Optimized Cement Slurry Design for Controlling Water Influx in a Gulf of Suez Egypt Salt Dome

The Belayim Marine field, in the Gulf of Suez Egypt, presents many challenges to drilling operators. The most challenging section of the well is the 900-m, 16-in openhole containing a 13 5/8-in casing interval. The main risks in this section are the highly reactive salt layers in combination with high potential saltwater flow zones.

This interval is frequently drilled with a heavy 2.0-sg OBM to avoid saltwater influx during the drilling operations. Due to the mobility of the salt and unstable shale formations, the casing is run without centralizers to minimize the risks of not getting the casing to the desired section depth. Initially the interval was cemented using a 2.16-sg cement system with extended thickening time, both having the same 2.16-sg density. An external casing packer is used as an additional barrier in the event the cement placement does not achieve zonal isolation across the casing due to poor standoff.

After saltwater flow was observed at surface following the installation of the BOP, a detailed review of the casing and cementing design was performed to obtain a more robust procedure to avoid similar events in the future. Cement placement, operation design, and slurry properties were reviewed and optimized. The optimization was performed using details obtained from proprietary simulators as well as by optimizing the slurry properties in the laboratory. The cement operation design called for a single slurry scheme with very critical parameters, ensuring the cement will remain in the liquid phase to maintain applied pressure on the flow zone formations until the BOP is secured. The slurry design itself was revised and optimized in the laboratory providing right angle set along with good transition time to avoid any saltwater influx from formation fluids.

The optimized cement design and slurry properties have met all challenges. Furthermore, the new cement design in conjunction with the external casing packer succeeded in stopping the water flow influx and no similar events have occurred since the new cement operations design began being used in the field.

Beneficial Root Endophytic Fungi Increase Growth and Quality Parameters of Sweet Basil in Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil

How interactions between plants, the rhizosphere, and contaminated soil affect environmental sustainability is still under research. We tested the effects of two root endophytic fungi, the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus (AMF) Rhizophagus irregularis and the beneficial endophyte Serendipita indica, on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) growing on soil contaminated with lead and copper in a pot experiment under defined greenhouse conditions. Both fungi caused an increase in shoot and root dry weight of sweet basil plants under all conditions and decreased the amount of lead in shoots. The amount of copper was reduced by S. indica, while the AM fungus showed this effect only when the soil is contaminated with both copper and lead. Furthermore the AMF, but not the endophyte S. indica caused a strong increase on the concentrations of the essential oils linalool and eucalyptol even on sweet basil growing on contaminated soils. Hence, cultivating sweet basil in combination with beneficial fungi in case of difficult environmental conditions could be of interest for industry located in countries with widespread land pollution, because quantity and quality of plants are increased while the amount of heavy metals is generally reduced.

Prise en charge chirurgicale de l'endométriose

Both laparoscopic techniques (excision and ablation) for the treatment of superficial peritoneal endometriosis are equally effective (EL2). For the treatment of ovarian endometriomas larger than 3 cm, laparoscopic cystectomy is superior to drainage and coagulation (EL1). Excision of deep rectovaginal endometriosis with or without rectal invasion significantly reduces endometriosis-associated pain (EL4). Laparoscopic partial bladder cystectomy is easier for dome endometriosis than vesical base lesions (EL4). Hysterectomy with ovarian conservation is associated with a high risk of pain recurrence (EL4). Despite bilateral oophorectomy, pain recurrence can occur with hormonal treatment (EL2). Rates of major (ureteral, vesical, intestinal or vascular) complications of endometriosis surgery range from 0.1 to 15% of patients. Higher rates are more common with deep endometriosis surgery (EL2). Patients should be aware of these specific major complications. It is advisable to explain that pain improves, either partially or completely, in about 80% of patients.