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Because of the increasing global oil demand, efforts have been made to further extract oil using chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) methods. However, unlike water flooding, understanding the physicochemical properties of crude oil and its sandstone reservoir makeup is the first step before embarking to CEOR projects. These properties play major roles in the area of EOR technologies and are important for the development of reliable chemical flooding agents; also, they are key parameters used to evaluate the economic and technical feasibilities of production and refining processes in the oil industries. Consequently, this paper aims to investigate various important physicochemical properties of crude oil (specific gravity; American Petroleum Institute [API]; viscosity; pour point; basic sediment and water; wax; and saturate, aromatic, resins and asphaltenes components) and sandstone reservoir makeup (porosity, permeability, bulk volume and density, grain volume and density, morphology and mineral composition and distributions) obtained from Malaysian oil field (MOF) for oil recovery prediction and design of promising chemical flooding agents.

Three reservoir sandstones from different depths (CORE 1; 5601, CORE 2; 6173 and CORE 3; 6182 ft) as well as its crude oil were obtained from the MOF, and various characterization instruments, such as high temperature gas chromatography and column chromatography for crude’s fractions identification; GC-simulated distillation for boiling point distribution; POROPERM for porosity and permeability; CT-Scan and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray for morphology and mineral distribution; wax instrument (wax content); pour point analyser (pour point); and visco-rheometre (viscosity), were used for the characterizations.

Experimental data gathered from this study show that the field contains low viscous (0.0018-0.014 Pa.s) sweet and light-typed crude because of low sulfur content (0.03 per cent), API gravity (43.1o), high proportion of volatile components (51.78 per cent) and insignificant traces of heavy components (0.02 per cent). Similarly, the rock permeability trend with depth was found in the order of CORE 1 < CORE 2 < CORE 3, and other parameters such as pore volume (Vp), bulk volume (Vb) and grain volume (Vg) also decrease in general. For grain density, the variation is small and insignificant, but for bulk density, CORE 2 records lower than CORE 3 by more than 1 per cent. In the mineral composition analysis, the CORE 2 contains the highest identified mineral content, with the exception of quarts where it was higher in the CORE 3. Thus, a good flow crude characteristic, permeability trend and the net mineral concentrations identified in this reservoir would not affect the economic viability of the CEOR method and predicts the validation of the MOF as a potential field that could respond to CEOR method successfully.

This paper is the first of its kind to combine the two important oil field properties to scientifically predict the evaluation of an oil field (MOF) as a step forward toward development of novel chemical flooding agents for application in EOR. Hence, information obtained from this paper would help in the development of reliable chemical flooding agents and designing of EOR methods.

This paper aims to establish a mathematical model for water-flooding considering the impact of fluid–solid coupling to describe the process of development for a low-permeability reservoir. The numerical simulation method was used to analyze the process of injected water channeling into the interlayer.

Some typical cores including the sandstone and the mudstone were selected to test the permeability and the stress sensitivity, and some curves of the permeability varying with the stress for the cores were obtained to demonstrate the sensitivity of the formation. Based on the experimental results and the software Eclipse and Abaqus, the main injection parameters to reduce the amount of the injected water in flowing into the interlayer were simulated.

The results indicate that the permeability of the mudstone is more sensitive to the stress than sandstone. The injection rate can be as high as possible on the condition that no crack is activated or a new fracture is created in the development. For the B82 block of Daqing oilfield, the suggested pressure of the production pressure should be around 1–3MPa, this pressure must be gradually reached to get a higher efficiency of water injection and avoid damaging the casing.

This work is beneficial to ensure stable production and provide technical support to the production of low permeability reservoirs containing an interlayer.

Based on core description, gas logging and laboratory analysis, this paper aims to study the controlling effect of the types of shale sedimentary microfacies in coal formations over shale reservoirs using the example of Shanxi formation in Northern Ordos Basin.

According to core observation, the authors selected typical samples of rock types for thin section analysis to determine the micro features and compositions of rocks.

By using core observation, we found that fine lithology in Shanxi formation included major shale, carbonaceous shale, partially carbonaceous shale, partially silty shale and silty shale with colors of gray, dark gray, black and/or gray. Shanxi Formation shale are deposited in plant-rich and plant-poor swamps, interdistributary depressions of delta plains, interfluvial depressions of meandering rivers as well as microfacies environment of natural levees and the distal crevasse splay.

Currently, the research on the shale gas in Shanxi Formation in the Ordos Basin is still in its infancy. There is yet no research on the fine-grained partition of the sedimentary facies in coal accumulation environment of Shanxi formation and the controlling effect of sedimentary microfacies over shale reservoirs.

The purpose of this paper is to give an explanation of the new data available about surface subsidence above the depleted gas reservoir Ravenna Terra. These data confirm the existence after end of exploitation of a reversed subsidence bowl with minimum subsidence above the reservoir, as opposed to conventional subsidence bowls during exploitation which show maximum subsidence in the same location.

The paper analyses these new data about the existence after end of exploitation of a reversed subsidence bowl. The observed behaviour is reproduced successfully with a fully coupled two phase flow code in deforming reservoir rocks which incorporates a constitutive model for partially saturated porous media.

The paper provides successful simulations. These allow affirming with confidence that the explanation for the peculiar behaviour is reservoir flooding and partially saturated rock behaviour.

Further research: other case studies where similar behaviour is expected, e.g. Ekofisk.

The paper includes implications for better management of reservoir exploitation schedules to minimize the observed phenomenon.

This paper explains the peculiar behaviour of subsidence above the depleted gas reservoir Ravenna Terra and confirms the conjecture that constitutive behaviour of partially saturated rocks is the origin of the observed phenomenon.

The classical advection-dispersion equation (ADE) model cannot accurately depict the gas transport process in natural geological formations. This paper aims to study the behavior of CO₂ transport in fractal porous media by using an effective Hausdorff fractal derivative advection-dispersion equation (HFDADE) model.

Anomalous dispersion behaviors of CO₂ transport are effectively characterized by the investigation of time and space Hausdorff derivatives on non-Euclidean fractal metrics. The numerical simulation has been performed with different Hausdorff fractal dimensions to reveal characteristics of the developed fractal ADE in fractal porous media. Numerical experiments focus on the influence of the time and space fractal dimensions on flow velocity and dispersion coefficient.

The physical mechanisms of parameters in the Hausdorff fractal derivative model are analyzed clearly. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed model can well fit the history of gas production data and it can be a powerful technique for depicting the early arrival and long-tailed phenomenon by incorporating a fractal dimension.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, first time these results are presented.

This paper aims at extending research on narrative knowledge sharing in organizations. Current literature often assumes that narratives can provide orientation and guidance in complex task environments by conveying embedded actionable problem‐solving knowledge or practices. In this paper an empirical example of narrative‐based knowledge sharing is used as a starting point to explore knowledge sharing via narratives in more detail. It turns out to be a much more ambiguous and problematic exercise than previous studies assume.

The paper is a conceptual paper but uses a case vignette from Shell to exemplify the problem of narrative‐based knowledge sharing discussed in the paper.

A possible model shall be outlined showing how inconsistent and questionable narratives could be handled in order to provide orientation. It concludes with stressing the importance of reflecting on narratives and suggests a generative interplay between narrative and argumentative modes of communication in knowledge sharing.

The paper is actually the first which deals systematically with the shortcomings of a narrative mode of knowledge sharing. It explores the potential problems and outlines some suggestions of how these problems could be addressed theoretically and practically.

The unstable dynamic propagation of multistage hydrofracturing fractures leads to uneven development of the fracture network and research on the mechanism controlling this phenomenon indicates that the stress shadow effects around the fractures are the main mechanism causing this behaviour. Further studies and simulations of the stress shadow effects are necessary to understand the controlling mechanism and evaluate the fracturing effect.

In the process of stress-dependent unstable dynamic propagation of fractures, there are both continuous stress fields and discontinuous fractures; therefore, in order to study the stress-dependent unstable dynamic propagation of multistage fracture networks, a series of continuum-discontinuum numerical methods and models are reviewed, including the well-developed extended finite element method, displacement discontinuity method, boundary element method and finite element-discrete element method.

The superposition of the surrounding stress field during fracture propagation causes different degrees of stress shadow effects between fractures and the main controlling factors of stress shadow effects are fracture initiation sequence, perforation cluster spacing and well spacing. The perforation cluster spacing varies with the initiation sequence, resulting in different stress shadow effects between fractures; for example, the smaller the perforation cluster spacing and well spacing are, the stronger the stress shadow effects are and the more seriously the fracture propagation inhibition arises. Moreover, as the spacing of perforation clusters and well spacing increases, the stress shadow effects decrease and the fracture propagation follows an almost straight pattern. In addition, the computed results of the dynamic distribution of stress-dependent unstable dynamic propagation of fractures under different stress fields are summarised.

A state-of-art review of stress shadow effects and continuum-discontinuum methods for stress-dependent unstable dynamic propagation of multiple hydraulic fractures are well summarized and analysed. This paper can provide a reference for those engaged in the research of unstable dynamic propagation of multiple hydraulic structures and have a comprehensive grasp of the research in this field.

This paper aims to study the attenuation and dispersion phenomena of shear waves in anelastic and elastic porous strips. Numerical investigations are performed for the phase and damped velocity profiles of the wave. For numerical computation purposes, water-saturated limestone and kerosene oil saturated sandstone for the first and second porous strips, respectively. Some other peculiarities have been observed and discussed.

Dispersion and attenuation characteristic of the shear wave propagations have been studied in an inhomogeneous poro-anelastic strip of finite thickness, which is clamped between an inhomogeneous poroelastic strip of finite thickness and an elastic half-space. Both the strips are initially stressed and the half-space is self-weighted. Analytical methods are used to calculate the interior deformations of the model with the involvement of special functions. The determination of the frequency equation, which includes the Bessel’s and Whittaker functions, has been obtained using the prescribed boundary conditions.

Impacts of attenuation coefficient, dissipation factor, inhomogeneities, initial stresses, Biot’s gravity, porosity and thickness ratio parameters on the velocity profile of the wave have been demonstrated through the graphical visuals. These parameters are playing an important role and working as a catalyst in affecting the propagation behaviour of the wave.

Inclusion of the concept of doubly layered initially stressed inhomogeneous porous structure of elastic and anelastic medium bedded over a self-weighted half-space medium brings a novelty to the existing literature related to the study of shear wave. It may be helpful to geologists, seismologists and structural engineers in the development of theoretical and practical studies.

Simultaneous hydrofracturing of multiple perforation clusters in vertical wells has been applied in the stimulation of hydrocarbon resources reservoirs. This technology is significantly impeded due to the challenges in its application to the multilayered reservoirs that comprise multiple interlayers. One of the challenges is the accurate understanding and characterization of propagation and deflection of the multiple hydraulic fractures between reservoirs and embedded interlayers.

Numerical models of the tight multilayered reservoirs containing multiple interlayers were established to study hydrofracturing of multiple perforation clusters and its influencing factors on unstable propagation and deflection of hydraulic fractures. Brittle and plastic multilayered reservoirs fully considering the influences of different in situ stress ratio and physical attributes for reservoir and interlayer strata on propagations of hydraulic fractures were investigated. The combined finite element–discrete element method and mesh refinement strategy were adopted to guarantee the accuracy of stress solutions and reliability of fracture path in computation.

Results show that the shear stress fields between adjacent multiple hydraulic fractures are superposed to cause fractures deflection. Stress shadows induce the shielding effects of hydraulic fractures and inhibit fractures growth to emerge unstable propagation behaviors, and a main single fracture and several minor fractures develop. As the in situ stress ratio increases, hydraulic fractures more easily deflect toward the direction of maximum in situ stress, and stress shadow and mutual interaction effects between them are intensified. Compared to brittle reservoir, plastic-enhanced reservoir may limit fracture growth and cannot form long fracture length; nevertheless, plastic properties of reservoir are prone to induce more microseismic events with larger magnitude.

The obtained fracturing behaviors and mechanisms based on engineering-scale multilayered reservoir may provide effective schemes for controlling and estimating the unstable propagation of multiple hydraulic fractures.

FT‐IR Installation at Nissan. Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd has recently completed the setting up of a new Quality Assurance laboratory at their manufacturing plant in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. The laboratory, part of the company's continued expansion in the UK is an indication of Nissan's attention to detail — continually reviewing the finished product, materials used and production processes.