Promote Hybrid Cars for Malaysia?

June 14, 2008

In a past article, I pondered when Malaysia would start promoting the use of hybrid vehicles, both on supporting the green movement, and on reducing fuel consumption cost. I suppose that back in the RM1.92/liter era, the savings on money did not seem to pan out.

Welcome to the RM2.70/l era (and increasing). Now, how does that hybrid engine look to you? Is it more sexier (and sensible)  engineering?

At the moment, there is a rush to install LNG converters, as the price of LNG has not gone up yet, but believe me it will. The converters costs between RM2k to RM3.5k.

The articles here and here discuss some efforts in promoting hybrid cars in Malaysia. Proton’s last public venture into the field was the EVE hybrid.

Be a geek, love the engineering, go hybrid.

 

9 Comments | engineering, Malaysia | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Wata

Geek Toy – Celcom Wireless Broadband Router

June 13, 2008

I’m a geek, facinated with the latest tech. While listening to The Tech Guy, I heard of the Cradlepoint, which takes broadband (read EVDO) enabled phones, and create a wifi hotspot. How cool is that? You can create (and share) a wifi hotspot anywhere you can get EVDO. The caveat is, EVDO is a US only service.

Now Celcom offers the same concept, but using a 3GX (3.5G to us peons), 3G, EDGE or GPRS SIM card. Imagine the possibilities:

  • Kerteh airport can get wifi without the hassle of getting a landline.
  • Heck, forget Kerteh, your house can have broadband wifi without a landline (I hear Streamyx squirming in the background).
  • Start a personal hotspot whenever you want to get online, make the spot public, and have a splash page advertising your services.
  • SME opportunities: micro Internet cafe? Roadshow internet access?

One problem is that you will be tethered to a power socket until you can figure out a portable power source.

I have been informed that there is a phone socket on the machine, so that you will be able to receive and make calls while it uses your SIM card.

Will you be able to use other service providers with this piece of equiptment? Unknown, I haven’t been given a test unit (you can tell I’m low on the food chain).

HSPDA Broadband Wireless Router  Brochure - HSDPA Broadband Wireless Router  

Celcom Vodaphone Mobile Connect Brochure - Vodaphone Mobile Connect USB Stick / USB Modem

 Contact Rizal at rizaldee@celcom.com.my or +60196201771.

 

 

9 Comments | business opportunity, engineering, Malaysia | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Wata

Radios and Perforation Activities

June 12, 2008

One thing I always wondered was why radio communication is banned during a perforation exercise. For those not in the know, perforation as explained by opcharlie is blasting through the production casing of a well so that hydrocarbons from the reservoir are able to make their way into the production string. Kinda like making holes in a blocked off straw so that your drink can enter the straw, and be sucked into your mouth.

Steps in perforating a production string

‘Blast’ is the correct word, as explosives are used to perforate the production casing. The triggering of the explosives is done by a remote control. There is a concern that the inadvert triggering of the explosives may be caused by radio equipment. Hence, when a perf operation is underway, no radio equipment is allowed to operate. Portable handhelds may be recalled back from personnel, and an equipment tally is performed.

What I would like to know is, how many near misses / injuries / fatalities have occured due to radio equipment triggering perf explosives? This may happen if:

  • the perf gun goes off before it enters the production string
  • permature release when it goes off before reaching the required depth.

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Oil Production – Gentle Indonesian Way

June 11, 2008

I received this presentation file. At first glance, I thought it was a hoax, putting down the level of Indonesian HSE while carrying out sophisticated oil production operations.

Turns out I was looking at it the wrong way. This is an example of creative thinking, increasing net income without increasing the normal risk Indonesians are exposed to. Now, if we could do the same thing to those dead wells in Miri. Malaysia. Heck, anyone want to join me and see if the Grand Old Lady of Miri has some spunk left in her?

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Posted by Wata

Saturday Star 08-06-07 – Job Opportunities

June 9, 2008

Another week, another scan of the Saturday Star newspaper. This time, I’m trying out the ebrowse feature provided by BlueHyppo (will he ever manage to balik kampung?). Saves trees, though trying to install the ActiveX application seems to be problematic in Vista.

Here’s a list of job ads in the paper:

  • RasGas is looking for technicians and shutdown planning engineers (that’s execution of s/downs, not causing them). CVs to be submitted here. The local contact number is +603 2078 1918. I believe RasGas is a JV, one of the partners being ExxonMobil.
  • Germanischer Lloyd is looking for people (didn’t they obtain enough people when they bought Trident Far East?). They are looking for corrosion/metal, inspection, rot equipt, I&E and reliability engs. CVs to be submitted here.
  • Talisman is looking for a Senior Integrity Engineer, and his subordinate.

Happy hunting. Let me have some feedback if you find this list useful. Even better, spread the news. PayPal donations welcome.

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Taxis – Jakarta and KL

June 8, 2008

While travelling on business and pleasure, I notice the taxi services in Jakarta are much nicer than the ones in KL. How so?

  1. I’ve never had to enter a taxi that didn’t use the meter when told to. This includes famous and non famous taxi brands. Try that in KL near a) KLCC b) Bukit Bintang c) Indonesian embassy. It’s at least RM10 to anywhere within spitting distance, exponential beyond that.
  2. I’ve never had to wait for a taxi. There are a whole mess around. Now, if we could flood KL with taxis, maybe the problems in a) would disappear…
  3. Taxis in Jakarta are bigger. The reputable ones use Toyotas, with plenty of leg room. In KL, the budget taxis are Proton Sagas. Not that I am complaining about the brand, but when the driver shoves his seat all the way back, there’s about an inch clearance between the back of his seat, and the edge of the back seat.

Why did this entry make it into an engineering blog? It’s a factor to consider when comparing the pros and cons of working in SEA.

2 Comments | engineering | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Wata

Design: 100 year storm

June 5, 2008

During the downpour today, I was reminded of one design aspect of offshore structures. They are designed to handle the expected worst case nature can throw at it. This would be defined for example as a 10 year storm, 50 year storm, 100 year storm, i.e. the worst weather the platform will experience in 10/50/100 years. I assume data collection is done by companies such as Metocean, who provide probabilities of weather conditions in given locations.

I wonder what happens if you use out of date information, considering that the world’s weather is changing. Would the ol’ 50 year storm end up happening every year now?

On the same theme, I give you a look at the weather conditions at Puchong today. The mp4 videos are available here and here.

 

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Posted by Wata

Expensive Trees

June 3, 2008

A tale told me. A manager reminiscing about the past describes how during a discussion, he wondered why christmas trees were sooo expensive. Was the company getting a bum deal?

Hah, talk about confusing terminology. To the layman, a christmas tree is:

Children\'s tree

To oil and gas engineers, a christmas tree is:

Notice the lack of leaves, needles and decorations.

 

9 Comments | engineering, oil and gas | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Wata

Saturday New Straits Times 08-05-31 – Job Opportunities

June 2, 2008

I’m changing loyalties this week, mainly because I’m travelling and picked up the first Malaysian newspaper lying around on the plane seat.

I’ve only seen one advert for engineers by Talisman. The advert looks as if the printer ran out of magenta, as the whole print is green.

Have fun. 

1 Comment | engineering, Malaysia, oil and gas | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by Wata

Enhanced Oil Recovery – the Malaysian Experience

May 30, 2008

I’ve found the Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary to be a useful source of info, helping me figure out where Enhanced Oil Recovery is used in Malaysia.

  • Water Alternating Gas (WAG) is a EOR method which has been looked at. I believe PRSS was looking at it when they still existed.
  • Chemical EOR is being tested as a pilot project at PCSB’s Angsi asset. Akaline surfactant is injected into the reservoir to reduce water flood residual oil saturation.  
  • I believe EMEPMI is looking at WAG, though I don’t know whether it’s a table top exercise, or they have moved to field trials.

At USD 129 / barrel, EOR is definitely more profitable.

If you know more, please write in, esp. as to what is happening in East Malaysia.

3 Comments | engineering, Malaysia, oil and gas | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Wata

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