of fluid flow behaviour in petroleum reservoirs is influenced by the physical and chemical processes active in interacting crude oil/brine/rock systems. It is usually not possible to assess these complex systems directly so proxies for molecular scale behaviour are needed. By their very nature, polar non-hydrocarbons are sensitive to fluid-rock interactions, and if properly exploited they may be utilised as proxies for describing reservoir engineering properties (e.g. wettability) that are also sensitive to fluid-rock interactions. We have identified a group of aromatic oxygen (alkylphenols and alkylfluorenones) and aromatic nitrogen (alkylcarbazoles) compounds present in petroleum that appear to respond to variations in fluid-rock properties. Here we describe the chemical and physical changes in a series of core samples obtained from North Sea reservoirs. A number of petrophysical parameters displayed strong correlations with polar non-hydrocarbon occurrence. For example, deflections in gamma ray logs in response to clay content in a coarsening upwards sandstone unit also showed similar deflections from a number of geochemical logs. A core-flood experiment was designed to monitor the chemical and physical changes during oil migration in a siltstone core. Following completion of the core-flood experiment, Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) analysis of core samples indicated hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface tendencies grading throughout the core. The distributions of polar nonhydrocarbons (e.g. C 0-C 3-phenols) appear to correspond closely to the observed wettability alteration. The results confirm the potential for developing proxies for fluid-rock interactions through monitoring the surface active compounds present in the polar non-hydrocarbon fraction of petroleum.

- by jim buckman
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- Petroleum, Petroleum Science and Engineering

An integrated fluidized bed reactor (FBR) has been employed as the treatment for petrochemical industry wastewaters with high organic matter and aromatic compounds, under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. The system was operated at hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 2.7 and 2.2 h in the anaerobic and aerobic reactor, respectively. The degree of fluidization in the beds was 30%. This system showed a high performance on the removal of organic matter and aromatic compounds. At different organic loading rates (OLR), the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in the anaerobic reactor was close to 85% and removals of the COD up to 94% were obtained in the aerobic reactor. High removals of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, styrene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene and naphthalene were achieved in this study.

- by Gabriela E . Moeller- Chávez
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- Biofilms, Petroleum, Water Purification, Multidisciplinary

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in a deep-sea hydrocarbon plume that caused a shift in the indigenous microbial community composition with unknown ecological consequences. Early in the spill history, a bloom of uncultured, thus uncharacterized, members of the Oceanospirillales was previously detected, but their role in oil disposition was unknown. Here our aim was to determine the functional role of the Oceanospirillales and other active members of the indigenous microbial community using deep sequencing of community DNA and RNA, as well as single-cell genomics. Shotgun metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing revealed that genes for motility, chemotaxis and aliphatic hydrocarbon degradation were significantly enriched and expressed in the hydrocarbon plume samples compared with uncontaminated seawater collected from plume depth. In contrast, although genes coding for degradation of more recalcitrant compounds, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, total xylenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, were identified in the metagenomes, they were expressed at low levels, or not at all based on analysis of the metatranscriptomes. Isolation and sequencing of two Oceanospirillales single cells revealed that both cells possessed genes coding for n-alkane and cycloalkane degradation. Specifically, the near-complete pathway for cyclohexane oxidation in the Oceanospirillales single cells was elucidated and supported by both metagenome and metatranscriptome data. The draft genome also included genes for chemotaxis, motility and nutrient acquisition strategies that were also identified in the metagenomes and metatranscriptomes. These data point towards a rapid response of members of the Oceanospirillales to aliphatic hydrocarbons in the deep sea.

- by Marcin Zemla and +4
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- Microbiology, Environmental microbiology, Petroleum, Lipids

This article is the first in a series of three that describe the results of a Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) conducted in the Grand Calumet River and Indiana Harbor Area of Concern (IHAOC). The assessment area is located in northwest Indiana and was divided into nine reaches to facilitate the assessment. This component of the NRDA was undertaken to determine if sediments and sediment-dwelling organisms have been injured due to exposure to contaminants that have accumulated in sediments as a result of discharges of oil or releases of other hazardous substances from industrial, municipal, and nonpoint sources. To support this assessment, information was compiled on the chemical composition of sediment and pore water; on the toxicity of whole sediments, pore water, and elutriates; and on the status of benthic invertebrate communities. The data on each of these indicators were compared to regionally relevant benchmarks to assess the presence and extent of injury to surface water resources (i.e., sediments) or biological resources (i.e., sediment-dwelling organisms). The results of this assessment indicate that sediment injury has occurred throughout the assessment area, with up to four distinct lines of evidence demonstrating injury within the various reaches. The primary contaminants of concern (i.e., those substances that are present at concentrations that are sufficient to cause or substantially contribute to sediment injury) include metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and total polychlorinated biphenyls.

- by Thomas P Simon and +2
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- Petroleum, Invertebrates, Environmental Monitoring, Risk assessment

Biomarkers are widely used to measure environmental impacts on marine species. For many biomarkers, it is not clear how the signal levels relate to effects on the whole organism. This paper shows how species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) can be applied to evaluate multiple biomarker responses in species assemblages. To our knowledge, the present study compared for the first time SSDs based on biomarker response levels for marine species to a SSD for whole-organism responses. The comparison indicates that for exposure to dispersed oil in the marine environment, the selected biomarkers were, on average, 35-to 50-fold more sensitive than the whole-organism effect. At the 5% hazardous concentration derived from the SSD for whole-organism effects, which is a conservative threshold level, the potentially affected fraction of species showing biomarker response corresponds to approximately 80%. Variation in species sensitivity, expressed either as biomarker or as whole-organism response levels, were similar. Although uncertainties exist, the link between biomarkers and risk assessment presented here provides a preliminary guideline for deciding when biomarker responses likely are hazardous and, therefore, require further investigation.

- by Renée Bechmann
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- Petroleum, Invertebrates, Environmental Monitoring, Risk assessment

This study was originally aimed at suggesting a two-dimensional program for the Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) process based on the correlations proposed by Heidari and Pooladi, using the MATLAB software. In fact, the work presented by Chung and Butler was used as the basis for this study. Since the steam chamber development process and the SAGD production performance are functions of reservoir properties and operational parameters, the new model is capable of analyzing the effects of parameters such as height variation at constant length, length variation at constant height, permeability variation, thermal diffusivity coefficient variation and well location on the production rate and the oil recovery among which, the most important one is the thermal diffusivity coefficient analysis. To investigate the accuracy and authenticity of the model outcomes, they were compared with the results obtained by Chung and Butler. The privilege of this method over that proposed by Heidari ...

- by Farshad502 Dianat
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- Engineering, Petroleum

The Vapor Extraction (VAPEX) process, a newly developed Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) process to recover heavy oil and bitumen, has been studied theoretically and experimentally and is found a promising EOR method for certain heavy oil... more

- by behzad rostami
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- Petroleum, Enhanced Oil Recovery, Gravity, Permeability

A multi-nested prediction system for the Yellow Sea using drifter trajectory simulations was developed to predict the movements of an oil spill after the MV Hebei Spirit accident. The speeds of the oil spill trajectories predicted by the model without tidal forcing were substantially faster than the observations; however, predictions taking into account the tides, including both tidal cycle and subtidal periods, were satisfactorily improved. Subtidal flow in the simulation without tides was stronger than in that with tides because of reduced frictional effects. Friction induced by tidal stress decelerated the southward subtidal flows driven by northwesterly winter winds along the Korean coast of the Yellow Sea. These results strongly suggest that in order to produce accurate predictions of oil spill trajectories, simulations must include tidal effects, such as variations within a tidal cycle and advections over longer time scales in tide-dominated areas.

- by Yang-Ki Cho
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- Petroleum, Environmental Monitoring, China, Multidisciplinary

From 1995 to 1999, four experiments were conducted on greenhouse roses to assess the effectiveness of the nC24 petroleum spray oil (PSO), D-C-Tron Plus, against two-spotted mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acarina: Tetranychidae), and to determine how the oil could be most efficiently and effectively used in combination with the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) in an integrated pest management program. The results showed that 0.5% PSO applied fortnightly to roses gave excellent protection from T urticae infestation when the mite population was not already established. However, PSO applied after roses were infested with T. urticae above the economic threshold only stabilised populations without reducing them below that threshold. Populations of P. persimilis in the upper and lower canopies were unchanged after two sprays of PSO at 7-day intervals, and application of PSO to the upper canopy was as effective in controlling T. urticae in the p...

- by Alan Meats
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- Zoology, Petroleum, Integrated Pest Management, Oils

A small fraction of the naphtha diluent used for oil sands processing escapes with tailings and supports methane (CH 4 ) biogenesis in large anaerobic settling basins such as Mildred Lake Settling Basin (MLSB) in northern Alberta, Canada. Based on the rate of naphtha metabolism in tailings incubated in laboratory microcosms, a kinetic model comprising lag phase, rate of hydrocarbon metabolism and conversion to CH 4 was developed to predict CH 4 biogenesis and flux from MLSB. Zero-and first-order kinetic models, respectively predicted generation of 5.4 and 5.1 mmol CH 4 in naphtha-amended microcosms compared to 5.3 (±0.2) mmol CH 4 measured in microcosms during 46 weeks of incubation. These kinetic models also predicted well the CH 4 produced by tailings amended with either naphtha-range n-alkanes or BTEX compounds at concentrations similar to those expected in MLSB. Considering 25% of MLSB's 200 million m 3 tailings volume to be methanogenic, the zero-and first-order kinetic models applied over a wide range of naphtha concentrations (0.01-1.0 wt%) predicted production of 8.9-400 million l CH 4 day À1 from MLSB, which exceeds the estimated production of 3-43 million l CH 4 day À1 . This discrepancy may result from heterogeneity and density of the tailings, presence of nutrients in the microcosms, and/or overestimation of the readily biodegradable fraction of the naphtha in MLSB tailings.

- by Phillip Fedorak
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- Environmental microbiology, Kinetics, Petroleum, Multidisciplinary

The long-term fate of petroleum hydrocarbons in marsh sediments (West Falmouth, MA) contaminated in 1969 by the spill of the barge Florida was investigated. A 36-cmlong sediment core was collected in August 2000, and sediment extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC). The latter technique is capable of separating 1 order of magnitude more compounds than the former and was used to observe whether any compositional changes in the unresolved complex mixture (UCM) occurred. No evidence of petroleum residues was detected in the top 6 cm (0-6 cm) and the lower 8 cm (28-36 cm) of the core. However, the central sections (6-28 cm) were dominated by a UCM in the boiling range of n-C 13 -n-C 25 alkanes, consistent with a No. 2 fuel oil source. The 12-14-and 14-16-cm sections had the highest concentrations of UCM (∼8 mg g -1 ). These values are similar to concentrations observed shortly after the spill. Initial GC×GC analysis revealed that only the n-alkanes were completely degraded, and contrary to previous studies, pristane and phytane as well as numerous other branched alkanes are still present in the sediments. These results suggest that at this site hydrocarbon contamination will persist indefinitely in the sedimentary record.

The story of Francis William Rickett is riddled with contradictions. Bluff and resourceful, notorious for his exploits in the world of oil in the 1930s, he remains an enigma today. Speculator and businessman he was, but he also had deeper links with oil companies and foreign governments than appeared in the press reports of the time. Above all, he lived in interesting times, and through his exploits we have a tantalizing glimpse into behind-the-scenes struggles for the control of oil.

- by Michael Quentin Morton
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- History, Diplomatic History, Middle East History, Iraqi History

In order to mimic the biological effects of an oil spill in Arctic waters, we examined several types of biomarkers (genes, enzymes, metabolites, and DNA damage) in polar cod Boreogadus saida experimentally exposed to the water soluble fractions of crude oil. During 4 weeks of exposure, induction of the studied biomarkers exceeded baseline levels. The mRNA expression of the cytochrome P4501A1 (cyp1a1) gene was the most promising biomarker, with glutathione S-transferase (gst) as a suitable complement. The delayed ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and GST activities and their persistence following 2 weeks of depuration may allow detection of previous exposures in field samples. The composition of PAH metabolites in the bile indicated the bioavailability of different PAH size-classes. Although mRNA expressions of antioxidant defense genes were induced at start of the exposure, with the strongest responses from catalase and cytosolic superoxide dismutase, they were poor for oil monitoring purposes due to their very short response times. Significant DNA damage demonstrated genotoxicity even at low PAH concentrations (<15 g L −1 ) and was correlated with benzo(a)pyrene and pyrene metabolites in the bile.

- by Renée Bechmann
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- Water, Petroleum, Aquatic Toxicology, DNA damage

An innovative bioprocess method, Systematic Environmental Molecular Bioremediation Technology (SEMBT) that combines bioaugmentation and biostimulation with a molecular monitoring microarray biochip, was developed as an integrated... more

- by 柏岑潘
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- Engineering, Petroleum, Bioremediation, Environmental Monitoring

Quantitative risk analysis (QRA) of industrial facilities has to take into account multiple hazards threatening critical equipment. Nevertheless, engineering procedures able to evaluate quantitatively the effect of seismic action are not well established. Indeed, relevant industrial accidents may be triggered by loss of containment following ground shaking or other relevant natural hazards, either directly or through cascade effects ('domino effects').

- by Ernesto Salzano
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- Engineering, Petroleum, Risk assessment, Disasters

L'Albania come nuova frontiera del petrolio.

- by Rovena Sakja
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- Petroleum, Albania, ENERGIA, Petrolio

A proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) analysis of all deaths recorded from 1975 to 1985 among New Hampshire white male residents (age 20 years or older) was performed using death certificate information. Among automobile mechanics, the analysis revealed increases in mortality from leukemia (PMR = 178, N = 6); cancers of the oral cavity (PMR = 163, N = 4), lung (PMR = 112, N = 36), bladder (PMR = 169, N = 5 ) , rectum (PMR = 182, N = 4), and lymphatic tissues (PMR = 200, N = 6); and cirrhosis of the liver (PMR = 140, N = 13) and suicide (PMR = 177, N = 22; p < 0.05). Workers in the gasoline service station industry experienced a leukemia mortality excess (PMR = 328, N = 3; p < 0.05) as well as increases in deaths from suicide (PMR = 162, N = 4), emphysema (PMR = 245, N = 4), and mental and psychoneurotic conditions (PMR = 394, N = 3). These workers are potentially exposed to a variety of substances including gasoline vapor, benzene, solvents, lubricating oils and greases, and asbestos (from brake and clutch repair) as well as welding fumes and car and truck exhaust. Despite limitations regarding the small number of deaths and methodologic constraints, the results of this analysis suggest that one or more of the exposures experienced by these workers poses a significant carcinogenic risk. More definitive epidemiologic studies are required to determine if the leukemia excess is associated with exposure to benzene, gasoline, or other workplace substances.

- by E. Schwartz
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- Petroleum, Leukemia, Automobiles, New Hampshire

Membrane-assisted solvent extraction (MASE) coupled to large volume injection was applied to the determination of (gasoline-type) hydrocarbon contamination in water samples. Hexane was used as acceptor phase. 50 L extract was injected in the programmed temperature vaporizer injector using combined split-splitless evaporation. The extraction conditions were optimized both for MASE with agitation and for MASE with sonication. In the course of optimization the effect of extraction time, extraction temperature, agitation speed, solvent volume, pH, ionic strength and the addition of methanol were tested. Over 75% recovery was accomplished in the range of diesel oil hydrocarbons (n-C 9-n-C 24). The developed method was validated. Linearity, accuracy and precision were tested. The method showed excellent linearity between 1 and 1000 g L −1 for n-alkanes and between 0.05 and 50 mg L −1 for gasoline. The method was tested with comprehensive GC × GC as well and found to be non-discriminative to all major compounds of diesel oil.

- by Zsuzsanna Eke
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- Engineering, Technology, Water, Petroleum

this substance by the automobile industry, the broader question became: What was the level of acceptable risk that society should be willing to assume for industrial progress? By examining this controversy, we will illustrate how, at... more

- by Gerald Markowitz
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- Propaganda, Petroleum, Air pollution, Public Health
- by Glen Fox
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- Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Zoology, Reproduction

Petroleum hydrocarbons persist in salt marsh sediments in Winsor Cove (Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts) impacted from the 1974 spill of No. 2 fuel oil by the barge Bouchard 65. Intertidal sediment cores were collected from 2001 to 2005 and analyzed for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs). TPHs content was greatest (as high as 8.7 mg g À1 dry weight) in the surface sediments and decreased with distance landward. Select samples were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with values as high as 16.7 lg g À1 for total naphthalenes and phenanthrenes/anthracenes. These remaining PAHs are mainly C 4 -naphthalenes and C 1 -, C 2 -, and C 3 -phenanthrenes/ anthracenes revealing preferential loss of almost all of the naphthalenes and the parent compound phenanthrene. Inspection of the data indicates that biodegradation, water-washing and evaporation were major removal processes for many of the petroleum hydrocarbons in the marsh sediments. In addition, historical data and photographs combined with their recent counterparts indicate that erosion has physically removed these contaminants from this site.

- by Glenn Frysinger
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- Geography, Petroleum, MARINE POLLUTION, Environmental Monitoring

«Soil Gas Geochemistry» ha demostrado ser una herramienta eficaz para prospectar bajo capas profundas. La escasez de oxígeno y el enriquecimiento del dióxido de carbón en el suelo atmosférico pueden ser usado como indicadores de... more

«Soil Gas Geochemistry» ha demostrado ser una herramienta eficaz para prospectar bajo capas profundas.
La escasez de oxígeno y el enriquecimiento del dióxido de carbón en el suelo atmosférico pueden ser usado como indicadores de mineralizaciones y estructuras enterradas.

- by Victor Medina
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- Geology, Geochemistry, Petroleum

Produced water (PW) discharged from offshore oil industry contains chemicals known to contribute to different mechanisms of toxicity. The present study aimed to investigate oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in rainbow trout primary hepatocytes exposed to the water soluble and particulate organic fraction of PW from 10 different North Sea oil production platforms. The PW fractions caused a concentration-dependent increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) after 1 h exposure, as well as changes in levels of total glutathione (tGSH) and cytotoxicity after 96 h. Interestingly, the water soluble organic compounds of PW were major contributors to oxidative stress and cytotoxicity, and effects was not correlated to the content of total oil in PW. Bioassay effects were only observed at high PW concentrations (3-fold concentrated), indicating that bioaccumulation needs to occur to cause similar short term toxic effects in wild fish.

- by K. Hylland
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- Ecotoxicology, Petroleum, Oxidative Stress, Water Pollution

This report provides an assessment of the potential costs of a worst-case hydrocarbon spill from Enbridge Energy Limited Partners’ Line 5 pipeline system (Line 5) in the Straits of Mackinac. The assessment was conducted over the first half of 2018 by Michigan Technological University and its subcontractors, and was performed for the Michigan Departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources, the Michigan Agency for Energy, and the Michigan Office of Attorney General (collectively the State) as recommended in the Michigan Petroleum Task Force Report of July 2015.

- by Robert Powell
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- Petroleum, Great Lakes, Pipeline, Michigan

- by pius sibeate
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- Statistics, Petroleum, Time series analysis

Thinking about the nexus between resource governance, climate change and security? Indeed, there are implications on a Global North and Global South lens. This piece addresses these thematic interconnections and other pieces in the puzzle... more

- by Okpaleke Francis and +1
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- Climate Change, Security, Petroleum, Human Security

La aprobación de la reforma energética (2012-2018) planteó cambios importantes en la explotación y en la administración de Petróleos Mexicanos, asumiendo que la apertura a la participación de las empresas privadas llevaría a una mayor competitividad y contribuiría al desarrollo del país. Sin embargo, se ha demostrado que las inversiones en capital y en tecnología con llevan graves impactos de carácter social, cultural y ambiental, propiciando además, en las regiones o en los territorios, una escasa integración económica. Por ello, propusimos trabajar en torno a tres importantes cuestiones: analizar el tema de los hidrocarburos vinculados con las problemáticas sociales, geográficas y ambientales. Incidir, si acaso como punto de partida, en la conceptualización del extractivismo en México, y la tercera cuestión, se centra en el estudio de los conflictos socio ambientales que la explotación de hidrocarburos ha generado en México desde hace más de un siglo. Así, se conformó esta monografía con siete trabajos que fueron presentados y discutidos en el Seminario Efectos territoriales del petróleo en México, que tuvo lugar en el Instituto Dr. José María Luis Mora. Uno de ellos hace una revisión historiográfica, seis hacen hincapié en las dinámicas y efectos que la explotación petrolera ha generado y pudiera generar en el futuro inmediato en el territorio. Acorde con los temas que se analizan, fueron agrupados en torno a tres líneas principales: En la primera se presentan dos trabajos que se centran en el estudio de la actual realidad petrolera de México y sus futuros impactos en el territorio como resultado de la reciente reforma energética. Los dos trabajos inciden en ello, uno desde la generalidad amparada en la historia ambiental y el segundo, vinculado a la normativa actual relacionada con el ordenamiento territorial y la protección ambiental. La segunda línea comprende tres trabajos que analizan las afectaciones e impactos generados en el binomio hidrocarburos-territorio. En la tercera línea se incluyeron dos estudios que se centran en el análisis de las ciudades y las transformaciones que el petróleo ha generado en las mismas.

- by Martin Checa-Artasu
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- Petroleum, Energy, Energy and Environment, Oil and gas

Chemical and toxicological characterization of unresolved complex mixtures in the water-soluble fraction of an artificially weathered Norwegian Sea crude oil was determined by a combination of chemical analysis and toxicity testing in fish in vitro bioassays. The water-soluble fraction of the crude oil was separated into 14 increasingly polar fractions by preparative high-pressure liquid chromatography. The in vitro toxicity (7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity, estrogenicity, and metabolic inhibition) of these fractions was characterized in a primary culture of liver cells (hepatocytes) from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The main contributor to toxicity was one of the most polar fractions, accounting gravimetrically for more than 70% of the organic material in the water-soluble fraction and dominated by an unresolved complex mixture. Chemical analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry identified a large number of cyclic and aromatic sulfoxide compounds and low amounts of benzothiophenes (,0.1% of total mass) in this fraction. Commonly monitored toxic components of crude oil (e.g., naphthalenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and alkylated phenols) eluted in less polar fractions, characterized by somewhat lower toxicity. Normalization of in vitro responses to the mass in each fraction demonstrated a more even distribution of toxicity, indicating that toxicity in the individual fractions was related to the amount of material present. Although polar and nonpolar compounds contribute additively to crude oil toxicity, the water-soluble fraction was dominated by polar compounds because of their high aqueous solubility and the high oil-water loading. Under these conditions, the polar unresolved complex mixture-rich fraction might account for a large portion of crude oil toxicity because of its high abundance in the water-soluble fraction.

- by Goran Gajski
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- Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Petroleum, Tobacco

The appraisal phase in a petroleum field is characterized by several uncertainties, high investment and critical decisions, which are always strongly related to risk. In the past, it was usual to realize production forecast based on a deterministic simulation model. However, production forecast obtained by a probabilistic approach allows the quantification of uncertainty in the reservoir performance by numeric flow simulation of several possible models. Current hardware permits to incorporate more accurate production prediction in the decision processes. A probabilistic approach requires the definition of a methodology. The objective of this work is to develop a methodology to improve the performance of the risk analysis process, trying to get the best accuracy with the lowest number of simulation runs, using an automated process and parallel computing to accelerate the process. The methodology is based on simulation of several flow models representing possible scenarios of the reservoir, through the combination of the uncertain attributes. As simplification, sensitivity analysis is made to reduce the number of uncertain attributes. The simulation models are built through the derivative tree using only the critical attributes. To reduce the simulation time, parallel computing is also applied. After simulation of the models, a statistic treatment is used to obtain the risk curve of the production forecasts and of the net present value. Representative models are selected to integrate the analysis with economic uncertainties. The methodology is applied in petroleum fields and the advantages of the automated process and the simplified procedure are discussed.

- by D. Schiozer
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- Environmental Science, Petroleum

This paper makes an analysis of all reported accidents and incidents in the Greek Petrochemical Industry for the period spanning from 1997 to 2003. The work performed is related to the analysis of important parameters of the incidents, their inclusion in a database adequately designed for the purposes of this analysis and an importance assessment of this reporting scheme.

- by Myrto Konstandinidou
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- Engineering, Statistical Analysis, Petroleum, European Union

During the process development of phenazopyridine HCl bulk drug, a potential impurity was detected in the routine impurity profiles by HPLC. Using MS-MS and multidimensional NMR techniques, the trace level impurity was unambiguously identified to be 3-phenyl-5-phenylazo-pyridine-2,6-diamine after its isolation from phenazopyridine HCl by semi-preparative HPLC. The formation of the impurity was discussed. To our knowledge, it is a novel impurity not reported elsewhere.

- by Prasant Kumar
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- Microbiology, Analytical Chemistry, Petroleum, Medical Microbiology

A simple and sensitive ultraviolet spectrophotometric method for quantitative estimation of glipizide in presence of lipid turbidity is described to avoid false estimation due to diffraction by turbidity. UV detection was performed at 230 nm, 225 nm, and 235 nm, and the calibration curve was plotted between resultant of absorbance of [230 nm − (225 nm + 235 nm)/2] and concentration of analyte. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range tested (1-20 g/mL) with limit of detection of 0.27 g/mL and limit of quantification of 0.82 g/mL. Percent relative standard deviations and percent relative mean error, representing precision and accuracy, respectively, for clear as well as turbid solutions, were found to be within acceptable limits, that is, always less than 0.69 and 0.41, respectively, for clear solution and 0.65 and 0.47, respectively, for turbid solution. Conclusively, our method was successfully applied for the determination of glipizide in clear as well as turbid solutions, and it was found that the drug analyte in both types of solutions can be detected from the same calibration curve accurately and precisely and glipizide entrapped in the liposomes or in proliposomal matrix was not detected.

- by Jerry Neff
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- Petroleum, Spectroscopy, Molecular, Environmental Sciences
- by Efe Bulduk
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- Petroleum, Oil and gas, Angola, Economy

Aerobic microorganisms able to biodegrade benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX) have been isolated from an area contaminated by petroleum products. The activity of the isolated communities was tested under both laboratory and field conditions. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene were added to the cultures as the sole carbon source, at a concentration of 500 mg/L. In batch cultures under laboratory conditions, an 84% reduction of benzene, 86% of toluene and 82% of xylene were achieved. In cultures with ethylbenzene as the sole carbon source, the reduction was around 80%. Slightly lower values were observed under field conditions: 95% reduction of benzene and toluene, 81% of ethylbenzene and 80% of xylene. A high biodegradation activity of benzene (914 lM/L/24 h), toluene (771 lM/L/ 24 h), xylene (673 lM/L/24 h) and ethylbenzene (644 lM/L/24 h) was observed in the isolated communities.

- by Andrzej Borkowski
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- Petroleum, Carbon, Biotechnology, Multidisciplinary

RESUMEN: El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la utilidad del vanadio como indicador de contaminación de origen petrolero. Varias muestras de petróleo, agua superficial, suelo, sedimento y tejido de peces fueron sometidas a diferentes procesos de digestión y analizadas para V, Ni y otros metales mediante absorción atómica por flama y horno de grafito. Se determinaron además varias propiedades del petróleo crudo y la partición del vanadio mediante un experimento de lixiviación. Se aplicó lógica difusa para determinar riesgo por V. En 39 muestras de petróleo se encontró una media de 99 mg kg -1 de V y 31 mg kg -1 de Ni; existe alta correlación (r=0,95) entre V y Ni; la relación V/Ni es cercana a 4 que indica condiciones reductoras y formación reciente. Se encontró cierta correlación entre el vanadio y algunas propiedades del crudo: viscosidad (r=0,78), densidad API (r=0,58) y %S (r=0,55). Para obtener valores de fondo, 20 muestras de aguas superficiales y 20 muestras de suelo fueron recolectadas en áreas sin aparente influencia antrópica; se encontró un promedio de V de 0,54 μg L -1 en aguas y 22,9 mg kg -1 en suelos. En sitios con impacto de actividades hidrocarburíferas, se tomaron 26 muestras de suelo; se analizó además el contenido de hidrocarburo; no se encontró correlación importante entre V, Ni y TPH, sin embargo, se determinó enriquecimiento de V y Ni con respecto a valores de fondo. Mediante el experimento de lixiviación, se determinó la cantidad de vanadio que podría pasar del petróleo al agua con un cambio de pH y con presencia de surfactantes. No se encontró correlación de V con WQI. Al aplicar un índice de geoacumulación (I geo ) se obtuvieron valores <2. En tejido muscular de peces no se detectó V. Se proponen como valores criterio: 2,5 μg L -1 para aguas, 100 mg kg -1 para suelos.

- by Luis Villacreces
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- Petroleum, Contamination and remediation, Hydrocarbon contamination, Vanadium

Sulfide accumulation due to bacterial sulfate reduction is responsible for a number of serious problems in the oil industry. Among the strategies to control the activity of sulfate -reducing bacteria ( SRB ) is the use of nitrate, which can exhibit a variety of effects. We investigated the relevance of this approach to souring oil fields in Oklahoma and Alberta in which water flooding is used to enhance oil recovery. SRB and nitrate -reducing bacteria ( NRB ) were enumerated in produced waters from both oil fields. In the Oklahoma field, the rates of sulfate reduction ranged from 0.05 to 0.16 M S day À 1 at the wellheads, and an order of magnitude higher at the oil -water separator. Sulfide production was greatest in the water storage tanks in the Alberta field. Microbial counts alone did not accurately reflect the potential for microbial activities. The majority of the sulfide production appeared to occur after the oil was pumped aboveground, rather than in the reservoir. Laborator...

- by Irene Davidova
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- Microbiology, Chemistry, Petroleum, Industrial Biotechnology

The risk of soil acidification is high in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) in Alberta, Canada, due to elevated SO2 emission and the resultant acid deposition to sensitive, coarse-textured soils. Understanding the sulfate adsorption characteristics of soils sensitive to acidification will help establish critical loads of acid deposition in AOSR. Sulfate adsorption properties were evaluated and relationships between sulfate

- by Yong Ok
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- Soil, Petroleum, Modeling, Multidisciplinary

In this work the development and the application of an operational management tool for the Greek Seas is described. This tool consists of a three-dimensional¯oating pollutant prediction model coupled with a weather, a hydrodynamic and a wave model in order to track the movements and the spreading of the pollutants and indicate those coastal areas which might be aected. The tool is part of the Poseidon system which has been designed to provide real time data and forecasts for marine environmental conditions in the Greek Seas. In this paper, we present four case studies based on realistic scenarios that show the value of the application for long-term strategic planning and short-term decision making in oil spill accidents. Ó

- by George Petihakis
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- Decision Making, Operations Management, Petroleum, Strategic Planning

The Gulf of Suez in Egypt has a north-northwest–south-southeast
orientation and is located at the junction of the African and Arabian
plates where it separates the northeast African continent from the
Sinai Peninsula. It has excellent hydrocarbon potential, with the
prospective sedimentary basin area measuring approximately
19,000 km2, and it is considered as the most prolific oil province
rift basin in Africa and the Middle East. This basin contains more
than 80 oil fields, with reserves ranging from 1350 to less than 1
million bbl, in reservoirs of Precambrian to Quaternary age. The
lithostratigraphic units in the Gulf of Suez can be subdivided into
three megasequences: a prerift succession (pre-Miocene or Paleozoic–
Eocene), a synrift succession (Oligocene–Miocene), and a
postrift succession (post-Miocene or Pliocene–Holocene). These
units vary in lithology, thickness, areal distribution, depositional
environment, and hydrocarbon importance. Geological and geophysical
data show that the northern and central Gulf of Suez consist
of several narrow, elongated depositional troughs, whereas the
southern part is dominated by a tilt-block terrane, containing numerous
offset linear highs.
Major prerift and synrift source rocks have potential to yield oil
and/or gas and are mature enough in the deep kitchens to generate
hydrocarbons. Geochemical parameters, sterane distribution, and
biomarker correlations are consistent with oils generated from marine
source rocks. Oils in the Gulf of Suez were sourced from potential
source rock intervals in the prerift succession that are typically
oil prone (type I), and in places oil and gas prone (type II), or
are composites of more than one type (multiple types I, II, or III
for oil prone, oil and gas prone, or gas prone, respectively).
The reservoirs can be classified into prerift reservoirs, such as
the Precambrian granitic rocks, Paleozoic–Cretaceous Nubian sandstones,
Upper Cretaceous Nezzazat sandstones and the fractured
Eocene Thebes limestone; and synrift reservoirs, such the Miocene
sandstones and carbonates of the Nukhul, Rudeis, Kareem, and Belayim
formations and the sandstones of South Gharib, Zeit, andpost-Zeit. The majority of oil fields in the region incorporate
multiple productive reservoirs. Miocene
evaporites are the ultimate hydrocarbon seals, whereas
the shale and dense limestones of the prerift and the
synrift stratigraphic units are the primary seals. Structural,
stratigraphic, and combination traps are encountered
in the study area. The Gulf of Suez is the most
prolific and prospective oil province in Egypt, and any
open acreage, or relinquished area, will be of great interest
to the oil industry.

- by Ahmed E. Radwan
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- Geology, Structural Geology, Research Methodology, Petroleum

Crude oil is the major source of energy worldwide being exploited as a source of economy, including Oman. As the price of crude oil increases and crude oil reserves collapse, exploitation of oil resources in mature reservoirs is essential for meeting future energy demands. As conventional recovery methods currently used have become less efficient for the needs, there is a continuous demand of developing a new technology which helps in the upgradation of heavy crude oil. Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is an important tertiary oil recovery method which is cost-effective and eco-friendly technology to drive the residual oil trapped in the reservoirs. The potential of microorganisms to degrade heavy crude oil to reduce viscosity is considered to be very effective in MEOR. Earlier studies of MEOR (1950s) were based on three broad areas: injection, dispersion, and propagation of microorganisms in petroleum reservoirs; selective degradation of oil components to improve flow characteristics; and production of metabolites by microorganisms and their effects. Since thermophilic spore-forming bacteria can thrive in very extreme conditions in oil reservoirs, they are the most suitable organisms for the purpose. This paper contains the review of work done with thermophilic spore-forming bacteria by different researchers.

- by Biji Shibulal
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- Petroleum, Bacteria
- by Genius Publications
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- Engineering, Chemistry, Petroleum, Combustion