Numerical Study on Liquid-Solid Flow Characteristics in a Pulsed Scrubber

_ The dynamic realm of offshore drilling and completion continually sees the development of innovative technologies aimed at enhancing safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. This edition highlights three papers showcasing transformative potential within the industry. The first paper explores the use of along-string measurements and high-speed telemetry to mitigate geohazards and improve risk management in drilling operations. This innovative approach has significantly improved operational efficiency and well placement in offshore environments. By leveraging real-time data and advanced telemetry systems, operators can make informed decisions that enhance safety and optimize drilling operations. Several case studies showcase the successful implementation and potential of this technology to revolutionize the industry. The second paper introduces a pioneering digital shaker surveillance system using computer-vision technology on a deepwater rig. In an experimental trial, a computer-vision system monitored and measured drilled cuttings in real time. The system used an optical sensor and image-analysis software to quantify and qualify cuttings during drilling operations. Data collected revealed a strong correlation between cuttings load and drilling-parameter perturbations, improving assessments of hole cleaning and wellbore stability. The system aims to boost drilling efficiency, optimize penetration rates, and prevent packoff events by autonomously characterizing drilled cuttings. The third paper discusses the evolution of riserless mechanical subsea intervention in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico through a 22-well, multiyear campaign. Advancements in deepwater subsea well-intervention technology have enabled operators to perform more-sophisticated mechanical interventions (with wireline and slickline) without the need for a riser, significantly reducing costs and operational complexity. Case studies demonstrate the benefits, challenges, and prospects of riserless well intervention. Summarized Papers in This October 2025 Issue SPE 219627 - Telemetry Approach Enables Optimal Well Placement Despite Geohazards by Stephen Pink, NOV, et al. OTC 35585 - Digital Shaker Surveillance Uses Computer Vision on a Deepwater Rig by Calvin Holt, DrillDocs, et al. SPE 224044 - Riserless Wireline Subsea Intervention in Deepwater Offers Expanded Potential by Strethen E. Townsend, BP, et al. Recommended Additional Reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. SPE 220855 - Horizontal Openhole Gravel-Pack Challenges and Lessons Learned From More Than 60 Offshore Wells Performed in Peregrino Field by F.C. Colbert, Baker Hughes, et al. OTC 35995 - Integrated Workflow for Designing a Multizonal Water Injector With Intelligent Well-Completion Functionality by Vijay Rachit, ExxonMobil, et al. SPE 223800 - The Automation Advantage: Efficiency Improvements in Offshore Drilling by B. Millward, Halliburton, et al.

As the offshore industry explores the potential of nuclear power for drilling facilities, a critical challenge emerges: how to effectively integrate the validation methodologies for nuclear power systems with those of dynamic positioning (DP) systems. This paper presents a forward-looking analysis of the validation requirements for power systems in both nuclear and DP contexts, with a specific focus on offshore drilling rigs projected for development in the next decade. The study begins by examining current validation protocols for nuclear power systems and DP systems independently, highlighting the crucial role of independent validation activities in each domain. It then identifies areas of overlap, divergence, and potential synergy between these methodologies. A significant portion of the paper is dedicated to navigating the complex landscape of regulatory considerations and industry standards that will shape the development of these hybrid systems. By analyzing existing frameworks, the authors propose a conceptual merged protocol that addresses the unique challenges posed by integrating nuclear power with DP systems in an offshore environment. The paper emphasizes the importance of maintaining rigorous safety standards while fostering innovation in this emerging field. It explores how independent validation can be structured to ensure the highest levels of safety and reliability in these complex, interconnected systems. While no case studies are currently available due to the forward-looking nature of this research, the paper presents theoretical scenarios to illustrate potential validation challenges and solutions. These scenarios serve as a starting point for industry discussion and further research. By proactively addressing these validation challenges, this paper aims to contribute to the safe and efficient development of nuclear-powered offshore drilling facilities in the coming years, potentially revolutionizing the energy landscape of offshore operations.

This study is devoted to applying parametric network models for the process of defining a guided tour route within route networks on the example of Denmark. This is caused by difficulty in determining variations when organizing guided tours. Under the actual digitization conditions, tourist and excursion bureaus are being restructured from static organizations administering various excursions into dynamic ones. They are actually getting adjusted to the customers’ needs and demands, taking into account the actual possibilities for covering a certain topic by the tour party within a route. The main problem encountered by tourist and excursion bureaus is the following. Although the nomenclature of presented guided tours is established by the economic entity independently, those are not always carried out according to a clearly defined itinerary and on the same conditions for all participants. When providing such services, customers’ demands and service peculiarities are not known in advance. The purpose of the present study is to provide a substantive basis for routing in tourist and excursion bureaus, based on parametric network models and taking into account the peculiarities of dynamically adaptable tables containing the best routes. To achieve the research goal, network planning methods were used, such as analytical, tabular, cloud computing in the AnyLogic Cloud environment. As a result of the study, a substantive basis of routing of the tourist route was presented for tourist and excursion bureaus, through their parametric network models. The study was implemented at the sample of the Denmark Tour -Your Guide Office, a company founded within cooperation with Russian, Ukrainian, and Denmark partners and providing travel services within the Denmark tourist market. The Office includes about 20 affiliates in Denmark, where route networks have already been adapted to designing tours in practice and parameterization of such networks is well underway, in particular by shifting the focus from the route distance rate to minimization of transfers between attraction sites. However, to provide a substantive basis for the routing in a tourist office, parameters of the routing networks should be determined not only based on the list of actions (activities) to be carried out, but also on their minimum and maximum possible duration. A lack of due attention to the servicing time for the tour groups will lead to breaking tour schedules. Thus, in 2020, as a result of the inefficient parameterization at Denmark Tour - Your Guide, about 5-6 tours around Aalborg and its vicinity were cancelled monthly. Denmark Tour- Your Guide incurs monthly profit losses at 15% in 4-6 tours around Aarhus and its surroundings, Jursland peninsula, rated at a fixed cost, as the result of payment of a fixed cost for the selected excursions. A similar situation, with breaking tour schedules and monthly losses incurred, is common with tourist and excursion bureaus in various countries around the world, including Ukraine. According to the results of the study, it is marked that the routing of tourist itineraries designed by tourist agencies, based on parametric network models turns their static time reserves and operational metrics into dynamic values depending on the duration of the tour activities. This not only ensures following schedules properly in all tours but also minimizes monthly profit loss, at an estimated EUR 2,250 for the Aalborg and its surroundings routes. Meanwhile, there may be situations where it is not possible to change the total tour cost. For example, in the company Denmark Tour - Your Guide, when working with intermediate parties, this price is fixed. To prevent incurring monthly losses within 15% of the profits for 4-6 tours of Aarhus and its surroundings, Jursland peninsula, Aalborg and Surroundings, it is necessary to make some quite specific adjustments in some activities at the sites. These should take into account the time reserve values on the longest route. A special tour activity complex is to be completed, with a maximum difference in early and late schedule times, standard and urgent pricing for the site operations). A procedure is compiled for minimizing losses in routes (over 8K euro annually), providing for completion of the activity complex within the schedule with a minimum additional charge to the operating metric (the route price), since it is not reimbursed by the tourists. It is important that the results presented should identify the path adjustments of each route simultaneously, taking into account the actual time reserve (available based on the tour group location and the previouisly completed schedule items on the tour). Prospects for practical implementation of the presented substantiation basis for the itinerary routing to be used in tourist and excursion bureaus, based on parametric network models, are in establishing facilities for creating dynamic graphic images of the whole tour procedure, in the form of a directed graph of the route network.

This work examines the use of the electrolyte Trebble–Bishnoi equation of state (eTBEOS) in predicting high‐pressure phase equilibria in the presence of aqueous mixed‐salt solutions. The eTBEOS combines the Trebble–Bishnoi equation of state with a Born energy term, a mean spherical approximation term, and a cation solvation term. Shortcomings in the originally regressed set of eTBEOS parameters are identified and discussed, and a new set of equation of state parameters is subsequently regressed for 58 salts. In order to extend the eTBEOS to mixed‐salt systems, two approaches for computing the EOS parameters of the ionic species are investigated. The first approach uses the originally regressed parameter set plus parameter mixing rules, where appropriate, whereas the second approach uses the newly regressed parameters and no mixing rules. In the prediction of osmotic coefficients in mixed‐salt solutions, the maximum relative difference between the experimental and computed values was 5.70%. For the gas solubility predictions, data were available for the solubility of CO2, CH4, and N2 in a small number of mixed electrolyte solutions; the maximum relative difference was 5.79%. Finally, CH4, C2H6, C3H8, and CO2 gas hydrate formation conditions were predicted in a number of mixed‐salt solutions, with a maximum relative difference of 10.76%. Overall, it was seen that both approaches allowed for comparable accuracy in phase equilibrium calculations. However, in the case of solutions made from salt mixtures with common cations, the second approach consistently resulted in improved accuracy.

Navel gazing at remote sensing of inland and coastal waters from space Environmental monitoring from space The remote sensing definition of water quality The plight of remotely monitoring case 2 water quality The irony of remote sensing End-users of aquatic remote sensing products 1.6 Aquatic remote sensing products What went wrong with the great potential? Models, models, models, models The inevitable compromise of aquatic remote sensing Some concluding comments Remote sensing of inland water quality: a science primer Remotely sensing the Earth from space Remotely sensing aquatic color from space Remotely sensing inland and coastal water quality from space The scientific methodology (forward and inverse models) Concluding remarks The science of remotely sensing case 2 water quality Aquatic optics and water color Case 1 and case 2 waters Inherent optical properties (optical cross section spectra) Forward and inverse optical modeling Trans-spectral processes Remote sensing reflectance The status of remote sensing science Applications of water quality products to environmental monitoring What do environmental end-users want? What do environmental end-users need? What can environmental end-users be given? Benefits of incorporating remote estimates of water quality into environmental monitoring protocols: value-added remote sensing Inland and coastal (case 2) water quality products Providers and users: a marketplace reality check Applications of inland and coastal water color products Mapping water clarity Mapping chlorophyll concentrations (and primary production) of mid-oceanic (case 1) waters Mapping chlorophyll concentrations (and primary production) of optically complex inland and coastal (case 2) waters Monitoring the extent and progress of blue-green algae blooms and red tides Delineating the presence of inorganic turbidity in inland and coastal waters Monitoring the extent and progress of marine and inland oil spills Delineating the regional groundwater discharge, recharge, and transition areas (and temporal changes therein) Monitoring inland and coastal water quantity Recording natural and anthropogenic changes in shoreline/coastal features Recording changing configurations of continental ecozones Seagrass meadows: location and spatial distribution of substrate and substrate vegetation A lost opportunity to present an environmental manager with a compromise between science and usage of science Some comments on water quality monitoring Crystal-ball gazing at remote sensing of inland and coastal waters from space The United States, Canada, and space Addressing the chasm between Canadian inland and coastal water quality products and their potential end-users EOADP and GRIP The compact airborne spectrographic imager (CASI) Directions taken at CSIRO Suspended sediments recognized as independent CPAs? Back to the future with red wavelengths? Truth in advertising of remote sensing products Environmental science and the vagaries of populism Three examples of controversial environmental issues Quality science emergent from fear-instilling rhetoric Ground-level ultraviolet radiation and natural waters Environmental monitoring from space and controversy

Agricultural diffuse water pollution remains a notable global pressure on water quality, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems, human health and water resources and as a result legislation has been introduced in many parts of the world to protect water bodies. Due to their efficiency and cost-effectiveness, water quality models have been increasingly applied to catchments as Decision Support Tools (DSTs) to identify mitigation options that can be introduced to reduce agricultural diffuse water pollution and improve water quality. In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was applied to the River Wensum catchment in eastern England with the aim of quantifying the long-term impacts of potential changes to agricultural management practices on river water quality. Calibration and validation were successfully performed at a daily time-step against observations of discharge, nitrate and total phosphorus obtained from high-frequency water quality monitoring within the Blackwater sub-catchment, covering an area of 19.6 km2. A variety of mitigation options were identified and modelled, both singly and in combination, and their long-term effects on nitrate and total phosphorus losses were quantified together with the 95% uncertainty range of model predictions. Results showed that introducing a red clover cover crop to the crop rotation scheme applied within the catchment reduced nitrate losses by 19.6%. Buffer strips of 2 m and 6 m width represented the most effective options to reduce total phosphorus losses, achieving reductions of 12.2% and 16.9%, respectively. This is one of the first studies to quantify the impacts of agricultural mitigation options on long-term water quality for nitrate and total phosphorus at a daily resolution, in addition to providing an estimate of the uncertainties of those impacts. The results highlighted the need to consider multiple pollutants, the degree of uncertainty associated with model predictions and the risk of unintended pollutant impacts when evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation options, and showed that high-frequency water quality datasets can be applied to robustly calibrate water quality models, creating DSTs that are more effective and reliable.

Phosphorus (P) is a significant limiting nutrient which is essential for all forms of lives. However, phosphate rock reserves are depleting rapidly due to population growth. At the same time, several countries have imposed legislative regulations on P-release into surface waters due to eutrophication. Nutrient recovery from wastewater can facilitate a sustainable, cost-effective and environment-friendly source of phosphorus. Although P-recovery as struvite from wastewater has been widely studied for a long time, there still exists a lot of challenges for widespread full-scale implementation. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the technologies for phosphorus recovery in the form of struvite. Fluidized bed reactors (FBRs) are widely used compared to continuously stirred reactors for P-recovery as struvite because of different solid and liquid retention time. Commercially available technologies were reported to accomplish about 80% P-removal efficiencies with a reasonable P-recovery for themost of the cases. The struvite production rate of various technologies varies from 0.89 to 13.7kg/kg influent P. Nevertheless, these technologies are associated with several shortcomings such as high operational costs, high energy consumption, and large footprint. Increasing efforts focusing on the development of sustainable and commercially feasible technologies are expected in this sector as P-recovery is considered to be the future of wastewater engineering.

Intelligent wearable devices with integrated sensing and drug-releasing functions are essential for delivering real-time and personalized interventions. Current approaches typically rely on interconnected modules, facing challenges such as large footprint, high energy consumption, and fabrication complexity. To address these limitations, we introduce a modified organic electrochemical transistor structure called the organic electrochemical transceiver (OECTC). The OECTC leverages the electronic wettability switch characteristic of conjugated polymers to convert sensed signals into a valve mechanism for controlling the release of chemical substances (e.g., drugs and neurotransmitters). This provides an all-in-one solution for synchronized signal recording and substance release for physiological modulation. The applications of the OECTC in intelligent wearable devices for managing type II diabetes and as a neural amplifier or inverter for neurotransmitter modulation are demonstrated.

This study focuses on the often-neglected aspect of physiological load on passengers at high-speed railway stations, characterized by their large footprints and complex layouts, which contribute to physical fatigue and discomfort. We propose a generic framework for assessing physiological loads experienced by passengers during entry and exit, incorporating the estimation of physiological indicators, design of experimental programs, and analytical techniques. The results indicate that initial physiological state, walking distance and baggage load have a significant effect on physiological load. Interaction analysis further reveals that fatigue and heavy baggage significantly amplify the energy burden of long walking distances. Elderly participants exhibit greater sensitivity, with higher energy expenditure under fatigued or loaded conditions. In contrast, gender shows no significant effect, and body weight has a moderate influence, primarily among heavier individuals. The study also identifies six factor combinations that lead to high energy expenditure rates when present simultaneously. Furthermore, we identify ideal walking ranges and thresholds for passengers with varying travel activity characteristics, particularly benefiting elderly individuals. These insights provide empirical data and policy recommendations for designing station layouts that consider the physiological loads of traveling, aiming to enhance passenger comfort and station efficiency.

The provision of potable water or water with physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics suitable for consumption is essential for human survival. However, numerous communities in the coastal areas of Colombia still lack access to clean and safe water sources. To address this challenge in many communities, desalination emerges as a promising solution. In this regard, this article focuses on the evaluation and proposal of an integrated simulation model for solar-powered water desalination in coastal communities, with particular attention to water quality aspects, as well as potential impacts on health and the environment. To carry out a comprehensive assessment, the intention is to design a simulation model using tools such as Homer Pro, IMSdesign, and MATLAB, leveraging data on living conditions and water quality in La Guajira, as well as publicly available information on the best desalination practices in coastal communities and following current Colombian regulations within the framework of health and environmental care. This model will allow for a detailed analysis of key factors and impacts in the implementation of solar-powered desalination systems, considering the conditions of the case study in Manaure, La Guajira, Colombia. Through this design, it facilitates the understanding of technical and operational aspects, as well as exploring efficient energy solutions through the integration of renewable sources, with the purpose of mitigating the challenges associated with high energy consumption and reducing both costs and the environmental and human health impact inherent in these desalination processes.

Making thirsty cities sustainable: A nexus approach for water provisioning in Quito, Ecuador

Effects of harvest management of Trapa bispinosa on an aquatic macrophyte community and water quality in a eutrophic lake

Kyushu University has performed some low-velocity impact experiments at a lowvelocity range less than 300 m/s to understand the dispersion properties of fragments newly created by a low-velocity collision possible in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO). The data from those impact experiments are utilized to establish a mathematical prediction model to be used in debris generation and propagation codes. The author re-analyzed the experimental data based on the method used in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) standard breakup model and compared the reanalyzed results with the NASA standard breakup model. The comparison indicates that the NASA standard breakup model can be applied to lowvelocity collision with some simple modifications. Currently, we are performing additional impact experiments using a two-stage light gas gun at Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT) to verify the modifications and exam their applicability at a slightly higher velocity range up to 800 m/s, that is the maximum relative velocity between GEO objects. In this paper we will present the results from our additional low-velocity impact experiments performed under collaboration between Kyushu University and KIT.

Mitigating spill pollution in the Nile River is crucial to protecting aquatic life, water quality, and public health. Extensive studies focused on the assessment of water quality and hydrodynamics of the Nile River, but there have been relatively few studies that have applied integrated hydrodynamic and water quality modeling approaches to simulate actual accidents in the Nile Fourth Reach. The goal of this study is to develop advanced computational models to simulate accidental spills in the Nile River and track the resulting impacts on water quality. Hydrodynamic and water quality simulations were performed using Delft3D software for 144km of the Nile River, Egypt, from El-Menia to Assuit. Once the hydrodynamic and water quality models were calibrated, two phosphate spill scenarios were modeled under maximum and minimum flow conditions. The spatial distribution of the spill plume along the studied river section was visualized every 12h following the spill occurrence for both scenarios. The results of the research were calibrated and validated against measured field data. In addition, various error and performance indicators were calculated to thoroughly assess the rigor and reliability of the results. The results demonstrated that flow velocity was the main factor influencing the spill plume characteristics and behavior. Initially, advection force plays a significant role after a spill occurs. After that, phosphate becomes mixed and diluted through dispersion. The spill plume took less time to reach downstream areas during the period of maximum flow compared to minimum flow. Additionally, the concentration of phosphate decreased as the water flowed downstream. The spatial distribution of the spill over time can assist water treatment facilities in developing mitigation strategies to address the spill impacts. However, complex Nile River dynamics demand extensive computational power. Therefore, the model was simplified for spill events, using the modeling capabilities to analyze hypothetical spills and contaminant spread in the absence of real data.

Aquatic environmental deterioration is becoming a serious problem due to rapid urbanization and economic development, particularly in developing countries. As two important components of the aquatic environment, water quality and sediment pollution are widely considered to be concerns; however, they are considered separately in most cases. The relationship between water quality and sediment pollution with heavy metals has been little addressed. In this study, the Haihe River Basin (HRB), one of the most polluted areas in China, was used as a case study, and the eutrophication index (EI) and the potential ecological risk index (RI) were employed to evaluate water quality and sediment pollution of heavy metals, respectively. The results showed that generally in the HRB, the water quality was poor, while the risk of heavy metal pollution was relatively low. Surface water quality was mainly influenced by sewage discharges from human daily life, and heavy metal pollution was affected by industry structure, in that the areas with resource/energy consumption industries and high-pollution industries often have high risks of heavy metal pollution Synergic pollution from water eutrophication and sediment pollution with heavy metals was found, especially in the central areas of the HRB, and it was largely dependent on the type of human activities. In the places with intensive human activities, such as secondary industry, eutrophication occurred simultaneously with heavy metal pollution, other than in less human-affected areas. These findings are useful for planning aquatic environment protections and river ecosystem management.