DEDICATION

I dedicate this work to the God Almighty, who against all odds, provided a

place for my attachment and kept me safe and healthy throughout the

period of my attachment.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I want to acknowledge God for His provision and protection, the

Geochemistry work team; for their support and sacrifices in order to make

my stay a success. I want to specially acknowledge the efforts of my

parents; Barr. & Mrs. Onyeama Obike, for their support and

encouragement. Engr. Kevin Onuchukwu, for his support and

encouragement deserves my invaluable gratitude, Dr. chidi Eneogwe Mr.

Martin Iyasele, Mr. ufot Edet and Mr. Okolosi Samson for making my

industrial training fruitful, to them I say thank you. I will like also to

acknowledge my co-attaches at MPN QIT especially Obi Vitus, Aniefiok

Peters, Okoye Chima and Emmanuel Onyeahara who directed me on how

to go about this work. Finally, I want to appreciate my siblings and all my

friends who in one way or the other contributed to my success in this

Industrial Training to you I say thank you.

INTRODUCTION

The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a skill

acquisition program being coordinated by Industrial Training Fund (ITF),

with the primary aim of exposing students to actual life practices of the

theoretical education, laboratory and workshop practices learnt in tertiary

institutions.

The Twenty-Five (25) weeks of my attachment with EXXONMOBIL

PRODUCING NIGERIA UNLTD, Qua Iboe Terminal has shown me among

other things; Safety measures as integral part of any job (task) to be carried

out, the importance and how to store core samples for future reference and

have also introduced me to various laboratory practices and analysis

amongst others.

CHAPTER 1

SAFETY

1.0 SAFETY ORIENTATION:

In the oil and gas sector the number one priority is SAFETY and so Safety

measures constitute an integral part of any job or task to be carried out. A job is

well done only when it is done safely. Safety is always a priority in any standard

operational establishment. Because of the premium placed on safety, every new

employee of the company undergoes safety training. This is to acquaint the

personnel with the potential hazards associated with his work environment and

how best to mitigate them. During safety orientation, the personnel are

introduced to the ‘operation integrity management system’; a system that gives

guidelines on how best a job could be done to achieve the vision of “NOBODY

GETS HURT”. This orientation is carried out before the personnel are given job

offer letter.

1.1 JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS (JSA):

Job safety analysis is one of the safety tools which states the steps to be take in

carrying out a task, the possible hazards associated with the task and how best

to mitigate them.

Below is a JSA carried out by me during one of our day’s job with me as the Task

Leader.

The Job description for the day was: ARRANGING OF SAMPLE BOXES ACCORDING TO WELLS

Equipment’s used to carry out the day’s task were: FORKLIFT, HARD HAT, SAFTETY SHOES, DUST MASK,

FLAME RESISTANT CLOTHING, SAFETY GLASSES AND LEATHER HAND GLOVES

FIG.1

FIG.2

FIG.3

1.2 SAFETY CHECKS:

This is the very first thing that is done every morning after the opening of the

laboratory. Safety checks involve observing the condition of the laboratory and

laboratory equipment at the time of first entrance. Amongst other things to be

checked are:

(a) The safety shower and eye wash

(b) The pressure and flow rate of compressed gasses

(c) Opening of the exit door.

These checks are carried out in order to ensure safe working condition before the

commencement of the day’s activities.

1.3 TOOL BOX MEETING:

This is done when every member of the work team has arrived. In this meeting,

safety is discussed as it relates to our day to day life (both at work and

elsewhere).

The condition of the work environment is reported, the report of the previous day

is given and the activities for the day mapped out.

1.4 HOUSE KEEPING:

This simply means “keeping every tool or equipment used during work in their

right position after work”. A job is completed only when all things displaced

before or during the task is returned to its original position. Housekeeping is

carried out to prevent common laboratory accidents.

1.5 SAFETY PRESENTATION:

This is done periodically in order to draw the workers attention to safety issues

around the work environment and/or the society at large. Topics such as “Food

Safety”, “Lead Poisoning”, and “Malaria” could be discussed.

1.6 LOSS PREVENTION OBSERVATION (LPO):

This is a check on workers carrying out a task to ensure that standard procedure

is followed in order to avoid incident. If any unsafe act or condition is seen during

the observation, the worker’s attention is drawn to it.

1.7 LABORATORY SAFETY:

The exposure to danger cannot be completely eliminated while working in the

laboratory. For incident prevention, a scientist in the laboratory should never be

careless nor negligent but must always be attentive to duty.

The personal protective equipment (PPE) are the first line of defense while

working in the laboratory. The PPE may vary depending on the analysis to be

done. The basic laboratory personal protective equipment’s are;

(1) Laboratory coat, safety glasses and hand gloves

(2) Safety glasses

(3) Hand gloves

(4) Safety shoes

The safety shower, eye wash and functional first aid box are put in place in case

of incident. The way to these emergency kits must be free from obstruction.

1.8 SHUT DOWN CHECKS:

This is carried out at the end of the day’s work. Various things that might

undermine the safety of the laboratory are checked, they include:

1. Emergency door: The emergency exit door is shut and locked

2. Electrical sockets and electrical equipment: make sure all electrical appliances

in the laboratory are switched off and electrical cords disconnected from power

source, except equipment’s like the gas chromatograph (GC) which can run

overnight.

3. The water taps: All water taps in the laboratory are closed before final exit from

the laboratory.

4. Windows and door: All laboratory windows and doors are closed before

departure from the laboratory.

The last personnel to leave the laboratory should always confirm that the doors

are properly locked.

CHAPTER TWO

SORTING, ARRANGEMENT, INVENTORY AND

TRANSFER OF CORE SAMPLES

2.0 INTRODUCTION:

During the course of my six (6) months attachment the major task carried

out was the sorting, arrangement, inventory and transfer of core samples

from the new geological warehouse to the newly constructed warehouse

and placing it on the assigned location on the rack.

2.1 SORTING:

When the samples come in they come, they are scattered and mixed up

which comprised of the two-third (2/3), One-third (1/3) cores Ditchcuting

samples Core plugs etc. they are now sorted and separated based on the

type of sample.

Core samples are different types which include:

Two-third (2/3) cores

One-third (1/3) cores

Ditchcuting samples

Core plugs

Core chips

Side wall cores

Sorting is done in different categories which include:

Sorting of samples or cores according to their field

Sorting of samples according to their well name

Sorting according to their depths

Sorting according to their type of drill

Samples from the same oil field, same well are also further sorted

according to the type of drill, which are:

Pilot holes

Horizontal drilling

Side track……for definitions, pictures and videos go to page

2.2 ARRANGEMENT:

The samples are arranged according to deep waters and joint venture.

Deep waters: they are the samples gotten from the wells ExxonMobil have

in the high sea e.g. the Ehra.

Joint ventures: are the wells ExxonMobil have in collaboration with NNPC

e.g. Iyak

2.3 INVENTORY

The samples are now recorded according to their arrangements, first in

hard copy before been transferred to the excel spread sheet e.g.:

FIG.4

SAMPLE OF AN INVENTORY

2.4 TRANSFER OF CORE SAMPLES:

Samples are now transferred with the aid of a forklift to the racks

arccording to their location.

WELLNAME TOP DEPTH BOTTOM DEPTH LOCATION REMARK

BOSI-5 (P/H) 4215m 4216m GR27D1 -

BOSI-5 (P/H) 4216m 4217m GR27D1 -

FIG.5

CHAPTER THREE

THE LABORATORY AND LABORATORY OPERATIONS

3.0 INTRODUCTION:

A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific

research, experiments and measurements may be performed. The name of a

laboratory and the equipment found in it depends on the type of analysis the

laboratory is used for.

3.1 LABORATORY SETTING:

The laboratory is organized in a way that the safety of the scientist is guaranteed.

The laboratory is always adequately ventilated and its temperature fully

controlled. Safety equipment’s like the eye wash, safety shower, functional fire

extinguisher are put in place of easy accessibility in case of an emergency. The

safety hood/ fume cupboard is always in the laboratory in order to evacuate

fumes and harmful gasses that could be generated during analysis. A

dehumidifier is also recommended, to ensure that the laboratory is free from

humid air. The laboratory has an area marked out for carrying out experiments,

which is the work bench. It has also a storage room and temperature controlled

storage equipment such as refrigerator. In general, a laboratory is set in such a

way that it allows free movement of the worker and easy accessibility of

equipment’s needed.

During the course of my industrial training I was opportune to learn from two

different laboratories, the QIT Laboratory and the Geochemistry Laboratory.

3.2 LABORATORY GUIDELINES:

These are the common behavioral pattern expected of every laboratory

personnel. The personnel should always conduct his or her self in a responsible

manner at all times in the laboratory.

1. Always follow written and verbal instructions carefully and ask questions if part

of a procedure or directive is not understood.

2. It is better not to work alone in the laboratory

3. It is safer to perform only authorized experiments

4. Do not eat food, drink beverages or chew gum in the laboratory. Do not use

laboratory glass wares as containers for food beverages.

5. Avoid horseplay in the laboratory.

6. Always work in a well-ventilated area.

7. Observe good housekeeping practice, Work area should be kept clean and

tidy at all times.

8. Do not neglect any unsafe condition observed

9. Dispose all chemical waste properly

10. Labels, material safety data sheet (MSDS) and equipment instructions must

be read carefully before use

11. Hands should be kept away from face, eyes, mouth, and body while using

chemicals or laboratory equipment’s.

12. Wash hands with soap and water after performing experiment.

13. Personally monitor all experiment at all times

14. Know the locations and operating procedure of all safety equipment,

including first aid kits and fire extinguisher

15. During a fire drill, containers must be closed and electrical equipments turned

off.

16. Dress properly during a laboratory activity; long hair, dangling jewelry, and

loose or baggy clothing are hazard in the laboratory.

17. Shoes should completely cover the foot. A laboratory coat should be worn

during laboratory experiments.

18. Accidents and injury should be reported immediately.

19. All chemicals in the laboratory are to be considered dangerous. Avoid

handling chemicals with fingers.

20. When making an observation keep at least one foot away from the specimen.

21. Do not taste or smell any chemical.

22. Check the label on all chemical bottles twice before removing any of the

contents.

23. Take as much chemical as you need, never return unused chemical to their

original container.

24. Do not handle broken glass wares with bare hands. Use a brush and dustpan

to clean up broken glass. Place broken glass in the designated glass disposal

container.

25. Examine glass ware before each use, do not use chipped, cracked or dirty

glass ware.

26. Do not immerse hot glass ware in cold water, the glass ware may shatter;

heated glass ware remain very hot for a long time, they should be set aside in

designated place to cool, and picked up with caution. Use tongs or heat

protective gloves if necessary.

3.3 OPERATIONS LABORATORY:

The analysis carried out in the QIT lab. Is more like a routine job because most of

the results are demanded for in an hourly basis of which most are crude oil

samples. Analysis are also carried out on petrol(PMS), jet fuel(ATK),

diesel(AGO),water (to know the amount of chlorine in the water sample), effluent

water analysis, calcium carbonate, bottle testing etc.

3.4 EXPERIMENTS DONE, WHY THEY ARE DONE AND THEIR

PROCEDURES:

3.4.1 SEDIMENT AND WATER (S&W):

This is done to know the amount of water in a crude sample; this is carried out

mostly on crude oil samples in the settling tanks.

PROCEDURE:

1. 50ml of xylene which is a solvent is poured into a conical flask

2. The content is made up to a 100ml by the addition of the crude sample.

3. You add some drops of universal demulsifier to the solution

4. Shake properly for about 5mins in oder to have a homogenous solution.

5. After shaking you heat the solution in a water bath for about 10mins so the

xylene and demulsifier can work properly because without heat the crude oil

cannot break out of its emulsion state.

6. after which you centrifuge for another 10mins, at the end of which the water

sinks down and the dry crude oil floats up and you take your reading.

3.4.2 EFFLUENT WATER ANALYSIS (OIL IN WATER):

This is done to check for the amount of oil in water extracted from the crude oil,

this is done in accordance with the law which forbids oil companies from dumping

water with more than 20ppm of oil into the sea to avoid environmental hazard, so

this water is tested in the lab. before it is dumped into the sea. This analysis is

carried out with the help of a spectrophotometer.

PROCEDURE:

1. Produced water is put into a bottle.

2. 10ml of chloroform is added to the sample to push the oil in the water sample

down after which it is left for 10mins.

3. Pure chloroform is used to zero the spectrophotometer, this is used as a buffer

solution so the machine will check only for the amount of oil in the water and not

the chloroform

4. After you must have zeroed the machine you now introduce your main sample

whereby the spectrophotometer measures the transmittance and absorbance of

oil in water.

3.4.3 CALCIUM CARBONATE (CAC03):

CAC03 is an insoluble salt and it is one of the basic salts that cause scale

formation in the pipeline. The essence of the test is to know if there has been

deposition of cac03 on the pipe line and seems caco3 is soluble in water we

collect water samples from the settling tanks, outfall sump and the skimmer pit

for analysis. The company on its own part try their best to avoid deposition of

cac03 by introducing Biocides (scale inhibitors) which kills the bacteria that

reacts with the cac03 to form scales.

PROCEDURE:

1. Put 10ml of produced water in a conical flask

2. Pour 40ml of distilled water into the conical flask to make it up to 50ml.

3. Add 1ml of 8NKOH

4. Add a sachet of calver 2 which is also known as an indicator and swirl the

mixture.

5. Titrate the solution with 0.02N EDTA (ETHYLENE DIAMINETERA ACETIC

ACID) until you a sharp color change from wine red to blue is observed.

6. To calculate for cac03 at end point you multiply your result by x 5 x 20.

3.4.4 DEAN AND STARK:

This is an experiment carried out on export crude to know the amount of water in

the crude oil because most buyers will not want to buy a crude oil that has

more than 0.5s/w in it, so a sample of the export crude is tested before it is been

sold to the buyers.

PROCEDURES:

1. 200ml of crude sample is added to the conical flask

2. 400ml of xylene is also poured into the flask

3. Another 400ml of xylene is heated to know the amount of water in the xylene

because xylene also contains water. At the end of the analysis the amount of

water in the xylene is subtracted from the total amount of water realized.

3. After the mixture you heat the crude for about 2hrs.

Due to the fact that water has a lesser boiling point than xylene it vaporizes and

condenses into the water trap followed by the xylene at a boiling point of 132deg,

after which you take your reading.

3.4.5 DISTILITION OF JET FUEL:

This analysis is carried to check how pure a jet fuel is, this is done with a

distillation machine which has a boiler and condenser in it.

PROCEDURE:

1. 125ml of the jet fuel sample is poured into a round bottom flask with a

thermometer inserted into the flask with the help of a cork.

2. Put on the machine/heat the jet fuel

3. As the heating continues you will notice the gradual rise in temperature after

which you look out for the temperature at which the first drop of fuel enters the

Cylinder at the condensation outlet. (This is known as the initial boiling point of

the jet fuel.

4. You take subsequent note for 10, 20, 50 and 90mins until the temperature

remain constant. (This is known as the final boiling point)

An increase or decrease in the initial or final boiling point implies that the jet fuel

is not pure.

3.4.7 METHANOL ANALYSIS:

INTRODUCTION:

This standard operating procedure describes the procedure followed for the gas

chromatographic analysis of methanol in crude oil after extraction with water.

LABORATORY SAFETY:

Appropriate PPEs must be worn before proceeding.

INSTRUMENT AND SUPPLIES:

Instruments and supplies required are listed below:

1 Agilent GC with cool-on-colum inlet and FID

2 Agilent chemstation software

3 Hydrogen generator

4 Air generator

5 Ultra high purity Helium

6 Colum

7 Vials (auto ampler) with crimp caps

8 Crimper

9 Disposable pipettes

10 Distilled or deionized water, methanol free

11 Methanol calibration standards 5ppm, 10ppm, 20ppm, 50ppm, 100ppm

and 200ppm

12 Methanol validation standards 10.1ppm and 100ppm

SAMPLE PREPARATION/ANALYSIS:

Step one. 10mil of distilled water is added to 2grams of crude oil

Step two. Shake Mixture of distilled water and crude with the help of a vortex.

Step three. Samples are now transferred to a centrifuge and allowed to stay for

5mins.

Step four. At this stage crude oil is separated from the distilled water so you

now extract the crude oil from the water and extract 2ml of the settled water into

a 2ml vial.

Step five. A sequence table is created on the system using an Agilent

software.

Step six. The samples are now sent to the GC for analysis

Step seven. Result is printed and sent.

CHAPTER 3

OBSERVATION, RECOMEMDATION AND

CONCLUSION

4.0 OBSERVATION:

During the period of my six months Industrial Work experience, I observed some

difficulties and challenges facing the program (SIWES). Below are my observations

Difficulty in securing a place for attachment: It is one of the greatest challenges

facing Industrial training, as students find it difficult to locate companies and firms that

actually do what they are being taught in school and are willing to accept students.

Some students spend half of the time meant for the attachment looking out for places

and at the end may spend less than the supposed number of weeks in the place of

attachment, which may lead to limited learning.

Companies see it as cheap source of labour: some firms take advantage of this

training period, as a cheap source of labour. These firms assign to the students the same

job as the employees and at the end of the month give them nothing or close to nothing

as wage (allowance).

Transportation and accommodation problem: most of the companies do not

provide accommodation, while few provide means transportation for the trainees. This

has been a big problem, together with the fact that some companies do not pay the

students any allowance, so

the students will have to find alternative means of getting money, to sustain them

through the period of attachment.

Hoarding of necessary information by the companies: Some pieces of information

are considered proprietary and are not disclosed to the students. In some firms,

students are not given access to some locations in the company.

Difference in Industrial work experience start off time for various higher

institutions: Because of the difference in difference in academic calendar of institution,

the companies find it difficult to establish a favorable start off time for all students.

Some institution who finish the preceding semester after the companies official start off

time might find it difficult gaining attachment with the company.

Inadequate supervision by the ITF officials: The ITF supervisors that are supposed to

visit the students at their workplace no longer consider it necessary and expect the

students to always come to the area office for signing the industrial training documents.

4.1 RECOMMENDATION:

Having discussed my observation, I think it will be helpful to consider the following

suggestions and recommendation:

A database or log containing the names, locations and other relevant information of

the companies be created and made available to the students; which will aid them in

securing attachment place.

It will be of great help to the students if transport allowance is paid monthly to the

participating students.

The ITF officials should make it a point of duty to supervise the students doing their

attachment in the zone.

Time schedule should be given to the whole higher institutions in Nigeria for an

acceptable start off date or it could be done in batches.

4.2 CONCLUSION:

The students industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) has been very helpful to

students of higher learning in our nation since most of things done in school are

theoretical, but during this period of industrial work experience, the students are

exposed to real life conditions of their discipline. This increases their chances of being

employable after graduation. During this period of attachment, the students are

acquainted with processes and procedures of job application, taking responsibility, and

working with others. My six months industrial work experience has exposed me to

laboratory principles and standard operating procedures and has prepared me for the

future.

DEFINITION, PICTURES AND ONLINE LINKS:

SIDETRACK WELLS:

This is where a well has already been drilled or partly drilled and there is a

need to exit out of one side of the well to a different target. A sidetrack may

be required if there is an object stuck in the original hole, which cannot be

fished out. In producing fields, an existing well may be sidetracked if there

is no further use for that well, e.g., the oil well has watered out. A window

will be cut in the casing of the original well by a special milling assembly,

and drilling will then proceed out of the window toward a new target.

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgxtFctj2Xg

PICTURES:

HORIZONTAL WELLS:

Horizontal wells are wells where the reservoir section is drilled at a high

angle, typically with a trajectory to keep the well within a specific reservoir

interval or hydrocarbon zone.

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufYMgHa0d18