ST. JOHN'S, NL, The Research & Development Corporation (RDC) has announced it is investing $2.3 million in academic-led R&D projects to help overcome technical challenges in the oil and gas sector, particularly in harsh offshore environments.
These Memorial University projects aim to improve safety, environmental protection, and efficiency associated with challenging oil and gas projects, both in Newfoundland and Labrador, and around the world. RDC's investment in 17 projects will leverage an additional $4.4 million from other funding sources.
"Newfoundland and Labrador is well suited to be the hub for research into harsh environments. By investing $2.3 million through RDC we are helping to solve pressing technical challenges and strengthening partnerships between academia and the province's oil and gas sector. The research we are funding through these projects will also position our province, and Memorial University, as a global centre for innovation and creative problem-solving in the oil and gas industry, particularly in harsh environments, “ said The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development and Minister Responsible for the Research & Development Corporation
Twelve of the R&D projects are being carried out in collaboration with industry partners or other researchers. Five projects are aimed at attracting highly qualified researchers and building new R&D capacity in areas relevant to the Newfoundland and Labrador economy.
The projects include:
1. Sensing System for Detection and Tracking of Oil in Marine Waters in Harsh.
2. High speed thermal imaging system.
3. Infrastructure for the characterization of particulate matter and dissolved chemical species in water, soil and groundwater environments.
4. Compositional and isotopic characterization of complex organic samples for the study of origin and preservation of hydrocarbons and biological tissues.
5. Permafrost thaw and frost heave effects on Arctic pipelines.
6. Weatherproof satellite data communication devices and application.
7. Arctic Sparrow.
8. Modelling of Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) in Offshore Petroleum Applications in Harsh Arctic Environments to Develop Risk-based Life Assessment for Asset Under CUI Attack
9. Enhanced ozonation treatment for offshore produced water effluents.
10. Extending functionality of evacuation systems in ice.
11. Development of biosurfactant-based dispersants and associated technologies for offshore oil spill control in harsh environments.
12. Validation of ship design practices including pressure-area scale effect and extreme design forces using full scale measured ship ram data.
13. Health and fitness demographics of workers in the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore oil and gas industry.
14. Towards cleaner energy and environment: The case of metal-organic network solids.
15. Seasonal break-up and drift of the outer coastal ice along the southern Labrador ports.
16. Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Multiphase Pipeline Flow Scaling.
17. Design optimization and manufacturing of cost-effective ship superstructure for harsh environment.
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