Search Results (1,384)

Placed at the core of the energy transition, the integrated oil and gas sector is facing growing pressure to balance sustainability requirements with financial performance. While ESG ratings are widely used to evaluate and benchmark corporate sustainability, their connection to broader SDG commitments (and real transition outcomes) remains underexplored, especially in carbon-intensive industries. Against this background, this paper aims to investigate how well the world’s largest integrated oil and gas companies (as classified by LSEG Data and Analytics) align their ESG performance with the SDGs, and to assess (the robustness of) their sustainability trajectories. Using a panel dataset—including ESG (overall, by pillars, and controversies) scores (2019–2023), SDG commitments (2019–2023), and the (recently released) FTSE Russell Green Revenues (2024)—the study applies a quantitative, longitudinal, and explanatory design. It follows a process logic—from inputs (ESG performance) to intentions (SDG commitments) and ultimately to outcomes (Green Revenues)—to identify performance patterns, strategic archetypes, and materiality insights. The study adds to the ongoing debate on how ESG metrics can better capture real SDG/sustainability impacts, while providing insights for strategists, investors, and policymakers seeking to align financial and sustainability agendas during the energy transition. Full article

Bottom-water coning is a core challenge in the development of high-temperature, high-pressure, high-permeability, and fractured bottom water reservoirs. Taking the Carboniferous reservoir in Xinjiang as the research object, this work uses numerical simulation to optimize key parameters of artificial barriers, water drainage, and nitrogen injection technologies. The results show that an artificial barrier with a 30-m radius and intervention at 60% water cut placed at the reservoir top reduces water coning height by over 40%; water drainage starting after the third production year delays water cut rise by more than 2000 days; and nitrogen injection in the eighth production year at 65 MPa cuts water coning height by 30% to 40%. This work proposes a full-life-cycle phased synergy strategy, integrating early artificial barrier water blocking, mid-term intelligent water drainage pressure reduction, and late nitrogen injection oil stabilization. This work provides a direct and feasible technical paradigm for the efficient development of similar high-temperature, high-pressure, and fractured bottom water reservoirs worldwide. Full article

Understanding the forces that shape farmland rental prices in major agricultural regions such as the U.S. Corn Belt is essential for evaluating the economic and environmental resilience of agricultural regions. This study develops an integrated framework that combines spatial modelling with uncertainty-aware spatial analysis to examine how macroeconomic conditions influence rental dynamics across the core Corn Belt. Using geographically weighted regression, the analysis captures spatial variation in the sensitivity of rental prices to oil prices, interest rates, and economic activity, revealing substantial geographic heterogeneity in macroeconomic exposure. The results reveal pronounced spatial heterogeneity in rental price responses, with geographically weighted models consistently outperforming global linear specifications. Despite strong spatial variation in rental sensitivities, neither prediction uncertainty nor maize yield volatility displays a clear regional pattern, indicating that production stability and model reliability are highly localised. By linking spatially varying rent sensitivities with indicators of economic pressure and production instability, this study provides new insights into agricultural sustainability risk. The findings highlight the importance of place-based policy and region-specific risk management under increasing macroeconomic volatility. Full article

As a critical parameter for describing oil–water two-phase flow behavior, relative permeability curves are widely applied in field development, dynamic forecasting, and reservoir numerical simulation. This study addresses the issue of relative permeability anisotropy, focusing on the seepage characteristics of two typical bedding structures in sandstone reservoirs—tabular cross-bedding and parallel bedding—through multi-directional displacement experiments. A novel anisotropic relative permeability testing apparatus was employed to conduct displacement experiments on cubic core samples, comparing the performance of the explicit Johnson–Bossler–Naumann (JBN) method, based on Buckley–Leverett theory, with the implicit Automatic History Matching (AHM) method, which demonstrated superior accuracy. The results indicate that displacement direction significantly influences seepage efficiency. For cross-bedded cores, displacement perpendicular to bedding (Z-direction) achieved the highest displacement efficiency (75.09%) and the lowest residual oil saturation (22%), primarily due to uniform fluid distribution and efficient pore utilization. In contrast, horizontal displacement exhibited lower efficiency and higher residual oil saturation due to preferential flow path effects. In parallel-bedded cores, vertical displacement improved efficiency by 18.06%, approaching ideal piston-like displacement. Microscale analysis using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Computed Tomography (CT) scanning further revealed that vertical displacement effectively reduces capillary resistance and promotes uniform fluid distribution, thereby minimizing residual oil formation. This study underscores the strong interplay between displacement direction and bedding structure, validating AHM’s advantages in characterizing anisotropic reservoirs. By integrating experimental innovation with advanced computational techniques, this work provides critical theoretical insights and practical guidance for optimizing reservoir development strategies and enhancing the accuracy of numerical simulations in complex sandstone reservoirs. Full article

Oil seals, as core industrial components, often exhibit defects with sparse features and low contrast, posing significant challenges for traditional vision-based inspection methods. Although deep learning facilitates automatic feature extraction for defect detection, many instance segmentation models are computationally expensive, hindering their deployment in real-time edge applications. In this paper, we present an efficient oil seal defect detection model based on an enhanced YOLOv11n architecture (YOLOv11n_CDK). The proposed approach introduces several dynamic convolution variants and integrates the Kolmogorov–Arnold Network (KAN) into the backbone. A newly designed parallel module, the nested asynchronous pooling convolutional module (NAPConv), is also incorporated to form a lightweight yet powerful feature extraction network. Experimental results demonstrate that, compared to the baseline YOLOv11n, our model reduces computational cost by 4.76% and increases mAP@0.5 by 2.14%. When deployed on a Jetson Nano embedded device, the model achieves an average processing time of 6.3 ms per image, corresponding to a frame rate of 105–110 FPS. These outcomes highlight the model’s strong potential for high-performance, real-time industrial deployment, effectively balancing detection accuracy with low computational complexity. Full article

Palm oil (Elaeis guineensis), one of the most widely used vegetable oils globally, originates from West Africa and has played a significant role in food, health care, and historical trade networks. It holds cultural, historical, ecological and symbolic significance in Bahia, Brazil. Unlike industrial monocultures, Bahia’s dendê economy is rooted in biodiverse landscapes, maintained through artisanal methods and generational knowledge. Yet, this traditional system faces mounting pressures from deforestation, declining artisanal production, and the industrialization of palm oil supply chains. Parallel to these ecological and economic threats is the abandonment of Bahia’s historical processing infrastructure: many traditional mills and industrial heritage sites have been lost, eroding both tangible and intangible cultural landscapes. These shifts have profound implications for the Baianas do Acarajé, the iconic street vendors who embody the matriarchal cultural lineage and rely on high-quality, traditionally produced dendê for their Afro-Brazilian cuisine. The increasing cost and reduced availability of artisanal oil compromise not only their livelihoods but also the authenticity of comidas de azeite, diminishing a sensory and symbolic culinary tradition. This study adopts a rigorous interdisciplinary methodology, synthesizing ethnography, heritage science, and engineering principles to explore how these artisanal practices can help us solve modern industrial sustainability problems. This article argues that Bahia’s palm oil heritage embodies a multifaceted heritage, spanning religious, economic, ecological, and cultural dimensions, that remains under-recognized and vulnerable. Drawing from UNESCO’s framework of intangible cultural heritage, the study not only details how these practices are transmitted across generations through the matriarchal culinary lineage, but ultimately advances three core contributions, analyzing artisanal performance, proposing a transferable sustainability framework, and outlining actionable pathways, to demonstrate that local communities are co-designers of solutions whose heritage offers a proven blueprint to address contemporary industrial sustainability challenges, calling for informed recognition and support to safeguard this essential component of Brazil’s Afro-descendant cultural identity. Full article

Lignocellulosic residues are increasingly explored as alternatives to wood in particleboard production, fostering sustainability within the circular economy. Beyond these, non-lignocellulosic wastes such as plastics are gaining attention for enhancing panel durability and performance. This study evaluates waste high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as a partial substitute for adhesive resin in sugarcane bagasse-based medium-density particleboards. The objective was to valorize agricultural and plastic residues while reducing reliance on petroleum-based resins and associated environmental impacts. Panels (750 kg/m³) were produced with two face layers of sugarcane bagasse and a core layer combining bagasse and HDPE, bonded with castor oil-based polyurethane resin at 8% and 12% contents. Physical and mechanical performance was assessed against national and international standards, complemented by natural and accelerated weathering tests. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to benchmark hybrid panels against conventional particleboards. Results showed that incorporating HDPE allows for resin reduction without compromising performance, meeting standard requirements for several applications. The LCA indicated lower environmental burdens in 8 of 10 impact categories for hybrid panels relative to conventional ones, underscoring their potential to reduce fossil resource use and emissions. The findings demonstrate that integrating waste plastics into particleboard production not only improves resource efficiency but also delivers tangible environmental benefits. This approach offers a scalable pathway for advancing sustainable materials, closing waste loops, and supporting circular economy practices in the wood-based panel industry. Full article

The continuous pursuit of power density, efficiency, and miniaturization poses significant challenges to the heat dissipation and temperature-rise control of permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) for new energy vehicles. This paper proposes a novel S-shaped axial return passage in the motor casing and a combined oil-cooling scheme integrating S-shaped and end-spraying passages. The geometric structure and parameters of the S-shaped passage and end-spraying passage were designed and optimized, and a finite-element temperature-field model of a PMSM equipped with the combined oil-cooling system is established. The results show that, compared with a traditional right-angle axial returning passage, the pressure loss of the new S-shaped returning passage is reduced by 50%, while the wall heat transfer coefficient remains comparable. At a cooling oil flow rate of 12 L/min, the highest temperature of the end winding is 92.6 °C, only 1.5 °C higher than that of the stator core under rated operating conditions. An experimental prototype was fabricated, and the measured results indicate that the simulated end-winding temperature shows close agreement with the experimental values, with a maximum deviation of only 3.8 °C. The proposed combined oil-cooling scheme efficiently enhances the cooling of both the stator core and end winding and significantly improves the temperature uniformity of the PMSM. Full article

In shale oil accumulation, the sealing capacity of roof strata is a key factor controlling hydrocarbon retention, primarily governed by pore–throat structures. This study examines the Chang 7₃ sub-member roof in the Ordos Basin using core and drilling samples, combined with SEM, mercury intrusion porosimetry, nitrogen adsorption, and breakthrough pressure tests. The roof rocks are dense and mainly composed of mudstone, silty mudstone, and argillaceous siltstone, which can be further classified into clay-rich and felsic-rich types. The pore system includes organic matter pores, dissolution pores, intergranular pores, clay interlayer pores, intercrystalline pores, and microfractures. Pores are dominated by mesopores (4–10 nm), with few macropores, and display slit-like, plate-, and wedge-shaped morphologies. Breakthrough pressure averages above 20 MPa, reflecting strong sealing capacity. Although dissolution of felsic minerals generates secondary porosity that may weaken sealing, the overall complex pore–throat system, reinforced by compaction and cementation of clay minerals, forms a dense fabric and favorable sealing conditions. These features restrict hydrocarbon migration and enhance the sealing performance of the Chang 7₃ shale oil roof. Full article

Bioinsecticides offer eco-friendly alternatives to chemical insecticides and thereby meet the need for sustainable pest control. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) represent one of the core classes of microbial insecticides, distinguished by their advantageous contact-based mode of action. Several products have been successfully commercialized, and with continuing improvements to the technology, the market size for EPF continues to grow. The translation of EPF into reliable field performers relies upon formulation technologies that ensure product quality, stability, virulence, and cost-effectiveness. Current formulations comprise diverse solid and liquid states (e.g., wettable powders, oil dispersions) that deliver a range of propagules (conidia, blastospores, microsclerotia). While advanced approaches like nanoparticle encapsulation show promise, some limitations hinder their widespread use. Major constraints include maintaining fungal viability during storage/transport and protecting propagules from harsh environmental factors post-application. Regulatory requirements also present significant barriers to widespread uptake. Addressing these formulation challenges through continued research is essential for advancing mycoinsecticide technology and increasing their contribution to integrated pest management. This review aims to present the latest scientific advances in EPF formulation technologies and application strategies, alongside an overview of current regulatory frameworks and an up-to-date analysis of registered microbial biopesticide products in some of the world’s largest markets. Full article

Polymers are effective agents for EOR due to their water solubility, which improves water viscosity, sweep volume, and displacement efficiency. To elucidate their mechanisms in EOR and optimize polymer–water synergistic flooding parameters, this study combined core and core network experimental research with numerical simulations. Experimental flooding results demonstrated that polymer–water synergistic flooding reduces residual oil saturation by 13.79% compared to water flooding. Key parameters such as well pattern, well spacing, bottom-hole pressure, polymer viscosity, and injection slug size were optimized through numerical simulation of a conceptual model based on actual oilfield data. A bottom-hole flowing pressure of 10.6 MPa, well pattern density of 84 wells/km², staggered line drive pattern, and polymer viscosity of 21 cp are recommended for EOR. Numerical simulation data showed that polymer–water synergistic flooding enhances displacement efficiency by 5–11% over conventional water flooding. The findings from the experimental research and numerical simulations indicate that the total recovery factor may be increased by implementing the recommended parameters in an actual oilfield. Full article

A robust and pragmatical technique was developed to classify flow pathways during long-term waterflooding operations in a hydrocarbon reservoir. More specifically, pore structure analysis, wettability tests, relative permeability tests, and long-term waterflooding experiments were conducted and integrated. Then, effects of pore-throat structures, displacement rates, crude oil viscosities, and wettability on the oil displacement efficiency across different flow pathways were systematically investigated, allowing us to classify flow pathways into the primary and secondary ones. For the former, pore-throat structure significantly affects the efficiency of displacement: for mouth-bar microfacies, cores with larger pore-throat radii and lower fractal dimensions exhibit superior displacement performance, whereas, for point-bar microfacies, it exhibits greater sensitivity to variations in injection parameters. Increasing the injection rate from 0.2 mL/min to 0.5 mL/min can lead to a 7.31% improvement in oil recovery. Also, high-viscosity crude oil leads to an overall decline in displacement efficiency, with a more pronounced reduction observed in the point-bar microfacies, suggesting that complex pore-throat structures are more sensitive to viscous resistance. For the latter, wettability shows its dominant impact with an increase in oil recovery to 7.12% if the wettability index is increased from 0.17 to 0.21 in the point-bar microfacies. Full article

To optimize enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques for pre-fractured heavy oil reservoirs, this research conducted long-core flooding experiments using three distinct injection media: CO₂, water, and CO₂/water alternate huff-n-puff. A 35 cm composite core was employed to simulate the reservoir conditions after pre-fracturing. Experimental results indicated that the CO₂ huff-n-puff process yielded the highest oil production, enhancing the overall recovery factor by 33.0% compared to depletion production, with a total recovery factor of 43.8% after four optimized cycles. The CO₂/water alternate huff-n-puff process increased the recovery factor by 28.3%, achieving a total of 41.9% after four cycles. In contrast, water injection improved the recovery factor by only 15.2%, reaching a total of 26.2% after three cycles. By evaluating both oil recovery efficiency and oil exchange ratio, the optimal cycle numbers were determined as four cycles for CO₂ huff-n-puff, four cycles for CO₂/water alternate huff-n-puff, and three cycles for water huff-n-puff. Based on these optimized parameters, the CO₂/water alternate huff-n-puff process was identified as the most effective EOR method for the target reservoir. Furthermore, this study assessed the potential for CO₂ storage in the reservoir post-production. Calculations of CO₂ storage ratios during the huff-n-puff process demonstrated the feasibility of integrating enhanced oil recovery with carbon sequestration. The findings provide a practical strategy for improving heavy oil recovery in low-permeability reservoirs while concurrently exploring the benefits of CO₂ storage. Full article

In recent years, the production of tight reservoirs with waterflooding in China has entered a progressively declining phase with unstable oil rate and higher water cut, rising challenges to any further enhancement of oil recovery. Targeting the high water cut and complex pore structure characteristics typical of these reservoirs, this work evaluates the reservoir compatibility of a microspheres-alternating-nanoemulsion flooding process and optimizes its injection strategy. Representative reservoir scenarios were first established; laser-particle-size analyzers and other laboratory instruments were then employed to quantify formulation-reservoir compatibility. A multiscale numerical study has been performed with CMG-STARS v.2022. The core-scale simulations systematically examined the influence of key factors on displacement efficiency improvement and water cut reduction, matched with the experimental results of core flooding tests. The combined experimental/numerical workflow furnishes a theoretical framework for optimizing the injection scheme. Beyond assessing formulation compatibility, the study delivers optimized injection parameters and strategies for microspheres-alternating-nanoemulsion flooding, providing both theoretical analysis and practical technology reference for improving oil recovery in tight reservoirs with higher water cut. Specifically, when the microsphere concentration increased from 0.1% to 0.3%, the minimum water cut was reduced by approximately 5%, while further concentration increases showed no significant additional impact on water content. Compared with water flooding, the relative permeability curve of the microspheres-alternating-nanoemulsion flooding system shifted entirely to the right. Numerical simulation of representative well groups revealed that a slug design with a microsphere-to-nanoemulsion ratio of 1:3 yielded the optimal enhanced oil recovery effect, and after ten years of production, the recovery factor increased by 0.46%. Full article

This study focused on the preparation of microcapsules that simulate adipose tissue cells via complex coacervation, followed by the formation of block-like fat analogue products through gelation. The results indicated that microcapsules obtained by encapsulating coconut oil with soy protein isolate (SPI) and sodium alginate (SA) through a complex coacervation process could serve as effective fat substitutes in meat products. When the mass ratio of SPI to SA was 3:1, the core-to-wall mass ratio was 1:1, and the total wall material concentration was 3% (w/v), the oil loading rate of the microcapsules reached 39.17%. The particle size of the oil-loaded microcapsules was mainly distributed between 40–180 μm, which was comparable to the size of fat cells in animal adipose tissue. Microcapsules (50%, w/w) were mixed with a 5% (w/v) curdlan dispersion and heated at 95 °C for 60 min to form fat analogues. The fat analogues demonstrated significantly reduced cooking loss, enhanced textural rigidity, and superior chew resistance, achieving performance metrics comparable to those of natural adipose tissue. This dual-phase strategy—combining interfacial engineering of lipid microcapsules with polysaccharide-mediated gelation—provides a promising approach for developing sustainable, plant-based fat alternatives in meat product reformulation. The methodology not only addresses texture and flavour challenges in fat replacement but also enables precise control over lipid content, supporting applications in healthier food systems. Full article