Operators, especially those managing production from deepwater reservoirs, are striving to produce hydrocarbons at higher and higher rates without exposing the wells to completion failure risk. To avoid screen failures, recent studies have favored gravel pack (GP) and high rate water pack (HRWP) completions over high-permeability fracturing (HPF), known in the vernacular as a frac&pack (FP) for very high rate wells. While a properly designed GP completion may prevent sand production, it does not stop formation fines migration, and, over time, fines accumulation in the GP will lead to increasing completion skin. Although, and not always, the skin can be removed by acidizing, it is not practical to perform repeated acid treatments on deepwater wells, particularly those with subsea wellheads, and the alternative has been to subject the completion to increasingly high drawdown, accepting a high skin effect. A far better solution is to use a HPF completion. Of course the execution of a successful HPF is not a trivial exercise, and frequently, there is a steep learning curve for such a practice. This work explains the importance to HPF completions of the well trajectory through the interval to be hydraulically fractured, for production, not execution, reasons. A new model quantifies the effect of the well inclination on the connectivity between the fracture and the well via perforations. Guidelines based on the maximum target production rate, including forecasts of multiphase flow, are provided to size the HPF completion to avoid common completion failures that may result from high fluid rate and/or fines movement. Skin model will be developed for both vertical and deviated wells. Once the HPF is properly designed and executed, the operators should end up with a long term low skin good completion quality well. The well will be safely produced at the maximum flow rates, with no need for well surveillance and monitoring.

In this work, a quantum well intermixing(QWI) technology, called impurity free vacancy diffusion(IFVD), is used to do the bandgap engineering in an optoelectronic monolithic integration. The monolithic integration of SOAs and EAMs is taken as an example. By IFVD, the transition energy levels of EAM quantum wells can be shifted to shorter wavelength regime, while SOA quantum wells are kept the same. Therefore, the overall SOA-integrated EAM efficiency can be improved. A 400nm thick SiO2 is sputtered at the EAM regions to locally create defects in the surface of pin InGaAsP/Imp layer structure. Rapid thermal Annealing (RTA) technique at 850oC is then used to inter-diffuse the atom of quantum wells. A SOA-integrated EAM is fabricated on such template. Ti/Pt/Au and Ni/AuGe/Ni/Au are used for p-type and n-type metallization. An optical waveguide structure is defined by selective undercut-etching active region. The PMGI is spun for planarization and bridging. A Ti/Au is finally deposited as microwave coplanar waveguide. A DC measurement of photocurrent spectrum is performed to examine the wavelength shift. A 10nm shift is found between EAM and SOA regions. Modulation efficiency of 15dB/V with extinction ratio of higher than 20dB is observed in EAM device. And the optical gain of SOA is found as 3dB at 1540nm excitation wavelength. -3dB bandwidth of 20GHz is obtained. In comparison with sample without intermixing, the same results are achieved in intermixing sample, suggesting no regrowth processing is needed for obtaining the same quality of optoelectronic integration.

Thesis (M.A.)--Florida State University, 2003. / Advisor: Dr. Dennis D. Moore, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Program in American and Florida Studies. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Mar. 2, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

The ultimate success of carbon capture and storage project will be ensured only when there is a safe and effective permanent storage of CO₂ for a significant amount of time without any leakages. Credible monitoring and verification is one of the most important aspects of CO₂ sequestration. Accurate reservoir characterization is an important pre-requisite for the design, operation and economic success of processes like CO₂ sequestration. The techniques available include geophysical and geochemical monitoring as well as numerical simulations using models replicating the field. In conducting the numerical simulations, it is required to assess the reservoir heterogeneity correctly. Previous work has shown that the injection data from wells can be utilized for developing models during CO₂ sequestration to understand the spatial distribution of heterogeneities in the formation. In this research, we first understand and examine the information contained in the injection data for a wide range of reservoir models demonstrating different kinds of heterogeneities and rate fluctuations. We will confirm that the reservoir heterogeneities have an imprint on the injection pressure response and they influence CO₂ plume migration significantly. Later we show that the effect of high or low permeability features along with rate fluctuations can provide considerable information about permeability heterogeneity in the reservoir. The applicability of this observation is made using field data from In-Salah gas field from central Algeria. Thus we demonstrate the feasibility of developing an inexpensive method of modeling reservoir heterogeneity by employing readily available measurements of injection pressure and rate to track CO₂ migration. Later we describe method to find out what characteristics of the reservoir heterogeneities can be quantified using injection data (pressure and rate). The injection pressure response during CO₂ sequestration will depend strongly on reservoir, fluid and well properties. A 3-D analytical model with infinite acting boundary is developed in CMG-GEM. Compositional reservoir simulation results from CMG-GEM simulator will be obtained and combined with pressure transient analysis and optimization algorithm for the prediction of reservoir parameters. In case of multiple injection wells in a heterogeneous formation, the analysis yield spatial variations in reservoir parameter groups like transmissibility (kh), permeability to porosity ratio ([kappa]/[phi]) in different part of the reservoir. These parameter groups can subsequently be used to constrain models of reservoir thickness, permeability and porosity. Thus, we imply that multiple reservoir attributes affect migration of CO₂ plume and there is uncertainty associated with the estimation of these attributes. We present an approach to resolve some of that uncertainty using information extracted from injection well response. / text

Revised; Originally Published: 2009 / 3 pp. / Arizona has stringent permit requirements for submitting a notice of intent to drill a new water supply well for domestic use. The construction diagram and geologic log of all wells in the state are recorded with the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR). The ADWR website – www.AzWater.gov/AzDWR/ —provides a wealth of information for the private domestic well owner. Well owners are responsible for the registration, repair, maintenance and up to-date record-keeping of their own wells and to monitor water quality to assure safe drinking water.

Well control in drilling operations is priority to personnel safety. Detection of kicks, or the unscheduled entry of formation fluids into the wellbore, is vital to well control. It has been determined that return flow rate is the parameter most sensitive to detecting kicks and lost circulation. One kick detection method associated with this parameter is delta flow early kick detection or simply the delta flow method. This method has limitations on floating vessels. Inaccurate readings can occur due to the heave motion of a vessel. This is a result of the sensor being downstream of the compensatory slip joint. Expansion and compression of this joint can result in return flow readings that are not representative of the actual value. Inaccurate readings could create situations in which a false kick or false lost circulation is detected. Other inaccurate readings could result in an actual kick or lost circulation situation not being detected. In the past, work has been done to address this by developing a sensor that adjusts for heave. This work supports a project aimed at removing the need for motion compensation by relocating the sensor to a location independent of this motion. A company is currently developing a delta flow early kick detection sensor to be placed at or near the seafloor. The stationary location of this sensor aims to remove the inaccuracy caused by slip joint compensation of vessel movement. This work will consist of a parametric study on the relationship of various drilling system and kick parameters at the seafloor using a well control simulator. The goal is to understand these relationships and determine the delta flow accuracy required based on a given kick size. As a result, this study found that a sensor capable of detecting a 10 barrel kick would require an accuracy of 2.4% and a 20 barrel kick would require a 4.6% accuracy for detection. This case was a shallow water, low kick intensity scenario. This accuracy and the others reported for the drilling and kick parameter ranges provide the boundaries for a well control sensor to be placed at the seafloor.

The aim of this study is to better understand age differences in well-being using Ryan, Huta, and Deci’s (2008) theory. According to this theory, four constructs are responsible for living a full and deeply satisfying life (i.e., eudaimonia) and experiencing pleasure and an absence of psychological pain (i.e., subjective well-being): (1) pursuing intrinsic goals and values, (2) behaving in autonomous ways, (3) living mindfully, and (4) behaving to satisfy the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness. Results indicate that aging was positively associated with the pursuit of intrinsic goals and values, autonomous behaviour, mindfulness, and mental health. Although age had a positive effect on the basic psychological need for autonomy, it had no effect on relatedness, and a negative effect on competence. The mixed influence of age on basic psychological needs may explain why older adults experienced greater levels of hedonic well-being but lower levels of eudaimonic well-being.

The Saskatchewan River Delta (SRD) is the largest freshwater inland delta in North America, covering over 950 000 hectares in central Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The wetlands in the SRD provide valuable ecosystem services and support considerable biodiversity. The Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) has expressed concerns regarding the loss of wildlife in the SRD, among other ecological concerns, due to anthropogenic development. Using an ethnoecological approach, the indigenous knowledge of the OCN was documented through an analysis of wetland-based practices. A variety of methods were employed in the research including participant observation, interviews, document review and verification workshops. Interviews held with community Elders also focused on the connections between a life on the land, well-being and cultural identity. The research revealed the need for a more holistic approach to management of the sensitive wetland ecosystems located with OCN traditional territory that reflects the changing values of the community.

Using data from the National Survey for Families and Households, ordinary least squares regression is performed to assess to what degree the quality and quantity of sibling relationships affect men and women. Well-being is measured by a twelve item scale, Cronbach 's Alpha = .928. Sibling relationships are measured in two facets: quality and quantity. A positive evaluation of sibling quality correlates with higher levels of well-being for men, but not women. A negative evaluation of sibling quality correlates with lower levels of well-being for both men and women. Men and women do differ in the strength of this effect. No significant relationship is found between the number of times an individual sees his or her siblings and an individual's well-being. However, the number of times siblings talk to each other does have a significant effect on well-being for both men and women. / Department of Sociology

The aim of this study is to better understand age differences in well-being using Ryan, Huta, and Deci’s (2008) theory. According to this theory, four constructs are responsible for living a full and deeply satisfying life (i.e., eudaimonia) and experiencing pleasure and an absence of psychological pain (i.e., subjective well-being): (1) pursuing intrinsic goals and values, (2) behaving in autonomous ways, (3) living mindfully, and (4) behaving to satisfy the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness. Results indicate that aging was positively associated with the pursuit of intrinsic goals and values, autonomous behaviour, mindfulness, and mental health. Although age had a positive effect on the basic psychological need for autonomy, it had no effect on relatedness, and a negative effect on competence. The mixed influence of age on basic psychological needs may explain why older adults experienced greater levels of hedonic well-being but lower levels of eudaimonic well-being.