New empirical correlations connecting rock strength and compressibility to accompanying petrographic and petrophysical data have been developed using a database of core-derived mechanical properties measurements. These empirical data are translated into predictive methods for determining mechanical qualities from geophysical wire-line records using automated fitting procedures. 600 triaxial compressive strength experiments of sandstone-to-shale lithotypes, as well as 275 uniaxial and hydrostatic compaction tests of siliciclastic reservoir rocks, are included in the database (unconsolidated sands to tight gas sandstones). Shear strength is calculated using lithotype (arenite, wacke, or shale) porosity and normal stress magnitude; Mohr-Coulomb cohesion and internal friction angle are calculated using porosity and total clay weight fraction; and pore volume compressibility is calculated using elastic moduli. The Cam clay elastoplastic constitutive model’s observed trends in material characteristics provide some restrictions for simulating the commencement of pore collapse and the evolution of rock compressibility with fluid pressure reduction under uniaxial strain boundary conditions.

An evaluation of the performance of Nigeria’s refineries since 1999-2021

ABSTRACT

The main thrust of this study is to critically evaluate  the performance of Nigeria’s refineries since 1999-2021. The study was guided by the following objective;To investigate the difficulties of building refineries in Nigeria during the period under study; To understand why private organisations are finding it difficult to build refineries in Nigeria; To examine whether Nigeria refineries have live upto its responsibilities

The study reveals that Nigeria refineries has failed woefully and relied heavily on importation of oil. The study also reveled that change of ownership structures from the government sector to the private sector between the two eras, present additional challenges. These challenges cut across availability of capital, inconsistent government priorities and access to land for construction. Others include cronyism and corruption, weak political will, unstructured refinery licensing scheme, security challenges and economic factors regarding the regulated downstream market in Nigeria. Key recommendations proffered to help solve these problems include a private sector-led partnership with the government in the form of public private partnerships (PPPs), a review of existing methods for licensing refineries for private organisations, the development of local manpower with relevant technical skills to help lower the cost of expatriate labour and the establishment of more designated clusters as free trade zones within the oil-producing Niger Delta. These recommendations will help lower the entry barriers for private organisations in this sector.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO THE MARKETING OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS IN SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION

Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources of which petroleum products play a major role. At present, Nigeria is the ninth world producer and sixth world exporter of crude oil. On the domestic economy, the petroleum sector generates over 90% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings, and provides employment in various forms to Nigerians (Central Bank of Nigeria Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, 2010). In addition, the tremendous growth in oil earnings has influenced significantly Nigeria’s international relations, and sometimes the politics of oil has taken centre stage in the nation’s history of international relations in the last few decades.

Eromosele (1997) observed that after almost half a century of oil exploration in Nigeria, the oil industry is earning a mature status in comparison to other industries in the country such that significant progress has been made in terms of oil exploration and sale of crud oil abroad. Unfortunately, the domestic management of petroleum resources is fraught with a number of problems. There are occasional product shortages, inefficient product distribution and contending pump price of petrol. These problems are compounded by ethnic and civil disturbances
in the Nigeria-Delta oil producing areas. This situation sometimes leads to destruction and vandalization of oil pipelines, disturbances in operation of the oil explorations and damage to life and properties

THE OPERATION OF PIPELINE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on the Operation Of Pipeline Mode Of Transportation In Nigeria. It was premised on the notion of the scarcity of refined petroleum products across the country in spite of the agitated advantages that pipeline transport mode is said to have over some other alternative transport modes considering the nature of product involved. Other observed problems that prompted the carrying out of this study include: pipeline vandalization, aging pipelines and the ulterior motives of the management of pipeline and products marketing company (PPMC) regarding the volume of petroleum products moved to the various depots (regions) of the country. A number of specific objectives sought to be achieved in the study included: (i) determine the effect of the use of pipeline transport mode on the availability of petroleum products in South East, Nigeria; (ii) identify the major challenges confronting pipeline transportation of petroleum products;

(iii) determine the relative effect of pipeline vandalization; capacity underutilization; and PPMC management ulterior motive; on the scarcity of petroleum products in South-East Nigeria; and (iv) determine the strategies for effective management of petroleum products pipeline transportation operation in southeast Nigeria. A cross sectional survey design method was adopted. A random sample of 217 (106 from Enugu and 111 from Aba) staff of the Aba and Enugu NNPC Depots, determined by using Taro Yamane’s sample size determination formula, were covered in the research survey. Hypotheses were tested by using: (i) Spearman’s Ranked Correlation (rho) and t-Test for the first hypothesis; (ii) Univariate Chi-square (X²) for hypothesis two; (iii) Multiple Regression Analysis for hypothesis three; and (iv) Kolmogorov Z-Test for the fourth hypothesis. The findings of the study revealed that: Pipeline transportation mode has significant (t_cal = 29.04, t_cal = 28.33 > t_tab = 1.984) suitable effect on the availability of petroleum products in southeast Nigeria; (ii) Small pipeline diameter and pipeline vandalisation are the significant (X² = 68.105, X² = 11.488, p < 0.05) major challenge confronting petroleum products transportation; (iii) Pipeline vandalization, capacity underutilisation and PPMC management ulterior motive have significant (F_{(3, 205)} = 323.004, p < 0.05) relative effect on the scarcity of petroleum products; and finally; (iv) Replacing the petroleum product pipelines with the ones with wider diameter and controlling the transportation operations remotely are effective strategies (Z = 4.028, p < 0.05) for aiding management of petroleum products pipeline transportation in southeast Nigeria. Based on the findings and the set main objective of the study, it was concluded that pipeline transport mode remains the most suitable means of transporting petroleum products not only because it is fast but because it can deliver much barrels of petroleum products than trucks/tankers can and also, it is safer. It was however recommended that, petroleum pipeline transportation operations should be remotely controlled from the pump stations so that if there is any disruption in the operation, it would be identified on time before it causes any fire outbreak; also, security guards should be deployed to areas particularly the networks through which the pipelines are laid so that any attempt of vandalisation would be combated out; pipelines should be replaced with wider diameter ones so that they can transport more barrels and quicker than before; the needs of Nigerian petroleum product consumers should be made preclude the oil industry’s operation particularly in the production and volume of barrels supplied just as it is in developed countries. Finally therefore, it was recommended that the monopoly of PPMC should be diffused with many private pipeline operators so that their ulterior motive will no longer have effect on the supply of petroleum products.

Drilling fluid must fulfill various functions with a great impact on the drilling performance. Drilling fluid invasion can cause formation damage. Good quality mudcakes can prevent such damage. This research focuses on the lab techniques and performance results of testing innovative water-based drilling fluids containing nanoparticles (NPs) for minimizing formation damage at high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) conditions. A couette type viscometer was used to examine the rheological properties of the drilling fluids tested in this research. Zeta potential measurements were conducted at different temperatures and concentrations to assess their stability and to investigate the role of charge potential. Indiana limestone outcrops were examined as the filter media for both static and dynamic filtration (up to 350°F and 500 psi) using a HP/HT dynamic filter press. The mudcakes were investigated using a computed-tomography (CT) scan, and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to measure the concentrations of key ions in the filtrate fluids. A significant reduction in the filtrate fluid volume was achieved when using ferric oxide NPs (-43% for 0.5 wt%) compared to that of the base fluid. However, adding silica NPs led to an increase in the filtrate volume and mudcake thickness. Increasing the NP concentration resulted in an increase in the fluid loss and mudcake thickness. The mudcakes consisted of two layers, as indicated by the CT scan analysis. 0.5 wt% was found to be the optimal NP concentration, which provides less agglomeration and a reduction in the mudcake permeability by -76.4%. At this concentration, the ICP-OES analysis showed a higher cation dissociation, which promoted the formation of a different clay platelet microstructure. At a higher NP concentration, a new layer of NPs was formed in the mudcake, which adversely affects the mudcake characteristics, as demonstrated by CT scan analysis and SEM-EDS elemental mapping. The rheological measurements indicated a good rheology at different temperatures and NP concentrations. Moreover, the NPs helped to stabilize the viscosity and yield stress at high temperatures (up to 200°F). Aging at 350°F for 16 hours showed that NP-based drilling fluids remain stable with minor changes in rheological properties. The obtained rheological data for various NPs is fitted to the classical drilling fluid rheological models to determine the best fit-model, which can then be applied to an efficient design. This research provides a comprehensive evaluation of improved water-based drilling fluids, using ferric oxide and silica NPs for HP/HT applications. The examined NPs have the potential to enhance drilling fluid properties, which provides more efficient drilling operations and less formation damage.

MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF TRANESTERIFICATION OF WASTE VEGETABLE OIL (FRYING OIL) IN A BATCH REACTOR

ABSTRACT
In this study a kinetic model was developed to represent the kinetics of transesterificiation of waste vegetable oil (frying oil) in a batch reactor at different isothermal conditions of 313 K, 323 K, 333 K and 338 K. The reaction occurs in series of 3 steps. Solution to the model was derived using MATLAB the method for solving was done by applying ode solver ode15s which makes use of backward differential formulas known as Gear method was used to solve the equations derived and to simulate kinetic data from literature. The effect of temperature on concentration profile of species and the reaction rate constant was studied for the selected isothermal conditions. Temperature had no effect on formation of triglyceride, alcohol and Methyl ester because the concentration at 313 K, 323 K, 333 K and 338 K were close but temperature favoured the formation of Diglyceride and Monoglyceride. High temperature did not favour formation of glycerol which is the undesired product. The maximum yield of methyl ester for was obtained at 338 K which was 79.97%.and corresponds to what was obtain experimentally from the work of Jisieke (2015).The molar ratio of methanol to oil was held constant at 6:1.the rate constant obtained from the simulation were close to that which is obtainable from the work of Nivea et al. (2008) .The value of the rate constant k2 and k-2 increased as temperature increased.

PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL FROM WASTE VEGETABLE OIL USING EGGSHELL BASED CATALYST

ABSTRACT

The production of biodiesel from waste vegetable oil using eggshell based catalyst was studied. Eggshell was investigated to utilize the composition of calcium carbonate as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production. The objective of the experiment is to utilize the calcium carbonate obtained from the calcination-hydration-dehydration method of the eggshell waste as solid catalyst for biodiesel production from waste vegetable oil by the variation of temperature, catalyst weight and reaction time. Catalyst form the waste raw eggshell was prepared by firstly, washing the eggshell to remove impurities, it was dried in hot air oven at 120 0C under static condition for 6hrs. Calcination was carried out at 900 0C for 3hr, after which it was washed, dried and recalcined at 600 0C for 3hr. Waste vegetable oil was filtered in order to remove impurities and food bits, after which qualitative analysis was carried out to determine the physiochemical properties such as viscosity, pH, free fatty acid and density. Transesterification reaction was performed by methanol to oil ratio of 6:1 and varying reaction temperature (60 °C, 65 °C, and 70 °C), reaction time (1hr, 2hr, and 3hr), catalyst weight (1%wt, 3%wt, 5%wt, 7%wt, 9%wt). The highest biodiesel yield was found to be 76.889% by using methanol oil ratio of 6:1, temperature of 60 0C reaction time for 2 hr.

TREATMENT OF WATER FROM BORE HOLE USING MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVATED CARBON

ABSTRACT
The quality and accessibility of drinking water are of paramount importance to human health. Drinking water may contain disease causing agents and toxic chemicals and to control the risks to public health, systematic water quality monitoring and surveillance are required. Thousands of chemicals have been identified in drinking water supplies around the world and are considered potentially hazardous to human health at relatively high concentrations. Heavy metals are the most harmful of the chemical pollutants and are of particular concern due to their toxicities to humans. Moringa oleifera seed acts as a natural coagulant, adsorbent and antimicrobial agent while commercial activated carbon is known for its excellent heavy metal removal. It is believed that Moringa oleifera seed is an organic natural polymer. The coagulation mechanism of the Moringa oleifera coagulant protein has been described as adsorption, charge neutralization and interparticle bridging. It is mainly characteristic of high molecular weight polyelectrolyte. Analysis of the heavy metals Lead, Nickel, Iron, and zinc were performed before and after treatment of water with Moringa oleifera seed coagulant, CAC and the mixture of both. The results showed that Moringa oleifera seeds and CAC were capable of adsorbing the heavy metals tested in some water samples. The optimum dosage of Moringa oleifera seed powder for water sample was 4g/L which gave 100%, and 88% removal efficiencies of Pb and Ni respectively, while the optimum dosage of CAC for water sample was 6g/L which gave 100%, 100% and 92% removal efficiencies of Pb, Zn and Ni respectively. Also the optimum dosage of mixture of Moringa oleifera seed powder and commercial activated for water sample was 4g/L which gave 100%, and 86% removal efficiencies of Pb and Ni respectively. Fitting in of Langmuir isotherm and Freundlich shows that Langmuir fits in more than Freundlich. Also it was verified in this work that Moringa oleifera serves as an antimicrobial agent as it reduced the colonies to Zero on the dosage of 6g/L.

INVESTIGATION OF THE TRANSPORT PROFILE AND DISPERSION OF ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOL OVER THE COASTAL REGION OF LAGOS

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the transport profile and source-sink system for sea salt aerosol over the coastal region of Lagos. The study utilized the GPS information of the study locations to simulate meteorological variables over the area from the Air Resource Laboratory (ARL) website, The ARL/GFS model was used to determine the wind rose information between 8th and 14th of June, 2017. In addition, backward air mass trajectories were determined at various heights of 0m, 1000m and 2000m above ground level (AGL) for aerosol transport patterns as well as concentration dispersion using the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model. The result showed that aerosols are of sea salt origin which evolved from the sea of the Atlantic Ocean. The maximum wind speed for the period considered from 8th to 14th June 2017 was 4 to < 7 m/s range in SW direction and as such complete calmness was not observed during the period under consideration. The highest frequency of wind blown was 56% which implies that 56% of atmospheric sea salt aerosol were
transported during the study period. The backward concentration trajectory indicated that the maximum aerosol pollution reaching Lagos was 2.1 x 10-10 mg/m3 which were from the Atlantic Ocean and the minimum was about 5.0 x 10-16 mg/m3. Since these pollutants are most likely sea salts which are highly corrosive, adequate corrosion protection is recommended.

ASSESSMENT OF THE TECHNICAL BENEFITS OF DUAL GRADIENT DRILLING

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
DGD is a technology that makes use of separate fluids with different densities in the wellbore. The lighter fluid floats on top of the heavy fluid in the riser. The lighter fluid is only used for inducing pressure and is otherwise inactive. However the heavy fluid is used for the same purpose as used in the conventional drilling procedures. This helps to adjust the bottom hole pressure (BHP) in a shorter time, and make it able to adjust the well bore pressure curves with the formation pressure curves. The attractions that DGD highlights are the reduction in the cost of drilling and an increase in the production rate after well completion ( Gaup, 2014).
The development work on the DGD was accelerated during the 1990s when a joint industry project was undertaken with the aim to utilize such technology to be used in the high pressure, low fracture gradient in ultra-deep waters. Even though sufficient investments have been made on drilling rigs which can operate in depths greater than 8000ft, the resources present at these reservoirs cannot be extracted unless new procedures are developed to lower hydrostatic mud pressures to avoid fractures in the shallow zones. The problems faced in ultra-deep drilling include shallow water flowing, lost circulation and loss of well control. If any of these problems occur, they will prevent the completion of the well to be achieved. Multiple casing strings are used to avoid such problems. This means that the production string is quite small for a high production well and also for horizontal and multilateral completions in order to make the project economically viable. Pumps are used to reduce the hydrostatic head from the mud-line to the surface in DGD techniques. This is the reason why there is no balanced u-tube present in DGD as compared to the conventional drilling ( Kennedy 2001). The primary component that enables the DGD operations is the Mud Lift Pump (MLP). With the help of diaphragm pumps powered by the seawater, it pumps the drilling fluid and cutting back to the rig floor. The Subsea Rotating Device (SRD) maintains the boundary between the sea water density fluid in the drilling riser and the drilling fluid and redirects the mud through the MLP through the Solids Processing Unit (SPU). SPU is used to decrease the size of the drill cuttings which can be managed by the MLP (Ganpatye et al. 2013).