Collins

Hello and welcome to the December 2011 issue of SPE Projects, Facilities & Construction journal. This will be the final issue of this publication, but the new Oil and Gas Facilities Magazine will publish the PFC peer-reviewed papers. The peer-reviewed papers presented here provide a great resource for our industry. PFC is set to become even more important to SPE through the dedicated magazine and insights into both the practical and theoretical sides of this discipline.

The first three papers deal with chemical processes involved in our industry. Estimation of Potential Precipitation from an Equilibrated Calcium Carbonate Aqueous Phase Using Simple Predictive Tool provides a simplified precipitation tool that can be useful in ranking reservoirs for sequestration. A New Proprietary Hybrid-Solvent Process for Improved Mercaptan Removal provides details and field experience in the removal of acid gas and mercaptans. Development of Simple-To-Use Predictive Tool for Rapid Prediction of n-Alkanes Surface Tension provides an excellent correlation of the surface tension to help in the design of distillation, separation, and demisting equipment.

The next four papers are case studies that illustrate some of the problems that can occur during production. Real-Time Simulation of the Dispersion of Accidental Emission Release of Hazardous Substance on Industrial Site Using 3D Modeling discusses the impact of accidental sour-gas releases within an industrial site and the surroundings. Safety-Management Programs and Standardized Application Equipment Minimize Risks of Nonconventional Chemical Usage provides insight into the safety management program for this acutely toxic, highly flammable chemical that can be used to treat oil and gas fields. Best Practices in the Allocation, Commissioning, and Maintenance of Ultrasonic Gas-Leak Detectors identifies the installation and calibration requirements that make these sensors effective. On Interaction Buckling in Platform Conductors confirms the buckling design for platform and jack-up conductors.

The next two papers target emissions and the impact to project selection. Carbon Sequestration From Waste Through Conversion to Charcoal: Equipment for a Small-Scale Operation discusses traditional and modern equipment used for converting biomass to charcoal with the benefits and concerns. Boosting Energy Efficiency Using Waste-Heat-Powered Absorption Chillers describes the use of heat-powered absorption cooling to boost the efficiency of natural-gas processing.

The final three papers target field developments and illustrate the important decisions needed for a profitable development. Modeling Facility-Expansion Options Under Uncertainty provides a technique to optimize the development plans recognizing the uncertainty in the expansion needs of a conceptual project. Smart E&P Collaboration Centers: Design, Technology Support, and Lessons Learned describes the benefits of these centers for the delivery of cost effective, fully integrated multidiscipline decisions. LNG for Petroleum Engineers provides an overview of LNG liquefaction facilities, from inlet to storage and loading. This paper provides a clear understanding of the technologies, equipment, and process choices required for a successful LNG project.

Thank you for taking the time to review these papers. Please email me at James.N.Collins@ConocoPhillips.com with any suggestions to improve our journal. Thank you very much for your support and I look forward to your participation in the Oil and Gas Facilities Magazine.