Solar-Thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery

Project Definition

Solar thermal enhanced oil recovery is a method used by oil producers to mine oil from budding oil fields. This technique concentrates the sun’s energy, which heats the water, and generates steam. This steam is instilled into an oil tank to lessen the viscosity. Thus, it facilitates its flow into the surface. The thermal recovery processes are also referred to as steam injection. Solar thermal enhanced oil recovery is proving to be a possible substitute to gas-fired vapor production for oil industries. This technique can generate the equal quality steam like the natural gas. The project is aimed at conducting a needs assessment for the implementation Solar-thermal Enhanced oil recovery (Larson, 1996). The project is aimed at identifying when the program can be implemented, the activities to do next, the time of each activity, the resources required to implement the program and costs associated with implementation. The result of the project is expected to be felt within a period of eight months.

Project Name

The project name is “Solar-thermal Enhanced oil recovery”.

Project Identification Tools

The project intends to use the following identification tools to gather reliable and valid evidence in order to identify the need for this Program Implementation plan.

1. Interviewing the members who have worked in oil companies for a period of two years or and more, since they have been involved in the situation directly.
2. Visiting various oil industries and observing the extraction process, as this will give first hand information.
3. Brainstorming with the team members about the advantages, disadvantages and consequences of applying solar thermal enhanced oil recovery.
4. Focus group with team members concerning the implementation of the project.
5. Reviewing the studies regarding solar thermal enhanced oil recovery.

Project Parameters

Problem: Benchmarking revealed application of Solar thermal enhanced oil recovery reduces costs in oil industries and increases production. Therefore, it is important for oil industries to apply this technique to reduce cost and maximize profits.

Boundaries: the project will only deal with solar thermal enhanced oil recovery in oil industries. Other manufacturing industries are out of the boundary.

Importance of the Project

The current technology has enabled human beings to move to high levels. Production and manufacturing of goods is done using modern technology. Oil industries and business persons aim at reducing costs and maximizing profits. Solar thermal enhanced oil recovery is a method used by oil producers to mine oil from budding oil fields. This technique concentrates the sun’s energy which heats the water and generates steam. This steam is instilled into an oil tank to lessen the viscosity. Thus, it facilitates its flow into the surface. The thermal recovery processes are also referred to as steam injection. Solar thermal enhanced oil recovery is proving to be a possible substitute to gas-fired vapor production for oil industries. This technique can generate the equal quality steam like the natural gas. According to the latest evidence, application of solar thermal enhanced oil recovery in oil industries will reduce costs and maximize profits. This is where the assessment plan is to be implemented (Larson, 1996).

Project Goals

1. To assess the needs of the application of solar thermal enhanced oil recovery.
2. To assess the degree and nature of potential local participation application of Solar thermal enhanced oil recovery.
3. To assess the number of oil industries ready to apply Solar thermal enhanced oil recovery.
4. To identify time, duration and methods used for a company in the application of Solar thermal enhanced oil recovery.

Project Scope

The ultimate result of the project will identify when the program can be implemented, 
the activities to do next, the time of each activity, the resources required to implement the program and costs associated with implementation. The project covers examination of baseline data at the start of the project and the continuous data collection throughout the duration of the project. Project data identification tools include interviews, observation, brainstorming, focus group and reviews. Teamwork will be utilized throughout the project and the team members educated appropriately. Members of the team will also be trained on specific topics regarding solar thermal enhanced oil recovery, data collection and successful organizational communication (University of California, 2008).

Project Timeline

Project Length: 8 Months

Begin: December 2012

Completion: July 2013

Resources

The team will need finance to facilitate their undertaking and the implementation of the project. Various bodies will be responsible for all the resources used. They include; The Project Facilitators (University Strategic Board), Government and NGOs. Apart from the liquid cash, the team will also require the supply of the following:

• Back fill for team members to undertake the data collection and analysis; attend meetings;
• Participate in education
• External education consultant
• Stationery and supplies
• Lunch and refreshments provided to staff attending meetings and education
• Computer, internet connection, microphone, camera
• Skype connection

Shortages in the budget such as capital inadequacy will be addressed.

Training Needs

The team will be trained in the following areas:

•  Data collection and analysis skills

•  Conflict resolution

•  Solar thermal enhanced oil recovery system

•  First aid

•  Working in teams

•   Effective team communication

•  Public relations

•  Disaster management

• Running successful meetings

Stakeholders:

•   University Strategic Board

•   Board of Directors of the University

•   Oil industries

•   Team members

Team Selection

•  Coach/quality advisor: Quality Manager

•  Team leader: Quality Manager

•  Members of the team:

•  Data collecting members: To go the field and collect data.

•  Oil industries in the region

The team will hold monthly meetings on every 15^th day of the month 10.00 AM -12.00 noon.

Operating Guidelines

The team will use the following methods of communication:

•  Minutes of meetings

•  Meeting agenda

•  Billboards

•  Memo

•  Posters of monthly old age mental disorders statistics

•  Face to face

•  Skype

•  Phone

•  Face book

•  Twitter

•  Email

• Brochures

In times of conflict the following methods will be applied to resolve them:

•  Polling

•  Pros and Cons list

•  Causes and effects list

•   SWOT Analysis

• Majority rules

Resistance to change will be managed in the following ways:

•  Acknowledge people’s concerns and fears about change

•  Provide education on the change

•   Involve everyone in feedback about change

•  Engage everyone in the change process

•   Encourage everyone to be flexible and learn

• Facilitate feedback to all

The team will bring up issues in the following ways:

• Contact the team leader who will add the issue to the meeting agenda

•  Raising AOB in the meeting

•  Suggestion box

•  Writing to the team leader

• Verbally to the team leader

Ground Rules of Behavior and Operation

•  No discrimination

•  Punctuality

•  Be time conscious

•  Proper mode of dressing

•  Etiquette

•  Use of common language 

•   No bullying

•  Participate and support other team members

•   Be respectful

•  Complete actions prior to the next meeting,

•  Only one person at a time speaks during the meeting

•  Rules and regulations must be followed to the letter

Flow of Governance

Board of Governors

University Strategic Board

Team Leader

Team members

The team leader will report to the University Strategic Board who reports to the University Board of Governors if further resources are required. Team leader will have direct access to data, equipment, policies, rules and regulations, procedures and other relevant documentation. Team leader can request assistance from the Manager of Quality in head office whenever required (University of California, 2008).

Part II

Step I: Project Purpose Statement

By when: July 2013

Deliver what: importance of applying Solar-thermal enhanced oil recovery in oil industries.

To whom: University Strategic Board

In order to assess the needs of applying solar-thermal enhanced oil recovery in oil industries to reduce costs and maximize profits.

Step II: Goals

Applying Solar-thermal Enhanced oil recovery to reduce costs and maximize profits in oil industries.

Step III: Data collection and Tools

1. Interviewing the professionals who have worked in oil companies for a period of two years or and more, since they have been involved in the situation directly.
2. Visiting various oil industries and observing the extraction process, as this will give first hand information.
3. Brainstorming with the team members about the advantages, disadvantages and consequences of applying solar thermal enhanced oil recovery.
4. Focus group with team members concerning the implementation of the project.

Reviewing the studies regarding solar thermal enhanced oil recovery

Step IV: Data Collection Groups

Team members will collect all the required data in the field as follows:

Statistical indicators - monthly

Satisfaction survey - after every 3 months

Interviewing professionals members using questionnaires and face to face interviews - monthly

Focus group - at completion of project

Data will be collected on the region.

Step V: Brainstorm on the other tasks/deliverables required for the project

• Get sign off for project from University Strategic Board
• Finalize and review project plan
• Obtain baseline data
• Establish schedule for the project
• Establish and communicate meeting times and dates
• Arrange education sessions for team members and staff
• Arrange and advertise access to relevant websites for team members and staff
• Develop and implement interventions
• Evaluate interventions
• Write up final report

Step VI: Tasks

• Get sign off for project from University Strategic Board
• Finalize and review the project plan
• Obtain baseline data
• Establish schedule for the project
• Establish and communicate meeting times and dates
• Arrange education sessions for team members and staff
• Arrange and advertise access to relevant websites for team members and staff
• Develop and implement interventions
• Evaluate interventions
• Write up final report

Step X: Quality Management Tools

• Cause and effect diagrams - to identify the problem
• Clinical indicator audit tools - to identify the problem
• Satisfaction Surveys - analyzing data
• Minutes of meetings - deciding on interventions
• Meeting agendas - deciding on interventions
• Check sheets - monitoring progress
• Histograms - presenting measurement of project impact
• Run charts - monitoring progress

Themes from qualitative data collection methods

Part IV: Finalization and Evaluation of the Project Title

The title of the project is “Solar-thermal Enhanced oil recovery”.

Project Overview

A review of the data indicated that the application of solar-thermal enhanced oil recovery was significantly greater on this region when data were benchmarked with other regions. This technique has proved to be effective as it reduces cost and maximize profit. This project was conceived and commenced in December 2012. Outcome and process measures were identified and analyzed and evidence-based best practice guidelines informed the project interventions.

Project Objective

At the end of the 8 months project, oil industries in the region will apply Solar-thermal Enhanced oil recovery and reduce costs as they maximize profits.

Agreed changes to the project objectives (if any)

Nil

Project Outcomes

Issue and Risk Summary

One of the main team leaders from the team member was transferred to another group due to unavoidable circumstances and, therefore, was unable to participate fully in the project. A replacement was done with immediate effect. This new team leader member had to be educated and informed about the team progress in order to become an active participant of the team.

Lessons Learnt

Recommended Improvement

•  Ensure education is available for all relevant stakeholders using a variety of education modes e.g. face to face lectures, on-line learning resources, self-paced learning activities
• Ensure work load is distributed among all team members
• Ensure surplus member to take care of the emergency
• Ensure surplus capita to care for the deficits 
• Provide template for reporting at the beginning of the project.