Modern automotive applications such as transmission clutch plates, combustion chambers, diesel fuel injector tips, and axle gears and friction plates operate at temperatures that can exceed 250°C and pressures of 40,000 psia. Industrial practice is to add homopolymers and copolymers to base oils to modify bulk fluid viscosity and frictional properties for these demanding applications. However, designing polymeric additives for lubricants and predicting their performance is limited by the lack of available high-temperature high-pressure (HTHP) viscosity and density data needed to test contemporary lubricity models. Thus, a major objective of this thesis is the design, development, and commissioning of a rolling ball viscometer/densitometer (RBVD) capable of simultaneously determining fluid densities and viscosities at temperatures in excess of 250°C and pressures of 40,000 psia. Resulting data may then be generated to directly address the fundamental need for lubricant property data at these HTHP conditions. The design and development of the RBVD is described in detail to highlight the design iterations and modifications utilized to ensure robust operation at extreme conditions. Three significant and novel features of this RBVD apparatus that distinguish and differentiate it from other apparatus of this type are: (1) specially designed metal-to-metal and sapphire-to-metal seated surfaces capable of eliminating temperature- and chemically-sensitive elastomeric seals; (2) use of a bellows piston to eliminate significant temperature and operational constraints; and (3) incorporation of a linear variable differential transducer (LVDT) to simultaneously permit determination of solution density and viscosity. A detailed analysis of initial accumulated uncertainty for the experimental viscosity and density techniques revealed the need for key RBVD modifications. Final data are presented showing that the RBVD is capable of measuring viscosities with an accuracy of ± 2 to 3 percent and densities to ± 0.7 percent, including at the extreme operating conditions targeted. A second objective of this thesis is the measurement of HTHP viscosities of star polymer-solvent mixtures to determine the impact of star polymer architecture on solution viscosity at extreme conditions similar to those that might be experienced in automotive applications. This objective is motivated by current challenges facing industry to identify polymeric additives that can be added to base oils to improve fuel economy and allow for the implementation of novel hardware technology that relies on enhanced lubricant properties. Relative to linear polymers, the unique architecture of star polymers enhances polymer solubility in base oils while having a more favorable impact on viscosity and density properties over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. Data are presented for an industrially-relevant star polymer in octane to assess the impact of the star configuration on solvent viscosity at extreme conditions. The star polymer used in this instance consists of an ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) core with poly(lauryl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) (LMA-MMA) arms. The star polymer has a total weight averaged molecular weight (Mw) and Mw of each arm of 575,000, and 45,000, respectively. The copolymer arms of the star polymer have an LMA-to-MMA mole ratio of 0.6. The results of further viscosity studies are presented for a model system of well-characterized commercially available narrow polydispersity index (PDI) star polystyrenes (PS) in toluene. Each PS is evaluated at a two percent by weight concentration in toluene to evaluate the effect of arm molecular weigh on viscosity. Each three-arm star polymer has arm and total molecular weights ([arm Mw] total star Mw) of ([15,400] 41,200), ([36,000] 97,600), and ([108,000] 305,000). In this instance, the viscosity of toluene increased by more than a factor of three for the star with the highest Mw arms.

Este trabalho começa abordando os aspectos estudados: visualização e gerenciamento de informações. Verifica-se hoje que uma das grandes dificuldades com eles é conseguir-se uma visão integrada de todas as atividades de uma empresa, especialmente nas de grande porte, bem como se manter dados precisos e atualizados sempre à disposição, para que se consiga identificar com rapidez possíveis erros e soluções. Estuda-se a utilização de conceitos de mapeamento de processos e de realidade virtual nas áreas de mineração e petrolífera - incluindo um breve histórico e exemplos de aplicações - para suprir estas dificuldades. Descreve-se, a seguir, os objetivos do trabalho, que envolvem o desenvolvimento de um modelo de integração de informações para as duas áreas citadas, além da análise dos benefícios inerentes ao acesso gráfico a repositórios centrais de dados. Parte-se de uma revisão bibliográfica relacionada aos problemas e soluções analisados, e de uma metodologia de trabalho adequada ao tema proposto, baseada em observação, entrevistas e análises com profissionais dos setores envolvidos. Passa-se para o estudo de caso da mina Rio das Pedras, da empresa PETROBRAS, em São Mateus do Sul, PR, que explora folhelhos para obtenção de óleo, escolhida para este estudo por envolver simultaneamente mineração e petróleo, focos dessa tese. Obteve-se diversos resultados, atendendo aos objetivos propostos. Foi desenvolvido um modelo de gerenciamento integrado de informações. Para isso, foi criado um diagrama representando a cadeia de valor de petróleo e foram mapeadas as atividades principais dessa cadeia, bem como as da mineração. Também foram criados modelos, com o auxílio de avançadas ferramentas computacionais, para uso de realidade virtual, além de um roteiro para implantação destes modelos. Estes resultados foram sendo divulgados ao longo deste projeto em diversos eventos, incluindo o Rio Oil & Gas Expo and Conference, em 2006 e o SIAEM, em 2004. Ao final, observou-se que há a possibilidade de uma boa integração dentro de cada setor, de mineração e petrolífero, e até a integração dos dois setores em alguns aspectos comuns a ambos, permitindo maior facilidade na obtenção de dados e na tomada de decisão. Com isso, verifica-se que essa tecnologia pode trazer melhorias importantes para os setores envolvidos, e muito pode ser feito para desenvolvê-la ainda mais. / This thesis starts by identifying the key issues of the research: visualization and management of information. It is widely known that one of the most common difficulties in information management is to obtain a complete and integrated view of all the company processes and activities. Another common difficulty is to maintain the necessary data always precise, updated and available to whoever needs them, so that it will be possible for the user to identify discrepancies right at the beginning and to immediately visualize the most appropriate solutions for each case. Evaluating the use of process mapping and virtual reality applied to the mining and petroleum industry - including a brief historical background and examples of applications - it is verified how these technologies can help to solve the problems identified. This thesis describes then the research objectives, which are based on developing a model suited for the integration of information in the mining and oil industry. The integration between mine planning and operation, and between oil exploration and production, together with the analysis of the benefits of a central graphical database, are also included. The thesis includes a bibliographic review, related to the problems and solutions analyzed, and also the methodology that has been developed, including observation, interviews, discussions, and analysis with professionals from the mining and petroleum industry. The thesis uses as a case study the oil shale mine Rio das Pedras (a mine from PETROBRAS, in São Mateus do Sul, Paraná). A brief description of this mine, and the reasons for its use on this study, related to the fact that it combines oil and mining engineering, are also presented here. The results of the research includes the development of an information management model, an oil production chain model, and models for processes mapping and virtual reality. These results were presented at international events like Rio Oil & Gas Expo and Conference, in 2006, and SIAEM, in 2004. Through the simulation of basic operations, as ore transport to the plant, and with the aid of the most advanced software tools available, it was verified how the data could be easily obtained, and how these technologies could be improved - it is already possible to integrate some mining and oil industry aspects - with a quite favorable forecast for its future use in several applications in the mining and petroleum industry.

A significant drop in oil price in 2014 resulted in enormous pressure on marketing managers of international oilfield service companies to address new market expectations. In such competitive conditions, some marketing managers lack strategies to leverage profitability during downturns. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that senior marketing managers of international oilfield service companies in the Middle East successfully used to enhance sales performance, revenues, and profits during periods of declining oil prices. Theory of market segmentation, targeting, and positioning formed the conceptual framework for this study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews of 5 senior marketing managers of international oilfield service companies throughout the Middle East. Data analysis was composed of organizing data, becoming familiar with the data, putting data in nodes, giving proper codes, interpreting the data, and presenting the results, which led to 5 primary themes including customers, relationship, differentiation, services, and prices. To increase reliability and reduce bias, triangulation was achieved by combining, comparing, and contrasting companies' annual reports and website contents with participants' information. Identifying the right strategies that lead to higher profitability is crucial for international oilfield companies. Developing dynamic segmentation strategies, targeting new market players, differentiating via innovation, and promoting reliable relationships increase the likelihood of grasping new opportunities. This study's implications for positive social change include having more sustainable and profitable firms contributing to prosperity of local communities, which leads to healthier economies and more stable societies.

The relationship between the Reynolds number (Re) and discharge coefficients (C) was investigated through differential pressure flow meters. The focus of the study was directed toward very small Reynolds numbers commonly associated with pipeline transportation of viscous fluids. There is currently a relatively small amount of research that has been performed in this area for the Venturi, standard orifice plate, V-cone, and wedge flow meters. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) program FLUENT© was used to perform the research, while GAMBIT© was used as the preprocessing tool for the flow meter models created. Heavy oil and water were used separately as the two flowing fluids to obtain a wide range of Reynolds numbers with high precision. Multiple models were used with varying characteristics, such as pipe size and meter geometry, to obtain a better understanding of the C vs. Re relationship. All of the simulated numerical models were compared to physical data to determine the accuracy of the models. The study indicates that the various discharge coefficients decrease rapidly as the Reynolds number approaches 1 for each of the flow meters; however, the Reynolds number range in which the discharge coefficients were constant varied with meter design. The standard orifice plate does not follow the general trend in the discharge coefficient curve that the other flow meters do; instead as the Re decreases, the C value increases to a maximum before sharply dropping off. Several graphs demonstrating the varying relationships and outcomes are presented. The primary focus of this research was to obtain further understanding of discharge coefficient performance versus Reynolds number for differential producing flow meters at very small Reynolds numbers.

This dissertation solves an optimization problem in the area of scheduling large-scale petroleum development projects under several resources constraints. The dissertation focuses on the application of a metaheuristic search Genetic Algorithm (GA) in solving the problem. The GA is a global search method inspired by natural evolution. The method is widely applied to solve complex and sizable problems that are difficult to solve using exact optimization methods. A classical resource allocation problem in operations research known under Knapsack Problems (KP) is considered for the formulation of the problem. Motivation of the present work was initiated by certain petroleum development scheduling problem in which large-scale investment projects are to be selected subject to a number of resources constraints in several periods. The constraints may occur from limitations in various resources such as capital budgets, operating budgets, and drilling rigs. The model also accounts for a number of assumptions and business rules encountered in the application that motivated this work. The model uses an economic performance objective to maximize the sum of Net Present Value (NPV) of selected projects over a planning horizon subject to constraints involving discrete time dependent variables. Computational experiments of 30 projects illustrate the performance of the model. The application example is only illustrative of the model and does not reveal real data. A Greedy algorithm was first utilized to construct an initial estimate of the objective function. GA was implemented to improve the solution and investigate resources constraints and their effect on the assets value. The timing and order of investment decisions under constraints have the prominent effect on the economic performance of the assets. The application of an integrated optimization model provides means to maximize the financial value of the assets, efficiently allocate limited resources and to analyze more scheduling alternatives in less time.

Thesis (Ph. D.). UM #74-17,941. / Title from document title page. Includes bibliographical references. Available in PDF format via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M. S.)--Texas A&M University, 2004. / Vita. Abstract. "Major Subject: Petroleum Engineering" Includes bibliographical references.

abstract: Pseudo-steady state (PSS) flow is an important time-dependent flow regime that quickly follows the initial transient flow regime in the constant-rate production of a closed boundary hydrocarbon reservoir. The characterization of the PSS flow regime is of importance in describing the reservoir pressure distribution as well as the productivity index (PI) of the flow regime. The PI describes the production potential of the well and is often used in fracture optimization and production-rate decline analysis. In 2016, Chen determined the exact analytical solution for PSS flow of a fully penetrated vertically fractured well with finite fracture conductivity for reservoirs of elliptical shape. The present work aimed to expand Chen’s exact analytical solution to commonly encountered reservoirs geometries including rectangular, rhomboid, and triangular by introducing respective shape factors generated from extensive computational modeling studies based on an identical drainage area assumption. The aforementioned shape factors were generated and characterized as functions for use in spreadsheet calculations as well as graphical format for simplistic in-field look-up use. Demonstrative use of the shape factors for over 20 additional simulations showed high fidelity of the shape factor to accurately predict (mean average percentage error remained under 1.5 %) the true PSS constant by modulating Chen’s solution for elliptical reservoirs. The methodology of the shape factor generation lays the ground work for more extensive and specific shape factors to be generated for cases such as non-concentric wells and other geometries not studied. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Chemical Engineering 2017

Este trabalho começa abordando os aspectos estudados: visualização e gerenciamento de informações. Verifica-se hoje que uma das grandes dificuldades com eles é conseguir-se uma visão integrada de todas as atividades de uma empresa, especialmente nas de grande porte, bem como se manter dados precisos e atualizados sempre à disposição, para que se consiga identificar com rapidez possíveis erros e soluções. Estuda-se a utilização de conceitos de mapeamento de processos e de realidade virtual nas áreas de mineração e petrolífera - incluindo um breve histórico e exemplos de aplicações - para suprir estas dificuldades. Descreve-se, a seguir, os objetivos do trabalho, que envolvem o desenvolvimento de um modelo de integração de informações para as duas áreas citadas, além da análise dos benefícios inerentes ao acesso gráfico a repositórios centrais de dados. Parte-se de uma revisão bibliográfica relacionada aos problemas e soluções analisados, e de uma metodologia de trabalho adequada ao tema proposto, baseada em observação, entrevistas e análises com profissionais dos setores envolvidos. Passa-se para o estudo de caso da mina Rio das Pedras, da empresa PETROBRAS, em São Mateus do Sul, PR, que explora folhelhos para obtenção de óleo, escolhida para este estudo por envolver simultaneamente mineração e petróleo, focos dessa tese. Obteve-se diversos resultados, atendendo aos objetivos propostos. Foi desenvolvido um modelo de gerenciamento integrado de informações. Para isso, foi criado um diagrama representando a cadeia de valor de petróleo e foram mapeadas as atividades principais dessa cadeia, bem como as da mineração. Também foram criados modelos, com o auxílio de avançadas ferramentas computacionais, para uso de realidade virtual, além de um roteiro para implantação destes modelos. Estes resultados foram sendo divulgados ao longo deste projeto em diversos eventos, incluindo o Rio Oil & Gas Expo and Conference, em 2006 e o SIAEM, em 2004. Ao final, observou-se que há a possibilidade de uma boa integração dentro de cada setor, de mineração e petrolífero, e até a integração dos dois setores em alguns aspectos comuns a ambos, permitindo maior facilidade na obtenção de dados e na tomada de decisão. Com isso, verifica-se que essa tecnologia pode trazer melhorias importantes para os setores envolvidos, e muito pode ser feito para desenvolvê-la ainda mais. / This thesis starts by identifying the key issues of the research: visualization and management of information. It is widely known that one of the most common difficulties in information management is to obtain a complete and integrated view of all the company processes and activities. Another common difficulty is to maintain the necessary data always precise, updated and available to whoever needs them, so that it will be possible for the user to identify discrepancies right at the beginning and to immediately visualize the most appropriate solutions for each case. Evaluating the use of process mapping and virtual reality applied to the mining and petroleum industry - including a brief historical background and examples of applications - it is verified how these technologies can help to solve the problems identified. This thesis describes then the research objectives, which are based on developing a model suited for the integration of information in the mining and oil industry. The integration between mine planning and operation, and between oil exploration and production, together with the analysis of the benefits of a central graphical database, are also included. The thesis includes a bibliographic review, related to the problems and solutions analyzed, and also the methodology that has been developed, including observation, interviews, discussions, and analysis with professionals from the mining and petroleum industry. The thesis uses as a case study the oil shale mine Rio das Pedras (a mine from PETROBRAS, in São Mateus do Sul, Paraná). A brief description of this mine, and the reasons for its use on this study, related to the fact that it combines oil and mining engineering, are also presented here. The results of the research includes the development of an information management model, an oil production chain model, and models for processes mapping and virtual reality. These results were presented at international events like Rio Oil & Gas Expo and Conference, in 2006, and SIAEM, in 2004. Through the simulation of basic operations, as ore transport to the plant, and with the aid of the most advanced software tools available, it was verified how the data could be easily obtained, and how these technologies could be improved - it is already possible to integrate some mining and oil industry aspects - with a quite favorable forecast for its future use in several applications in the mining and petroleum industry.

Orientador: Ricardo Augusto Mazza / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T00:40:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GuillermoNavarro_JuanJose_M.pdf: 3419746 bytes, checksum: 4938a1fd57b3e5e404a4456f18b322a3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: O escoamento gás-líquido intermitente em golfadas de líquido é composto por uma sucessão de bolhas de gás alongadas e pistões de líquido, que interagem cinematicamente e dinamicamente à medida que viajam ao longo da tubulação. Essas interações produzem o caráter intermitente do escoamento fazendo com que o escoamento não seja periódico nem no tempo nem no espaço. Desta forma, modelar o escoamento padrão golfadas de líquido é um desafio aos pesquisadores. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo determinar as freqüências características/naturais da oscilação da velocidade do pistão e da pressão da bolha em escoamento padrão golfadas de líquido. O fenômeno oscilatório é estudado numericamente utilizando-se um modelo de seguimento dinâmico de pistões, no qual se obtém um sinal característico da evolução da velocidade de líquido e da pressão da bolha ao longo do tempo. Esses sinais são analisados utilizando-se a transformada de Hilbert-Huang para determinar as freqüências características. Também é proposta uma solução analítica aproximada para determinar as freqüências naturais de oscilação, sendo comparada com os resultados numéricos, determinando os limites da validade para a solução analítica aproximada. A solução analítica é obtida por meio de análise dimensional das principais grandezas envolvidas e a similaridade com sistemas massa-mola / Abstract: The slug flow pattern is described by a succession of liquid pistons trailed by elongated gas bubbles. One of the least known features of this specific flow pattern is the compressibility effect associated with the elongated gas bubble. In fact when the gas-liquid mixture is subjected to a pressure or velocity disturbance it is expected that the system, composed by liquid pistons trailed by elongated bubbles, oscillates. The objective of this work is to disclose the natural frequency modes of this system as a function of the flow properties including the lengths of the liquid piston and gas bubble, the bubble liquid holdup among others. The kinematical and dynamical interactions among the bubbles and the liquid pistons are modeled accordingly to the slug tracking model. A numerical and an analytical solution to this model are sought. The first one retains all non-linear terms and the frequency signal response is obtained using Hilbert-Huang transform. The second one is an approximated solution given by linearizing the slug tracking model to get an analytical solution to the frequency in terms of the slug flow properties. An analysis of the frequency spectra obtained from the analytical solution and from the Hilbert-Huang transformation is performed within the linear range of the model. Both techniques disclose that the gas pressure and the liquid piston velocity have time dependent frequencies / Mestrado / Termica e Fluidos / Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica