An optimization method for shale gas gathering system-Consideration of reliability enhancement under earthquake-related uncertainties

Shale gas gathering systems are of great importance in gas fields for the efficient and reliable transportation of gas.In traditional design methods,pipeline layouts are optimized only from an economic point of view,where reliability is evaluated after optimization.However,reliability can be enhanced by spare pipelines so that both economic and reliable aspects are evaluated simultaneously.Based on the idea of enhancing reliability,this research proposes a methodology for optimizing the pipeline layout problem including well clustering,stations site selecting,and piping.Different topology arrangements and spare pipelines are investigated to enhance the production efficiency and reliability of the pipeline network under earthquake-related uncertainties.Reliability evaluation is converted into an economic one so that the objective of this work is to minimize the total annual cost.To solve such a complex problem,genetic algorithm,K-means algorithm,Geo Steiner algorithm,Kruskal algorithm,linear programming and Monte Carlo simulations are combined.A real-world case study illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed methodology and shows a 36.53%reduction in the total annual cost compared with the initial scheme.

Research on a TOPSIS energy efficiency evaluation system for crude oil gathering and transportation systems based on a GA-BP neural network

As the main link of ground engineering,crude oil gathering and transportation systems require huge energy consumption and complex structures.It is necessary to establish an energy efficiency evaluation system for crude oil gathering and transportation systems and identify the energy efficiency gaps.In this paper,the energy efficiency evaluation system of the crude oil gathering and transportation system in an oilfield in western China is established.Combined with the big data analysis method,the GA-BP neural network is used to establish the energy efficiency index prediction model for crude oil gathering and transportation systems.The comprehensive energy consumption,gas consumption,power consumption,energy utilization rate,heat utilization rate,and power utilization rate of crude oil gathering and transportation systems are predicted.Considering the efficiency and unit consumption index of the crude oil gathering and transportation system,the energy efficiency evaluation system of the crude oil gathering and transportation system is established based on a game theory combined weighting method and TOPSIS evaluation method,and the subjective weight is determined by the triangular fuzzy analytic hierarchy process.The entropy weight method determines the objective weight,and the combined weight of game theory combines subjectivity with objectivity to comprehensively evaluate the comprehensive energy efficiency of crude oil gathering and transportation systems and their subsystems.Finally,the weak links in energy utilization are identified,and energy conservation and consumption reduction are improved.The above research provides technical support for the green,efficient and intelligent development of crude oil gathering and transportation systems.

Experimental and numerical simulation study on the erosion behavior of the elbow of gathering pipeline in shale gas field

During the production period of shale gas, proppant particles and rock debris are produced together,which will seriously erode the elbows of gathering pipelines. In response to this problem, this paper takes the elbow of the gathering pipeline in the Changning Shale Gas Field as an example to test the erosion rate and material removal mechanism of the test piece at different angles of the elbow through experiments and compares the four erosion models with the experimental results. Through analysis, it is found that the best prediction model for quartz sand-carbon steel erosion is the Oka model. Based on the Oka model, FLUENT software was used to simulate and analyze the law of erosion of the elbow of the gas gathering pipeline under different gas flow velocities, gas gathering pressure, particle size, length of L1,and bending directions of the elbow. And a spiral pipeline structure is proposed to reduce the erosion rate of the elbow under the same working conditions. The results show that this structure can reduce erosion by 34%.

Analysis of sensitivity to hydrate blockage risk in natural gas gathering pipeline

During the operational process of natural gas gathering and transmission pipelines,the formation of hydrates is highly probable,leading to uncontrolled movement and aggregation of hydrates.The continuous migration and accumulation of hydrates further contribute to the obstruction of natural gas pipelines,resulting in production reduction,shutdowns,and pressure build-ups.Consequently,a cascade of risks is prone to occur.To address this issue,this study focuses on the operational process of natural gas gathering and transmission pipelines,where a comprehensive framework is established.This framework includes theoretical models for pipeline temperature distribution,pipeline pressure distribution,multiphase flow within the pipeline,hydrate blockage,and numerical solution methods.By analyzing the influence of inlet temperature,inlet pressure,and terminal pressure on hydrate formation within the pipeline,the sensitivity patterns of hydrate blockage risks are derived.The research indicates that reducing inlet pressure and terminal pressure could lead to a decreased maximum hydrate formation rate,potentially mitigating pipeline blockage during natural gas transportation.Furthermore,an increase in inlet temperature and terminal pressure,and a decrease in inlet pressure,results in a displacement of the most probable location for hydrate blockage towards the terminal station.However,it is crucial to note that operating under low-pressure conditions significantly elevates energy consumption within the gathering system,contradicting the operational goal of energy efficiency and reduction of energy consumption.Consequently,for high-pressure gathering pipelines,measures such as raising the inlet temperature or employing inhibitors,electrical heat tracing,and thermal insulation should be adopted to prevent hydrate formation during natural gas transportation.Moreover,considering abnormal conditions such as gas well production and pipeline network shutdowns,which could potentially trigger hydrate formation,the installation of methanol injection connectors remains necessary to ensure production safety.

Slow-gathering areas of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs: Definition, estimation, and restoration

Recently,humans have been facing serious water pollution problems that aggravate water resources shortages.By 2025,two-thirds of the world's population is likely to live in countries with moderate or severe water shortages(Azizullah et al.,2011).Rivers,lakes,and reservoirs are important sources of water.Globally,there are approximately 8.5 million rivers(Linke et al.,2019),21.15 million natural lakes,and 1.427 million large reservoirs(Messager et al.,2016).Many of them have been contaminated due to urbanization,industrialization,and agricultural activities.In particular,all rivers,lakes,and reservoirs have their own slow-gathering areas(SGAs)where the input contaminants are easily stopped and deposited due to their non-open morphologies and low flow speeds.

Deep Learning Based Face Mask Detection in Religious Mass Gathering During COVID-19 Pandemic

Notwithstanding the religious intention of billions of devotees,the religious mass gathering increased major public health concerns since it likely became a huge super spreading event for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2).Most attendees ignored preventive measures,namely maintaining physical distance,practising hand hygiene,and wearing facemasks.Wearing a face mask in public areas protects people from spreading COVID-19.Artificial intelligence(AI)based on deep learning(DL)and machine learning(ML)could assist in fighting covid-19 in several ways.This study introduces a new deep learning-based Face Mask Detection in Religious Mass Gathering(DLFMD-RMG)technique during the COVID-19 pandemic.The DLFMD-RMG technique focuses mainly on detecting face masks in a religious mass gathering.To accomplish this,the presented DLFMD-RMG technique undergoes two pre-processing levels:Bilateral Filtering(BF)and Contrast Enhancement.For face detection,the DLFMD-RMG technique uses YOLOv5 with a ResNet-50 detector.In addition,the face detection performance can be improved by the seeker optimization algorithm(SOA)for tuning the hyperparameter of the ResNet-50 module,showing the novelty of the work.At last,the faces with and without masks are classified using the Fuzzy Neural Network(FNN)model.The stimulation study of the DLFMD-RMG algorithm is examined on a benchmark dataset.The results highlighted the remarkable performance of the DLFMD-RMG model algorithm in other recent approaches.

Dataset of Large Gathering Images for Person Identification and Tracking

This paper presents a large gathering dataset of images extracted from publicly filmed videos by 24 cameras installed on the premises of Masjid Al-Nabvi,Madinah,Saudi Arabia.This dataset consists of raw and processed images reflecting a highly challenging and unconstraint environment.The methodology for building the dataset consists of four core phases;that include acquisition of videos,extraction of frames,localization of face regions,and cropping and resizing of detected face regions.The raw images in the dataset consist of a total of 4613 frames obtained fromvideo sequences.The processed images in the dataset consist of the face regions of 250 persons extracted from raw data images to ensure the authenticity of the presented data.The dataset further consists of 8 images corresponding to each of the 250 subjects(persons)for a total of 2000 images.It portrays a highly unconstrained and challenging environment with human faces of varying sizes and pixel quality(resolution).Since the face regions in video sequences are severely degraded due to various unavoidable factors,it can be used as a benchmark to test and evaluate face detection and recognition algorithms for research purposes.We have also gathered and displayed records of the presence of subjects who appear in presented frames;in a temporal context.This can also be used as a temporal benchmark for tracking,finding persons,activity monitoring,and crowd counting in large crowd scenarios.

Study on Influencing Factors and Mechanism of Scientific and Technological Innovation Talents Gathering in Zhejiang Province

This paper systematically studies the influencing factors and mechanism of the agglomeration of scientific and technological innovation talents in Zhejiang Province. The findings are as follows: Firstly, environmental factors such as marketization level, financial development, opening to the outside world, infrastructure construction, medical resources, educational resources, cultural resources and policy support have a positive impact on the agglomeration of scientific and technological talents in Zhejiang Province;Secondly, in the transmission mechanism of the influence of various environmental factors on the concentration of scientific and technological talents in Zhejiang, economic development plays an intermediary role, and the effect is obvious. Various environmental factors indirectly affect the concentration of scientific and technological talents in Zhejiang through economic development. Finally, although both the level and quality of economic development have significant effect on the total concentration of scientific and technological talents in Zhejiang, the mediating effect of economic development level is more significant. These studies are for Zhejiang Province. It provides a theoretical basis for cultivating high-end talents and realizing the agglomeration of scientific and technological innovation talents.

Preface

During April 20-22,2022,colleagues and friends gathered at the Institute of Pure&Applied Mathematics(IPAM),at the University of California at Los Angeles to celebrate Professor Stanley Osher's 8Oth birthday in a conference focusing on recent developments in"Optimization,Shape analysis,High-dimensional differential equations in science and Engineering,and machine learning Research(OSHER)"This conference hosted in-person talks by mathematicians,scientists,and industrial professionals worldwide.Those who could not attend extended their warm regards and expressed their appreciation for Professor Osher.

Countermeasures to reduce the risk of infections at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games—A balancing act

The Olympic and Paralympic Games are a global celebration of athletic dedication and achievement,bringing together athletes and spectators from around the world.However,such large gatherings present public health challenges for the Organizing Committees and local governments.As highlighted by the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic,these events are associated with an increased risk of transmission of infections,which can significantly impact the health and well-being of athletes and attendees.Prioritizing the health and safety of athletes,officials and spectators is fundamental to ensure the successful hosting of the Games.Therefore,it is essential to design and implement comprehensive countermeasures to mitigate the risk of an infectious disease outbreak among participants but also to the residents of the host city.

Editorial for Multiscale&Multifield Coupling in Geomechanics

We are delighted to serve as guest editors for this special issue in the Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.The purpose of this special issue is dedicated to gathering the latest research work on Multiscale&Multifield Coupling in Geomechanics,where we delve into the intricate interplay of various fields and scales that govern the behavior of geomaterials.In total,30 manuscripts from USA,China,UK,Germany,Canada,India and United Arab Emirates are selected to be included in this issue.

The 10th China Obesity Science Conference Held in Beijing

The 10th China Obesity Science Conference was held in Beijing from May 10th to 11th, 2024. Experts from authoritative institutions such as the National Health Commission, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the China Institute of Sports Science gathered to discuss on the topics including obesity prevalence trends.

World Automobile Standards and Innovation Conference held in Shenzhen

The 2024 World Automobile Standards and Innovation Conference(WASIC) convened on October22-24 in Pingshan district,Shenzhen city,South China's Guangdong province.The conference was themed "Leading with greenness,low carbon,digitalization,and intelligence,standards empowering sustainable development of the automobile industry".It focused on the hot issues of the automobile industry at home and abroad,gathering representatives of international standards organizations from 20countries and regions around the world.

Advancing the Modernization Drive of the Global South and Working Together to Build a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind

The 13th Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum took place in Dar es Salaam,Tanzania,on March 8,2024.Under the theme of“China-African Practice:Building a Community with a Shared Future”,the forum delved into the major concerns and strategic cooperation between China and Africa in the new era.It aimed to advance the implementation of various initiatives and accomplishments in China-Africa cooperation while also gathering insights for the upcoming session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC).

Open to Chinese Democracy

The National People’s Congress meets every year for about a week in March.But there is much more to China’s democracy.SOME 2,977 elected deputies will be attending the second plenary meeting of the 14th National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in early March.This,the world’s largest legislative body,is the most striking manifestation of China’s governance system,whole-process people’s democracy.For outsiders,the gathering seems symbolic and ceremonial.However,the deliberation undertaken by the unpaid deputies in the week that they are together is merely the most visible element in a complex consultative system of government.

The Aroma That Unites

Traditional tea gatherings reflect local culture and strengthen social bonds More than its picturesque landscapes,rich history and vibrant cultural scene,Xiamen,a coastal city in southeast China,is also renowned for its deep-rooted tea cul-ture.As one of the key hubs in the Minnan(southern Fujian)region,Xiamen has long been a center for tea growing,processing,trade and consumption.

Tea for Harmony Yaji Cultural Salon Held at China Cultural Center in Berlin

On April 23,China Cultural Center in Berlin,together with the Bureau of Culture and Tourism of Qingdao City and the People's Government of L aoshan District,Qingdao City,held Tea for Harmony Yaji Cultural Salon 2024 Qingdao,presenting the guests with a gathering of men of letter integrating appreciating tea,watching exhibition,enjoying piano music,learning tea art and tasting refreshments.

NAVIGATING REGIONAL DYNAMICS--ASEAN’s unwavering path to regional development and stability

From July 21 to 27,Vientiane,the capital of Laos,hosted the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers'Meeting(AMM)and related gatherings.Over an intense week,25 ministerial meetings took place,including core ASEAN discussions and dialogues with 11 partner nations.The attendance of representatives from over 30 countries emphasized ASEAN's role as a crucial platform for multilateral engagement.

Matters of Life and Death

In a secluded corner of a café,several young people sit around a small square table laden with an assortment of drinks and desserts.They take turns introducing themselves.The setup is reminiscent of speed dating or a team-building meeting,but the content of discussion is far from either.The unique event is known as Death Café.The purpose of the gathering is to discuss issues related to death.Participants express their thoughts,share experiences and rarely exposed emotions,and offer mutual support amidst a whirlwind of intense feelings.

The Miracle of Hefei:From Small to Smart

The tale of an inconspicuous inland city gathering a thriving cluster of dynamic tech-intensive industries.MODERNIZING the industrial system and developing new quality productive forces at a faster pace-this is one of China’s major tasks for 2024 as laid down in the Report on the Work of the Government.