Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-62). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-63). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S. in Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): Don Brutzman, Curt Blais. Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-118). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-123).

Thesis (M. S.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010. / Committee Co-Chair: Johnson, Eric; Committee Co-Chair: Lipkin, Harvey; Committee Member: Sadegh, Nader. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--York University, 2001. Graduate Programme in Computer Science. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-95). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ67751.

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Relative permeabilities for three-phase flow are commonly predicted from two-phase flow measurements using empirical models. These models are usually tested against available steady state data. However, the oil flow is unsteady state during various production stages such as gas injection after water flood. Accurate measurement of oil permeability([subscript ro]) during unsteady tertiary gas flood is necessary to study macroscopic oil displacement rate under micro scale events including double drainage, coalescence and reconnection, bulk flow and film drainage. We measure the three-phase oil relative permeability by conducting unsteady-state drainage experiments in a 0.8m water-wet sandpack. We find that when starting from capillary-trapped oil, k[subscript ro] starts high and decreases with a small change in oil saturation, and shows a strong dependence on both the flow of water and the water saturation, contrary to most models. The observed flow coupling between water and oil is stronger in three-phase flow than two-phase flow, and cannot be observed in steady-state measurements. The results suggest that the oil is transported through moving gas/oil/water interfaces (form drag) or momentum transport across stationary interfaces (friction drag). We present a simple model of friction drag which compares favorably to the experimental data. We also solve the creeping flow approximation of the Navier-Stokes equation for stable wetting and intermediate layers in the corner of angular capillaries by using a continuity boundary condition at the layer interface. We find significant coupling between the condensed phases and calculate the generalized mobilities by solving co-current and counter-current flow of wetting and intermediate layers. Finally, we present a simple heuristic model for the generalized mobilities as a function of the geometry and viscosity ratio. To identify the key parameter controlling the measured excess oil flow during tertiary gasflood, we also conduct simultaneous water-gas flood tests where we control water relative permeability and let water saturation develop naturally. The measured data and pore scale calculations indicate that viscous coupling can not explain completely the observed flow coupling between oil and water. We conclude that the rate of water saturation decrease, which controls the pore scale mechanisms including double drainage, reconnection, and film drainage significantly influences the rate of oil drainage during tertiary gas flood. Finally, we present a simple heuristic model for oil relative permeability during tertiary gas flood, and also explain how Stone I and saturation-weighted interpolation should be used to predict the permeability of mobilized oil during transient tertiary gasflood. / text

The ability to exploit disruptive innovation is the main factor in a company’s continued success. The ability to significantly advance a field or create a new field is paramount not only to a venture’s ability to generate revenue, but it is key to our nation’s economic vitality. Yet today’s business environment is dominated by funding options and exit strategies focused on near-term results and unreasonable profit expectations (Estrin, 2008b). Given these constraints, software startups must focus on incremental innovation to obtain initial funding. The result is an industry focused on short-term strategies that limit the likelihood of developing disruptive innovations and companies with long-term focuses. Current business models do not adequately address a key factor in preventing the loss of innovations and stagnancy in industries and their markets. New business frameworks and models are required that focus on preserving the core teams found in software startups and to provide them with the runway they require to develop disruptive innovations. Nowhere is innovation more crucial than in the startup environment where the abilities to invent, adapt, outwit, and outlast on a shoestring budget predict success. This paper evaluates today’s business models to determine how they help overcome roadblocks faced by software startups in today’s acquisition environment, identifies related research, and recommends new models and adaptations to existing models to overcome these roadblocks. “It is estimated that 70-95 percent of acquisitions fail. A significant percentage is due to the friction that is created by trying to integrate the startup with the large company's financials, HR department, product, market and business model. Most startups when they are acquired are uncertain on many of these dimensions, and forcing them to conform on any one of these dimensions to the large company can stunt their growth and often kill them.” – (Herrmann, September 2011) This paper investigates how to preserve innovation within a startup and within an acquiring company, how innovation is interwoven in team members, the leadership characteristics that inspire innovation, and the importance of balancing the value of innovation against process. The recommended guidance and frameworks focus on preserving the core team and their innovations, as well as generating a strong return on investment, when an established business acquires a startup. The perspectives presented are based on the author’s experiences as a key team member in two startups in the mid 1990s, multiple failed internal incubation groups within a fortune 100 company, and in considering a new startup in today’s environment. / text

published_or_final_version / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy