Occidental Petroleum (United States)

In recent years, concerns have arisen regarding the declining work ethics of teachers which are attributed to insufficient psychological empowerment and professional development opportunities. Addressing these issues is crucial for enhancing the overall effectiveness and dedication of educators. Using descriptive-regression research method, this study aimed to determine the significant influence of psychological empowerment and professional development on the work ethics of teachers among public elementary schools in Malita West District, Division of Davao Occidental. Survey questionnaires were used that were tested using Cronbach Alpha and content validity. Data were collected from 139 public elementary school teachers determined by using Slovin’s Formula and were analyzed using Mean, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and Multiple Regression Analysis. Results from the quantitative analysis revealed that the level of psychological empowerment, professional development, and work ethics of teachers were very high. Also, psychological empowerment and professional development had positive significant relationship with the work ethics of teachers. Further, psychological empowerment and professional development significantly influenced the work ethics of teachers. Based on the findings, the Department of Education may enhance teachers' psychological empowerment through professional growth opportunities, decision-making autonomy, and recognition.

Abstract As unconventional oil and gas development evolves, operators are increasingly drilling longer laterals—often exceeding 12,500 to 15,000 feet—resulting in more intricate parent-child well configurations. In maturing fields, child wells frequently transition into parent wells, creating scenarios where a single child well may be influenced by multiple parent wells developed at different times. This study builds upon our previous work (Ben et al., 2025), which focused on single-parent-child relationships, by extending the analysis to approximately 400 child wells with multiple parent wells across three core business areas. In this study, we introduced two novel engineered features: the Effective Parent Depletion Index (EPDI) and the Effective Parent-to-Child Distance. EPDI quantifies the depletion impact from multiple parent wells at the time of child well fracturing. It integrates four key factors for each parent well: (1) cumulative production, (2) lateral length, (3) diagonal distance to the child well, and (4) the degree of lateral overlap with the child well. These factors are combined into a single depletion index. The Effective Parent-to-Child Distance incorporates both diagonal distances and lateral overlaps. The two engineered features yield a more accurate representation of spatial interaction and potential interference between wells than those used in the ML model developed previously for the same asset (Wolfram et al, 2022). These features, along with the log-normalized first-year cumulative oil production, child-to-infill diagonal distance, weighted overlaps, and several geologically informed variables, serve as inputs to a machine learning (ML) model designed to predict child well performance. Monotonic constraints are applied to ensure that predicted production increases with greater parent-to-child distance and lower EPDI, aligning with physical expectations. A Shapley value analysis reveals that EPDI and effective distance are the most influential predictors of child well degradation. The model enables calculation of a degradation factor, offering a quantitative measure of parent-induced performance loss. The ML model has been deployed to the cloud, providing engineers with a practical tool for reserve estimation and infill planning. When integrated with an economic optimizer, this approach has the potential to unlock millions of dollars in additional value. The study highlights how domain-guided feature engineering enhances model interpretability and performance, offering actionable insights for optimizing well placement in complex development scenarios.

.SignificanceFetal oxygenation level is a critical indicator of fetal health throughout pregnancy and labor. Existing clinical devices predominantly employ invasive techniques, posing risks to both the fetus and the mother.AimTo address this concern, we present a noninvasive method for precise fetal oxygenation level monitoring using time-domain near-infrared spectroscopy (TD-NIRS).ApproachOur method leverages the advantages of time-domain information for accurate separation of optical properties from two distinct layers, thereby enabling noninvasive detection of deep tissue oxygenation levels.ResultsWe validate the proposed method via Monte Carlo simulations and develop a fiber-based TD-NIRS prototype system. In a two-layer tissue phantom experiment, the system accurately estimates the deep-layer absorption coefficient. We further demonstrate the ability of our prototype system to detect changes in the tissue oxygenation index (TOI) through in vivo experiments: (1) TOI measurements of the human forearm with a tissue phantom and (2) transabdominal fetal monitoring on a pregnant ewe.ConclusionsThe results suggest a significant potential for the use of TD-NIRS to noninvasively and safely monitor the fetal oxygenation level.

ABSTRACT: This study examines the feasibility of carbon dioxide storage in shale rocks and the reliability of reactive transport models in achieving accurate replication of the chemo-mechanical interactions and transport processes transpiring in these rocks when subjected to CO2 saturated brine. Owing to the heterogeneity of rocks, experimental testing for adequate deductions and findings, could be an expensive and time-intensive process. Therefore, this study proposes utilization of reactive transport modeling to replicate the pore-scale chemo-mechanical reactions and transport processes occurring in silicate-rich shale rocks in the presence of CO2 saturated brine under high pressure and high temperature. For this study, Crunch Tope has been adopted to simulate a one-dimensional reactive transport model of a Permian rock specimen exposed to the acidic brine at a temperature of 100 °C and pressure of 12.40 MPa (1800 psi) for a period of 14 and 28 days. The results demonstrated significant dissolution followed by precipitation of quartz rich phases, precipitation and swelling of clay rich phases, and dissolution of feldspar rich phases closer to the acidic brine-rock interface. Moreover, porosity against reaction depth curve showed nearly 1.00% mineral precipitation occur at 14 and 28 days, which is insufficient to completely fill the pore spaces.

ABSTRACT The Eagle Ford Group is a mudrock system deposited during the Late Cretaceous across a flooded carbonate platform (referred to as the Comanche Platform in south and central Texas) that rimmed the Gulf coast region of the southern United States. During the Cenomanian–Turonian the Comanche Platform was situated at the confluence of the Western Interior Seaway and the Gulf of Mexico. Bathymetric features on the Comanche Platform include: 1) the San Marcos Arch, which separates the East Texas Basin to the northeast from the Maverick Basin further to the southwest, 2) isolated fault-bound troughs including the Karnes, Atascosa, and Gonzales Troughs, and 3) structural remnants of the down-dip Aptian through middle Cenomanian Stuart City and Sligo Reef margins. Collectively, bathymetric features and oceanographic circulation patterns resulted in a complex depositional network that affected sediment source input, bottom water redox potentials, and carbonate productivity. The onset of Oceanic Anoxic Event-2 (OAE-2) at the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary (ca. 93.5 Ma) coincides with the transition from lower Eagle Ford (LEF) to upper Eagle Ford (UEF) deposition and is marked by a positive ~2–3‰ carbon isotope excursion measured from bulk organic matter. OAE-2 also reflects a transition from anoxic organic-matter rich mudrocks typical of the LEF to oxic, carbonate-rich, and organic-matter poor mudrocks typical of the UEF. As part of a regional study of the Eagle Ford Group, 42 core have been characterized using high resolution X-ray fluorescence core scanning coupled to lithofacies, biostratigraphy, volcanic ash dating, and stratigraphic wireline log analysis. In south Texas, onset of LEF deposition at ca. 96.25 Ma is dominated by compositionally banded TOC-rich argillaceous–calcareous mudstones to wackestones deposited under anoxic bottom water conditions (elevated concentrations of Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, and V). These TOC-rich anoxic mudstones are interbedded with diagenetic calcite cemented limestones and concretions. Importantly, anoxic conditions and maximum TOC preservation occurred in the LEF approximately 2–4 million years prior to the onset of OAE-2. At the top of the LEF, initiation of OAE-2 coincides with an increase in clay content, decrease in TOC content, decrease in redox-sensitive trace elements Mo and V, and increase in bioturbation, all of which are indicative of an increase in oxidation of bottom water. Not all cores preserve the 2–3‰ carbon isotope excursion associated with OAE-2, indicating that either erosion or non-deposition occurred during the UEF, likely the result of ocean current reworking, clinoform deposition during the high stand system of the UEF, or the result of bathymetric geometries. ‘Recovery’ from OAE-2 is marked by a decrease in carbon isotope values measured from bulk organic matter back to values typical of LEF, but the lithofacies that dominate the UEF are more oxygenated, contain less TOC, and are more carbonate-rich than observed in the LEF. Collectively, integrated core data from the Comanche Platform in south Texas demonstrate that oxic bottom waters persisted during OAE-2, which is different from the Tethys Ocean that experienced increased TOC-preservation and anoxic bottom water conditions contemporaneous with the OAE-2 carbon isotope excursion.

The Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is one of the world’s most prolific hydrocarbon basins, with more than 80 years of development since the first offshore drilling began. GOM is the primary source of the United States (U.S.) offshore oil and natural gas production. According to data published by the United States EIA, approximately 15% of the U.S. domestic oil production came from offshore oil and natural gas fields in federal waters, with over 99% of that production coming from the Gulf of Mexico over the most recent year of data available at the time of this paper’s publishing (Q4 2022-Q3 2023) [1]. Nonetheless, GOM reservoirs have complex depositional settings. Reservoir heterogeneity, stacked pay system, reservoir compartmentalization, high-temp and pressure are some of the common challenges seen in these fields. The use of conventional completion design in vertical wells with commingled production form multiple zones has led to multiple operational challenges. In this paper, we explore the use of intelligent completions in the deepwater GOM as a solution to this problem. Specifically, we will show how intelligent completions have allowed for increased production, reduction in operating expenses, enhanced overall reservoir recovery and improved safety and environmental performance. A case study of intelligent completions in GOM is with sliding sleeves that are hydraulically controlled from the production facility. In this paper we will be focusing on one of these deepwater oil fields located in the northern GOM. The field is comprised of a subsalt reservoir with best-in-class Pliocene age sands (main target reservoir). These conventional sands have good porosities and permeabilities up to 1 Darcy. The target producing reservoir sands are comprised of multiple, stacked, turbidite sands. This has led to the standard field development in this area to be vertical wells with commingled production from multiple zones. The field has been producing back to a deepwater facility for more than 5 years through multiple subsea wells. Initial production was over 10,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) per well. The producing reservoirs are supported with strong aquifer drive and leads to rapidly increasing water rates in wells post water breakthrough. Riser base gas lift is utilized in all producing risers to help optimize production.

CTCF-mediated chromatin loops create insulated neighborhoods that constrain promoter-enhancer interactions, serving as a unit of gene regulation. Disruption of the CTCF binding sites (CBS) will lead to the destruction of insulated neighborhoods, which in turn can cause dysregulation of the contained genes. In a recent study, it is found that CTCF/cohesin binding sites are a major mutational hotspot in the cancer genome. Mutations can affect CTCF binding, causing the disruption of insulated neighborhoods. And our analysis reveals a significant enrichment of well-known proto-oncogenes in insulated neighborhoods with mutations specifically occurring in anchor regions. It can be assumed that some mutations disrupt CTCF binding, leading to the disruption of insulated neighborhoods and subsequent activation of proto-oncogenes within these insulated neighborhoods. To explore the consequences of such mutations, we develop DeepCBS, a computational tool capable of analyzing mutations at CTCF binding sites, predicting their influence on insulated neighborhoods, and investigating the potential activation of proto-oncogenes. Futhermore, DeepCBS is applied to somatic mutation data of liver cancer. As a result, 87 mutations that disrupt CTCF binding sites are identified, which leads to the identification of 237 disrupted insulated neighborhoods containing a total of 135 genes. Integrative analysis of gene expression differences in liver cancer further highlights three genes: ARHGEF39, UBE2C and DQX1. Among them, ARHGEF39 and UBE2C have been reported in the literature as potential oncogenes involved in the development of liver cancer. The results indicate that DQX1 may be a potential oncogene in liver cancer and may contribute to tumor immune escape. In conclusion, DeepCBS is a promising method to analyze impacts of mutations occurring at CTCF binding sites on the insulator function of CTCF, with potential extensions to shed light on the effects of mutations on other functions of CTCF.

Michael Sandel y Jonathan Haidt han propuesto maneras complementarias para entender los mecanismos del rechazo populista de hoy en día. Este artículo intentará de presentar sintéticamente sus propuestas y vincularlas con la propuesta de la teoría mimética de René Girard. Se propone la teoría mimética y el mecanismo del chivo expiatorio como aquello que subyace el rechazo de la meritocracia y el tribalismo. Este mecanismo sería la raíz de la situación actual de mundo occidental.

Recently, G.~Yanev obtained a characterization of the exponential family of distributions in terms of a functional equation for certain mixture densities. The purpose of this note is twofold: we extend Yanev's theorem by relaxing a restriction on the sign of mixture coefficients and, in addition, obtain a similar characterization for the Laplace family of distributions.