Liquid injectivity in a SAG foam process:Effect of permeability

Foam is utilized in enhanced oil recovery and CO_(2) sequestration.Surfactant-alternating-gas(SAG)is a preferred approach for placing foam into reservoirs,due to it enhances gas injection and minimizes corrosion in facilities.Our previous studies with similar permeability cores show that during SAG injection,several banks occupy the area near the well where fluid exhibits distinct behaviour.However,underground reservoirs are heterogeneous,often layered.It is crucial to understand the effect of permeability on fluid behaviour and injectivity in a SAG process.In this work,coreflood experiments are conducted in cores with permeabilities ranging from 16 to 2300 mD.We observe the same sequence of banks in cores with different permeabilities.However,the speed at which banks propagate and their overall mobility can vary depending on permeability.At higher permeabilities,the gas-dissolution bank and the forced-imbibition bank progress more rapidly during liquid injection.The total mobilities of both banks decrease with permeability.By utilizing a bank-propagation model,we scale up our experimental findings and compare them to results obtained using the Peaceman equation.Our findings reveal that the liquid injectivity in a SAG foam process is misestimated by conventional simulators based on the Peaceman equation.The lower the formation permeability,the greater the error.

Cross-upgrading of biomass hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis for high quality blast furnace injection fuel production:Physicochemical characteristics and gasification kinetics analysis

The paper proposes a biomass cross-upgrading process that combines hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis to produce high-quality blast furnace injection fuel.The results showed that after upgrading,the volatile content of biochar ranged from 16.19%to 45.35%,and the alkali metal content,ash content,and specific surface area were significantly reduced.The optimal route for biochar pro-duction is hydrothermal carbonization-pyrolysis(P-HC),resulting in biochar with a higher calorific value,C=C structure,and increased graphitization degree.The apparent activation energy(E)of the sample ranges from 199.1 to 324.8 kJ/mol,with P-HC having an E of 277.8 kJ/mol,lower than that of raw biomass,primary biochar,and anthracite.This makes P-HC more suitable for blast furnace injection fuel.Additionally,the paper proposes a path for P-HC injection in blast furnaces and calculates potential environmental benefits.P-HC of-fers the highest potential for carbon emission reduction,capable of reducing emissions by 96.04 kg/t when replacing 40wt%coal injec-tion.

Simulation of deuterium pellet ablation and deposition in the EAST tokamak with HPI2 code

Pellet injection is a primary method for fueling the plasma in magnetic confinement devices.For that goal the knowledges of pellet ablation and deposition profiles are critical.In the present study,the pellet fueling code HPI2 was used to predict the ablation and deposition profiles of deuterium pellets injected into a typical H-mode discharge on the EAST tokamak.Pellet ablation and deposition profiles were evaluated for various pellet injection locations,with the aim at optimizing the pellet injection to obtain a deep fueling depth.In this study,we investigate the effect of the injection angle on the deposition depth of the pellet at different velocities and sizes.The ablation and deposition of the injected pellet are mainly studied at each injection position for three different injection angles:0°,45°,and 60°.The pellet injection on the high field side(HFS)can achieve a more ideal deposition depth than on the low field side(LFS).Among these angles,horizontal injection on the middle plane is relatively better on either the HFS or the LFS.When the injection location is 0.468 m below the middle plane on the HFS or 0.40 m above the middle plane of the LFS,it can achieve a similar deposition depth to the one of its corresponding side.When the pre-cooling effect is taken into account,the deposition depth is predicted to increase only slightly when the pellet is launched from the HFS.The findings of this study will serve as a reference for the update of pellet injection systems for the EAST tokamak.

Exact solutions for magnetohydrodynamic nanofluids flow and heat transfer over a permeable axisymmetric radially stretching/shrinking sheet

We report on the magnetohydrodynamic impact on the axisymmetric flow of Al_(2)O_(3)/Cu nanoparticles suspended in H_(2)O past a stretched/shrinked sheet.With the use of partial differential equations and the corresponding thermophysical characteristics of nanoparticles,the physical flow process is illustrated.The resultant nonlinear system of partial differential equations is converted into a system of ordinary differential equations using the suitable similarity transformations.The transformed differential equations are solved analytically.Impacts of the magnetic parameter,solid volume fraction and stretching/shrinking parameter on momentum and temperature distribution have been analyzed and interpreted graphically.The skin friction and Nusselt number were also evaluated.In addition,existence of dual solution was deduced for the shrinking sheet and unique solution for the stretching one.Further,Al_(2)O_(3)/H_(2)O nanofluid flow has better thermal conductivity on comparing with Cu/H_(2)O nanofluid.Furthermore,it was found that the first solutions of the stream are stable and physically realizable,whereas those of the second ones are unstable.

Tofacitinib combined with local low-dose ixekizumab injection benefits those with peripheral psoriatic arthritis

Dear Editor,Treating psoriatic arthritis(PsA)is always difficult.Systemic treatments can be administered either orally or through intramuscular and intra-articular injection,including conventional synthetics,biologics and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs[1].The alternatives,topical external therapies,are not effective on joint lesions due to drug permeability issues.Drugs injected into the articular cavity are also unsuitable for small peripheral joint lesions,the most common manifestations of PsA.The limited treatment options for PsA present a challenge.

Does HSP27 injection induce glaucoma damage in mice?

In a further aging society,excellent eyesight is an integral part of overall well-being and quality of life.Preserving good vision is crucial to maintaining mobility,independence,and mental health.There can be several reasons for visual impairment in elderly people,these include age-related macular degeneration,the leading cause of vision loss among older adults,cataract,glaucoma,diabetic retinopathy,retinal detachment,and others.

Numerical Simulation of Asphaltene Precipitation and Deposition during Natural Gas and CO_(2) Injection

Asphaltene deposition is a significant problem during gas injection processes,as it can block the porous medium,the wellbore,and the involved facilities,significantly impacting reservoir productivity and ultimate oil recovery.Only a few studies have investigated the numerical modeling of this potential effect in porous media.This study focuses on asphaltene deposition due to natural gas and CO_(2) injection.Predictions of the effect of gas injection on asphaltene deposition behavior have been made using a 3D numerical simulation model.The results indicate that the injection of natural gas exacerbates asphaltene deposition,leading to a significant reduction in permeability near the injection well and throughout the reservoir.This reduction in permeability strongly affects the ability of gas toflow through the reservoir,resulting in an improvement of the displacement front.The displacement effi-ciency of the injection gas process increases by up to 1.40%when gas is injected at 5500 psi,compared to the scenario where the asphaltene model is not considered.CO_(2) injection leads to a miscible process with crude oil,extracting light and intermediate components,which intensifies asphaltene precipitation and increases the viscosity of the remaining crude oil,ultimately reducing the recovery rate.

Impact of T_(i)/T_(e )ratio on ion transport based on EAST H-mode plasmas

At the EAST tokamak, the ion temperature(T_(i)) is observed to be clamped around 1.25 keV in electron cyclotron resonance(ECR)-heated plasmas, even at core electron temperatures up to 10 keV(depending on the ECR heating power and the plasma density). This clamping results from the lack of direct ion heating and high levels of turbulence-driven transport. Turbulent transport analysis shows that trapped electron mode and electron temperature gradient-driven modes are the most unstable modes in the core of ECR-heated H-mode plasmas. Nevertheless, recently it was found that the T_(i)/T_(e)ratio can increase further with the fraction of the neutral beam injection(NBI) power, which leads to a higher core ion temperature(Ti0). In NBI heating-dominant H-mode plasmas, the ion temperature gradient-driven modes become the most unstable modes.Furthermore, a strong and broad internal transport barrier(ITB) can form at the plasma core in high-power NBI-heated H-mode plasmas when the T_(i)/T_(e)ratio approaches ~1, which results in steep core Teand Tiprofiles, as well as a peaked neprofile. Power balance analysis shows a weaker Teprofile stiffness after the formation of ITBs in the core plasma region, where Ticlamping is broken,and the core Tican increase further above 2 keV, which is 80% higher than the value of Ticlamping in ECR-heated plasmas. This finding proposes a possible solution to the problem of Ticlamping on EAST and demonstrates an advanced operational regime with the formation of a strong and broad ITB for future fusion plasmas dominated by electron heating.

Background diseases and the number of previous intravitreal aflibercept injections on immediate intraocular pressure increase and vitreous reflux rate in phakic eyes

●AIM:To evaluate the effect of background diseases and number of previous intravitreal aflibercept injections(IVAIs)on immediate intraocular pressure(IOP)increase and vitreous reflux(VR)rate and to evaluate the correlation of both age and axial length with immediate IOP increase and VR rate.●METHODS:This study included 105 patients with cystoid macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion,35 patients with diabetic macular edema,69 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration(nAMD),and 12 patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization,which underwent first-time IVAI.The correlation of immediate IOP increase and VR rates with the four background diseases was investigated.Moreover,the correlation of age with immediate IOP increase and VR rate as well as correlation of axial length with immediate IOP increase and VR rate were evaluated.Further,54 patients with nAMD were treated with IVAI>10 times(multiple IVAIs).Moreover,the correlation of immediate IOP increase and VR rates with first-time and multiple IVAIs in nAMD was determined.●RESULTS:The immediate IOP increase(P=0.16)and VR rates(P=0.50)were almost similar among the four background diseases.The immediate postinjection IOP and age,VR rate and age,immediate postinjection IOP and axial length,or VR rate and axial length were not correlated in the four background diseases.The immediate IOP increase(P=0.66)and VR rates(P=0.28)did not significantly differ between first-time and multiple IVAIs in nAMD.●CONCLUSION:Background diseases and number of previous IVAIs have no effect on immediate IOP increase and VR rate.Further,age and axial length have no correlation on immediate IOP increase and VR rate.

Combinative approach of transzonular triamcinolonemoxifloxacin and perioperative drops to minimize postoperative complications of cataract surgery

AIM: To investigate the effectiveness of combinationtherapy with transzonular triamcinolone-moxifloxacin andconventional perioperative drops in reducing postoperativecomplications of cataract surgery. METHODS: Electronic medical records of cataractsurgery patients (single surgeon) were reviewed fromJanuary 2018 to September 2021. The rate of postoperativecomplications including prolonged and/or recurrentpostoperative inflammation, endophthalmitis, cystoid macularedema (CME), and intraocular pressure (IOP) was comparedbetween the patients receiving combinative therapy andpatients receiving drops only. RESULTS: Totally 596 patients and 1057 eyes(Combinative-Therapy group 493 and Drop-Only group 564)were included in this study. Using combination therapyreduced the relative risk of postoperative inflammationby 26.9% (16.6% Combinative-Therapy vs 22.7% Drop-Only, P=0.013). The incidence of endophthalmitis was 0in Combinative-Therapy group vs 0.5% in Drop-Only group(relative risk reduction 100%), although not statisticallysignificant (P=0.10). The incidence of severe IOP spikeswas not significantly different between Combinative-Therapy (2.4%) and Drop-Only (1.6%) groups (P=0.33).The relative risk of postoperative CME was 51.4% less inthree months follow up visit in Combinative-Therapy group,although not statistically significant (P=0.07). The visualoutcome 1-month postop. (best corrected visual acuity) wassignificantly better in Combinative-Therapy (logMAR 0.10)compared to Drop-Only (logMAR 0.14) groups (P=0.02) whilethe baseline visual acuity was not significantly different. CONCLUSION: The combinative approach oftranszonular triamcinolone-moxifloxacin plus perioperativeeyedrops is an effective method to minimize postoperativeinflammation, with better visual outcomes. It couldpotentially reduce the risk of postoperative endophthalmitisand CME (near-significant P-values;larger studies couldanalyze better considering low incidence).

Molecular mechanism of Xuebijing in treating pyogenic liver abscess complicated with sepsis

BACKGROUND:Xuebijing(XBJ)can alleviate the inflammatory response,improve organ function,and shorten the intensive care unit(ICU)stay in patients with pyogenic liver abscess(PLA)complicated with sepsis,but the molecular mechanisms have not been elucidated.This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of XBJ in treating PLA complicated with sepsis using a network pharmacology approach.METHODS:The active ingredients and targets of XBJ were retrieved from the ETCM database.Potential targets related to PLA and sepsis were retrieved from the GeneCards,PharmGKB,DisGeNet,Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM),Therapeutic Targets Database(TTD),and DrugBank databases.The targets of PLA complicated with sepsis were mapped to the targets of XBJ to identify potential treatment targets.Protein-protein interaction networks were analyzed using the STRING database.Potential treatment targets were imported into the Metascape platform for Gene Ontology(GO)functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses.Molecular docking was performed to validate the interactions between active ingredients and core targets.RESULTS:XBJ was found to have 54 potential treatment targets for PLA complicated with sepsis.Interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)were identifi ed as core targets.KEGG enrichment analysis revealed important pathways,including the interleukin-17(IL-17)signaling pathway,the TNF signaling pathway,the nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)signaling pathway,and the Toll-like receptor(TLR)signaling pathway.Molecular docking experiments indicated stable binding between XBJ active ingredients and core targets.CONCLUSION:XBJ may exert therapeutic eff ects on PLA complicated with sepsis by modulating signaling pathways,such as the IL-17,TNF,NF-κB,and TLR pathways,and targeting IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF.

Semen features for conventional IVF: Need for a simple universal index

Conventional in-vitro fertilization(C-IVF)and intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)are the two existing insemination methods presently in use in contemporary medically assisted reproduction treatments.While C-IVF refers to co-incubation of a cumulus-oocyte complex(COC)with a certain concentration of sperm suspension,ICSI is defined as the injection of a single spermatozoon directly into the ooplasm of a denuded oocyte.Although the balance of the literature is motivating enough to prefer C-IVF as the insemination method in non-male factor infertility cases,real world data reflect that majority of the practitioners are far from being convinced to do so[1].

Investigations on High-Speed Flash Boiling Atomization of Fuel Based on Numerical Simulations

Flash boiling atomization(FBA)is a promising approach for enhancing spray atomization,which can generate a fine and more evenly distributed spray by increasing the fuel injection temperature or reducing the ambient pressure.However,when the outlet speed of the nozzle exceeds 400 m/s,investigating high-speed flash boiling atomization(HFBA)becomes quite challenging.This difficulty arises fromthe involvement ofmany complex physical processes and the requirement for a very fine mesh in numerical simulations.In this study,an HFBA model for gasoline direct injection(GDI)is established.This model incorporates primary and secondary atomization,as well as vaporization and boilingmodels,to describe the development process of the flash boiling spray.Compared to lowspeed FBA,these physical processes significantly impact HFBA.In this model,the Eulerian description is utilized for modeling the gas,and the Lagrangian description is applied to model the droplets,which effectively captures the movement of the droplets and avoids excessive mesh in the Eulerian coordinates.Under various conditions,numerical solutions of the Sauter mean diameter(SMD)for GDI show good agreement with experimental data,validating the proposed model’s performance.Simulations based on this HFBA model investigate the influences of fuel injection temperature and ambient pressure on the atomization process.Numerical analyses of the velocity field,temperature field,vapor mass fraction distribution,particle size distribution,and spray penetration length under different superheat degrees reveal that high injection temperature or low ambient pressure significantly affects the formation of small and dispersed droplet distribution.This effect is conducive to the refinement of spray particles and enhances atomization.

A novel profile modification HPF-Co gel satisfied with fractured low permeability reservoirs in high temperature and high salinity

Conformance control and water plugging are a widely used EOR method in mature oilfields.However,majority of conformance control and water plugging agents are unavoidable dehydrated situation in high-temperature and high-salinity low permeability reservoirs.Consequently,a novel conformance control system HPF-Co gel,based on high-temperature stabilizer(CoCl_(2)·H_(2)O,CCH)is developed.The HPF-Co bulk gel has better performances with high temperature(120℃)and high salinity(1×10^(5)mg/L).According to Sydansk coding system,the gel strength of HPF-Co with CCH is increased to code G.The dehydration rate of HPF-Co gel is 32.0%after aging for 150 d at 120℃,showing excellent thermal stability.The rheological properties of HPF gel and HPF-Co gel are also studied.The results show that the storage modulus(G′)of HPF-Co gel is always greater than that of HPF gel.The effect of CCH on the microstructure of the gel is studied.The results show that the HPF-Co gel with CCH has a denser gel network,and the diameter of the three-dimensional network skeleton is 1.5-3.5μm.After 90 d of aging,HPF-Co gel still has a good three-dimensional structure.Infrared spectroscopy results show that CCH forms coordination bonds with N and O atoms in the gel amide group,which can suppress the vibration of cross-linked sites and improve the stability at high temperature.Fractured core plugging test determines the optimized polymer gel injection strategy and injection velocity with HPF-Co bulk gel system,plugging rate exceeding 98%.Moreover,the results of subsequent waterflooding recovery can be improved by 17%.

A New Heat Transfer Model for Multi-Gradient Drilling with Hollow Sphere Injection

Multi-gradient drilling is a new offshore drilling method.The accurate calculation of the related wellbore temperature is of great significance for the prediction of the gas hydrate formation area and the precise control of the wellbore pressure.In this study,a new heat transfer model is proposed by which the variable mass flow is properly taken into account.Using this model,the effects of the main factors influencing the wellbore temperature are analyzed.The results indicate that at the position where the separation injection device is installed,the temperature increase of the fluid in the drill pipe is mitigated due to the inflow/outflow of hollow spheres,and the temperature drop of the fluid in the annulus also decreases.In addition,a lower separation efficiency of the device,a shallower installation depth and a smaller circulating displacement tend to increase the temperature near the bottom of the annulus,thereby helping to reduce the hydrate generation area and playing a positive role in the prevention and control of hydrates in deepwater drilling.

Wetting front migration model of ion-adsorption rare earth during the multi-hole unsaturated liquid injection

In the process of ion-adsorption rare earth ore leaching,the migration characteristics of the wetting front in multi-hole injection holes and the influence of wetting front intersection effect on the migration distance of wetting fronts are still unclear.Besides,wetting front migration distance and leaching time are usually required to optimize the leaching process.In this study,wetting front migration tests of ionadsorption rare earth ores during the multi-hole fluid injection(the spacing between injection holes was 10 cm,12 cm and 14 cm)and single-hole fluid injection were completed under the constant water head height.At the pre-intersection stage,the wetting front migration laws of ion-adsorption rare earth ores during the multi-hole fluid injection and single-hole fluid injection were identical.At the postintersection stage,the intersection accelerated the wetting front migration.By using the Darcy’s law,the intersection effect of wetting fronts during the multi-hole liquid injection was transformed into the water head height directly above the intersection.Finally,based on the Green-Ampt model,a wetting front migration model of ion-adsorption rare earth ores during the multi-hole unsaturated liquid injection was established.Error analysis results showed that the proposed model can accurately simulate the infiltration process under experimental conditions.The research results enrich the infiltration law and theory of ion-adsorption rare earth ores during the multi-hole liquid injection,and this study provides a scientific basis for optimizing the liquid injection well pattern parameters of ion-adsorption rare earth in situ leaching in the future.

Experimental results of a magnetic field modification to the radio frequency driver of a negative ion source

A magnetic field produced by a current flowing through the plasma grid(PG) is one of the solutions to reduce the collisional loss of negative ions in a negative ion source, which reduces the electron temperature in front of the PG. However, the magnetic field diffused into the driver has some influence on the plasma outflowing. In order to investigate the effect of changing this magnetic field on the outflowing of plasma from the driver, a circular ring(absorber) of high permeability iron has been introduced at the driver exit, which can reduce the magnetic field around it and improve plasma outflowing. With the application of the absorber, the electron density is increased by about 35%, and the extraction current measured from the extraction grid is increased from 1.02 A to 1.29 A. The results of the extraction experiment with cesium injection show that both the extraction grid(EG) current and H-current are increased when the absorber is introduced.

Endoscopic band ligation or endoscopic tissue adhesive injection in the treatment of gastric varices:Which is better?

The combination of endoscopic ultrasound with endoscopic treatment of type 1 gastric variceal hemorrhage may improve the robustness and generalizability of the findings in future studies.Moreover,the esophageal varices should also be included in the evaluation of treatment efficacy in subsequent studies to reach a more convincing conclusion.

Optimization of Gas-Flooding Fracturing Development in Ultra-Low Permeability Reservoirs

Ultra-low permeability reservoirs are characterized by small pore throats and poor physical properties, which areat the root of well-known problems related to injection and production. In this study, a gas injection floodingapproach is analyzed in the framework of numerical simulations. In particular, the sequence and timing of fracturechanneling and the related impact on production are considered for horizontal wells with different fracturemorphologies. Useful data and information are provided about the regulation of gas channeling and possible strategiesto delay gas channeling and optimize the gas injection volume and fracture parameters. It is shown that inorder to mitigate gas channeling and ensure high production, fracture length on the sides can be controlled andlonger fractures can be created in the middle by which full gas flooding is obtained at the fracture location in themiddle of the horizontal well. A Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm is provided by which the gas injectionvolume and the fracture parameters of gas injection flooding can be optimized. It is shown that an improvedoil recovery factor as high as 6% can be obtained.

Permanent Magnet Temperature Estimation for PMSMs Using Virtual Position-offset Injection

This paper proposes a virtual position-offset injection based permanent magnet temperature estimation approach for permanent magnet synchronous machines(PMSMs). The concept of virtual position-offset injection is mathematically transforming the machine model to a virtual frame with a position-offset. The virtual frame temperature estimation model is derived to calculate the permanent magnet temperature(PMT) directly from the measurements with computation efficiency. The estimation model involves a combined inductance term, which can simplify the establishment of saturation compensation model with less measurements. Moreover, resistance and inverter distorted terms are cancelled in the estimation model, which can improve the robustness to the winding temperature rise and inverter distortion. The proposed approach can achieve simplified computation in temperature estimation and reduced memory usage in saturation compensation. While existing model-based approaches could be affected by either the need of resistance and inverter information or complex saturation compensation. Experiments are conducted on the test machine to verify the proposed approach under various operating conditions.