The objective of this study was to examine hospital discharge data on 5 tobacco-related diagnoses before and after implementation of a smoking ban in a small Texas city. We compared hospital discharge rates for 2 years before and 2 years after implementation of the ban in the intervention city with discharge rates during the same time in a similar city with no ban. The discharge rates for blacks and whites combined declined significantly after the ban in the intervention city for acute myocardial infarction (MI) (rate ratio [RR], 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65–0.85) and for stroke or cerebrovascular accident (RR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.62–0.82); discharge rates in the intervention city also declined significantly for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (RR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.54–0.75) and asthma (RR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.52–0.91) for whites only. Discharge rates for 4 of 5 diagnoses in the control city did not change. Although postban reduction in acute MI is well documented, this is one of the first studies to show a racial disparity in health benefits and a decline in tobacco-related diagnoses other than acute MI after implementation of a city-wide smoking ban.

Technology transfer from other industries can offer major benefits to the offshore oil and gas industry but requires encouragement. The technology developers are often unaware of potential applications offshore, and oil and gas operators and contractors need to be convinced of the benefits. ITF's Pioneer Programme is a good mechanism for stimulating technology transfer as it offers feasibility study funding for higher risk but exciting technologies. Four examples of Pioneer projects are presented that describe technology transfer from the water, food, automobile and medical industries. Introduction Technology Transfer into the Offshore Industry The importance of new technology for helping to overcome the obstacles to future development of the offshore oil and gas industry is well recognised1. In the north sea these obstacles include the relatively small size of the remaining fields which are often distant from existing infrastructure, and the fact that many of the undeveloped reserves are difficult fluids such as heavy oils or rich in hydrogen sulphide or are produced at high pressure / high temperature conditions. A major challenge elsewhere in the world is that many of the big fields lie below deep water. Synergies exist between this industry and others which makes it sensible to consider transferring technology well proven elsewhere. Potential examples include pipeline and water treatment technologies from the water industry, solids handling techniques from the mining and dredging industries and methods to allow automation of operations to improve efficiency from the defence and nuclear industries. There are already many good examples of effective technology transfer into the offshore industry. For instance:Twister™ technology for gas dehydration uses advanced aerodynamics to expand the gas to supersonic velocities2.3D full tensor gradient technology for exploration is developed from a navigational tool for nuclear submarines3.There would be many more examples if it were not for the difficult hurdles faced in the technology transfer process. Appropriate applications for the technology have to be found and significant development is normally required to make it suitable for the harsh process and environmental conditions offshore. Often the technology developers are not familiar with the offshore industry whilst oil and gas operators and contractors, the potential users of the technology, require convincing that the benefits justify the risks involved. In summary a lot of encouragement is required for effective technology transfer. ITF The Industry Technology Facilitator (ITF) is a not-for-profit organisation owned and supported by its 16 oil and gas operating and service company members. It is the vehicle through which these companies jointly fund development projects to meet the technology needs of the UK oil and gas industry. Active since spring 2000, it has launched 55 joint industry projects (JIPs) to date at a total funding value of £15million.

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This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1999 SPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing Roundtable held in Houston, Texas, 25–26 May 1999.

TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractThis paper will present the results from a joint industry project (JIP) the object of which was to provide an effective solution to slimming down the wellbore geometry whilst overcoming the associated drawbacks of slim annuli, such as surge and swab pressures during casing installation and circulation pressures while cementing.