Inherently safer sustained casing pressure testing for well integrity evaluation

This paper presents the use of a model to predict sustained casing pressure (SCP), from early pressure buildup data, as a basis for inherently safer well integrity testing. Inherently safer principles aim to eliminate or reduce the hazards by design rather than by using protective features. SCP, a well integrity issue exhibited in many wells, is any measurable pressure that rebuilds after being bled down and attributable to causes other than artificially applied pressure or temperature fluctuations in the well. Intrusion of gas, resulting in SCP, can occur because of poor cement bond in the casing or cement deterioration. Gas entering the annulus migrates to the wellhead and represents a hazard due to increased wellhead pressure and the gas inventory. Compromised well integrity can have catastrophic consequences on both environmental and safety aspects.Most regulations require the monitoring, testing and, eventually, the elimination of SCP. However, test data analysis is predominantly qualitative and limited to arbitrary criteria. Due to the high percentage of wells that present SCP, accurate, safe and preferably fast testing methods are needed. This paper implements an analytical model, rooted in the transport processes and thermodynamics of the system, to predict pressure profiles and gas accumulation during SCP testing from early-time pressure buildup data. The amount of gas accumulated during different testing criteria, being 1) current practices and 2) early diagnostic by the analytical model, is calculated and compared. Results show that using the analytical model as a predictive tool, testing time is reduced significantly, thereby limiting the amount of gas accumulated and reducing the risk. This makes the testing procedure inherently safer as well as less time consuming.     

ADDRESSING TOTAL PHOSPHORUS IMPAIRMENTS WITH WATER QUALITY TRADING1

ABSTRACT: Water quality trading is a voluntary economic process that provides an opportunity for dischargers to reduce the costs associated with meeting a discharge limitation. Trading can provide a cost effective solution for point sources (i.e., wastewater treatment plants) to meet strict effluent limitations set in response to total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). A successful trading program often depends on first determining the trading suitability of a pollutant for a particular watershed. A simple technical approach has been developed to identify sub‐watersheds within the Raritan River Basin, New Jersey, where water quality trading could provide a cost effective and scientifically feasible method for addressing total phosphorus impairments. The methodology presented will serve as a model to conduct similar analyses in other watersheds. The Raritan River Basin was divided into 12 subwatershed‐based study areas. Point‐nonpoint source trading opportunities were examined for each study area by examining the point and nonpoint source total phosphorus loading to impaired water bodies. Of the 12 subwatersheds examined, four had a high potential for implementing a successful trading program. Since instream phosphorus concentrations are closely related to soil erosion, an additional analysis was performed to examine soil erodibility. Recommendations are presented for conducting an economic analysis following the feasibility study.     

Cu和Pb对赤潮异弯藻(Heterosigma akashiwo)生长的影响

以添加了不同浓度的CuSO_4和Pb(NO_3)_2混合液的f/2培养基培养赤潮异弯藻,通过分析藻的最大生长密度、生长周期及比生长率这3个参数与Cu和Pb之间的相关关系,讨论2种重金属对赤潮异弯藻生长的影响以及2种重金属之间的互作效应。结果表明,Cu为0～0.02 mg·L~(-1)或Pb为0～0.32 mg·L~(-1)时,对赤潮异弯藻生长有促进作用;当Pb浓度不同的条件下,Cu浓度达到0.5～2.5 mg·L~(-1)时,赤潮异弯藻生长受到明显抑制,甚至无法生长;在Cu浓度不同的条件下,Pb在1～9 mg·L~(-1)范围内,随着浓度的增加,对赤潮异弯藻生长抑制作用逐步增强。在Cu浓度为0～2.5 mg·L~(-1)或Pb浓度为1～9 mg·L~(-1)及两者互作条件下,赤潮异弯藻最大生长密度和生长周期都受到显著影响(P0.01)。另外,Cu和Pb对赤潮异弯藻比生长率无显著影响,两者相互作用不明显。结合湛江海域已报道的这2种重金属实际含量,进一步评估了海区中重金属的潜在生态效应。     

九龙江河口湾区冬季海水二甲基硫浓度的分布特征

以九龙江河口湾区为研究区域探寻受人为干扰严重的河口湾区DMS排放规律.2001年冬季采样调查发现在九龙江河口和湾口区叶绿素、盐度和营养盐等环境因子呈现出区域差异,海水DMS也存在明显的空间分布特征,平均浓度分别为101.0和242.1 ng·L^-1.随着海水盐度从低到高,DMS浓度出现先降低后升高的现象,DMS高值出现在九龙江最大浑浊带的河口峰面处.     

温度和盐度对锥状斯氏藻生长的影响

采用正交试验和单因子试验研究了温度和盐度对锥状斯氏藻(Scrippsiella trochoidea)生长的影响。结果表明,温度为25℃、盐度为25是锥状斯氏藻的最佳生长条件,此时最大比生长率和种群细胞数达到最高。而过低或过高的温度或盐度均会抑制其生长。     

化学品反应危险性分级方法研究与应用

针对化学品反应危险性的评价,介绍利用最大分解热,反应放热功率,绝热反应参数等方法对化学品反应危险性进行分级的几种方法及各自特点。通过分析整合不同分级方法,提出一种基于实测反应放热参数的分级方法,此方法以初始放热温度和反应热组成指标体系,同时配合燃爆曲线实现对化学品反应危险性的分级,得到的结果对于化学品的安全评价有较强的参考价值。考察了6种有机过氧化物的放热性质,诠释了有机过氧化物的反应危险性,应用所提出的反应危险性分级方法对其进行分级,并对分级方法进行了验证。该方法结合了实验结果和多种分级方法的优点,使化学品反应危险性分级方法具有更强的实用性。     

Maximum power point tracking methods for photovoltaic systems operating under partially shaded or rapidly variable insolation conditions: a review paper

To increase the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems, maximum power point (MPP) tracking of the solar arrays is needed. Under partially shaded conditions (PSCs), the solar arrays power–current (P–I) characteristic has multiple MPP. This paper presents various methods and approaches of tracking the MPP from a PV generator operating under PSC. Some comparisons, advantages, drawbacks and critical analysis of each method are discussed. It was found that, indirect methods use empirical data or mathematical expressions of numerical approximations to estimate the MPP from the PV generator’s voltage, current and irradiance. Direct methods offer the advantage of obtaining the actual maximum power from the PV generator’s voltage and current. Artificial intelligence methods do not need exact mathematical models. They can perform under parameter variation, load and supply voltage disturbances. Finally, novel methods require less number of iterations to converge, independent to the initial conditions. All these algorithms can be included in some of the DC/DC converters and MPP trackers for stand-alone or grid-connected systems.     

Derivation of predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC) for 2,4,6-trichlorophenol based on Chinese resident species

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) is a common chemical intermediate and a by-product of water chlorination and combustion processes, and is a priority pollutant of the aquatic environment in many countries. Although information on the toxicity of 2,4,6-TCP is available, there is a lack of information on the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of 2,4,6-TCP, mainly due to the shortage of chronic and site-specific toxicity data. In the present study, acute and sub-chronic toxicity of 2,4,6-TCP on six different resident Chinese aquatic species were determined. PNEC values were calculated and compared by use of two approaches: assessment factor (AF) and species sensitivity distribution (SSD). Values for acute toxicity ranged from 1.1 mg L⁻¹ (Plagiognathops microlepis) to 42 mg L⁻¹ (Corbicula fluminea) and the sub-chronic no observed effect concentrations (NOECs) ranged from 0.05 mg L⁻¹ (Mylopharyngodon piceus) to 2.0 mg L⁻¹ (C. fluminea). PNECs obtained by the assessment factor approach with acute (AF = 1000, 0.001 mg L⁻¹) or chronic (AF = 10, 0.005 mg L⁻¹) toxicity data were one order of magnitude less than those from SSD methods (0.057 mg L⁻¹). PNEC values calculated using SSD methods with a 50% certainty for 2,4,6-TCP was less than those obtained by use of the USEPA recommend final chronic value (FCV) method (0.097 mg L⁻¹) and the one obtained by use of the USEPA recommend acute-to-chronic (ACR) methods (0.073 mg L⁻¹). PNECs derived using AF methods were more protective and conservative than that derived using SSD methods.     

钢结构高温响应影响因素的研究

根据考虑几何和材料非线性及温度沿杆件截面高度线性分布等因素对钢结构常温和高温响应影响的基本方程,用自行编制的计算程序对单层双跨钢框架进行结构非线性温度响应研究,分析了弯曲应变、屈强比、梁柱刚度比、初始弹性模量等因素对结构响应的影响,并研究了温度步长、保护层厚度对结构耐火时间的影响.由计算结果发现,弯曲应变、初始弹性模量...     

Growth, photosynthesis and antioxidant responses of two microalgal species, Chlorella vulgaris and Selenastrum capricornutum, to nonylphenol stress

The effect of nonylphenol (NP) on growth, photochemistry and biochemistry of two green microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris and Selenanstrum capricornutum, and their ability to degrade NP were compared. The 96 h EC₅₀ of C. vulgaris and S. capricornutum were greater than 4.0 and 1.0 mg L⁻¹ NP, respectively, suggesting that the former species was more tolerant to NP. Both microalgae acclimated to NP stress through down-regulating their photosynthetic activities, including antenna size (chlorophyll a content), maximal photochemistry (Fv/Fm) and the light absorbed by PSII (ABS/CS₀), but the dissipation of energy from reaction centres (DI₀/RC) increased with the increase of NP concentrations. In C. vulgaris, the changes of these parameters were more significant than in S. capricornutum and recovered completely after a 96 h exposure. The antioxidant responses, such as GSH content, CAT and POD activities in C. vulgaris increased with the increase of NP concentrations after a 24 h exposure, but these changes disappeared with exposure time and recovered to the control levels after 96 h. In S. capricornutum, although GSH content, CAT and POD activities also increased when exposed to low- to moderate-NP concentrations, these values were significantly reduced at a high concentration (4 mg L⁻¹) even after a 96 h exposure, indicating its antioxidant responses were significantly delayed. It is clear that the more NP-tolerant species, C. vulgaris, acclimated better with a faster recovery of its photosynthetic activity from the NP-induced damage, and exhibited more efficient and rapid responses to NP-induced oxidative stress. C. vulgaris also had a higher NP degradation ability than S. capricornutum.