Oil and gas companies across the spectrum are moving toward digitalization. Leveraging technology to access real-time data has allowed companies to streamline activities and gain operational efficiencies while at the same time improving worker safety by reducing the number of personnel required offshore. This evolution optimizes operations by enabling better decision-making by subject matter experts (SMEs) located around the world working as one interconnected team. Functions once performed exclusively by offshore personnel are being carried out today by onshore workers via remote technology. By capitalizing on the ability to communicate offshore via high-speed internet, it is now possible to carry out ROV operations using a team that includes onshore based personnel. A recent project illustrates how ROV activities controlled from an onshore remote operations center in Louisiana were carried out successfully on a production Tension Leg Platform (TLP) in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). The technology used onboard the TLP is not new; operators have been remotely managing a range of functions on offshore assets for years. However, the project does apply this proven approach to ROV piloting operations for the first time commercially in the GoM. Transferring ROV control from the offshore platform to a facility onshore is possible using a communication link that connect real-time data from the offshore asset to the onshore remote operations center (OROC). The two-way communications link provides a redundant system in which controls can be executed either from the offshore platform or from the remote operations center, allowing specialized roles that historically have been executed offshore, including that of the ROV pilot, subsea engineer, and company representative directing the work, to be transferred to a land-based team. The increase in data required from the offshore asset for the GoM project was managed via a dedicated link that provided data transfer at a minimum speed of 3 Mbps upload/download with a fail-safe system that automatically default control to the offshore ROV team in case of any failures in the communication link. Remotely piloting an ROV from shore and coordinating with an offshore crew not only delivered a reduction in HSE exposure but reduced overall personnel costs on the asset by more than 30% for 24 hours of operations. This approach to ROV operations has the potential to reduce costs by reducing the number of workers required offshore even further if additional staff associated exclusively with the project subsea work scope is directed to work remotely from shore.
Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the perceived attractiveness of the face by change in chin position between orthodontic patients and the general public and determine their desire for surgery to correct it. Study Design: Cross Sectional Study Setting: Orthodontic OPD, Period: March 2021- July 2021 Material & Methods: An ideal facial outline was created with a computer software. 150 participants, divided into two groups (pre-treatment orthodontic patients and lay person) were part of the research. Each participant was given a survey and asked to fill it out and rank images on a summative scale Results: Results showed that the aesthetic judgement of both observer groups was the same for most images; The rating was decided by the amount of shift in the chin position, with the scoring being higher when the chin was more forward than when it was backward. Keywords: attractiveness, chin position, esthetics, facial profile, orthodontics
In order for capital-intensive deepwater prospects to remain at investment grade potential, it is important the industry achieve meaningful improvement in capital efficiency. Achieving this goal will require a multi-faceted strategy in which advanced new technology and digital transformation will play a determining role. This paper will address the optimization of rig operations through deployment of an advanced Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) system that leverages precision robotics and automation technologies; reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) through increased rig productivity, operational certainty and overall utilization. Current ROV technology faces several key limitations which contribute to both schedule and cost variation. These inefficiencies are a combination of human skill variance, ROV system limitations and reliability. Advanced ROV systems have been deployed on two deepwater rigs to demonstrate that machine vision and precision robotics technologies will radically improve the predictability and efficiency of operations. Comprehensive metrics addressing safety, budget impact, cost avoidance & reduction, inventory reduction & non price TCO have been developed to capture the efficiencies and identify the net improvement to drilling and completion operations and yield outcome-based performance. An overview of the key deficiencies and limitations of legacy ROV operations will be conveyed, focusing on; i) High dependency on ROV pilot subsea task skills, ii) Worksite efficiency and ROV availability, iii) Restricted tooling capabilities per dive, iv) Rental tooling logistics and cost, v) Equipment reliability at depth, vi) Inefficient tooling changes, and vii) Dive duration and lost time efficiency launch/recovery time. An overview of how the advanced ROV system resolves these issues will be explained. In addition, an explanation of the productivity metrics will be conveyed, supported with data from the active offshore projects. Key conclusions from the data identify that enhanced robotics will achieve the objectives of i) Reducing schedule and cost risks which improve total cost of ownership, ii) Enhancing capability and improved wellsite efficiency, and iii) Increasing subsea data. The performance issues of legacy ROV operations and associated project cost impact is currently not widely recognized by the offshore drilling community. The realized limitations of such ROV operations and lack of useful performance metrics to identify non-productive time will be explained. The progression in robotic design that drives a new era of subsea robotic efficiency will be conveyed with results from offshore operations, combined with robust metrics that enable significant operational value and cost savings to be attained.
Objective: To identify the pattern of tooth extraction and its relative risk factors in our local population, in terms of gender distribution and age groups. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Sir Syed College of Medical Sciences for Girls, Karachi-Pakistan. Period: May 2018 to April 2019. Material & Methods: Following the selection criteria, a number of 242 patients were selected with the age ranging from 15 years to 65 years. After history and examination, following information was recorded in a proforma; age, gender, type of tooth extracted, reason for extraction of tooth (caries, periodontal disease, trauma, pericoronitis, impactions, prosthesis, supernumerary teeth and failed root canal treatment), relative risk factors (uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, smokers) were also noted, data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: In 242 patients, 1149 underwent dental extractions in a period of 1 year. Mean age was 36 years with a male predilection. Most commonly extracted tooth was mandibular molar. Most common reason of tooth extraction were dental caries, followed by periodontal diseases. Relative risk factors like diabetes and smoking had a statistically strong association with tooth extraction. Conclusion: Dental extractions were more common in males. Most common reason of tooth extraction was dental caries. Diabetes and smoking are significant relative risk factor for extractions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.