International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology (12 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Detection methodologies on oil and gas kick: a systematic review  
  by Fotios N. Zachopoulos, Nikolaos C. Kokkinos 
  Abstract: A gas kick might lead to disastrous consequences if it is not early detected and adequately mitigated. The current study provides valuable information about the latest methodologies developed as responses to a kick. A PRISMA systematic review was conducted to research the latest methods and techniques during the last decade. The review results were presented and discussed in a comprehensive and classified approach. It is worth noting that several new early kick detection approaches have been developed during the last decade. Most of the discussed developments focused on filling the gaps in the currently applied methodologies centred on traditional approaches for analysing kick’s behaviour. However, due to the complex behaviour of such an event, several factors were usually oversimplified, leading to the compromised accuracy of the methodology. Recommendations were also proposed for analysing the kick’s behaviour using modern and robust techniques such as computational fluid dynamics. [Received: June 28, 2022; Accepted: October 17, 2022]
  Keywords: oil and gas drilling; well control; kick detection; kick prediction; PRISMA analysis.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2022.10052066
   
  
• Estimating coal consumption in Turkey using machine learning methods  
  by Hande Erdoğan, Mehmet Kayakuş, Mustafa Terzioğlu 
  Abstract: In this study, coal consumption was estimated by using machine learning techniques. In the model in which variables related to coal consumption were used, the R2 value was 0.811 for the artificial neural network and 0.853 for the support vector regression, and it was observed that the model made successful predictions. The answers to important points such as the level of coal consumption in the future, the impact of the consumption on the climate, and the size of investment in the clean energy resources required for the energy needed if coal consumption is abandoned will be considered in this study to guide the researchers and decision makers. [Received: April 20, 2022; Accepted: June 6, 2022]
  Keywords: coal; coal consumption; artificial intelligence; machine learning; estimation; Turkey.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2022.10052695
   
  
• Comparative study on multicylinder DI diesel engine using hybrid fuel blends (diesel-biodiesel-ethanol derivative) as fuel  
  by Rajendiran Gopal, K. Mayilsamy, R. Subramanian, R. Venkatachalam, N. Nedunchezhian 
  Abstract: The present work focuses on the experimental study of multicylinder DI diesel engine using diesel-biodiesel-ethanol based fuel blends. The blends contain diesel, biodiesel and alcohol are 60:30:10% on a volume basis. The measured emission was converted into a specific basis and the overall cycle emission was also calculated. The combustion parameters such as cylinder pressure history, maximum pressure and its angle, rate of pressure rise, heat release rate, and angle of 5, 10, 50, and 90% mass burning were compared. A little lower peak pressure was observed for hybrid fuel blends (<7%), the premixed heat release was lower than diesel fuel whereas the diffusion stage heat release rate was higher. The lower rate of pressure rise for hybrid fuel blends shows its suitability in diesel engines in terms of combustion noise. Higher thermal efficiency, lower specific and cyclic emissions than diesel expect unburned hydrocarbon in the exhaust. [Received: September 4, 2021; Accepted: November 14, 2022]
  Keywords: hybrid fuel; performance; emission; combustion; heat release rate; mass burning; ESC cycle emission.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2022.10052915
   
  
• Optimisation of biogas yield from anaerobic co-digestion of dual waste for environmental sustainability: ANN, RSM and GA approach  
  by Aqueel Ahmad, Ashok Kumar Yadav, Achhaibar Singh, D.K. Singh 
  Abstract: The main objective of this study was to find the best way to turn food waste and animal manure into biogas. In this research work, an L25 orthogonal array was developed for three factors and five levels of parameters and optimised through the response surface method (RSM) and genetic algorithm (GA). Experiments were conducted to collect data on the variation of the cattle dung and food waste mixing ratios (25:75, 50:50, 75:25, 100:0 and 0:100 w/w %), retention times (7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 days), and digester temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 C). Concerning the obtained data, an artificial neural network (ANN) model has been developed to estimate biogas production yield. The RSM and GA analyses showed that the optimal parameters were a 0:100 (w/w %) mixing ratio, 15-day retention time, and at 40 C digester temperature and the corresponding biogas yield was 551.774 ml/day and 551.776 ml/day, respectively. [Received: August 1, 2022; Accepted: November 19, 2022]
  Keywords: anaerobic digestion; biogas production; artificial neural network; ANN; response surface methodology; carbon free sustainable energy; genetic algorithm.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2022.10053130
   
  
• Testing and comparative analysis of dynamic and quasi-static compressive and tensile properties of hard coal  
  by Xianjie Hao, Bingrui Chen, Guangyao Pan, Qian Zhang, Yulong Chen, Yingnan Wei 
  Abstract: The comparison of mechanical properties of hard coal under different conditions is important for the occurrence of coal mine dynamic disasters. This study adopted six tests, namely, the static tensile test, static tensile test, dynamic compressive test, dynamic tensile test, and coupled dynamic-static tensile and compression test, to analyse the relationship of the mechanical properties of coal under different conditions. The results shows that: 1) the tensile strength of this type of hard coal under dynamic loading is 2-7 times higher than that under static loading; 2) the static tension-compression ratio is between 1/16 and 1/64, and the dynamic tension-compression ratio is between 1/2 and 1/40. The tension-compression ratio of coal is approximately three times higher under dynamic loading compared with that under static loading; 3) the dynamic strength increases with the axial static load within a certain range, but the dynamic strength of coal may decrease beyond this range. [Received: February 21, 2021; Accepted: October 15, 2022]
  Keywords: coal; strength; tension-compression ratio; static loading; dynamic loading; coupled dynamic-static loading.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2023.10053445
   
  
• Experimental investigation and performance improvement of a new combined T-junctions gas-liquid separator  
  by Fachun Liang, Lingqi Xin, Jingwen Zhao, Shen Song, Sigang Wang 
  Abstract: The objective of this paper is to study the gas-liquid separation performance and its improvement of a new combined T-junctions separator by experiments. This separator is constructed of large-diameter T-junctions (50 mm and 60 mm), symmetrically arranged in annulus. The test conditions include complete separation and incomplete separation. The gas-liquid flow characteristics of the combined T-junctions were visually observed and analysed during the separation process. The separation characteristic was quantified (F) and the effects of liquid level, inlet superficial velocities (JG1 and JL1) and outlet valve opening degree on the separation efficiency (F) were confirmed. The results show the connections between the parameters and separation efficiency. Based on the above, a self-regulating level controller is designed, which can significantly extend the range of inlet gas velocity (JG1) to 4.5 times and inlet liquid velocity (JL1) to two times for complete separation, but the level controller fails when the inlet gas-liquid velocities are too high (JG1 > 10.27 m/s, JL1 > 0.52 m/s). [Received: 14 December 2021; Accepted: 7 August 2022]
  Keywords: gas-liquid separation; combined T-junctions; experimental study; liquid level control.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2023.10053929
   
  
• Design and fabrication of microfluidic test kit for enhanced oil recovery in low salinity NaCl flooding  
  by Sanggono Adisasmito, Rhesa Muhammad Faisal 
  Abstract: A microfluidic test kit with a flowrate capacity of 0.01100 uL/min and pressure of 0-50 psig was designed and fabricated to test four series of salinity injections and subsequently compare the recovery factor (RF). Homogeneous rock patterns with PMMA material were used to create a microfluidic chip with a porosity of 27.8% and a permeability of 2.8 Darcy. The crude oil has an API of 31.9, while the formation water has 10,958 ppm in salinity. The injection solutions were NaCl with 600, 6,000, and 11,000 ppm salinity. The injection was then visualised and processed by a program in Python language to obtain saturation data and recovery factor. An increase in RF was observed in the NaCl injections with salinity lower than formation water. The highest RF, up to 30%, was generated from 600 ppm of NaCl injection. [Received: 23 November 2021; Accepted: 7 August 2022]
  Keywords: enhanced oil recovery; low salinity waterflooding; microfluidic test kit; recovery factor; experimental investigation; homogeneous rock pattern; polymethyl methacrylate; PMMA; microfluidic device.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2023.10053930
   
  
• Performance of an anti-scaling alkaline-surfactant-polymer flooding system for heavy oil  
  by FuLin Yang 
  Abstract: Alkali-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding is one of the most effective methods for enhancing heavy oil recovery. But for heavy oil reservoirs with high content of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in the formation water, the scaling in ASP flooding affects the injection and displacing effect. In this study, a scale inhibitor containing polyaspartic acid sodium (PASP) and polyamino polyether methylene phosphonate (PAPEMP) were simultaneously applied with alkanolamide to form a scale-resistant and friendly environmental ASP flooding system, whose optimised composition is 1% NaCO3, 0.2% alkanolamide (type 1:2), 0.15% partially hydrolysed polyacrylamide (molecular weight of 8 x 10 6 g/mol) 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS), 0.025% scale inhibitor. This system has a better anti-scaling effect. The interfacial tension (IFT) test shows that the IFT of the ASP system and W8 crude oil can reduce to the order of 10-3mN.m-1 within 2 min, forming a relatively stable oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion. The addition of SDS can improve the solubility of alkanolamide, with a uniform and transparent solution. Furthermore, core flooding results showed that the oil recovery rate of the ASP flooding increased by 20%, exhibiting an obvious flooding effect, mainly due to the swept efficiency and displacement efficiency. [Received: May 19, 2022; Accepted: January 24, 2023]
  Keywords: ASP flooding system; anti-scaling; heavy oil; alkaline flooding system.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2023.10054560
   
  
• Three-dimensional analysis for allowable breakout width in vertical well  
  by Marwa Ali AL-Nuumani, Adel M. Al-Ajmi, Mohammed Hamed AL-Aamri, Hamoud K. Al-Hadrami 
  Abstract: In drilling operation, breakout formations with allowable width can be accepted although it is a type of formation damages. The study presents a geomechanical analysis which mimics field conditions using a new 3D geomechanical model to predict the allowable breakout width in vertical wells using Mogi-Coulomb criterion with the linear elastic consecutive solution of Kirsch. The classical Moher-Coulomb criterion is used to verify the effect of the intermediate principal stress in determining the breakout width. The impact of the rock parameters and in situ stresses are studied in different in situ stress regimes. It has been found that the friction angle, cohesion, and the minimum horizontal stress are the most critical parameters on the breakout width formation. The studied fields show that using Mogi-Coulomb law gives results within the applied field conditions. Furthermore, adopting the classical Moher-Coulomb failure criterion in the analysis will rise uncertainty in borehole breakout width predictions. [Received: November 3, 2022; Accepted: January 11, 2023]
  Keywords: allowable breakout width; in situ stresses; geomechanical model; Mogi-Coulomb criterion.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2023.10054790
   
  
• Rock physical and mechanical properties test and comprehensive evaluation of the Longtan group in Well DH Can 1, Dahebian block, Guizhou Province  
  by Yu Liang, Liwen Cao, Shuxun Sang 
  Abstract: Coal measures are characterised by soft and hard interphases and fractures development. Testing and evaluating the rock physical and mechanical properties of coal measures provides the basis and premise for efficient exploration and development of coalbed methane. In this study, sampling, logging, and laboratory tests were conducted in the Longtan group of Well DH Can 1, which is located in the Dahebian block of Guizhou Province; additionally, the coal measure rock mass underwent the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation. Results show that the mechanical properties of the coal measure are remarkable and the relevance between the four rock property parameters and two logging parameters is good. The comprehensive evaluation results of the Longtan formation rock mass in Well DH Can 1 show grades 2
  Keywords: coal measure; rock physical and mechanical properties; logging; fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2023.10054942
   
  
• Wellbore stability charts for shale and carbonate formations during drilling operations with field applications  
  by Ahmed Abbas Al-Ajmi, Bilal Shaheed, Adel M. Al-Ajmi, Hamoud K. Al-Hadrami, Mohammed Hamed Al-Aamri 
  Abstract: Wellbore instability issues represented by well collapsing resulted in a tremendous loss of time and money in the oil industry, where 90% are related to shale. Despite carbonate rocks experiencing fewer instability issues than shale or sandstone, most global hydrocarbon reservoirs are carbonate. Utilising a three-dimensional stability model adopting the Mogi-Coulomb failure criterion, stability charts predicting the collapse pressures during drilling in shale and carbonate formations have been generated. The introduced stability charts have been generated to cover the most common scenarios in Oman and similar locations. Six field case studies are conducted utilising the generated stability charts for geomechanical analysis. The fields applied mud densities at the associated drilling trajectories were consistent with the predicted results from the generated stability charts. These results support adopting the presented stability charts as a simplified geomechanical approach in oil fields. [Received: October 5, 2022; Accepted: January 25, 2023]
  Keywords: wellbore stability; shale; carbonate rock; failure criterion; mogi-coulomb criterion; stability model.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2023.10055243
   
  
• Modelling of ash deposition formation on the surface of superheaters during combustion of Zhundong coal  
  by Dachuan Qin, Ke Sun 
  Abstract: This study aims to predict the ash deposition rate on the windward and leeward sides of a tube in a two-dimensional computational domain of single row tube array. Based on particle viscosity criterion, an ash deposition model with considering the salt vapour condensation was developed and extended into computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculation by user-defined function. The transport behaviour of ash particles was numerically described with the Lagrangian method under the effects of inertial force, turbulent eddy, Saffman’s lift force, thermophoretic force and Brownian force. The results show that fine particles easily enter into the leeward part of tubes due to the combination effect of turbulent vortex and thermophoresis force. The ash deposition rate and the salt vapour condensation rate on the windward side of the first tube are equally important in the initial stage of ash deposition. While for other tubes downstream, the contribution of vapour condensation to the initially deposited mass is much greater than that of ash deposition. Ash deposition mass on the stagnation position of tubes is mainly from larger particles with the diameter over 10 ?m and salt vapour condensation. [Received: September 18, 2021; Accepted: February 14, 2023]
  Keywords: modelling; deposition; alkali metal; coal combustion; condensation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2023.10055244