No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Alfred P. Sloan School of Management, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND DEWEY. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Dongwei Chen. / M.S.

This thesis aims to investigate how SRB endure long periods of nutrient deprivation in the oligotrophic conditions of the North Sea. The presence of small cells in the marine environment has been extensively documented. These small cells are termed ultramicrobacteria, and are defined as being less than 0.3 μm in diameter. The formation of small cells by SRB was postulated to facilitate penetration of SRB deep within oil reservoirs, during water injection, exacerbating SRB associated problems. These studies revealed that a maximum of 15% of starving SRB populations formed UMB. Cultures starved for up to 6 years did not demonstrate an increase in UMB formation. Cell size studies revealed that SRB demonstrated a maximum 62% cell size decrease during starvation. Total cell counts revealed a constant cell number throughout starvation studies indicating a decrease in cell size by cell dwarfing. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a decrease in cellular content during starvation. This is consistent with a decrease in cell diameter during starvation. There was no difference in cell size decrease when cells were starved in the presence or absence of sulphate. There appeared, however, to be enhanced recoverability of cells starved in the presence of sulphate. SRB were demonstrated to be able to withstand simultaneous periods of sulphate and carbon starvation. This may have serious consequences for the oil industry as sulphate is often limiting in oil reservoirs. This evidence suggests that SRB could endure such conditions and recover when sulphate becomes available. SRB appear to enter a dormant phase shortly after the onset of starvation. Metabolic studies indicated that the entry into starvation was characterised by an initial increase in metabolic activity followed by a sharp decrease in metabolic activity to negligible levels. Metabolic activity could be re-initiated following inoculation into fresh growth medium.

No description available.

The purpose of this study is to construct a macroeconometric model for the Saudi Arabian economy in order to assess the effects of external shocks through such variables as the price of (oil) exports, real (oil) exports, and the price of imports. This model follows the methodology of the aggregate demand and supply. Due to the absence of interest rates, the formulation of the aggregate demand, following the monetary approach to the income determination, is done by combining the equations from the monetary sector in addition to the government and foreign sectors of the economy. The aggregate supply side of the economy is formulated by combining the equations from the oil and non-oil production sectors. The model determines the behaviours of such important endogenous variables as the real absorptive capacity, real oil and non-oil GDP, real imports, velocity of money, money supply, balance of payments, government oil and non-oil revenues, government expenditure, government deficit, and non-oil GDP and general price inflation rates. The estimated model satisfactorily simulates the reality of the economy for the estimation period of 1971-1994. This, therefore, justifies the use of the model for both multiplier and scenario analyses. The multiplier analysis evaluates the cffects of a 10% change in the price of (oil) exports, real (oil) exports, and the price of imports on the endogenous variables. The scenario analysis, however, examines the behaviours of the endogenous variables for 1999-2005 based on several scenarios on the price of (oil) exports, real (oil) exports, and the price of imports. Concentrating on three sets of scenarios corresponding to low, moderate, and high level of oil prices, our study concludes that a sound economy into the next century requires more aggressive privatisation policies. That is, the government policies should drastically limit the government expenditure and, instead, encourage the private sector to invest and participate more aggressively in the economic development projects.

In focusing on the influences of culture on urban regeneration, this research has attempted to show a broad perspective that looks beyond existing short-term urban policies. The history of Masjid-i-Soleyman, an Iranian oil-based economy city, which has passed its rich-oil days and is now suffering major social and economic problems, is used in this research as a suitable ground for a wider investigation into human capacity and urban life. Reviewing the dominant approaches in both theory and practice showed that the analysis of urban problems had two main gaps. First, current urban studies and initiatives have mostly focused on economic urban outcomes and improving standards of living rather than on quality of life and considering the moral and cultural values as a goal and also a driving force for sustainable development. The second gap was the lack of attention given to a competent role to people in producing plans and decision making, as in giving them a real voice and a way of contributing to an improvement in their quality of life. The whole structure of the study has been based upon a premise that solutions to mounting urban problems are incomplete and ineffective without a consideration of cultural and traditional values beneath the surface of the contemporary city. The "human capacity building" approach has been developed in this theses to emphasise that a unifying culture, in many societies, as in the case study area, acts as a human capital, can generate social mobilisation and cause environmental changes. "People " are at the centre of this concept. In the model of "the city as culture" we develop this idea in the context of the city, emphasising the role of people's culture in urban life, and underpinning the key elements (family, community, education, work and communication). Considering such a conceptual foundation, we re-consider the evolution of MIS and the existing problem. This showed that the socio-cultural changes in the citizens of MIS, during 50 years of domination by foreigners over their lives, dramatically decreased both the human capability and social mobilisation of the society. The people who had previously built their environment had been changed in a way which allowed the environment to build their lives. And the people with unified cultural values, social unity and strong social relations had been changed into individuals who sought their own preferences and maximised their own benefits. So, it has been emphasised that the decline of MIS had started many years before the exhaustion of oil; i.e., the decline had begun when the oil industry started to grow. Finally, with concentrating on "knowledge", "social relations" and "motivations" as the key elements which increase "social mobilisation" in the society, the research suggests a strategic policy approach to achieve quality of life and urban regeneration in MIS. This leads us to consider that economic regeneration alone will not bring prosperity to MIS, and similar cities; and sustainable development cannot be summarised in economic growth. Much greater attention must be paid to investing in human capital as an effective strategy for long-term socio-economic regeneration. Cultural factors such as traditions and social relations and family relationship must also be considered seriously. Such strategies should re-consider individuals, groups and communities, and be capable of providing an adequate sphere for people in order to enable them to feel confidence and self-esteem to be involved in building their future effectively, as active agencies rather than victims of the development and change.

Diss. Linköping : Univ., 2002.

Thesis--Cornell University. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 419-432).

The oil industries constitute a significant part of global economic, depending on whether the value of its output, exports or jobs created. The industry affects directly the national economy, and contributes to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Oil industries are considered the main supplier for many sectors such as industrial, transportation and so forth. On the other hand, the oil industry has faced many problems such as environmental impact, exhausts, climate change, waste, and safety; as well as customers' and employee dissatisfaction. Errors and waste in the oil industry have serious costs and consequences. Hence, a systematic methodology of quality in the oil enterprise has become an urgent necessity to minimize or eliminate waste and provide a health, safety, and environment (HS&E) performance. One of the most efficient systems of quality is the integration between Six Sigma methodology and Lean Enterprise. Lean Six Sigma (LSS) has become widely used in several areas such as manufacturing, service, and health care. The research literature does not provide a framework for implementing Lean and Six Sigma in the oil industry. A systematic general framework of the LSS implementation is developed which includes eight steps - statement, leadership, committee, deployment, prioritize, implement, review, and finalize. Then, the effectiveness of the LSS methodology of solving problems that the oil industry faces was demonstrated by providing several case studies applied successfully in different areas in the oil enterprise.

More and more transient gas-liquid operations in pipes are being successfully applied in the oil and gas industry. Pigging in two-phase pipelines, to remove liquid accumulation or for cleaning purposes, is an important transient operation. Another important operation is the injection of (-)-as to transport the accumulated liquid in the pipeline to process facilities. Analysis of such transient two-phase flow in a pipeline is necessary not only for designing the liquid and gas handling facilities, but also for safe operating procedure. In pipeline-fiser system such operations cause even more severe changes in flow conditions. A two-fluid model has been developed to determine the transient behaviour of fluids during these operations. The derived one-dimensional set of equations for each flow pattern describe the flow of fluids in all regions. Semi-implicit finite difference schemes were used to solve the initial and boundary value problem for each phase of the process - gas/pig injection, gas shut-in, slug production and gas flow out of the system. An extensive experimental program has been carried out to acquire two-phase transient flow and pigging data on a 67m long, 0.0525m diameter, 9.9m high pipeline-riser system. A computer based data acquisition system has been utilised to obtain rapidly changing and detailed information of the flow behaviour during the transient tests. The model results compare well with the experimental data for characteristics such as inlet pressure, hold-up and pig velocity.