Shell (United States)

Abstract Quest Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is an operating CO2 capture facility near Edmonton, Alberta. The facility is designed to capture and store CO2 produced during the manufacture of H2 in Shell’s Scotford Upgrader. The facility is operated by Shell Canada on behalf of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project (AOSP) and aims to capture and store 1 million tons per annum (MTPA) of CO2. The operation began CO2 injection in August 2015 and had stored 9.8 MT CO2 as of December 2024. Quest CCS utilizes three wells for injection of CO2. The wells were constructed using API 5CT Grade L80-Type 1 above the injection zone and duplex stainless steels at the injection zone. This design prioritizes corrosion resistance in the areas critical to containing the target reservoir while lessening capital expenditures associated with corrosion-resistant alloy throughout the well. Online monitoring and thorough inspections have demonstrated this well design is robust for Quest conditions with only minor corrosion findings being documented for future learnings. This paper provides a summary of Quest wells materials of construction, exposure environments, and findings related to corrosion from the to-date successful operation. Limitations of the success of the design for other CCS wells are also discussed.

T1ρ is a powerful analytical technique capable of probing motions on the timescale of molecular dynamics. Conventional T1ρ approaches are performed on high-field NMR magnets (typically >2 T) and rely on step-by-step data acquisition, resulting in relatively long experiments and acquisitions that are affected by non-negligible internal gradient effects and strict Specific Absorption Rate limits. The work presented herein reports the development of novel one- and two-dimensional Fast-T1ρ pulse sequences on a 2 MHz benchtop NMR spectrometer. The developed method enables the observation of fast-relaxing species down to the millisecond timescale through application of a variably-spaced spin-lock duration array with delay spacings as short as 100 μs. Fast-T1ρ and Fast-T1-T1ρ pulse sequences have been developed which show significantly faster acquisition relative to conventional T1ρ, illustrated with a 6-fold and 25-fold reduction in experiment time respectively. These techniques were demonstrated to be robust and accurate with measured T1ρ values for bulk glycerol showing a maximum difference of 5.4% between Fast-T1ρ and conventional T1ρ experiments. The power of this method is exemplified through the simultaneous observation of multiple relaxation environments within a porous γ-Al2O3 sample imbibed with an ethanol:water mixture, where T1ρ relaxation rates of two orders of magnitude difference (2.4 ms to 370 ms) were captured.

Abstract Expandable reamers enlarge a wellbore, often below a restriction, by removing rock using diamond cutting elements. The inherent dynamic instability of the reamer and abrasive lithologies can rapidly degrade the diamond cutting elements and jeopardize the successful enlargement of the planned wellbore section. This paper presents a holistic design methodology and provides field verification for innovative cutting structures that enhance stability and wear resistance of expandable reamers in demanding applications. The first goal was to reduce the lateral excitation of the reamer. This was achieved by introducing: (1) a stabilized body and sleeve to limit the eccentric movement of the reamer; (2) refining the aspect ratio of the profile to reduce static imbalance forces; (3) optimizing the cutter rake configuration to limit dynamic excitation generated during cutter-rock interaction; and (4) introducing a lateral displacement control feature to dampen excessive shock peaks. The second goal was to improve wear resistance of the reamer by introducing a second profile that acts as a full-gauge backup and effectively doubles the diamond volume of the first profile. The novel designs were verified using 4D transient drilling dynamics modeling. The design of experiments considered different BHA types, well plans, operating parameters, and rock types. Key observations included reduced lateral vibrations in all test cases and reduced stick-slip in 79% of test cases. Simulations were further validated on a test rig in an under-reaming-only configuration. The previous baseline experienced five incidents of 12 g or greater lateral acceleration, whereas the novel concept experienced no such incidents. Field validation was conducted in deepwater North America wells where previous reamers had failed to enlarge the planned section. The novel designs successfully opened the holes in single runs, demonstrating significant reductions in both lateral and torsional vibration severity. This paper provides an example of state-of-the-art advanced cutting structure design based on forensic examination, concept development, and advanced computer modeling, along with full-scale experimentation and field validation. The resulting, novel cutting structures have established new stability and durability benchmarks in North America.

Biochar (BC) is an eco-friendly soil conditioner that mitigates climate change and promotes sustainable agriculture. However, selecting the appropriate commercial biochar and its application for specific soil and crop types requires research. The present work explores the effects of two commercial biochars (BC-I and BC-II) on sorghum plants grown in sandy loam soil under greenhouse conditions. The study characterized the morphological and chemical properties of BCs, including structure, surface area, porosity, elemental composition, and functional groups. Sorghum plants were cultivated in soil amended with biochar at varying application rates of 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 15%, corresponding to 7, 14, 28, and 42 tons per hectare, respectively. Plant performance was evaluated using chlorophyll content (SPAD), relative water content (RWC), Leaf area (LA) and biomass. Soil carbon content was analyzed using elemental and total organic carbon analysis. Macro- and micronutrients content in soils were also determined. Our findings suggest that compared to BC-II, BC-I exhibited a higher abundance of surface functional groups, greater micropore volume, and a significantly larger pore surface area, indicating its superior physicochemical properties. Except for the 2.5% application rate, all other biochar (BC) rates (namely, 5%, 10%, and 15%) significantly enhanced soil carbon content. Notably, the 5% application rate resulted in the most substantial improvement in soil nutrient levels, including calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and phosphorus (P), compared to the other rates. Sorghum plants treated with lower application rates (2.5% and 5%) of both BC-I and BC-II exhibited significantly enhanced RWC, chlorophyll content, and shoot biomass compared to those treated with higher rates (10% and 15%). Among these, the 5% composite BC-I application demonstrated the most consistent improvement in plant physiological traits (RWC and SPAD) and growth parameters (LA and biomass). However, neither BC variants significantly improved soil nitrogen levels. Our findings indicate that a 5% application rate of composite BC-I provides the most effective balance between enhancing plant performance and improving soil quality in sandy loam soil. Future research on biochar production efforts should prioritize blending this biochar with nitrogen-rich organic fertilizers to address nitrogen limitations and further enhance soil fertility.

Shape-selective adsorption in zeolites plays a pivotalrole incatalytic hydroisomerization of long-chain alkanes, a key processin producing sustainable aviation fuels from Fischer–Tropschproducts. Accurately predicting adsorption behavior for the largenumber of alkane isomers in different zeolite frameworks is computationallyintensive. To address this, we have developed a machine learning frameworkthat rapidly and accurately predicts Henry coefficients of linear(C1–C30) and branched (C4–C20) alkanes in one-dimensional zeolites. Using descriptorsbased on chain length, branching patterns, and molecular graphs, weevaluate multiple ML models, including Random Forest, XGBoost, CatBoost,TabPFN, and D-MPNN in MTT-, MTW-, MRE-, and AFI-type zeolites. TabPFNand D-MPNN offer the highest predictive accuracy. Active learningfurther boosts model performance by efficiently selecting diverseand structurally informative isomers. We also uncover activity cliffs,where small changes in molecular structure lead to sharp variationsin adsorption, and demonstrate that targeted oversampling of thesecases improves model robustness. Finally, we combine the ML-predictedHenry coefficients with gas-phase thermodynamics to compute reactionequilibrium distributions for C16 hydroisomerization. Thisintegrated, data-driven approach enables efficient screening and designof shape-selective zeolite catalysts, thereby reducing the need forcostly simulations.

This textbook gives a unified treatment of the solution of various linear equations that arise in science and engineering with examples. It is based on a course taught by the first author for over thirty years. Some unique features include: Use of symbolic software for illustrating and enhancing the impact of physical parameter changes on solutions. Multi-scale analysis of engineering problems with physical interpretation of time and length scales in terms of eigenvalues and eigenvectors/eigenfunctions. Discussion of compartment models for various finite dimensional problems. Evaluation and illustration of functions of matrices (and use of symbolic manipulation) to solve multi-component diffusion-convection-reaction problems. Illustration of the techniques and interpretation of solutions to several classical engineering problems. Emphasis on the connection between discrete (matrix algebra) and continuum. Physical interpretation of adjoint operator and adjoint systems. Use of complex analysis and algebra in the solution of practical engineering problems.

Abstract This paper will present the design, manufacturing, testing and validation of the canned motor pump (CMP) as an alternative to typical electric submersible pump (ESP) systems to produce oil and gas with the goal of developing a robust system to extend the ESP run-life. The CMP technology is a seal-less topology currently employed in demanding applications including highly abrasive radioactive slurry service. This subsea system leveraged knowhow developed in other demanding applications and is adapted for ESP caisson applications. The canned motor ESP development included mockups to validate design features and manufacturing processes. A CMP system was manufactured and tested at the vendor's facility with water and at the end user's test facility with multiphase and viscous fluids. Unit validation included rigorous multiphase testing with fluid viscosities ranging from 2 cP up to 300 cP and varying gas volume factions at different speeds. The typical electric submersible pump has an average run life of approximately 2.5 years in subsea caisson applications. Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) on current ESP systems has revealed that a majority of failures result from the protector seal and motor. The main function of the seal section is to protect the motor and thrust bearings from contamination by the process fluid. The CMP seal-less technology eliminates the need for a protector seal section and dielectric fluid by isolating the wound stator with a corrosion resistant liner and a thrust bearing system that operates in process fluid. This paper will include test data results from thrust bearing testing in varying conditions including multiphase fluid to demonstrate robustness and unit performance test results from testing in water and multiphase fluid with varying viscosities. The canned motor ESP provides a new approach for subsea caisson applications by eliminating the protector seal section and incorporating process lubricated thrust bearings. This paper will share background, learnings, and results that demonstrate that the canned motor pump technology is ready for deployment in a subsea ESP caisson.