International Law on Liability and Compensation in the Offshore Oil ＆ Gas Industry

Offshore oil and gas exploration and production comes with risk of release of hydrocarbons in to sea. Today, the probability of such an event is relatively low, but the consequences are nevertheless significant and can cover a vast geographical area. As such, it raises the question as to whether liability and compensation in oil ＆ gas related incidents should be covered under international law. Current international legislation addresses the issue mainly in terms of shipping. This paper attempts to shed light on the topic in relation to oil and gas exploration whilst investigating notable events in the UK and the USA. The findings show that domestic laws of these countries cover the matter sufficiently. However, the question of whether the regulation should fall under international regulation can unfortunately not be answered with confidence as it would require a test-case of a situation where an oil spill affects multiple littoral states.

Research status and application of artificial intelligence large models in the oil and gas industry

This article elucidates the concept of large model technology,summarizes the research status of large model technology both domestically and internationally,provides an overview of the application status of large models in vertical industries,outlines the challenges and issues confronted in applying large models in the oil and gas sector,and offers prospects for the application of large models in the oil and gas industry.The existing large models can be briefly divided into three categories:large language models,visual large models,and multimodal large models.The application of large models in the oil and gas industry is still in its infancy.Based on open-source large language models,some oil and gas enterprises have released large language model products using methods like fine-tuning and retrieval augmented generation.Scholars have attempted to develop scenario-specific models for oil and gas operations by using visual/multimodal foundation models.A few researchers have constructed pre-trained foundation models for seismic data processing and interpretation,as well as core analysis.The application of large models in the oil and gas industry faces challenges such as current data quantity and quality being difficult to support the training of large models,high research and development costs,and poor algorithm autonomy and control.The application of large models should be guided by the needs of oil and gas business,taking the application of large models as an opportunity to improve data lifecycle management,enhance data governance capabilities,promote the construction of computing power,strengthen the construction of“artificial intelligence+energy”composite teams,and boost the autonomy and control of large model technology.

Opportunities and Challenges of Robotics and Automation in Offshore Oil &Gas Industry

The oil and gas industry will continue to boom in the coming few decades. Obtaining oil and gas from conventional and non-conventional resources will become more and more challenging. This intensifying need will impose very considerable demands on work force, financial and technology capabilities. Since the future supplies of oil and gas are to expand, advanced technology will become increasingly necessary to obtain access to more challenging conventional and non-conventional resources. Therefore oil and gas technologies will be very costly to operate in the coming future due to hostile, hard-to-reach environments. The offshore oil industry will become a complicated myriad of advanced equipment, structures, and work force. Our objectives are to identify potential applications and research directions of robotics and automation in the oil & gas field and explore the obstacles and challenges of robotic and automation applications to this area. This study performs the necessary survey and investigation about the work conditions of robotics and automation equipment in the oil and gas industry, especially offshore oil rigs. The oil & gas industry processes are first investigated. The personals and tasks are then explored. Furthermore, this paper reviews the current robotic automation technology. The challenges and requirements are identified for robotics and automation equipment in the oil and gas industry. The requirements of robotics and automation in the oil & gas industry are presented. Future research opportunities are discussed from a technical perspective.

Review on the challenges and strategies in oil and gas industry's transition towards carbon neutrality in China

In light of carbon-neutral pledge, the oil and gas industry has been facing several critical new challenges in China. The current status and new challenges in terms of market mechanism reform, supply-consumption balance and key technology innovation in China's oil and gas industry are reviewed in the present study, and new strategies and roadmaps are proposed to cope with the challenges. The study found that (i) the oil and gas market faces challenges such as incomplete pricing mechanisms, unclear subject rights, and the lack of recognition and trading of carbon assets. (ii) the trade-off between short-term supply security and long-term low-carbon supply is the most critical issue. (iii) in addition to typical challenges such as immature technology and lack of funding support, the unclear multiple technology coupling development mode also poses problems for the low-carbon transformation of the oil and gas industry. To address these new challenges, comprehensive strategies and roadmaps for China's oil and gas industry towards carbon neutrality are proposed and discussed in the aspects of participating in market transactions, restructuring production and consumption, deploying key technology innovations, and planning enterprise strategies. The present study is expected to provide a blueprint for the future development of China's oil and gas industry towards carbon neutrality.

Environmental Impact Assessment Follow-Up of Seismic Survey Offshore Activities in Brazil

Follow-up of environmental impacts is an integral part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, closely related to the effectiveness of the instrument. EIA follow-up has been receiving a lot of interest from scientists and practitioners, though it is recognized as one of the weakest points of EIA systems globally. Also, EIA follow-up is influenced by the context, mainly in terms of the types of projects or activities and their related impacts on the environment. Therefore, the present paper is focused on the investigation of the follow-up stage applied to the activity of seismic survey coupled with offshore oil & gas exploitation in Brazil. Research was based on a qualitative approach that included document analysis and semi-structured interviews with analysts involved in EIA processes, and sought to generate evidence of effectiveness of the EIA follow-up as conducted by the Federal Environment Agency (Ibama) in order to situate the practice of follow-up in the broader context of international best practice principles. Based on the findings, it was concluded that, due to the peculiarities of offshore seismic survey, it is necessary to promote adaptations in the procedures for monitoring impacts in order to ensure proper alignment with the principles and conceptual foundations that guide EIA practice. Specifically, the timing of the execution of the activity imposes challenges for its integration into the “conventional” cycle that has guided the monitoring of the impacts in the EIA of projects.

Multistring analysis of wellhead movement and uncemented casing strength in offshore oil and gas wells

This paper presents a theoretical method and a finite element method to describe wellhead movement and uncemented casing strength in offshore oil and gas wells.Parameters considered in the theoretical method include operating load during drilling and completion and the temperature field,pressure field and the end effect of pressure during gas production.The finite element method for multistring analysis is developed to simulate random contact between casings.The relevant finite element analysis scheme is also presented according to the actual procedures of drilling,completion and gas production.Finally,field cases are presented and analyzed using the proposed methods.These are four offshore wells in the South China Sea.The calculated wellhead growths during gas production are compared with measured values.The results show that the wellhead subsides during drilling and completion and grows up during gas production.The theoretical and finite element solutions for wellhead growth are in good agreement with measured values and the deviations of calculation are within 10％.The maximum von Mises stress on the uncemented intermediate casing occurs during the running of the oil tube.The maximum von Mises stress on the uncemented production casing,calculated with the theoretical method occurs at removing the blow-out-preventer （BOP） while that calculated with the finite element method occurs at gas production.Finite element solutions for von Mises stress are recommended and the uncemented casings of four wells satisfy strength requirements.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LONGITUDINAL SUBMERGED ARC WELDED STEEL PIPES USED FOR GAS PIPELINE OF OFFSHORE OIL

Since the development of offshore oil and gas, increased submarine oil and gas pipelines were installed. All the early steel pipes of submarine pipelines depended on importing because of the strict requirements of comprehensive properties, such as, anti-corrosion, resistance to pressure and so on. To research and develop domes- tic steel pipes used for the submarine pipeline, the Longitudinal-seam Submerged Arc Welded （LSAW） pipes were made of steel plates cut from leveled hot rolled coils by both the JCOE and UOE （the forming process in which the plate like the letter “J”, “C”, “0” or “U” shape, then expansion） forming processes. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the pipe base metal and weld metal were tested, and the results were in accordance with the corresponding pipe specification API SPEC 5L or DNV- OS-FI01, which showed that domestic LSAW pipes could be used for submarine oil and gas pipelines.

Exploration prospects of oil and gas in the Northwestern part of the Offshore Indus Basin, Pakistan

Oil and gas resources are short in Pakistan and no commercially viable oil and gas sources have been yet discovered in its offshore areas up to now.In this study,the onshore-offshore stratigraphic correlation and seismic data interpretation were conducted to determine the oil and gas resource potential in the Offshore Indus Basin,Pakistan.Based on the comprehensive analysis of the results and previous data,it is considered that the Cretaceous may widely exist and three sets of source rocks may be developed in the Offshore Indus Basin.The presence of Miocene mudstones has been proven by drilling to be high-quality source rocks,while the Cretaceous and Paleocene–Eocene mudstones are potential source rocks.Tectonic-lithologic traps are developed in the northwestern part of the basin affected by the strike-slip faults along Murray Ridge.Furthermore,the Cretaceous and Paleocene–Eocene source rocks are thick and are slightly affected by volcanic activities.Therefore,it can be inferred that the northwestern part of Offshore Indus Basin enjoys good prospects of oil and gas resources.

China Offshore Oil Industry and Foreign Investment

The history of China's offshore oil industry can be traced back to late 1950's when geophysical surveys started in limited offshore areas.Then,in 1960's and 1970's,a few exploratory wells scattered from north down to south were drilled resulting in a number of discoveries with the total proven oil in place being merely 40 million tons.In fact,the China's offshore oil industry in a real sence did not emerge on the horizon until early 1980's when China opened its door to outside world and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation(CNOOC)was born.

China Offshore Oil Industry Full of Vigor and Vitality

Since the founding of the ChinaNational Offshore Oil Corporationin 1982, the China offshore oil industryhas parted from closing the country tointernational intercourse and has steadilygone onto the developmental road at highspeed and with high efficiency inaccordance with international practice.In the short time of 13 years, relying onthe correlated policy offered by the stateand the intensification of enterprisemanagement, it has built up a large state-owned enterprise of independentmanagement, self-responsibility forprofits and losses, self-accumulation andself-perfection.

Environmental Policies and Strategies in Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry: Gains, Challenges and Prospects

The paper reviews environmental policies and strategies in the Nigerian oil and gas industry sector, assessing its efficiency, challenges and prospects. Essentially, the study established that the Environmental Policies and Strategies of Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry have impacted positively on the Nigerian environment over the years, especially in the area of awareness creation for all stake-holders. In terms of challenges, inefficiency of the regulators due to inadequacy of logistics, poor environmental data base, duplication and overlaps of regulators functions are some of the challenges identified. The prospect of environmental policies and strategies in Nigeria is generally considered to be bright, considering the fact that the industry is still evolving. Relevant recommendations were made on how to achieve improvements.

Bioremediation Technology Potential for Management of Soil and Water Pollution from Anticipated Rapid Industrialization and Planned Oil and Gas Sector in Uganda: A Review

Oil exploitation in many African countries is associated with litigation and conflicts to water and soil pollution. It is because of inadequate planning for management of oil spills and industrial effluents in environmentally sustainable manner. Uganda’s natural resources such as soils and water bodies are threatened by contamination due to rapid industrialization and rural-urban migration in established Industrial Business Parks and planned oil and gas production at Albertine Graben Region. The low level of compliance to industrial effluents discharge standards relevant to specific environmental receptors and activities within oil and gas sector development pose a big question of how to sustain the biodiversity and natural resource management. Experiences from elsewhere have shown bioremediation as a viable and proven option to provide potentially manageable solutions to resulting pollution as a substitute to modern well-known remediation methods, for it is relatively cheaper, more efficient and minimal toxic byproducts after treatment. The most used bioremediation agents in different studies reviewed are bacterial species especially Pseudomonas and Bacillus, followed by Aspergillus a fungi species, microalgae and aquatic plants such as duckweed, macrophytes and pteridophytes. Regardless of the waste produced in either oil and gas sector or industries, these agents have shown greater biodegradation rates. Pseudomonas sp. has a degradation efficiency of oil compounds ranging from 90% - 100%, and Aspergillus sp. 75% - 95%. Some aquatic plants can thrive in created wetlands with relatively still water such as Phragmites australis which can degrade hydrocarbons especially Aromatic compounds with benzene ring up to 95%. It can thrive in salty water with high pH range of 4.8 - 8.2. With industrial wastewater, algae is the most dominant with the degradation rates varying from 65% -100% and bacteria at 70% - 90%. Most of the reported results are in the developed country context. In developing countries, duckweed is reported as the commonest aquatic plant in wastewater treatment for removal of heavy metals because it is more tolerant to a wide range of environmental conditions and produce biomass faster. It has a removal rate of heavy metals between 90% and 100%. Basing on literature data analysis, bacteria are more suitable for treating water from oil pollution using Pseudomonas sp. Phragmites australis is suited for cleaning up oil in both water and soil. Duckweed is the best in treating water polluted with industrial effluents. This paper presents the different bioremediation methods that Uganda can potentially apply to mitigate the increased risk of environmental pollutions from planned industrialization and oil and gas development in the Albertine Graben Region.

Risk Matrix as a Tool for Risk Analysis in Underwater Operations in the Oil and Gas Industry

The study is a cross-sectional design assessment of the likelihood, frequency and severity of hazards associated with underwater operations in the Niger Delta. Five oil and gas companies were used for this study selected by a purposive method given that they had the highest number of workers involved in underwater operations. A sample size of 418 was computed to which the questionnaires were administered with response rate of 95.93%. Data analyses were carried out to cover descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and Pearsonal correlation coefficients. The 4 by 4 risk assessment matrix for the likelihood and consequences showed that 8 out of 20 underwater hazards were categorized as having very high risk according to their risk ratings. The eight hazards categorized based on their risk IDs were H01, H03, H04, H08, H10, H11, H12, and H15. The 4 by 4 risk matrix for frequency and consequences revealed that two hazards (Piracy & bandit attack/kidnapping (H01) and Other main vessels/heavy object dropping or falling load/collision (H08)) were identified to be of very high risk.

Contract Labor and the Right to Freedom of Association in the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria

Contract labor is one of several terms, which are widely used to describe work arrangements, which do not fall within the traditional definition of employment. Contracting out services and getting employees through contractors have become widespread practice by many employers because it helps them to cut cost since these contractors could often supply these workers more cheaply and efficiently. Labor rights and standards are sometimes seen as sacrificial lambs on the altar of competitive edge by companies due to the perception that they constitute ＂costs＂ which if eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum, will impact positively on the ability of companies to compete favorably in the global market and consequent improvement of their balance sheets, to the joy of shareholders. Contract work is increasingly becoming the norm in Nigeria＇s oil and gas industry as companies undergo restructuring, concentration on core activities and modifications in work organization and technology. These factors certainly affect traditional employment relations and the exercise of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights inherent in them. Contract workers now make up about 60% of the workforce in the industry and they are denied the right to organize into Unions. The denial of this right has resulted in exploitation of these workers. This paper seeks to examine the adequacy of labor law governing trade unionism in Nigeria in ensuring the right of contract workers to freedom of association, as well as its conformity to international labor standards. It is argued that Nigerian labor laws need to be enforced to ensure that this category of workers benefits from this right. In addition a proposal is made for a law reform which will define contract labor and provide a legal framework for the regulation and protection of contract workers in Nigeria in order to guarantee their right to unionize and enable them to improve their rights at work.

Upgrading, Transforming, and Standardizing of Offshore Oil Drilling Equipment in China

This paper discusses the development of China's oil exploration & drilling equipment, and it focuses mainly on the domestication, industrialization, and standardization of fixed offshore drilling rigs primarily constructed by CNOOC. Considering the manufacturing of and application of deepwater drilling equipment in China, the authors put forward suggestions regarding industry policies and the standardization of China's offshore engineering equipment.