Digital Commons Network^™

Applications Of Underbalanced Fishbone Drilling For Improved Recovery And Reduced Carbon Footprint In Unconventional Plays, Habib Ouadi, Siamak Mishani, Vamegh Rasouli

Petroleum Engineering Student Publications

Fishbone Drilling (FbD) consists of drilling several micro-holes in different directions from the main vertical or deviated wellbore. Similar to multilateral micro-hole drilling, FbD may be used to enhance hydrocarbon production in naturally fractured formations or in refracturing operations by interconnecting the existing natural fractures. When combined with underbalanced drilling using a coiled tubing rig, FbD enhances the production further by easing the natural flow of the hydrocarbon from the reservoir to the wellbore. The design aspects of the Fishbones include determining the number, length, distance between the branches, and the angle of sidetracking of the branches from the main …

Smart Bidirectional Charging For Frequency Support Of A Low-Inertia Vehicle-To-Grid System In Presence Of Energy Storage Systems, Majid Mehrasa, Hossein Salehfar, Daisy Flora Selvaraj, Sina Ibne Ahmed

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

This paper focuses on the challenge to develop coordination between an electric vehicle (EV) charger, energy storage system (ESS), and smart charging/discharging strategy in a low-inertia grid-connected vehicle-to-grid system. Two smart bidirectional charging strategies are proposed to control EV and ESS for minimizing the frequency error by considering the EV constraints.

Robust Control Strategy For A High-Power Off-Board Ev Charger Connected To Grid-Tied Critical Loads, Majid Mehrasa, Daisy Flora Selvaraj, Hossein Salehfar

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

One of the main duties of electric vehicles (EVs) is to provide smooth and robust power flow for the grid-tied loads in the vehicle-to-grid application. To this end, this paper proposes a comprehensive control system for a high-power off-board EV charger to appropriately generate/consume power when sudden reference power alteration and disturbance on the DC-link voltage measurement exist.

Centering Culture In The Treatment Of Opioid Use Disorder With American Indian And Alaska Native Communities: Contributions From A National Collaborative Board, Katherine A. Hirchack, Melanie Nadeau, Angel Vasquez, Alexandra Hernandez-Vallant, Kyle Smith, Cuong Pham, Karen Anderson Oliver, Paulette Baukol, Karen Lizzy, Raquel Shaffer, Jalene Herron, Aimee M. C. Campbell, Kamilla L. Venner

Indigenous Health Faculty Publications

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities are disproportionally impacted by the opioid overdose epidemic. There remains a dearth of research evaluating methods for effectively implementing treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) within these communities. We describe proceedings from a 2-day Collaborative Board (CB) meeting tasked with developing an implementation intervention for AI/AN clinical programs to improve the delivery of medications to treat OUD (MOUD). The CB was comprised of Elders, cultural leaders, providers, individuals with lived experience with OUD, and researchers from over 25 communities, organizations, and academic institutions. Conversations were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded by two academic researchers with interpretation …

Synthesis And Performance Evaluation Of Poly (Acrylamide-Co-Malonic Acid) As Fes Scale Inhibitor: Experimental And Theoretical Investigations, Nadhem Ismail, Ali Alshami, Rem Jalab, Mohammed A. Saad, Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications

This article reports on poly (acrylamide-co-malonic acid), poly(AM-co-MAc) copolymer that inhibits the iron sulfide scale. Iron sulfide scale is considered as one of the most challenging oilfield scales to dissolve or inhibit once formed due to the fast deposition kinetics and low solubility criteria. We present the synthesis, characterization, and testing of poly (AM-co- MAc) that inhibits iron sulfide formation by hindering nucleation growth and preventing particles from settling. A strictly anoxic apparatus was designed and used to evaluate the performance of the synthesized inhibitor. The influence of temperature, pH, and brine composition was also quantified. The results indicated that …

February 2, 2023: Agenda, University Of North Dakota

University Senate Meeting Minutes

Agenda for the February 2, 2023, meeting of the University Senate. 26 pages

Artificial Intelligence For Automated Detection Of Large Mammals Creates Path To Upscale Drone Surveys, Javier Lenzi, Andrew Barnas, Abdelrahman A. Elsaid, Travis Desell, Robert F. Rockwell, Susan N. Ellis-Felege

Biology Faculty Publications

Imagery from drones is becoming common in wildlife research and management, but processing data efficiently remains a challenge. We developed a methodology for training a convolutional neural network model on large-scale mosaic imagery to detect and count caribou (Rangifer tarandus), compare model performance with an experienced observer and a group of naïve observers, and discuss the use of aerial imagery and automated methods for large mammal surveys. Combining images taken at 75 m and 120 m above ground level, a faster region-based convolutional neural network (Faster-RCNN) model was trained in using annotated imagery with the labels: “adult …

Aircraft Communication Systems - Topologies, Protocols, And Vulnerabilities, Tyler Przybylski, Niroop Sugunaraj, Prakash Ranganathan

Electrical Engineering Student Publications

Aviation systems are facing fierce competition driven by private investments promoting the development of new avionics suites (AS). With these new AS comes the need for a faster and larger bandwidth requirement for next generation communication systems. The legacy military (MIL) standard 1553 communication system (e.g., 1Mbps) can no longer keep up with the surge in bandwidth demand requirements. The new communication systems need to be designed with a system architecture background that can enable simplistic integration with Information Technology (IT) controlled groundnetworks, military, and commercial payloads. To facilitate a seamless integration with communication architecture, the current system is highly …

Valuation Of Potential Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Projects Based On Known Economic And Service Criteria, Seth Lykins

Theses and Dissertations

Clean and sustainable energy sources must comprise a greater share of the global energy portfolio in the future, in order to support a growing population while reducing the anthropogenic effects of traditional energy production. Solar and wind-based generation methods, frontrunners of the energy transition, are intermittent by nature. This presents a challenge in the effort to replace dispatchable fossil fuels with a chiefly renewable energy portfolio. Yet this challenge can be met with appropriate storage, which must be scalable, reliable, sustainable, and financially feasible through implementation of multiple services. Pumped hydro energy storage systems (PHESS), with its colossal scale and …

Winter 2023, University Of North Dakota Alumni Association

ALL: UND Alumni Review Master List

Winter 2023 issue of "The University of North Dakota Alumni Magazine." 52 pages

Volume 106, Number 4

Machine Learning And Data Mining To Validate The Prognostics And Predictive Breast Cancer Biomarkers On A Large Racially Diverse Population, Kalli Scheafer

Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer biomarkers have great potential in providing clinicians more individualized information about the composition and outcomes of a patient’s breast cancer. However, many breast cancer biomarkers have not been evaluated on a large scale or in groups of patients with diverse characteristics, leading to difficulty in their translation to having an impact on patients. In this study, we compile a large, pooled breast cancer patient data cohort and evaluate breast cancer biomarkers on patients with diverse characteristics. Biomarkers are found to have varying expression patterns within the different breast cancer subtypes, validating the need to evaluate biomarkers on patient …

Graduates’ Perceptions Of Horizontal Mismatch: A Case Study Of A Marketing Program At A Regional Research University, Michael William Mills

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study utilizes the human capital theory to examine the influence of high impact career exploration and career-focused practices in a public, regional four-year institution. Literature shows that graduates who enter well-matched careers earn approximately 30 percent more than graduates who are not closely matched. In addition, well-matched employees lower recruitment and training costs for employers. The guiding notion of the paper is that students should not only be well-rounded but also be prepared to enter a career that is related to their field of study. Most students attend college to advance their career and economic outlook. This …

Kinesio Tape Effect On Vertical Jump, Jalen L. Morrison

Theses and Dissertations

KinesioTape is used throughout sports at all levels of competition. This study aims at augmenting vertical jump performance with the use of KinesioTape. Vertical jumping ability is a crucial skill and advantage in various sports, as it impacts an individual’s ability to achieve height, power, and efficiency during the jumping phase. Though training methods have proven to improve vertical jump, the potential of a Kinesiotape design remains somewhat unanswered in this context. This test aims to determine whether our tape design is significantly effective in countermovement and squat jumps. The research includes a comprehensive literature review to understand today's KinesioTape …

Carbon Capture Storage Implemented On Flexible Power Plants And Their Grid Impacts, Michael Kenneth Misch

Theses and Dissertations

The energy grid is under a constant state of evolution from outside factors such as the rise ofrenewable energy in the form of solar and wind generation as well as competing with the changes in weather patterns from climate change leading to significant storms like the arctic event of 2022. Thermal power plants are greatly impacted by these changes. As a significant contributor of CO2 emissions, thermal power plants play an important role in emerging green technology policies to help the efforts of climate change. There is a significant cost associated with this change, however, as thermal plants are some …

A Hybrid Deep Neural Network Model To Forecast Day-Ahead Electricity Prices In The Usa Energy Market, Md. Saifur Rahman

Theses and Dissertations

Day-ahead electricity price forecasting is a critical research area that revolves around predicting prices in wholesale electricity markets. While significant progress has been made in energy price forecasting, the existence of a state-of-the-art method for accurately predicting prices in the USA energy market remains a topic of debate. The wholesale and retail markets in the USA greatly value improvements in the accuracy of electricity price forecasts. It is evident that renewable energy sources have become increasingly influential in the US power market, enhancing their effectiveness. However, existing forecasting models exhibit limitations, such as inadequate consideration of the impact of renewable …

Cognitive Decay And Memory Recall During Long Duration Spaceflight, Terry E. Rector

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aims to advance the efficacy of Long-Duration Space Flight (LDSF) pre-flight and in-flight training programs, acknowledging existing knowledge gaps in NASA's methodologies. The research's objective is to optimize the cognitive workload of LDSF crew members, enhance their neurocognitive functionality, and provide more meaningful work experiences, particularly for Mars missions.The study addresses identified shortcomings in current training and learning strategies and simulation-based training systems, focusing on areas requiring quantitative measures for astronaut proficiency and training effectiveness assessment. The project centers on understanding cognitive decay and memory loss under LDSF-related stressors, seeking to establish when such cognitive decline exceeds acceptable …

Assessing Options For Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Increasing Energy Production From Municipal Solid Waste Utilizing Epa Models, Marcus Richburg

Theses and Dissertations

The population of the planet surpassed the 8-billion-person mark in 2022, and the increase in population has brought about an increase in waste, both household and commercial. The municipal solid waste that is created is primarily stored in landfills, particularly in the United States. These landfills release methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, creating what is known as anthropogenic emissions, due to their being caused by man-made issues. These two primary gases, along with others, make up greenhouse gases, and their reduction is key to potentially reducing or even reversing the greenhouse effect. Total municipal solid waste generation in …

Exploring Zinc Amido-Oxazolinate Complexes As Catalysts For Ring Opening Polymerization (Rop) And Ring Opening Co-Polymerization (Rocop), Muneer Shaik

Theses and Dissertations

This research aims to explore the potential of zinc amido-oxazolinate complexes as catalysts for ring opening polymerization (ROP) and ring opening copolymerization (ROCOP). ROP is a method for synthesizing polymers by opening cyclic monomers, while ROCOP involves using two different monomers to create a copolymer. The ROP of lactones is a well-established method for the synthesis of polyesters, whereas the ROCOP of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides is a more recent development. Zinc amido-oxazolinate complexes are a promising class of catalysts due to their tunable electronic properties and high reactivity. The catalytic activity of these complexes can be tuned by modifying …

Risk Assessment And Geographic Impact Of Virtual Power Purchase Agreements And Unbundled Renewable Energy Certificates On Greenhouse Gas Abatement, Keyshon L. Bachus

Theses and Dissertations

Fossil fuel-generated energy consumption via electricity purchased by organizations makes up much of worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Commercial and industrial users consume more than two-thirds of electricity. Companies with warehouses, offices, data centers, and other facilities that engage in industrial processes consume significant amounts of purchased energy to power their operations. Most organizations do not generate electricity or have operational control of their energy generation; instead, they purchase it from public utilities and other providers. Many organizations are making climate commitments to support the Paris Agreement’s Net-Zero pledge by reducing or offsetting their indirect “Scope 2” greenhouse emissions and …

Synthesis Of A Low-Cost And High-Performance Micro-Spherical Adsorbent For Co2 Capture: Performance Evaluation, Up-Scaling Assessment, Adsorption Kinetic, And Numerical Simulation, Abdelmalek Bellal

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the potential use of potassium carbonate (K2CO3) supported adsorbents for large-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) capture processes. The post-combustion carbon capture process, which operates independently of the upstream fuel combustion process and the CO2 partial pressure in the flue gas, is emphasized for its integration into conventional coal-fired power plants without extensive modifications. While mature aqueous amine facilities are the industry standard, drawbacks in the predominant monoethanolamine (MEA) technology, such as high energy dissipation and oxidative degradation, motivate the exploration of adsorbent-based processes.Various adsorbents, including K2CO3-supported ones, are considered promising due to their high theoretical CO2 capture capacity …

Characterization Of Water Quality In Anzalduas Dam Reservoir Using Patterns Of Salinity, Maria G. Castillo

Theses and Dissertations

A database containing salinity and climatology data collected at Anzalduas Dam’s Reservoir, Mier Monitoring Station (Upper water from Anzalduas Dam) and Retamal Monitoring Station (Lower water from Anzalduas Dam) in the lower Rio Grande River for the September through December 2016 time period was compiled. The information obtained on the water quality of Anzalduas Dam was used as a base to describe corrective measurements needed for its water recuperation, improvement and/or contamination’s prevention. The study aims to illustrate the relationship between water quality, specifically focusing on salinity concentrations and its relationship with temperature, evaporation, and the volumetric rate of water …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Soybean Feedstock-Based Composite Systems For Sustainable Material Application., Temofeh Nathaniel Esenamunjor

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the synthesis and characterization of soybean-based composites with a focus on their potential for sustainable material applications. Soybean meal (SBM), known for its high protein content, is blended with the biopolymer polylactic acid (PLA) using eco-friendly manufacturing processes. The solvent casting and hot-pressing methods are employed to fabricate composites, and their mechanical and thermal properties are investigated. Tensile strength of the composites decreases with higher concentrations of soybean meal, while thermal properties remain comparable to PLA. The hot press method, optimized at 250°C and 235 MPa, shows promising results in enhancing compressive strength with increased SBM concentration …

Application Of Blockchain Technology And Integration Of Differential Privacy: Issues In E-Health Domains, David Isie

Theses and Dissertations

A systematic and comprehensive review of critical applications of Blockchain Technology with Differential Privacy integration lies within privacy and security enhancement. This paper aims to highlight the research issues in the e-Health domain (e.g., EMR) and to review the current research directions in Differential Privacy integration with Blockchain Technology.Firstly, the current state of concerns in the e-Health domain are identified as follows: (a) healthcare information poses a high level of security and privacy concerns due to its sensitivity; (b) due to vulnerabilities surrounding the healthcare system, a data breach is common and poses a risk for attack by an adversary; …

Effects Of Climate Extremes On Snow Processes And Modeled Recharge To A Shallow Aquifer, Julian Giannini Niewiaroski

Theses and Dissertations

The Northern Great Plains (NGP), which can be broadly defined as the portion of the Great Plains north of Nebraska, undergoes decadal-scale climatic change in the form of drought and deluge cycles. These are broad, long-term cycles, that are not always well-defined, as has been the case recently. Since 2012, there have been one or two dry years followed by one or two wet years. Conversely, before 2012, there was a well-defined wet period between 2005-2011, preceded by a well-defined dry period from 1999-2004. Understanding drought-deluge cycles is critical to predicting aquifer recharge and groundwater retention, which directly affects how …

Application Of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry In Lignin Model Compound Degradation And Forensic Determination Of Clonazepam And Flunitrazepam In Necrophagous Insect And Liver, Zeinab Rabiei Taemeh

Theses and Dissertations

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) is a versatile technique that has vast applications in analytical chemistry, specifically for the identification, quantitation, and mass analysis of components. This study outlines an exploration of HPLC-MS applications, focusing on its utilization in two distinct areas: lignin degradation studies and forensic investigations.Lignin degradation: Most of the previous studies on lignin degradation, employed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for product characterization. Most lignin model compounds, which are widely used in lignin valorization studies, are either not GC-elutable or have low thermal stability. In this work we investigated HPLC-MS as an alternative method, which offers a simultaneous …

Evaluating The Potential Of Wrought And Additively Manufactured Co-Cr Alloy For Prosthodontic Applications, Sudip Saha

Theses and Dissertations

Tribological analysis of metallic implants for orthodontics applications is a long-studied topic of research. The study covers human mouth anatomy, implant types, and major wear mechanisms, materials, and manufacturing techniques commonly used for dental implant materials. Common contributing factors to evaluate the mechanical performance of metal implants includes tribological behavior analysis in varying physiological conditions, material properties, corrosive responsiveness and manufacturing techniques. By conducting systematic experiments to cover these areas, this study aims to evaluate the performance of wrought and additively manufactured Co-Cr alloy for metallic implants for orthodontics applications.For the tribological test and corrosion experiments laboratory prepared artificial saliva …

Studying Phase And Morphology Of Hydrocarbon Petrochemicals In Inorganic And Organic Microdroplets Using An Electrodynamic Balance, Fafa Tackie-Otoo

Theses and Dissertations

Wastewater from the petroleum industry contains large amounts of inorganic salts, hydrocarbons, mercaptans, oil and grease, phenols, and other organic chemicals. All these compounds can be found in highly complex solutions in the petroleum industry’s discharged water, and there is no common treatment method, which precludes reuse paths in other sectors such as irrigation of farmland. In order to reuse produced water, the water must be treated and these harmful chemicals must be removed. To treat and potentially reuse oily waste outside the energy sector, researchers typically use membrane technology, photocatalytic degradation, oxidation processes, electrochemical catalysis, and other methods. The …

A Multivariant Comparative Analysis Of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors And Their Role In Net Zero 2050, Cynthia Bradley Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

Climate Change is one of the world’s most urgent issues, and the ideas to reduce the emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) from manmade sources needed to help resolve this plight. Globally, the production of electricity accounts for nearly 40% of all GHG emissions in 2022. The substitution of nuclear energy can reduce that number greatly. SMRs, or small modular nuclear reactors, are smaller than conventional nuclear reactors. They can be made on-site, assembled, and transported to their final destination. SMRs offer many advantages over traditional reactors. They are more cost-effective, safer, and more flexible.SMRs could be used to replace fossil …

A Wrf-Chem Air Pollution Modeling Study Over The Northern Plains, Carlos Javier Bucaram

Theses and Dissertations

Oil and gas production in the Bakken region increased dramatically more than a decade ago. In my first analysis, a WRF-Chem modeling study of the Northern Great Plains was conducted for a July 2010 baseline scenario prior to the largest of these production increases. Simulations using the RACM-MADE/SORGAM, CBMZ-MOSAIC, and MOZART-MOSAIC chemistry-aerosol mechanisms were compared to each other and against ground level observations. All three gas-aerosol modules produced similar prediction results for O3 and NO2, with moderate correlation to hourly measurements and monthly average values overpredicted by 20% for O3 and underpredicted by 5% for NO2. Monthly average PM2.5 concentrations …

3d Geologic Modeling Of Rare Earth Element Concentrations In Lignite Coal, Ian Kelly Feole

Theses and Dissertations

Rare-earth elements (REE) are a set of elements with unique consumer applications that consist of the lanthanide series of elements which have the atomic numbers from 57 to 71 plus yttrium (Y) and scandium (Sc). Because of their unique properties, REEs are used in a wide array of consumer goods, energy system components, and military defense applications, but currently the United States is 100% import-reliant on these critical materials, and the REE supply chain is considered an issue of national security. Coal and coal by-products have been identified as a promising alternative resource and a focus of much recent research …