Technology Affinity Group

Abstract Adapting oilfield submersible pumps for in-situ leaching (ISL) or recovery (ISR) of metals and minerals presents engineering challenges, particularly in material selection, design optimization, and manufacturing due to large-scale oilfields to small and specialized production. ISL/ISR utilizes well technologies to recover valuable resources by leaching them from subsurface deposits and inherently expose the subsurface equipment to highly corrosive fluids and abrasive particulates. This environment demands robust, purpose-built systems such as centrifugal or progressive cavity pumps, re-engineered for extreme environments. This study evaluates the performance of key pump components, including rotating shafts, stages, and housings, under highly acidic wellbore environments, with a focus on corrosion resistance and wear performance. It identifies critical areas for advancement, including corrosion and wear resistant alloys and coatings, protective liners, non-metallic seals. The study also emphasizes the need for rapid adaptation of existing designs to support flexible, small-scale manufacturing. By outlining the core requirements for submersible pumps in solution mining, this paper supports the development of more durable, efficient, and sustainable systems for cost-effective resource recovery. Laboratory test results using common lixiviants illustrate the material challenges, particularly for traditional oilfield metals, many of which require substitutions including materials originally conceived for ultra-corrosive oilfield wells.

Research has shown that factors such as teaching confidence and a sense of belonging influence an educator's classroom practice and motivation to remain in the profession. Although professional learning programs focused on CS content and pedagogy abound, opportunities to develop these affective components are often scarce for K-12 teachers. This is particularly true for those who are the sole CS educators at their school or are thrust into CS teaching with minimal preparation. To address this gap in support, we developed a peer mentoring program for high school teachers, featuring one-on-one mentoring focused on goals aligned with the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Standards for CS Teachers, a monthly community of practice for mentors to enhance their mentoring skills to better support their mentees, and numerous opportunities for community building among all participants. Drawing on four years of experience partnering with three CS teacher communities and analyzing evidence of growth from survey and interview data, we illustrate how we designed a program that fosters the professional development of both mentors and mentees, while incorporating a focus on equitable CS teaching. As more stakeholders create programs to support in-service and pre-service teachers transitioning to CS education, the insights shared in this experience report can provide guidance on developing initiatives that holistically support educators and contribute to a more sustained and well-prepared K-12 CS teaching workforce.

Abstract It is expected that carbon steel components in deaerated water such as in effluent water injection systems would have very low corrosion rates. The dissolved O2 content is such systems is typically below 40 ppb (parts per billion). However, slight ingress of O2 in the system through leaks in pumps, valves or gaskets can cause a dramatic increase in the corrosion rate of carbon steel which can be monitored with corrosion coupons and galvanic probes. It has been found that the corrosion morphology of such types of oxygen induced corrosion have quite unique characteristics. The present paper will provide some field results which will show the type of corrosion damage and morphology observed on coupons from an effluent water injection system. Data will also be presented to show how galvanic probes can be effectively used to detect and monitor oxygen ingress into the system during operation.

Abstract Microorganisms are a nuisance in water injection systems. Dense bacterial growth within the pipelines is the originator of reservoir souring, biofouling, biocorrosion and biodegradation of the infrastructure, resulting in huge expenses on the operational and capital costs. Molecular methods are superior tools for identifying microbial populations in the system and mapping the threat level. qPCR is a technology that allows us to quantify the absolute concentration of different bacterial and archaeal groups present in samples collected in the field. This analysis can be done on-site or in-laboratory. Another technology called next-generation sequencing (NGS), can dig deep into the interesting samples to determine the identity and relative populations of specific bacteria and archaea down to the genus or species level that are present. However, both of these techniques cannot differentiate between viable and non-viable communities. Recently RNA based estimations have been observed as a method to quantify the living microbial communities. Coupling RT-PCR, qPCR and NGS together gives a complete picture of what is happening and thus opens avenues for more effective monitoring and treatment.

This ethnographic research offers a thorough examination of the metamorphosis undergone by the Rongmei people in Northeast India as they shift from tradition to modernization. It examines the complex dynamics of how modernization has transformed the traditional Rongmei lifestyle. This research, using a detailed anthropological approach, elucidates the intricate relationship between tradition and modernization in Rongmei society, providing significant insights on cultural preservation and socio-economic change in indigenous groups. This research provides an in-depth analysis of the intricate alterations inside Rongmei society during modernization and religious change.

This full paper describes an innovative approach to teaching professional skills in engineering classrooms using the medium of theatre. Professional skills are not frequently or explicitly taught in engineering classrooms, especially those that are addressing issues of bias or discrimination. We provide two examples of how our interdisciplinary team implemented in-person theatre scenes and virtual interactive theatre scenes to directly address gender discrimination and bias in engineering teams. In both settings, engineering students first watched student actors perform a scene of a highly dysfunctional team. Two trained facilitators then helped the student audience identify and address the dysfunction. In the in-person scenes, engineering students were invited to join the scene as an additional team member to try to redirect or to directly address the conflict as the actors replayed the scene. After the scene, the facilitators asked the rest of the students to identify what they liked about the approach. In the virtual performances (enacted due to COVID interruptions), the engineering students asked questions of the actors to understand and resolve the underlying issues. In both settings, the facilitators end by debriefing the activity with the engineering students. To adapt to the virtual setting, we modified the script so that the students were working as a team in a virtual setting (e.g., a zoom meeting) and added an additional facilitator role to manage the online platform. In both formats, the students attended, observed, participated, and brainstormed effective ways of collaborating and communicating with their peers. The online version has been easier to implement and is able to host more students. Thus, we have continued to use this format even though classes are now fully in-person. In this paper, we walk through the roles of each of our interdisciplinary team leads, the nature of the facilitator training, and the details of implementing this training. Further, we describe the evolution from conception to institutionalization of these efforts into the first-year engineering experience. Finally, the interdisciplinary team from the participating universities share lessons learned and practical tips on how to initiate similar efforts at other universities.

This article presents a unique example of a roughly round ballista stone (ca. 32 x 31 cm) retrieved during excavations at Apollonia-Arsuf. It bears a two-line (one horizontal, the other vertical) Arabic inscription. Given the context of the ballista stones found at the site, it can be dated to March–April 1265, when the town and castle of Arsur were under siege by the Mamluk army headed by Baybars. The ballista stone is analyzed in relation to the site history and archaeology, its inscription, and the Mamluk sultanate 13th-century stone-throwing siege-machine artillery.

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Wearable electronic devices represent a paradigm change in consumer electronics, on‐body sensing, artificial skins, and wearable communication and entertainment. Because all these electronic devices require energy to operate, wearable energy systems are an integral part of wearable devices. Essentially, the electrodes and other components present in these energy devices should be mechanically strong, flexible, lightweight, and comfortable to the user. Presented here is a critical review of those materials and devices developed for energy conversion and storage applications with an objective to be used in wearable devices. The focus is mainly on the advances made in the field of solar cells, triboelectric generators, Li‐ion batteries, and supercapacitors for wearable device development. As these devices need to be attached/integrated with the fabric, the discussion is limited to devices made in the form of ribbons, filaments, and fibers. Some of the important challenges and future directions to be pursued are also highlighted.