Papers by Keyword: Niger Delta

Abstract: Current methods for predicting output, such as material balancing and numerical simulation, need years of production history, and the model parameters employed determine how accurate they are. The use of artificial neural network (ANN) technology in the production forecasting of a deep offshore field under water injection/water flooding in Nigeria’s Niger-Delta region is investigated in this study. Oil, water, and gas production rates were predicted using well models and engineering features. Real-world field data from producer and water injection wells in deep offshore is used to test the models’ performance. Ninety percent (90%) of the historical data were utilised for training and validating the model framework before being put to the test with the remaining information. The predictive model takes little data and computation and is capable of estimating fluid production rate with a coefficient of prediction of more than 90%, with simulated results that match real-world data. The discoveries of this work could assist oil and gas businesses in forecasting production rates, determining a well’s estimated ultimate recovery (EUR), and making informed financial and operational decisions.

Abstract: Oil shales have unstable mechanical and chemical properties, which makes their extraction for characterization and conventional mechanical testing uneasy and complex. Most often, mechanical property measurements are usually taken from core samples that are costly to extract and test using conventional testing methods. This paper presents a focused study carried out on oil shale cuttings obtained from the sidewalls of two different wellbore depths in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. Using the X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) characterization techniques, the morphology of these shales was studied. The results obtained clearly showed the composition, bonding and variations in the morphology of the studied shale samples. Furthermore, the heterogeneity associated with these shales across varied depths were revealed. An efficient and less expensive technique compared to conventional testing methods, instrumented indentation testing (IIT) was carried out to obtain essential mechanical parameters of the shale specimen. These properties are important parameters in determining the hydrocarbon storage space of shale formations, wellbore stability, and optimization of hydraulic fracturing which is necessary for efficient drilling operations.

Abstract: This study investigates the transport profile and source-sink system for atmospheric aerosols over Warri area of the Niger Delta subregion of Nigeria. The study utilized 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-field information between 1^st and 8^th March 2012 over sub region. In addition backward air mass trajectories were determined at various heights of 5m, 1000m and 2000m AGL for aerosol transport pattern, as well as concentration dispersion using the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model. During the study period, aerosols were noticed to evolve from the sea of the Atlantic Ocean, hence are likely of sea salt origin. Winds over the sub region ranged between 4 and 6 m/s and predominantly in the south and south westerly directions. The maximum pollutant concentration observed was about 1.0 x 10^-12 μg/m³ while the minimum was about 1.5 x 10^-24 μg/m³.

Abstract: Reservoir fluid sampling is the acquisition of subsurface fluid from within the wellbore at actual reservoir conditions using bottom hole sampling tools and techniques. Its main objective is to obtain some representative fluid sample of the reservoir to determine the PVT properties, reservoir potential, fluid type and composition needed for prompt field development campaigns. Experience have shown failure rates of fluid sampling in the Niger Delta is in the region of 20% or more, which result to the loss of vital well information and increased well cost especially in the small and medium fields, and some offshore drilling campaigns.

Abstract: New equations for calculating the Gas Deviation Factor (z) and the Compressibility of Nigerian Natural Gas have been developed. The equation for the Gas Deviation Factor was developed from a plot of the logarithm of the ratio of Pressure to Temperature versus the logarithm of the ratio of the Pressure to the Gas Deviation Factor.. The plot gave a linear relationship that gave the Gas Deviation Factor equation. A differentiation of the Gas Deviation Factor equation produced the new equation for calculating the Gas Compressibility. Values from the new equation for calculating the Gas Deviation Factor were compared with experimental Pressure, Volume, Temperature (PVT) measurements and the following statistical measurements of accuracy were obtained: Average percent error of 3.050, average absolute percent error of 3.649 and standard deviation of 3.910. Over 75% data tested showed error less than 5 %. A big advantage of the new equations is that they are simple and do not require pseudo critical pressure and pseudo critical temperature needed to obtain z from the current popular equations of state used in the Oil Industry. The data used to develop the model in this work came from Gas associated with produced oil in the Niger Delta. API gravity of the oil, ranged from 17.4 to 44. Pressure ranged from 15 psia to 4015 psia and Temperature ranged between 127 and 205 degree Fahrenheit. This range of data covers at least, ninety five percent of data used in the upstream sector of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry.

Abstract: This paper considered the toxicity assessment of some crude oil contaminated soils in Niger Delta areas. The soil samples were collected from different horizontal distances, vertical depths and contaminated soil of different ages. The heavy metals in the contaminated soils were digested and extracted using di-acid digested and DTPA extraction methods respectively. The physiochemical parameters (moisture content, pH, N, P and heavy metals (Ni, Pb and Cd) were analysed with APHA method. The heavy metals concentration was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results show that the metals concentration decreased with the age of the contaminated soil and with increased vertical depths. However, the metals concentrations were almost constant at different horizontal distances. Similar trend was observed for the moisture content, pH, N, P and K.