Innovative professional with over 30 years experience in chemical and energy industries. Project management and lean six sigma experience. Author of numerous technical papers and principal inventor on several patents.
The volume of solid radioactive waste (SRW) generated from decommissioning Russia’s nuclear subma... more The volume of solid radioactive waste (SRW) generated from decommissioning Russia’s nuclear submarines far exceeds existing SRW management capabilities of the Russian Northern Fleet. Inadequate management of this waste poses a substantial threat for pollution of the fragile Arctic environment. The Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) Project 1.3 has assessed waste treatment options, selected technologies, and is now designing and constructing a comprehensive SRW pretreatment system to meet this problem (1). The chosen approach is to design, construct and deploy a novel Mobile SRW Pretreatment Facility (MPF). A key feature of the concept is the mobility aspect, which allows the system to be readily transported between the various shipyards and intermediate SRW storage sites on Russia’s Kola Peninsula and in Severodvinsk. These sites either currently store or will generate the majority of the SRW in the region. Much of the existing waste storage is in poor condition. Based...
Static adsorption experiments designed to test the effect of a 3.22 ratio sodium silicate, on the... more Static adsorption experiments designed to test the effect of a 3.22 ratio sodium silicate, on the retention of petroleum sulfonate on brine equilibrated sand/clay-calcite mixtures were carried out. Dynamic adsorption tests were carried out in Berea sandstone cores, under the same conditions as the static tests, to look at the effect of alkaline chemicals on the retention of petroleum sulfonates by the core. It has been shown that small amounts of metal cations under certain conditions of pH and ionic strength will complex with the surface groups, thereby rendering the surface positive. Investigations to date, through zeta potential measurements and adsorption studies, supports the fact that the silicate anions do deactivate these positive surfaces and can complex with the metal cations in solution, thereby preventing the adsorption and/or deactivation of surfactant. Other anions such as OH/sup -/, CO/sub 3//sup -2/, and Po/sub 4//sup -3/ also can complex with these metal ions and re...
This paper presents the first planned deployment of hand-held hydraulically actuated cutting and ... more This paper presents the first planned deployment of hand-held hydraulically actuated cutting and shearing tools for use by the Russian Navy in managing solid radioactive wastes at their Northern Fleet shipyards and the challenges of implementing such technology in an Arctic environment.
SPE Oilfield and Geothermal Chemistry Symposium, 1983
... Dabbous (6) discusses the pre-injection of polymer to reduce surfactant adsorption and improv... more ... Dabbous (6) discusses the pre-injection of polymer to reduce surfactant adsorption and improve volumetric sweep efficiency. Holm and Robertson (7), in their indepth study of the use of alkaline silicates to enhance micellar polymer flooding, showed that the effluent viscosity ...
SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry, 1987
SPE Members The design of chemical flooding systems has been and remains quite complex due to the... more SPE Members The design of chemical flooding systems has been and remains quite complex due to the many interactions that can occur between not only the various constituents in the chemical slug but also with the reservoir itself. This paper discusses many of the interactions that occur between surfactants, polymers and alkalis in a mixed system design. specific focus is directed towards the benefits mixed alkalis impart to the overall design such as 1) water and reservoir conditioning, 2) adsorption/retention reduction, 3) emulsification improvement, 4) wettability alteration, and 5) improved sweep efficiency and mobility control. Data are presented and discussed to show how such systems can be designed and what parameters to consider in maximizing chemical survivability, transport, and effectiveness. Effects such as consumption, ion exchange, precipitation, and propagation are discussed for a buffered mixed alkali that is tailored to a specific reservoir environment. This approach ...
This paper examines the effects of alkaline additives on dilute surfactant systems for improved o... more This paper examines the effects of alkaline additives on dilute surfactant systems for improved oil recovery. The study was limited to the determination of the effects of alkaline additives on interfacial tension (IFT), surfactant adsorption or retention in Berea cores, and improvement in oil recovery. The alkaline chemicals studied were sodium silicates, sodium phosphates, sodium carbonate, and sodium hydroxide. In addition, optimal salinities and surfactant average equivalent molecular weight for the recovery of two midcontinent crude oils were determined through a combination of IFT determinations and oil displacement tests. The laboratory results show that the alkaline chemicals have two major effects. First, IFT is reduced further by the high pH surfactant/alkali solution combinations, and second, certain alkaline species significantly reduce surfactant retention. This leads to recoveries of residual oil from 40 to 70% with surfactant solutions containing only 0.25 wt% surfacta...
The invention relates to cement compositions containing a metal silicide such as an alkali metal ... more The invention relates to cement compositions containing a metal silicide such as an alkali metal silicide or an alkaline earth metal silicide. Upon mixing with water, the metal silicide reacts to generate hydrogen gas, a silicate, and heat - each of which is advantageous for the large variety of uses to which cements are put. The invention relates to a foamable cement composition comprising about 99.999 wt% to about 98.5 wt % of a cement, and about 0.001 wt % to about 1.5 wt% of a metal silicide or a mixture of metal silicides. Concretes and grouts containing the cement composition are also disclosed. Other embodiments provide methods for forming cement structures, including in subterranean formations and wells.
A method of hydraulic fracturing is provided which uses metal silicides to generate significant p... more A method of hydraulic fracturing is provided which uses metal silicides to generate significant pressure inside a wellbore. The method comprises injecting a fracturing fluid and an aqueous or reacting fluid into the wellbore to react with the fracturing fluid. The fracturing fluid comprises metal silicide, which may be uncoated or coated, and hydrocarbon fluid. The reacting fluid comprises water or a solvent. A method of removing buildup in pipelines such as subsea pipelines which uses metal silicides to generate heat and pressure inside the pipeline is also provided. The method comprises injecting an organic slug and an aqueous slug. The organic slug comprises metal silicide and hydrocarbon fluid. The aqueous slug comprises water. Alternatively, there is also provided a method for purifying flowback water produced from a hydraulic fracturing process comprising adding metal silicide to the flowback water produced from a hydraulic fracturing process.
Solns. contg. low concns. of surfactant when combined with an alk. substance (e.g., Na2CO3, Na si... more Solns. contg. low concns. of surfactant when combined with an alk. substance (e.g., Na2CO3, Na silicate, NaOH, or Na tripolyphosphate) are very effective in recovering addnl. oil from watered-out petroleum formations. Injection of ≤4 pore vols. of solns. contg. ≤0.8% surfactant and 1.5% of the alk. material continually washes oil from the rock matrix so that oil is recovered at the prodn. well during most of the injection process. When Na silicate is supplied as the alk. component, the surfactant is recovered more completely and in a concerted fashion so that the surfactant can be reused with the addn. of only small quantities of make-up surfactants. The process does not depend on the formation of an oil bank that moves through the formation as a slug. The combination treatment provides decreased surfactant adsorption, reduced crude oil interfacial tension, increased sweep efficiency, and enhanced oil mobilization. These effects promote displacement of the oil and recovery earlier i...
Consumption of alkali in the reservoir (lose of pH value) is a major concern to those engineers d... more Consumption of alkali in the reservoir (lose of pH value) is a major concern to those engineers designing alkaline slugs for enhanced oil recovery. Although there have been several attempts at modeling and quantifying these effects, the complexity of silicate chemistry has been a major stumbling block in adequately and realistically describing the mechanisms. The data and mechanisms presented in this paper indicate that recently proposed consumption models should be modified to incorporate lower limits on SiOâ solubility at higher pH values. When these limits are properly applied past trends in lab data can be explained. The implications to slug design of these changes in the dissolution rate model are discussed.
This paper is the second of a series of papers reporting our examinations of the effects alkaline... more This paper is the second of a series of papers reporting our examinations of the effects alkaline additives have on dilute surfactant systems for low-tension waterflooding (LTWF). The first paper outlined the effects on interfacial tension (IFT), hardness removal, and surfactant retention by the core material. and how these parameters then affect overall recovery of oil from watered-out cores containing, high-hardness brines. This study examines the effects of those chemicals on permeability, sweep efficiency. and sweep symmetry through multipermeable noncommunicating zones. Correlations and possible mechanisms are offered that relate these findings to the earlier work on surfactant retention and hardness removal. The results of these studies indicate that each alkali behaves differently, but all are capable of enhancing the action of the dilute surfactant treatment. Sweep efficiency in three-dimensional (3D) patterns and sweep symmetry through multipermeable noncommunicating zones ...
Russian Navy Yard No. 10 (Shkval), near the city of Murmansk, has been designated as the recipien... more Russian Navy Yard No. 10 (Shkval), near the city of Murmansk, has been designated as the recipient for Solid Radioactive Waste (SRW) pretreatment and storage facilities under the Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) Program. This shipyard serves the Northern Fleet by servicing, repairing, and dismantling naval vessels. Specifically, seven nuclear submarines of the first and second generation and Victor class are laid up at this shipyard, awaiting defueling and dismantlement. One first generation nuclear submarine has already been dismantled there, but recently progress on dismantlement has slowed because all the available storage space is full. SRW has been placed in metal storage containers, which have been moved outside of the actual storage site, which increases the environmental risks. AMEC is a cooperative effort between the Russian Federation, Kingdom of Norway and the United States. AMEC Projects 1.3 and 1.4 specifically address waste treatment and storage issues....
The volume of solid radioactive waste (SRW) generated from decommissioning Russia’s nuclear subma... more The volume of solid radioactive waste (SRW) generated from decommissioning Russia’s nuclear submarines far exceeds existing SRW management capabilities of the Russian Northern Fleet. Inadequate management of this waste poses a substantial threat for pollution of the fragile Arctic environment. The Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) Project 1.3 has assessed waste treatment options, selected technologies, and is now designing and constructing a comprehensive SRW pretreatment system to meet this problem (1). The chosen approach is to design, construct and deploy a novel Mobile SRW Pretreatment Facility (MPF). A key feature of the concept is the mobility aspect, which allows the system to be readily transported between the various shipyards and intermediate SRW storage sites on Russia’s Kola Peninsula and in Severodvinsk. These sites either currently store or will generate the majority of the SRW in the region. Much of the existing waste storage is in poor condition. Based...
An assessment was performed of Russian needs and capabilities related to decommissioning wastes f... more An assessment was performed of Russian needs and capabilities related to decommissioning wastes from nuclear submarines. Hydraulically operated hand-held metal cutting tools can provide improved productivity and safety during the size and volume reduction of bulky metal scrap. Such tools are commercially available in the US, but not in Russia. Also, they have not been previously deployed in Arctic conditions. A system of metal cutting and spreading tools has been procured, modified and successfully tested at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), and are now being deployed to Russia’s Northern Fleet.
The Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) Program is a cooperative effort between the ... more The Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) Program is a cooperative effort between the Kingdom of Norway, the Russian Federation, and the United States. This paper discusses joint activities over the past year among Norwegian, Russian, and U.S. technical experts on solid radioactive waste (SRW) treatment and storage technologies in the Arctic for the Russian Navy. The use of Western technology and technologies jointly developed between Russia, the U.S. and Norway will facilitate meeting Russia’s needs for stabilizing and storing SRW from decommissioned nuclear submarines. Containers for transportation and storage of SRW are now under construction at a Russian shipyard. All work is directed at applications in northwest Russia where the Russian Navy is decommissioning large numbers of nuclear submarines. The missions of AMEC Projects 1.3 and 1.4 are to improve the Russian Navy’s capabilities in SRW treatment and storage, respectively, and thus minimize the spread of radiolog...
The rear-entry ski boot disclosed herein includes a substantially rigid outer foot portion and a ... more The rear-entry ski boot disclosed herein includes a substantially rigid outer foot portion and a relatively movable leg portion, the foot portion having an inner lining with at least one inflatable air pocket interposed between the foot portion and the inner lining. A pump operable by bending movements of the leg portion is provided for inflating the air pocket.
The volume of solid radioactive waste (SRW) generated from decommissioning Russia’s nuclear subma... more The volume of solid radioactive waste (SRW) generated from decommissioning Russia’s nuclear submarines far exceeds existing SRW management capabilities of the Russian Northern Fleet. Inadequate management of this waste poses a substantial threat for pollution of the fragile Arctic environment. The Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) Project 1.3 has assessed waste treatment options, selected technologies, and is now designing and constructing a comprehensive SRW pretreatment system to meet this problem (1). The chosen approach is to design, construct and deploy a novel Mobile SRW Pretreatment Facility (MPF). A key feature of the concept is the mobility aspect, which allows the system to be readily transported between the various shipyards and intermediate SRW storage sites on Russia’s Kola Peninsula and in Severodvinsk. These sites either currently store or will generate the majority of the SRW in the region. Much of the existing waste storage is in poor condition. Based...
Static adsorption experiments designed to test the effect of a 3.22 ratio sodium silicate, on the... more Static adsorption experiments designed to test the effect of a 3.22 ratio sodium silicate, on the retention of petroleum sulfonate on brine equilibrated sand/clay-calcite mixtures were carried out. Dynamic adsorption tests were carried out in Berea sandstone cores, under the same conditions as the static tests, to look at the effect of alkaline chemicals on the retention of petroleum sulfonates by the core. It has been shown that small amounts of metal cations under certain conditions of pH and ionic strength will complex with the surface groups, thereby rendering the surface positive. Investigations to date, through zeta potential measurements and adsorption studies, supports the fact that the silicate anions do deactivate these positive surfaces and can complex with the metal cations in solution, thereby preventing the adsorption and/or deactivation of surfactant. Other anions such as OH/sup -/, CO/sub 3//sup -2/, and Po/sub 4//sup -3/ also can complex with these metal ions and re...
This paper presents the first planned deployment of hand-held hydraulically actuated cutting and ... more This paper presents the first planned deployment of hand-held hydraulically actuated cutting and shearing tools for use by the Russian Navy in managing solid radioactive wastes at their Northern Fleet shipyards and the challenges of implementing such technology in an Arctic environment.
SPE Oilfield and Geothermal Chemistry Symposium, 1983
... Dabbous (6) discusses the pre-injection of polymer to reduce surfactant adsorption and improv... more ... Dabbous (6) discusses the pre-injection of polymer to reduce surfactant adsorption and improve volumetric sweep efficiency. Holm and Robertson (7), in their indepth study of the use of alkaline silicates to enhance micellar polymer flooding, showed that the effluent viscosity ...
SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry, 1987
SPE Members The design of chemical flooding systems has been and remains quite complex due to the... more SPE Members The design of chemical flooding systems has been and remains quite complex due to the many interactions that can occur between not only the various constituents in the chemical slug but also with the reservoir itself. This paper discusses many of the interactions that occur between surfactants, polymers and alkalis in a mixed system design. specific focus is directed towards the benefits mixed alkalis impart to the overall design such as 1) water and reservoir conditioning, 2) adsorption/retention reduction, 3) emulsification improvement, 4) wettability alteration, and 5) improved sweep efficiency and mobility control. Data are presented and discussed to show how such systems can be designed and what parameters to consider in maximizing chemical survivability, transport, and effectiveness. Effects such as consumption, ion exchange, precipitation, and propagation are discussed for a buffered mixed alkali that is tailored to a specific reservoir environment. This approach ...
This paper examines the effects of alkaline additives on dilute surfactant systems for improved o... more This paper examines the effects of alkaline additives on dilute surfactant systems for improved oil recovery. The study was limited to the determination of the effects of alkaline additives on interfacial tension (IFT), surfactant adsorption or retention in Berea cores, and improvement in oil recovery. The alkaline chemicals studied were sodium silicates, sodium phosphates, sodium carbonate, and sodium hydroxide. In addition, optimal salinities and surfactant average equivalent molecular weight for the recovery of two midcontinent crude oils were determined through a combination of IFT determinations and oil displacement tests. The laboratory results show that the alkaline chemicals have two major effects. First, IFT is reduced further by the high pH surfactant/alkali solution combinations, and second, certain alkaline species significantly reduce surfactant retention. This leads to recoveries of residual oil from 40 to 70% with surfactant solutions containing only 0.25 wt% surfacta...
The invention relates to cement compositions containing a metal silicide such as an alkali metal ... more The invention relates to cement compositions containing a metal silicide such as an alkali metal silicide or an alkaline earth metal silicide. Upon mixing with water, the metal silicide reacts to generate hydrogen gas, a silicate, and heat - each of which is advantageous for the large variety of uses to which cements are put. The invention relates to a foamable cement composition comprising about 99.999 wt% to about 98.5 wt % of a cement, and about 0.001 wt % to about 1.5 wt% of a metal silicide or a mixture of metal silicides. Concretes and grouts containing the cement composition are also disclosed. Other embodiments provide methods for forming cement structures, including in subterranean formations and wells.
A method of hydraulic fracturing is provided which uses metal silicides to generate significant p... more A method of hydraulic fracturing is provided which uses metal silicides to generate significant pressure inside a wellbore. The method comprises injecting a fracturing fluid and an aqueous or reacting fluid into the wellbore to react with the fracturing fluid. The fracturing fluid comprises metal silicide, which may be uncoated or coated, and hydrocarbon fluid. The reacting fluid comprises water or a solvent. A method of removing buildup in pipelines such as subsea pipelines which uses metal silicides to generate heat and pressure inside the pipeline is also provided. The method comprises injecting an organic slug and an aqueous slug. The organic slug comprises metal silicide and hydrocarbon fluid. The aqueous slug comprises water. Alternatively, there is also provided a method for purifying flowback water produced from a hydraulic fracturing process comprising adding metal silicide to the flowback water produced from a hydraulic fracturing process.
Solns. contg. low concns. of surfactant when combined with an alk. substance (e.g., Na2CO3, Na si... more Solns. contg. low concns. of surfactant when combined with an alk. substance (e.g., Na2CO3, Na silicate, NaOH, or Na tripolyphosphate) are very effective in recovering addnl. oil from watered-out petroleum formations. Injection of ≤4 pore vols. of solns. contg. ≤0.8% surfactant and 1.5% of the alk. material continually washes oil from the rock matrix so that oil is recovered at the prodn. well during most of the injection process. When Na silicate is supplied as the alk. component, the surfactant is recovered more completely and in a concerted fashion so that the surfactant can be reused with the addn. of only small quantities of make-up surfactants. The process does not depend on the formation of an oil bank that moves through the formation as a slug. The combination treatment provides decreased surfactant adsorption, reduced crude oil interfacial tension, increased sweep efficiency, and enhanced oil mobilization. These effects promote displacement of the oil and recovery earlier i...
Consumption of alkali in the reservoir (lose of pH value) is a major concern to those engineers d... more Consumption of alkali in the reservoir (lose of pH value) is a major concern to those engineers designing alkaline slugs for enhanced oil recovery. Although there have been several attempts at modeling and quantifying these effects, the complexity of silicate chemistry has been a major stumbling block in adequately and realistically describing the mechanisms. The data and mechanisms presented in this paper indicate that recently proposed consumption models should be modified to incorporate lower limits on SiOâ solubility at higher pH values. When these limits are properly applied past trends in lab data can be explained. The implications to slug design of these changes in the dissolution rate model are discussed.
This paper is the second of a series of papers reporting our examinations of the effects alkaline... more This paper is the second of a series of papers reporting our examinations of the effects alkaline additives have on dilute surfactant systems for low-tension waterflooding (LTWF). The first paper outlined the effects on interfacial tension (IFT), hardness removal, and surfactant retention by the core material. and how these parameters then affect overall recovery of oil from watered-out cores containing, high-hardness brines. This study examines the effects of those chemicals on permeability, sweep efficiency. and sweep symmetry through multipermeable noncommunicating zones. Correlations and possible mechanisms are offered that relate these findings to the earlier work on surfactant retention and hardness removal. The results of these studies indicate that each alkali behaves differently, but all are capable of enhancing the action of the dilute surfactant treatment. Sweep efficiency in three-dimensional (3D) patterns and sweep symmetry through multipermeable noncommunicating zones ...
Russian Navy Yard No. 10 (Shkval), near the city of Murmansk, has been designated as the recipien... more Russian Navy Yard No. 10 (Shkval), near the city of Murmansk, has been designated as the recipient for Solid Radioactive Waste (SRW) pretreatment and storage facilities under the Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) Program. This shipyard serves the Northern Fleet by servicing, repairing, and dismantling naval vessels. Specifically, seven nuclear submarines of the first and second generation and Victor class are laid up at this shipyard, awaiting defueling and dismantlement. One first generation nuclear submarine has already been dismantled there, but recently progress on dismantlement has slowed because all the available storage space is full. SRW has been placed in metal storage containers, which have been moved outside of the actual storage site, which increases the environmental risks. AMEC is a cooperative effort between the Russian Federation, Kingdom of Norway and the United States. AMEC Projects 1.3 and 1.4 specifically address waste treatment and storage issues....
The volume of solid radioactive waste (SRW) generated from decommissioning Russia’s nuclear subma... more The volume of solid radioactive waste (SRW) generated from decommissioning Russia’s nuclear submarines far exceeds existing SRW management capabilities of the Russian Northern Fleet. Inadequate management of this waste poses a substantial threat for pollution of the fragile Arctic environment. The Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) Project 1.3 has assessed waste treatment options, selected technologies, and is now designing and constructing a comprehensive SRW pretreatment system to meet this problem (1). The chosen approach is to design, construct and deploy a novel Mobile SRW Pretreatment Facility (MPF). A key feature of the concept is the mobility aspect, which allows the system to be readily transported between the various shipyards and intermediate SRW storage sites on Russia’s Kola Peninsula and in Severodvinsk. These sites either currently store or will generate the majority of the SRW in the region. Much of the existing waste storage is in poor condition. Based...
An assessment was performed of Russian needs and capabilities related to decommissioning wastes f... more An assessment was performed of Russian needs and capabilities related to decommissioning wastes from nuclear submarines. Hydraulically operated hand-held metal cutting tools can provide improved productivity and safety during the size and volume reduction of bulky metal scrap. Such tools are commercially available in the US, but not in Russia. Also, they have not been previously deployed in Arctic conditions. A system of metal cutting and spreading tools has been procured, modified and successfully tested at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), and are now being deployed to Russia’s Northern Fleet.
The Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) Program is a cooperative effort between the ... more The Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) Program is a cooperative effort between the Kingdom of Norway, the Russian Federation, and the United States. This paper discusses joint activities over the past year among Norwegian, Russian, and U.S. technical experts on solid radioactive waste (SRW) treatment and storage technologies in the Arctic for the Russian Navy. The use of Western technology and technologies jointly developed between Russia, the U.S. and Norway will facilitate meeting Russia’s needs for stabilizing and storing SRW from decommissioned nuclear submarines. Containers for transportation and storage of SRW are now under construction at a Russian shipyard. All work is directed at applications in northwest Russia where the Russian Navy is decommissioning large numbers of nuclear submarines. The missions of AMEC Projects 1.3 and 1.4 are to improve the Russian Navy’s capabilities in SRW treatment and storage, respectively, and thus minimize the spread of radiolog...
The rear-entry ski boot disclosed herein includes a substantially rigid outer foot portion and a ... more The rear-entry ski boot disclosed herein includes a substantially rigid outer foot portion and a relatively movable leg portion, the foot portion having an inner lining with at least one inflatable air pocket interposed between the foot portion and the inner lining. A pump operable by bending movements of the leg portion is provided for inflating the air pocket.
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