Petroleum pipeline construction planning:a conceptual framework

A cross-country pipeline construction project is exposed to an uncertain environment due to its enormous size (physical, manpower requirement and financial value), complexity in design technology and involvement of external factors. These uncertainties can lead to several changes in project scope during the process of project execution. Unless the changes are properly controlled, the time, cost and quality goals of the project may never be achieved. A methodology is proposed for project control through risk analysis, contingency allocation and hierarchical planning models. Risk analysis is carried out through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) due to the subjective nature of risks in construction projects. The results of risk analysis are used to determine the logical contingency for project control with the application of probability theory. Ultimate project control is carried out by hierarchical planning model which enables decision makers to take vital decisions during the changing environment of the construction period. Goal programming (GP), a multiple criteria decision-making technique, is proposed for model formulation because of its flexibility and priority-base structure. The project is planned hierarchically in three levels—project, work package and activity. GP is applied separately at each level. Decision variables of each model are different planning parameters of the project. In this study, models are formulated from the owner's perspective and its effectiveness in project control is demonstrated.

Estudo de métodos de tratamento de efluentes (troca iônica e eletroquímico) separados e sequenciais para eliminação de derivados de petróleo

The produce of waste and the amount of the water produced coming from activities of petroleum production and extraction has been a biggest challenge for oil companies with respect to environmental compliance due to toxicity. The discard or the reuse this effluent containing organic compounds as BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) can cause serious environmental and human health problems. Thus, the objective this paper was study the performance of two process (separately and sequential) in one synthetic effluent for the benzene, toluene and xylene removal (volatile hydrocarbons presents in the produced water) through of electrochemical treatment using Ti/Pt electrode and exchange resin ionic used in the adsorption process. The synthetic solution of BTX was prepared with concentration of 22,8 mg L-1, 9,7 mg L-1 e 9,0 mg L-1, respectively, in Na2SO4 0,1 mol L-1. The experiments was developed in batch with 0.3 L of solution at 25ºC. The electrochemical oxidation process was accomplished with a Ti/Pt electrode with different current density (J = 10, 20 e 30 mA.cm-2). In the adsorption process, we used an ionic exchange resin (Purolite MB 478), using different amounts of mass (2,5, 5 and 10 g). To verify the process of technics in the sequential treatment, was fixed the current density at 10 mA cm-2 and the resin weight was 2.5 g. Analysis of UV-VIS spectrophotometry, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and gas chromatography with selective photoionization detector (PID) and flame ionization (FID), confirmed the high efficiency in the removal of organic compounds after treatment. It was found that the electrochemical process (separate and sequential) is more efficient than absorption, reaching values of COD removal exceeding 70%, confirmed by the study of the cyclic voltammetry and polarization curves. While the adsorption (separately), the COD removal did not exceed 25,8%, due to interactions resin. However, the sequential process (electrochemical oxidation and adsorption) proved to be a suitable alternative, efficient and cost-effectiveness for the treatment of effluents petrochemical.

Total mercury and total methylmercury during the POLARSTERN cruise ARK-XXVI/3 (TransArc)

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxic compound that threatens wildlife and human health across the Arctic region. Though much is known about the source and dynamics of its inorganic mercury (Hg) precursor, the exact origin of the high MeHg concentrations in Arctic biota remains uncertain. Arctic coastal sediments, coastal marine waters and surface snow are known sites for MeHg production. Observations on marine Hg dynamics, however, have been restricted to the Canadian Archipelago and the Beaufort Sea (<79°N). Here we present the first central Arctic Ocean (79-90°N) profiles for total mercury (tHg) and MeHg. We find elevated tHg and MeHg concentrations in the marginal sea ice zone (81-85°N). Similar to other open ocean basins, Arctic MeHg concentration maxima also occur in the pycnocline waters, but at much shallower depths (150-200 m). The shallow MeHg maxima just below the productive surface layer possibly result in enhanced biological uptake at the base of the Arctic marine food web and may explain the elevated MeHg concentrations in Arctic biota. We suggest that Arctic warming, through thinning sea ice, extension of the seasonal sea ice zone, intensified surface ocean stratification and shifts in plankton ecodynamics, will likely lead to higher marine MeHg production.

Lasting mantle scars lead to perennial plate tectonics

R.N.P. and P.J.H. are grateful for funding from an NSERC Discovery Grant. Computations were performed on the GPC supercomputer at the SciNet HPC Consortium. SciNet is funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation under the auspices of Compute Canada, the Government of Ontario, Ontario Research Fund—Research Excellence and the University of Toronto. Numerical calculations were done using a modified version of the SOPALE (2000) software. The SOPALE modelling code was originally developed by Philippe Fullsack at Dalhousie University with Chris Beaumont and his Geodynamics group.

Probing the Role of Thermally Reduced Graphene Oxide in Enhancing Performance of TiO2 in Photocatalytic Phenol Removal from Aqueous Environments

We thank the INSA-RSE bilateral exchange programme for financial assistance (PD) and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF, Nigeria) for the award of PhD scholarship, as well as Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi-Nigeria for the granted fellowship (H.A).

Probing the Role of Thermally Reduced Graphene Oxide in Enhancing Performance of TiO2 in Photocatalytic Phenol Removal from Aqueous Environments

We thank the INSA-RSE bilateral exchange programme for financial assistance (PD) and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF, Nigeria) for the award of PhD scholarship, as well as Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi-Nigeria for the granted fellowship (H.A).

Mercury content and isotopic composition of frost flower, surface snow and brine samples near Barrow, Alaska

Frost flowers are ice crystals that grow on refreezing sea ice leads in Polar Regions by wicking brine from the sea ice surface and accumulating vapor phase condensate. These crystals contain high concentrations of mercury (Hg) and are believed to be a source of reactive halogens, but their role in Hg cycling and impact on the fate of Hg deposited during atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDEs) are not well understood. We collected frost flowers growing on refreezing sea ice near Barrow, Alaska (U.S.A.) during an AMDE in March 2009 and measured Hg concentrations and Hg stable isotope ratios in these samples to determine the origin of Hg associated with the crystals. We observed decreasing Delta199Hg values in the crystals as they grew from new wet frost flowers (mean Delta199Hg = 0.77 ± 0.13 per mil, 1 s.d.) to older dry frost flowers (mean Delta199Hg = 0.10 ± 0.05 per mil, 1 s.d.). Over the same time period, mean Hg concentrations in these samples increased from 131 ± 6 ng/L (1 s.d.) to 180 ± 28 ng/L (1 s.d.). Coupled with a previous study of Hg isotopic fractionation during AMDEs, these results suggest that Hg initially deposited to the local snowpack was subsequently reemitted during photochemical reduction reactions and ultimately accumulated on the frost flowers. As a result of this process, frost flowers may lead to enhanced local retention of Hg deposited during AMDEs and may increase Hg loading to the Arctic Ocean.