Flaring of associated gas, found during petroleum exploration and production in Nigeria, results in substantial environmental degradation, which endangers sustainable development and exposes the population to health hazards. In addition, it results in significant economic losses, especially from the opportunity cost of the disposed natural gas (NG). As part of the many initiatives to abate flaring and harness NG resources, the Nigerian government proposed the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as an automotive fuel in 1997, but progress has been slow. This study investigates the barriers to use of CNG as an automotive fuel in Nigeria and how these can be overcome. It identified, validated, prioritized and built consensus on 29 barriers and 25 policy recommendations, using a combination of case study of selected countries, semi-structured interviews and a Delphi survey among participants who are key stakeholders in the energy and transportation sectors. Major hindrances identified include the absence of market coordination; lack of transparency and accountability; inexperience of the population with gas usage; lack of public awareness on the benefits of NG; artificial distortion of the economic benefits of CNG due to the subsidy on gasoline; focus on export market development to the detriment of the domestic market; absence of regulatory standards; poor infrastructure; and an old and dilapidated national vehicle fleet. There was no convergence on the impact of insecurity of human and material resources caused by militancy and pipeline vandalism in the oil producing areas, despite widespread views of the negative effect on the oil and gas industry generally. Based on the consensus built among study participants, the study recommends 12 policy interventions, which might stimulate growth in the use of CNG as automotive fuel; these comprise specific energy market reforms, fiscal and operational incentives, transportation sector reforms and the creation/building of public awareness.

A real-life application in optimal route planning for the transportation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Hong Kong was performed to implement the proposed framework. A set of criteria fitting the context of Hong Kong were defined, and various optimal routing solutions with diverse compromise in different objectives were generated. The implementation of the proposed methodologies enables the avoidance of the pitfalls of preference-based techniques and the burden of generating a complete set of possible solutions, and provides decision-makers with an overview of the solution space and the possible trade-offs among the conflicting objectives. The application study demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed methodologies. In light of the study results and limitations, some recommendations are provided for future research. / Effective and rational routing of DGs is one of the powerful means to mitigate the DG transportation risk. DG transportation involves multiple stakeholders playing different roles and having different objectives that are generally conflicting. The solution of such problem is to search for one or a set of "compromise" solutions rendering the best possible trade-offs for conflict resolution among different objectives. Given the multi-objective nature of the DG routing problem, multi-objective optimization (MOP) becomes a sound framework for analysis and decision-making. / The transportation of dangerous goods (DGs) can significantly affect human life and the environment if accidents occur during the transportation process. Such accidents can result in traffic disruption, fatalities, property and environmental damages. Therefore, safe DG transportation is of paramount importance, especially in high-density-living environments where population and socioeconomic activities are densely distributed over the transportation network. / This research establishes a general framework for optimal route planning for DG transportation in a high-density-living environment. Within the framework, multi-criteria risk assessment and multi-objective route planning can be efficiently solved by novel compromise programming models and high performance algorithms. Non-linearity and non-convexity often exist in the optimal DG routing problem which cannot be solved appropriately by conventional models such as the weighed sum approach. This research has proposed three novel methods to facilitate the generation of a set of optimal solutions on the Pareto front representing various trade-offs among the conflicting objectives. The proposed methodologies give full consideration to decision-makers' inclination and capability in determining the weights for different criteria. The compromise programming procedure allows decision-makers to exercise their preference structures in pursuing desired solutions rendering good compromises among different objectives. The adaptive weighting method approximates the Pareto front with a few suitable solutions to help decision-makers select the most satisfactory route without generating all of them. The genetic-algorithm-based approach uses a set of specifically designed genetic operators to efficiently capture a wide range of Pareto-optimal and near-optimal solutions, from which a decision-maker can choose the most preferred or best compromise one to implement. The diversity of methodologies provides decision-makers with more flexibility in choosing appropriate MOP methods to route DG shipments. / Li, Rongrong. / Adviser: Yee Leung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-01, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 189-203). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Актуальность формирования методического подхода к повышению эффективности использования производственного оборудования газотранспортных предприятий, обусловлена тем, что в условиях, когда сырьевые и энергетические ресурсы истощаются, а требования к сохранению окружающей среды становятся все более строгими, одним из основных факторов, определяющих конкурентоспособность отдельных предприятий и страны в целом, становится состояние производственного оборудования, а также система его эксплуатации и показатели эффективности использования. Целью написания магистерской диссертации является разработка методического подхода к повышению эффективности использования производственного оборудования газотранспортных предприятий. В представленной работе изучению подлежат теоретические и методические аспекты процесса управления и оценки эффективности эксплуатации производственного оборудования на газотранспортных предприятиях. Результаты обобщения и систематизации указанных теоретических и методических аспектов позволили сформировать комплексный методический подход к повышению эффективности использования производственного оборудования газотранспортных предприятий. В качестве источников информации, используемой в процессе написания представленной магистерской диссертации, выступила научно-исследовательская, учебная и методическая литература по проблеме исследования, данные финансовой отчетности и внутренней документации исследуемого газотранспортного предприятия, а также результаты эмпирических исследований, проводимых автором в процессе написания работы. / The relevance of the formation of a methodological approach to improving the efficiency of using the production equipment of gas transmission enterprises is due to the fact that in conditions when raw materials and energy resources are depleted, and the requirements for environmental preservation are becoming more stringent, one of the main factors determining the competitiveness of individual enterprises and a country in In general, the state of production equipment becomes, as well as the system of its operation and indicators of efficiency of use. The purpose of writing a master's thesis is to develop a methodological approach to increasing the efficiency of using the production equipment of gas transmission enterprises. In the presented work, the theoretical and methodological aspects of the process of management and evaluation of the efficiency of the operation of production equipment at gas transmission enterprises are subject to study. The results of the generalization and systematization of the above theoretical and methodological aspects have made it possible to form an integrated methodological approach to increasing the efficiency of using the production equipment of gas transmission enterprises. The sources of information used in the process of writing the presented master's thesis were research, educational and methodological literature on the research problem, data from financial statements and internal documentation of the investigated gas transportation enterprise, as well as the results of empirical research conducted by the author in the process of writing the work.

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No description available.

The playing field upon which actors, both state and non-state, develop strategies to secure existing supplies of oil and seek access to new ones is as systemically, politically and strategically complex is as it is geographically vast. In considering this activity, the terminology used by pundits and journalists to describe the significance of issues such as oil demand, the complexities of access to petroleum and concerns over security threats to supplies of oil is familiar. Juxtapositions such as the ‘geopolitics of oil', ‘energy geopolitics', the ‘geopolitics of resource wars' and the ‘geopolitics of oil and gas' are all familiar. But what do they mean when they use ‘geopolitics' in this context? Thus, by extension, can petroleum geopolitics - a hybrid conceptual construction used in this thesis - be disassembled into its component parts, analysed and systematically understood. This is the aim of this thesis. This thesis contends that the very nature of oil and gas reserves, the processes of exploration and production, and the means that govern and characterise the transportation of petroleum overland and by sea is inherently geopolitical - that some core features of geopolitical theory and key geopolitical concepts are pivotal in determining the ontology and process of the international oil business. Indeed, so central has oil been to the advancement of industrial capacity, technology, warfare, transportation and economic prosperity of states since the 20th century, it could be argued that petroleum is the single largest determinant of the geopolitics that characterises the modern international system. In order to address the interrelationship and correlations between core aspects of the petroleum industry and causal geopolitical phenomena, I begin by advancing a framework of analysis that systematically binds key geopolitical features and concepts – specifically: Spatial Phenomena; Environmental Ontology; Territorial Access; Geopolitical Features; State and Non-state Concepts; and, Strategic Resources and Geopolitics - with examples of empirical findings revealed in subsequent chapters in the thesis. Fundamentally, this process works to assess causality and correlations between geopolitical phenomena such as space and distance, sovereignty, territory, boundaries, chokepoints, resource nationalism, transnationalism, resource security and conflict, and the features and processes inherent in petroleum reserves and the exploration, production and transportation of oil and gas. The framework is followed with a sequential analysis of the three empirical foci of the project: the ontology of oil and natural gas reserves; the planning and processes of exploration and production; and, the processes of the conveyance petroleum. I have concentrated my research to activities within Eurasia, which comprises the traditional continents of Europe and Asia, and the Indo-Pacific maritime realm, which extends eastwards from the Red Sea to the western Pacific Rim. After systematically assessing the empirical findings and examining key areas of geopolitical theory, I conclude that there is an identifiable and logical correlation between geopolitical phenomena, petroleum reserves, and the means to produce and distribute oil and gas between source and market.

L'optimisation de l'exploitation d'un réseau de transport de gaz naturel (RTGN) est typiquement un problème d'optimisation multiobjectif, faisant intervenir notamment la minimisation de la consommation énergétique dans les stations de compression, la maximisation du rendement, etc. Cependant, très peu de travaux concernant l'optimisation multiobjectif des réseaux de gazoducs sont présentés dans la littérature. Ainsi, ce travail vise à fournir un cadre général de formulation et de résolution de problèmes d'optimisation multiobjectif liés aux RTGN. Dans la première partie de l'étude, le modèle du RTGN est présenté. Ensuite, diverses techniques d'optimisation multiobjectif appartenant aux deux grandes classes de méthodes par scalarisation, d'une part, et de procédures évolutionnaires, d'autre part, communément utilisées dans de nombreux domaines de l'ingénierie, sont détaillées. Sur la base d'une étude comparative menée sur deux exemples mathématiques et cinq problèmes de génie des procédés (incluant en particulier un RTGN), un algorithme génétique basé sur une variante de NSGA-II, qui surpasse les méthodes de scalarisation, de somme pondérée et d'ε-Contrainte, a été retenu pour résoudre un problème d'optimisation tricritère d'un RTGN. Tout d'abord un problème monocritère relatif à la minimisation de la consommation de fuel dans les stations de compression est résolu. Ensuite un problème bicritère, où la consommation de fuel doit être minimisée et la livraison de gaz aux points terminaux du réseau maximisée, est présenté ; l'ensemble des solutions non dominées est répresenté sur un front de Pareto. Enfin l'impact d'injection d'hydrogène dans le RTGN est analysé en introduisant un troisième critère : le pourcentage d'hydrogène injecté dans le réseau que l'on doit maximiser. Dans les deux cas multiobjectifs, des méthodes génériques d'aide à la décision multicritère sont mises en oeuvre pour déterminer les meilleures solutions parmi toutes celles déployées sur les fronts de Pareto. / The optimization of a natural gas transportation network (NGTN) is typically a multiobjective optimization problem, involving for instance energy consumption minimization at the compressor stations and gas delivery maximization. However, very few works concerning multiobjective optimization of gas pipelines networks are reported in the literature. Thereby, this work aims at providing a general framework of formulation and resolution of multiobjective optimization problems related to NGTN. In the first part of the study, the NGTN model is described. Then, various multiobjective optimization techniques belonging to two main classes, scalarization and evolutionary, commonly used for engineering purposes, are presented. From a comparative study performed on two mathematical examples and on five process engineering problems (including a NGTN), a variant of the multiobjective genetic algorithm NSGA-II outmatches the classical scalararization methods, Weighted-sum and ε-Constraint. So NSGA-II has been selected for performing the triobjective optimization of a NGTN. First, the monobjective problem related to the minimization of the fuel consumption in the compression stations is solved. Then a biojective problem, where the fuel consumption has to be minimized, and the gas mass flow delivery at end-points of the network maximized, is presented. The non dominated solutions are displayed in the form of a Pareto front. Finally, the study of the impact of hydrogen injection in the NGTN is carried out by introducing a third criterion, i.e., the percentage of injected hydrogen to be maximized. In the two multiobjective cases, generic Multiple Choice Decision Making tools are implemented to identify the best solution among the ones displayed of the Pareto fronts.

The Thesis shows the perspectives of involving renewable energy resources into the energy balance of Russia, namely the use of wind energy for the purpose of energy supply for the objects of the Russian Gas transportation system. The methodology of the wind energy technical potential calculation is designed and the wind energy technical potential assessment for onshore and offshore zones of Russia is presented. The analysis of Russian Gas transportation system in terms of energy consumption is carried out when comparing the map of wind resources in Russia with the map of Russian Gas transportation system and the perspective of wind turbines installation is shown in order to offset energy consumption of the selected object of the Gas transportation system. The decision-making algorithm for wind turbines selection is developed for installation on the wind farm. Also indicators of investment attractiveness of the project of using wind turbines for compression stations energy supply were calculated.

В современном обществе информация является самым востребованным ресурсом экономики. Чем более конкурентоспособное предприятия, тем более совершенные методики обработки и анализа информации им применяются. Информационная система на предприятии является «кровеносной системой» управленческой деятельности, которая обеспечивает достижение целей компании путем доставки до пользователей организованной, структурированной и своевременной информации. Соответственно информационно-аналитической обеспечение управленческой деятельности организации позволяет находить оптимальные пути решений поставленных перед организацией задач. Несмотря на то, что в настоящее время существует множество специальных отраслевых методических рекомендаций по организации информационно-аналитической работы в фирмах газотранспортной отрасли, не существует универсальной модели, позволяющей обеспечивать высшее руководство компании полной информацией о результатах деятельности филиалов. В дисертации сформирован механизм формирования информационно-аналитического обеспечения управленческой деятельности исходя из цели организации эффективно¬го функционирования газотранспортного предприятия. На основе анализа сущности информационно-аналитического обеспечения управленческой деятельности газотранспортного предприятия выявлены особенности и критерии оптимизации управленческой деятельности газотранспортного предприятия. В результате анализа системы информационно-аналитического обеспечения управленческой деятельности ООО «ГТЕ» предложены корректировки нормативного обеспечения документооборота компании, а также выявлены направления устранения недочетов, замедляющих процесс обработки информации и принятия решений. Разработаны направления повышения эффективности движения информационных потоков на предприятии на основе совершенствования системы внутреннего контроля и формирования единого информационно-аналитического пространства. / Nowadays, information is the most popular resource of the world economy. The more competitive enterprises, the more sophisticated methods of processing and analyzing information they apply. The information system at the enterprise is a "circulatory system" of management activities that ensures achievement of the company's goals by delivering organized, structured and timely information to users. Accordingly, the information and analytical support of the organization's management activity allows finding optimal ways of solving the tasks assigned to the organization. Despite the fact that at present there are many special sectoral methodological recommendations for organizing information and analytical work in gas transportation companies, there is no universal model that allows to provide the top management of the company with complete information on the results of the branches' activities. Based on the analysis of the essence of information and analytical support of the management activity of a gas transportation company, the features and criteria for optimizing the management activity were revealed. The result of the analysis the information and analytical support system for the management activities of Ltd «GTE» is adjustments to the regulatory workflow. As well as identified areas to address the shortcomings, that slow the process of processing information and making decisions. The directions of increasing the efficiency of information flow in Ltd «GTE» are developed on the base of improving the system of internal control and the formation of a single information and analytical space.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa presently faces a serious and much-acknowledged energy capacity deficit. The Department of Energy are determined to address this capacity crisis by creating several new power plants between 2010 and 2030, as stipulated in the “Integrated Resource Plan 2010”. A Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant is proposed to add 2370 MW of capacity to the national grid. The “new-build” CCGT plant will use natural gas as a feedstock for energy generation. The plant is destined to begin energy generation by 2019, and will ramp up to full capacity by 2030. Following a review of the existing natural gas sources and the nascent gas network in South Africa, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has been identified as the most suitable immediate source of natural gas feedstock for the CCGT. LNG fuel must be imported into South Africa aboard large, special purpose LNG Carrier (LNGC) vessels. LNGC vessels require a designated marine import terminal in order to offload the super-cooled and potentially flammable cargo. Saldanha Bay, located on the South West coast of South Africa, has been selected by Transnet as a preferred location for LNG terminal development. A review of LNG technology reveals the need for mandatory onshore LNG storage and regasification facilities, land area requirements, demands of different LNGC types and the characteristics of dedicated LNG jetties and terminals. Floating, offshore and traditional LNG terminals are discussed. The objective of this thesis is to review potential terminal sites and conceptual layouts in Saldanha Bay, and via a Multi Criteria Analysis, to present three distinct LNG terminal layout options for further consideration. The conceptual layouts will address technical concerns such as berth orientation and layout, safe navigational access to the terminal, mandatory onshore infrastructure and optimisation of berth operations. Saldanha Bay as a port location is studied and the importance of local environmental features is highlighted. Potential terminal development sites are identified following a review of nautical and terrestrial restrictions. Four conceptual site layouts are proposed, providing jetty locations and orientations in the Bay. The sites are located in North Bay, Hoedjiespunt, and two in Big Bay. Several Key Design Parameters (KDP’s) are identified as having a critical bearing on the ultimate layout, operation and feasibility of an LNG terminal in Saldanha Bay. The sensitivity and influence of the KDP’s at each of the four conceptual sites is investigated. Analysis of KDP effects leads to the development of design variation options at the sites. Twelve terminal layout schemes are ultimately derived. A Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) is performed to rank the 12 terminal layout schemes in terms of technical efficacy. A sensitivity study is conducted to justify the selection of MCA parameter weights. The three top-scoring schemes are recommended for more detailed pre-feasibility investigation. The three terminal layout schemes, located in Big Bay and Hoedjiespunt, make use of both standard trestle jetties and floating LNG technologies. The thesis has shown that a number of viable sites and layouts for LNG terminals exist in Saldanha Bay and demonstrates a systematic analysis of design issues leading to preferred options. The thesis concludes by outlining the next steps in the process towards a final terminal scheme selection. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika ervaar huidig ‘n drastiese energie kapasiteit verlies. Die Departement van Energie is vasbeslote om die energie krisis aan te spreek deur verskeie nuwe kragstasies tussen 2010 en 2030 op te rig, soos beskryf in die “Integrated Resource Plan 2010”. ‘n Gekombineerde Siklus Gas Turbine (GSGT) kragstasie is voorgestel om ‘n verdere 2370 MW by te voeg tot die nasionale krag netwerk. Die “nuut-geboude” GSGT kragstasie sal natuurlike gas as brandstof vir kragopwekking gebruik. Die kragstasie is beplan om teen 2019 krag op te wek, en sal teen 2030 volle kapasiteit loop. Na ‘n ondersoek van die bestaande natuurlike gas bronne en gas netwerke in Suid Afrika, is Vloeibare Natuurlike Gas (VNG) geïdentifiseer as die huidiglike beskikbare bron van brandstof vir die GSGT. VNG moet ingevoer word aanboord spesiaal geboude VNG vaartuie. VNG vaartuie benodig ‘n spesifieke mariene invoer terminaal om die vlambare vloeistof mee af te laai. Saldanhabaai, aan die Suid-Westerlike kus van Suid Afrika, is as verkose area vir die VNG terminaal ontwikkeling geïdentifiseer deur Transnet. ‘n Oorsig van VNG tegnologie bevind dat VNG stoorplek en vergassings fasiliteite, land area, verskeie VNG vaartuie en karakteristieke van VNG terminale benodig word. Verskeie VNG terminale word bespreek in hierdie studie. The doel van hierdie tesis is om die potensiële terminaal bou-terrein en konseptuele ontwerpe in Saldanhabaai, deur middel van ‘n multi-kriteria analise (MKA), in drie verskillende ontwerp moontlikhede voor te stel. Saldanhabaai, as hawe, is bestudeer en belangrike omgewings aspekte is geïdentifiseer. Potensiële terminaal bou-terrein is geïdentifiseer na aanleiding van seevaart en land beperkings. Vier konseptuele bou-terreine is voorgestel wat jetty posisies en orientasies aandui. Die bou-terreine is in Noordbaai, Hoedjiespunt, en twee in Big Bay. Verskeie Sleutel Ontwerp Parameters (SOP’s), wat ‘n kritieke rol speel in die uiteindelike orientasie, werking en effektiwiteit van die VNG terminaal in Saldanhabaai, is geïdentifiseer. Die sensitiwiteit van die SOP’s by elk van die vier voorgestelde moontlikhede, is ondersoek. ‘n Ontleding van die effek van die SOP’s het variasie in die ontwerp moontlikhede by die verskillende bouterrein tot gevolg. Twaalf terminaal orientasie skemas is voorgestel. ‘n MKA is uitgevoer om ‘n ranglys van opsies te produseer in terme van tegniese effektiwiteit. Dit is voorgestel dat die top drie opsies verder ondersoek moet word. Die drie terminaal orientasie skemas, wat voorgestel word vir die Big Bay en Hoedjiespunt areas, maak gebruik van standaard jetties en drywende VNG tegnologie. Hierdie tesis bevind dat ‘n aantal uitvoerbare bouterreine en orientasies in Saldanhabaai moontlik is. ‘n Sistematiese analise van ontwerps kwessies wat na verkose opsies lei, word ook in die tesis ge-adresser. Die voorgestelde stappe in die besluitneming van ‘n finale terminaal skema vorm die slot van die tesis.