International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=242&year=2012&vol=5&issue=1 Inderscience Publishers Ltd en-uk International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology 1753-3309 1753-3317 © 2012 Inderscience Publishers Ltd editor@inderscience.com https://www.inderscience.com/images/files/coverImgs/ijogct_scoverijogct.jpg http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=242&year=2012&vol=5&issue=1 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44175 Producing hydrocarbon from shale plays has attracted much attention in recent years. Advances in horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing have made shale reservoirs a focal point for many operators. Our understanding of the complexities associated with the flow mechanism in shale has not kept up with our interest in shale formations. We present the application of a new reservoir modelling approach to history matching, forecasting and predicting hydrocarbon production from shale reservoirs, where instead of imposing our understanding on the reservoir model, we allow the production history, well log, and hydraulic fracturing data to force their will on our model. By carefully listening to the data, we developed a data-driven model and history match the production process and validate our model (using blind production history). Examples of three case studies in Lower Huron and New Albany shale formations (gas producing) and Bakken shale (oil producing) are presented in this article. [Received: June 20, 2011; Accepted: July 21, 2011] Top-down, intelligent reservoir modelling of oil and gas producing shale reservoirs: case studies
Shahab D. Mohaghegh; Ognjen Gruic; Saeed Zargari; Amirmasoud Kalantari-Dahaghi; Grant S. Bromhal
International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 3 - 28
Producing hydrocarbon from shale plays has attracted much attention in recent years. Advances in horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing have made shale reservoirs a focal point for many operators. Our understanding of the complexities associated with the flow mechanism in shale has not kept up with our interest in shale formations. We present the application of a new reservoir modelling approach to history matching, forecasting and predicting hydrocarbon production from shale reservoirs, where instead of imposing our understanding on the reservoir model, we allow the production history, well log, and hydraulic fracturing data to force their will on our model. By carefully listening to the data, we developed a data-driven model and history match the production process and validate our model (using blind production history). Examples of three case studies in Lower Huron and New Albany shale formations (gas producing) and Bakken shale (oil producing) are presented in this article. [Received: June 20, 2011; Accepted: July 21, 2011]

]]> 10.1504/IJOGCT.2012.044175 International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 3 - 28 Shahab D. Mohaghegh; Ognjen Gruic; Saeed Zargari; Amirmasoud Kalantari-Dahaghi; Grant S. Bromhal Intelligent Solutions, Inc., Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. ' Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, 135 Mineral Resources Building, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. ' Petroleum Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines, 1613 Illinois St., Golden, CO 80401, USA. ' Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, 135 Mineral Resources Building, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA ' US Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, 3610 Collins Ferry Road, P.O. Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507, USA top-down modelling TDM shale reservoirs reservoir modelling reservoir simulation intelligent modelling hydrocarbon production oil and gas production history well logs hydraulic fracturing data. 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00 5 1 3 28 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44176 The aim of this paper is to investigate cost overrun of pipeline projects. A total of 412 pipeline projects between 1992 and 2008 have been collected, including material cost, labour cost, miscellaneous cost, right of way (ROW) cost, total cost, pipeline diameter, pipeline length, pipeline's location, and year of completion. Statistical methods are used to identify the distribution of the cost overrun and the causes for overruns. The overall average cost overrun rates of pipeline material, labour, miscellaneous, ROW and total costs are 4.9%, 22.4%, -0.9%, 9.1% and 6.5% respectively. The cost estimation of pipeline cost components are biased except for total cost. In addition, the cost error of underestimated pipeline construction components is generally larger than that of overestimated pipeline construction components except total cost. Results of analysis show that pipeline size, capacity, diameter, length, location, and year of completion have different impacts on cost overrun of construction cost components. [Received: May 26, 2011; Accepted: June 28, 2011] An analysis of inaccuracy in pipeline construction cost estimation
Zhenhua Rui; Paul A. Metz; Gang Chen
International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 29 - 46
The aim of this paper is to investigate cost overrun of pipeline projects. A total of 412 pipeline projects between 1992 and 2008 have been collected, including material cost, labour cost, miscellaneous cost, right of way (ROW) cost, total cost, pipeline diameter, pipeline length, pipeline's location, and year of completion. Statistical methods are used to identify the distribution of the cost overrun and the causes for overruns. The overall average cost overrun rates of pipeline material, labour, miscellaneous, ROW and total costs are 4.9%, 22.4%, -0.9%, 9.1% and 6.5% respectively. The cost estimation of pipeline cost components are biased except for total cost. In addition, the cost error of underestimated pipeline construction components is generally larger than that of overestimated pipeline construction components except total cost. Results of analysis show that pipeline size, capacity, diameter, length, location, and year of completion have different impacts on cost overrun of construction cost components. [Received: May 26, 2011; Accepted: June 28, 2011]

]]> 10.1504/IJOGCT.2012.044176 International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 29 - 46 Zhenhua Rui; Paul A. Metz; Gang Chen Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Duckering Building 418, P.O. Box 750708, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99775, USA. ' Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Duckering Building 418, P.O. Box 750708, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99775, USA. ' Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Duckering Building 418, P.O. Box 750708, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99775, USA pipeline costs cost overrun cost estimation pipeline construction onshore pipelines oil and gas. 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00 5 1 29 46 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44177 Conventional coalbed methane (CBM) models are developed using dual-porosity, single-permeability domain characteristics, which ignore the effects of water presence in the coal matrix. Neglecting these effects typically over-predicts gas production. Another phenomenon often disregarded in most CBM models is the coal shrinkage and swelling effects, which cause changes in coal permeability. This study illustrates how the water presence in the coal matrix and coal shrinkage and swelling phenomena affect the CO<SUB align=“right”>2-enhanced CBM recovery process. An in-house two-phase, fully-implicit, compositional, dual-porosity, dual-permeability CBM simulator accounting for the effects of water presence in the coal matrix and coal shrinkage and swelling, is used in this analysis. Results demonstrate the water presence in the coal matrix caused an early CO<SUB align=“right”>2 breakthrough. A decrease in fracture permeability caused by the dominating effects of coal swelling delays the CO<SUB align=“right”>2 breakthrough. Ignoring these effects could provide significant errors of production predictions of enhanced CBM recovery process. [Received: May 10, 2011; Accepted: July 28, 2011] Numerical studies on the effects of water presence in the coal matrix and coal shrinkage and swelling phenomena on CO2-enhanced coalbed methane recovery process
Prob Thararoop; Zuleima T. Karpyn; Turgay Ertekin
International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 47 - 65
Conventional coalbed methane (CBM) models are developed using dual-porosity, single-permeability domain characteristics, which ignore the effects of water presence in the coal matrix. Neglecting these effects typically over-predicts gas production. Another phenomenon often disregarded in most CBM models is the coal shrinkage and swelling effects, which cause changes in coal permeability. This study illustrates how the water presence in the coal matrix and coal shrinkage and swelling phenomena affect the CO<SUB align=“right”>2-enhanced CBM recovery process. An in-house two-phase, fully-implicit, compositional, dual-porosity, dual-permeability CBM simulator accounting for the effects of water presence in the coal matrix and coal shrinkage and swelling, is used in this analysis. Results demonstrate the water presence in the coal matrix caused an early CO<SUB align=“right”>2 breakthrough. A decrease in fracture permeability caused by the dominating effects of coal swelling delays the CO<SUB align=“right”>2 breakthrough. Ignoring these effects could provide significant errors of production predictions of enhanced CBM recovery process. [Received: May 10, 2011; Accepted: July 28, 2011]

]]> 10.1504/IJOGCT.2012.044177 International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 47 - 65 Prob Thararoop; Zuleima T. Karpyn; Turgay Ertekin Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 128 Hosler Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Chevron Energy Technology Company, Houston, Texas, USA. ' Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 151 Hosler Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. ' Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 151 Hosler Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA coalbed methane reservoirs coal shrinkage coal swelling enhanced coalbed methane recovery CO2 injection carbon dioxide coal seams water presence coal permeability modelling. 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00 5 1 47 65 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44178 The paper indicates advantages (and disadvantages) of layer of protection analysis (LOPA) over other methods to support its paramount position among different process safety analysis (PSA) methods in use today. Its simplicity (using order-of-magnitude estimates for all elements that constitute an accident scenario), universality (easy adaptation to particular needs), directness to indicate the effect of risk reduction measures as well as to assess the total level of risk to be compared with the company risk tolerance criteria are strong arguments for wider application of LOPA. However, the method may have some limitations (disadvantages) in comparison to other methods and therefore different extended approaches of LOPA have been developed to overcome the problem. Those approaches include an inclusion of an expert system into accident scenario identification (ExSysLOPA), new approach to deal with uncertainty connected with input data (fuzzy LOPA) as well as for explosion at workplace risk assessment (ExLOPA). Some of these combined techniques will be presented here and they support and extend the applications of layer of protection analysis, especially for safety assurance assessment of risk-based determination that is used in oil and gas process industries. [Received: March 25, 2011; Accepted: June 16, 2011] A review of layer of protection analysis techniques for oil and gas industry
Adam S. Markowski
International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 66 - 79
The paper indicates advantages (and disadvantages) of layer of protection analysis (LOPA) over other methods to support its paramount position among different process safety analysis (PSA) methods in use today. Its simplicity (using order-of-magnitude estimates for all elements that constitute an accident scenario), universality (easy adaptation to particular needs), directness to indicate the effect of risk reduction measures as well as to assess the total level of risk to be compared with the company risk tolerance criteria are strong arguments for wider application of LOPA. However, the method may have some limitations (disadvantages) in comparison to other methods and therefore different extended approaches of LOPA have been developed to overcome the problem. Those approaches include an inclusion of an expert system into accident scenario identification (ExSysLOPA), new approach to deal with uncertainty connected with input data (fuzzy LOPA) as well as for explosion at workplace risk assessment (ExLOPA). Some of these combined techniques will be presented here and they support and extend the applications of layer of protection analysis, especially for safety assurance assessment of risk-based determination that is used in oil and gas process industries. [Received: March 25, 2011; Accepted: June 16, 2011]

]]> 10.1504/IJOGCT.2012.044178 International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 66 - 79 Adam S. Markowski Safety Engineering Department, Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Lodz, 90-133 Lodz, ul. Wolczanska 213, Poland process safety risk assessment safety assurance oil and gas industry layer of protection analysis LOPA expert systems uncertainty explosions accidents. 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00 5 1 66 79 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44179 Biofuels is currently driving the interest in bioenergy sector. The recently issued Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) confirms the 10% target, set by the EC, for energy from renewable sources in transport. The European Union is the largest producer of biodiesel in the world and biodiesel is also the most important biofuel used in the EU. The aim of this paper is to investigate the biomass feedstock requirement, under different scenarios, with a focus on vegetable oils. The European production potential is compared with the amount of biomass required to meet the target on biofuels. Next generation biofuels and alternative feedstock for first generation pathways are considered as well as the share of biomass import. The scenario proposed allows to estimate the land required to meet the target at 2020 on biodiesel. Assuming different contribution of the next generation biofuels, from the 10% to the 30% is possible to estimate the contribution of first generation biodiesel. The results showed that, considering the total European arable land, this production will utilise 9-13%. [Received: 8 July 2001; Accepted: 12 September 2011] Assessment of the EU target on renewable energy for transport in the framework of the European vegetable oil sector
Matteo Prussi; David Chiaramonti; Luigi Pari
International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 80 - 91
Biofuels is currently driving the interest in bioenergy sector. The recently issued Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) confirms the 10% target, set by the EC, for energy from renewable sources in transport. The European Union is the largest producer of biodiesel in the world and biodiesel is also the most important biofuel used in the EU. The aim of this paper is to investigate the biomass feedstock requirement, under different scenarios, with a focus on vegetable oils. The European production potential is compared with the amount of biomass required to meet the target on biofuels. Next generation biofuels and alternative feedstock for first generation pathways are considered as well as the share of biomass import. The scenario proposed allows to estimate the land required to meet the target at 2020 on biodiesel. Assuming different contribution of the next generation biofuels, from the 10% to the 30% is possible to estimate the contribution of first generation biodiesel. The results showed that, considering the total European arable land, this production will utilise 9-13%. [Received: 8 July 2001; Accepted: 12 September 2011]

]]> 10.1504/IJOGCT.2012.044179 International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 80 - 91 Matteo Prussi; David Chiaramonti; Luigi Pari CREAR c/o Energy Department, S. Stecco Engineering Faculty, University of Florence, Via S. Marta, 3, Florence, Italy. ' CREAR c/o Energy Department; RE-CORD c/o Energy Department, S. Stecco Engineering Faculty, University of Florence, Via S. Marta, 3, Florence, Italy. ' CRA-ING Via della Pascolare, Monterotondo, 16, Rome, Italy vegetable oil market next generation biofuels renewable energy EU targets European Union transport biofuels biodiesel biomass feedstock vegetable oils. 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00 5 1 80 91 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44180 Biodiesel is a renewable liquid fuel alternative to petrodiesel. It is produced by the transesterification of vegetable oil and alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. A 1.5 L bench-top biodiesel processor was constructed to study the effect of feedstock and operating conditions on the conversion and the biodiesel quality. Biodiesel was produced from several oil feedstocks using methanol and potassium hydroxide as a catalyst. The quality of the biodiesel produced was assessed by measuring the percent conversion, the viscosity, the heat of combustion, and the residual soaps. Both the one-stage base process and the base-base two-stage production process were tested. The two-stage process exhibits greater conversion with a lower methanol/oil ratio and improved biodiesel quality. [Received: April 8, 2011; Accepted: June 16, 2011] Parametric study of biodiesel quality and yield using a bench-top processor
Rebecca J. Wilson; Ihab H. Farag
International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 92 - 105
Biodiesel is a renewable liquid fuel alternative to petrodiesel. It is produced by the transesterification of vegetable oil and alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. A 1.5 L bench-top biodiesel processor was constructed to study the effect of feedstock and operating conditions on the conversion and the biodiesel quality. Biodiesel was produced from several oil feedstocks using methanol and potassium hydroxide as a catalyst. The quality of the biodiesel produced was assessed by measuring the percent conversion, the viscosity, the heat of combustion, and the residual soaps. Both the one-stage base process and the base-base two-stage production process were tested. The two-stage process exhibits greater conversion with a lower methanol/oil ratio and improved biodiesel quality. [Received: April 8, 2011; Accepted: June 16, 2011]

]]> 10.1504/IJOGCT.2012.044180 International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 92 - 105 Rebecca J. Wilson; Ihab H. Farag Chemical Engineering Department, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824-3591, USA. ' Chemical Engineering Department, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824-3591, USA parametric study biodiesel quality biodiesel yield bench-top processor base-base process two-stage process transesterification biodiesel viscosity oil conversion test residual soap test renewable energy biofuels biofuel feedstock. 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00 5 1 92 105 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44181 In the present work, high free fatty acid (FFA) crude rice bran oil (CRBO) blend was tested in a stationary CI engine and investigation was focused to reduce NO<SUB align=“right”>x emission than diesel with lesser smoke density. Combustion process was modified by varying the factors namely fuel injection timing, percentage EGR and fuel injection pressure in a combination suggested by Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array. Three levels were chosen in each factor and NO<SUB align=“right”>x emission, smoke density and brake thermal efficiency were taken as the response variables. Multi response signal-to-noise (MRSN) ratio was calculated for the response variables and the optimum combination level of factors was obtained simultaneously using Taguchi's parametric design. Obtained optimum combination level was confirmed experimentally and significant improvement was observed in the response variables. [Received: June 20, 2011; Accepted: July 21, 2011] Multi response optimisation in emission control of CI engine fuelled with crude rice bran oil blend
G. Nagarajan; S. Saravanan; S. Sampath
International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 106 - 120
In the present work, high free fatty acid (FFA) crude rice bran oil (CRBO) blend was tested in a stationary CI engine and investigation was focused to reduce NO<SUB align=“right”>x emission than diesel with lesser smoke density. Combustion process was modified by varying the factors namely fuel injection timing, percentage EGR and fuel injection pressure in a combination suggested by Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array. Three levels were chosen in each factor and NO<SUB align=“right”>x emission, smoke density and brake thermal efficiency were taken as the response variables. Multi response signal-to-noise (MRSN) ratio was calculated for the response variables and the optimum combination level of factors was obtained simultaneously using Taguchi's parametric design. Obtained optimum combination level was confirmed experimentally and significant improvement was observed in the response variables. [Received: June 20, 2011; Accepted: July 21, 2011]

]]> 10.1504/IJOGCT.2012.044181 International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2012) pp. 106 - 120 G. Nagarajan; S. Saravanan; S. Sampath Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University, Chennai, India. ' Department of Automobile Engineering, Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, P.B. No. 3, Pennalur, Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, 602 105, India. ' Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Thandalam, Chennai, India diesel engines nitrogen oxide NOx smoke density analysis of variance ANOVA multiresponse signal-to-noise MRSN Taguchi methods orthogonal arrays free fatty acid crude rice bran oil emission control engine emissions parameter design vegetable oils design of experiments DOE brake thermal efficiency biofuels. 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00 5 1 106 120 2011-12-11T23:20:50-05:00