EPRDF's Revolutionary Democracy and Religious Plurality: Islam and Christianity in post-Derg Ethiopia

In 1991 the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) introduced policies aimed at recognizing the country’s long-standing religious diversity, providing a public arena for religious groups, and maintaining a sharp division between religion and the state. This further roded the traditionally dominant position of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, strengthened Protestant Christian and Muslim communities, and created a more flux and competitive configuration among the religious communities. Seeking to maintain its political power, the EPRDF has at the same time made efforts to monitor and control the different religious communities. Therefore, the last 20 years have been marked by uneven developments, in which the government’s accommodating attitudes have been interlaced with efforts to curtail the influence of the religious communities. This article surveys the intersection and reciprocal influences between EPRDF policies and religious communities over the last 20 years, and discusses how Muslims and Christians (Orthodox and Protestant) have negotiated their roles in relation to politics and public life. These developments have, the article argues, led to the emergence of divergent and competing narratives, reconfiguring self-understanding, political aspirations and views of the religious other. The EPRDF ideology of ‘‘revolutionary democracy’’ has, in this sense, enabled religion to surface as a force for social mobilization and as a point of reference for attempting to define nationhood in Ethiopia

The Question of Becoming: Islamic Reform-Movements in Contemporary Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s new political climate (since 1991) has enhanced the Muslims’ opportunities for religious expressions, clearly seen through the surfacing of several Islamic reform movements. These movements; the Salafi movement, the Tabligh movement and an Intellectualist revivalist movement have proven crucial for a certain process of objectification of religious affiliation, and have moreover served as channels for the search for belonging and coherent meaning among the Muslims. Discussing the movements’ socio-cultural composition and their ideological content, this paper pays attention to how features of locality interact with trans-local ideological currents, reciprocally affecting each other. Of particular interest in the Ethiopian case is the explicit avoidance of any political agenda, a distinct intermarriage with a discourse on ethnicity, where the latter has contributed to complex processes of constructing and demarcating religious- and ethnic-based boundaries. The paper thus seeks to demonstrate the complex interrelationship between global currents and local factors; all contributing to the heterogenisation of contemporary Islam

Early and Late Time Analytical Solutions for Co-current Spontaneous Imbibition and Generalized Scaling

We propose an explicit analytical solution for 1D cocurrent (COC) spontaneous imbibition (SI) in which a core is exposed to water (inlet) and oil (outlet). The system is described using an advection-capillary diffusion transport equation combined with a pressure equation. By ignoring the capillary diffusion term in the transport equation, the analytical solution follows in terms of Buckley-Leverett (BL) saturation profiles. The capillary force appears in the pressure equation and determines the advective term of the transport equation. The time when the front reaches the outlet (critical time) is calculated and used for scaling. The solution is extended to after critical time (late time) by maintaining the BL profile inside the system, thus preserving continuity in recovery and spatial profiles. The solution is characterized by an effective total mobility and capillary pressure (incorporating the entire saturation functions), both constant at early time (before critical time). At late times, they change dynamically. The model states that the imbibition rate can increase, decrease, and stay constant with time based on a new mobility ratio being less than, more than, or equal to unity, respectively. The ratio also indicates effectiveness of oil displacement. The square root of time recovery is a special case only seen for a (very) favorable mobility ratio. The model predicts that COC imbibition scales with the square of length both at early and late times and that the solution can scale saturation functions. The analytical solution was compared against numerical simulations of the full system. The new mobility ratio reflected the evolution in COC recovery better than total recovery. The analytical solution showed a too-high imbibition rate at a favorable mobility ratio. The diffusion term is important then due to strong saturation gradients, and the resulting smoothened profile yields a lower imbibition rate from the pressure equation. The analytical solution showed a too-low imbibition rate at early times for unfavorable mobility ratio due to not accounting for rapid early countercurrent (COUC) production. The analytical solution predicted a too-high imbibition rate at late times because the BL profile does not capture the oil mobility restriction at the outlet at late times. The time of water reaching the outlet was underestimated by a factor ∼ 2 for strongly water-wet (SWW) simulations and ∼ 10 for mixed-wet (MW) simulations. Scaling recovery with length squared was exact for all times. Scaling recovery until water reaching the outlet demonstrated consistency across saturation functions and viscosities. The analytical solution could match literature experimental data and produce corresponding saturation functions. To our knowledge, previous analytical solutions have only considered infinite-acting systems (early time), assumed piston-like displacement (PLD) (uniform saturations on both sides of a saturation shock front) or are implicit, thus not providing more insight than numerical simulations.acceptedVersio

In the shadow of the virus Varieties of power in the COVID-19 crisis in Venezuela

While all states face massive challenges when responding to COVID-19, some are in a more precarious position than others. In Venezuela, the pandemic arrived at the worst possible time for its citizens. Facing one of the deepest economic crises outside of wartime in recent years, its consequences have spilled over to all aspect of social life.1 However, the timing seems to have suited the leaders of the Venezuelan regime well. Rather than constituting a threat to the stability of a regime that has lost both democratic legitimacy and the capacity to provide services and security, the government of Nicolas Maduro (2013-present) has seemingly managed to consolidate itself after several years of instability.2 The starting point of the discussion is an apparent paradox: how can a regime with neither legitimacy nor capacity, two commonly invoked criteria for effective crisis management, strengthen itself during a crisis such as that spurred by COVID-19? The brief presents an overview of how the Venezuelan regime has responded to COVID-19, and how the government of Nicolás Maduro has applied different strategies to consolidate a favorable political status quo. It takes as its starting point three concepts, namely “state capacity,” “legitimacy,” and “power,” all of which are frequently upheld as fundamental for understanding the varying ways in which states have responded to the pandemic. It highlights how relative power relations have shifted in recent years, and how the pandemic has contributed to skewing the balance of power further in favor of the Maduro government.publishedVersio

Analytical modeling of steady state relative permeability experiments with end effects – An improved intercept method, scaling and general capillary numbers

Steady state relative permeability experiments are performed by co-injection of two fluids through core plug samples. Effective relative permeabilities can be calculated from the stabilized pressure drop using Darcy’s law and linked to the corresponding average saturation of the core. These estimated relative permeability points will be accurate only if capillary end effects and transient effects are negligible. This work presents general analytical solutions for calculation of spatial saturation and pressure gradient profiles, average saturation, pressure drop and relative permeabilities for a core at steady state when capillary end effects are significant. We derive an intuitive and general ‘intercept’ method for correcting steady state relative permeability measurements for capillary end effects: plotting average saturation and inverse effective relative permeability (of each phase) against inverse total rate will give linear trends at high total rates and result in corrected relative permeability points when extrapolated to zero inverse total rate (infinite rate). We derive a formal proof and generalization of the method proposed by Gupta and Maloney (2016), also extending the information obtained from the analysis, especially allowing to calculate capillary pressure. It is shown how the slopes of the lines are related to the saturation functions allowing to scale all test data for all conditions to the same straight lines. Two dimensionless numbers are obtained that directly express how much the average saturation is changed and the effective relative permeabilities are reduced compared to values unaffected by end effects. The numbers thus quantitatively and intuitively express the influence of end effects. A third dimensionless number is derived providing a universal criterion for when the intercept method is valid, directly stating that the end effect profile has reached the inlet. All the dimensionless numbers contain a part depending only on saturation functions, injected flow fraction and viscosity ratio and a second part containing constant known fluid, rock and system parameters such as core length, porosity, interfacial tension, total rate etc. The former parameters determine the saturation range and shape of the saturation profile, while the latter number determines how much the profile is compressed towards the outlet. End effects cause the saturation profile and average saturation to shift towards the saturation where capillary pressure is zero and the effective relative permeabilities to be reduced compared to the true relative permeabilities. This shift is greater at low total rate and gives a false impression of rate-dependent relative permeabilities. The method is demonstrated with multiple examples. Methodologies for deriving relative permeability and capillary pressure systematically and consistently, even based on combining data from tests with different fluid and core properties, are presented and demonstrated on two datasets from the literature.acceptedVersio

Insights from Boltzmann transformation in solving 1D counter-current spontaneous imbibition at early and late time

Counter-current 1D spontaneous imbibition in scaled form is investigated using Boltzmann transform before and after water meets the closed boundary (early and late time). At early time the system is self-similar and only depends on position divided by square root of time. At late time it also depends on the interaction with the no-flow boundary and hence a second variable, which is set as the square root of time. Diffusion coefficients shifted to high saturations result in early time spatial saturation profiles with shorter front distance, higher average saturation within the imbibition profile and larger imbibed amount. Strongly water-wet systems have zero oil mobility at the inlet, while mixed-wet systems have finite non-zero mobility. The imbibition rate is proportional to inlet diffusion coefficient, inlet saturation gradient (regarding position divided by square root of time) and inverse square root of time. Accordingly, the saturation gradient is infinite and finite for strongly water-wet and mixed-wet systems. At early time, the profile does not change, thus recovery is proportional to square root of time. When the front meets the no-flow boundary (critical time), the saturation profile deviates from the early time profile first at the no-flow boundary, then towards the inlet. When the inlet gradient changes, imbibition rate declines faster than inverse square root of time. The interaction at the inlet and not the closed boundary, thus determines when recovery stops being proportional to square root of time and explains why such proportionality after critical time is reported. The findings were confirmed by matching experimental data.Cited as: Andersen, P. Ø. Insights from Boltzmann transformation in solving 1D counter-current spontaneous imbibition at early and late time. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2023, 7(3): 164-175. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2023.03.0

Depositional trends of the Statfjord Group from the Stord Basin to the Utsira High

Seismic interpretation will establish a framework to understand the regional thickness distributions of the group, and seismic facies analysis will further enable our understanding of the Utsira High as a potential paleo-topographic high during Early Jurassic compared with the Stord Basin. This study aimed to understand the lateral distribution of the Early Jurassic Statfjord Group in the Stord Basin and upon the Utsira High. The Stord Basin in the northern North Sea is located approximately 50 km south of the Troll Field. The tectonostratigraphic framework of the Early Jurassic succession in the Stord Basin has been investigated to better understand the sub-regional distribution of depositional facies of the Statfjord Group. The Stord Basin was formed due to extension pre-Jurassic times, with a major phase in Permian-Triassic. Very few wells have been drilled in the Stord Basin, and the stratigraphic succession and depositional facies distribution across the basin is somewhat speculative and based on seismic mapping of the succession and conceptual depositional models based on earlier studies. Based on all public data, including 2D and 3D seismic, wells surrounding this area and core photos, an interpretation of the gross depositional environment in Early Jurassic was made. The study method includes seismic-well tie, seismic mapping, literature study, well correlation and interpretation of depositional facies from well logs and core photos. Seismic mapping indicate that the Utsira High likely represented a paleo-topographic high during deposition relative to the Stord Basin, reflected also in the depositional maps. The extensional breakup and forming of The Stord Basin was formed mainly due to extension in Permian - Triassic time, and continued into the Middle and Late Jurassic time. In this study two seismic horizons have been interpreted in the basin. Seismic interpretation has been carried out aiming to understand the distribution and thickness of the Early Jurassic succession in the Stord Basin and evaluate the seismic signature of this interval. Seismic mapping of the Top Hegre and Top Statfjord horizons give a framework of the Early Jurassic Statfjord Group. A literature study of previous work considering the Stord Basin has been done to gain knowledge of the structural and lithostratigraphic framework of the basin. Facies distribution within the Statfjord Group was predicted based on the results of seismic mapping and resulting isochron maps. No gross depositional facies maps are published in the area, whereas prevalent detailed core analysis and core descriptions of wells in the area are well documented. This study aims to test if seismic mapping of accommodation space can help predict gross sedimentary facies in this region

Comparison of intercept methods for correction of steady state relative permeability experiments for capillary end effects

Steady-state relative permeability experiments are performed by coinjection of two fluids through core plug samples. The relative permeabilities can be calculated using Darcy’s law from the stabilized pressure drop and saturation of the core if capillary end effects and transient effects are negligible. In most cases, such conditions are difficult to obtain. Recent works have presented ways to extrapolate steady-state pressure drop and average saturation measurements affected by capillary end effects collected at different rates to obtain correct relative permeabilities at correct saturations. Both the considered methods are based on linear extrapolations to determine intercepts. Gupta and Maloney (2016) derived their method intuitively and validated it with numerical and experimental data. Andersen (2021a) derived a method from fundamental assumptions and presented an intercept method in a different form where the saturation and relative permeabilities are found directly and uniquely from straightline intercepts. All system parameters, including saturation functions and injection conditions, appear in the model. In this work, the two methods are compared. It is proven theoretically that Gupta and Maloney’s method is correct in that it produces the correct saturation and pressure drops corrected for capillary end effects. Especially, a constant pressure drop was assumed and here proved to exist, as a result of capillary end effects in addition to the Darcy law pressure drop with no end effects. Their method assumes a well-defined end effect region with length xCEE, but this length can be defined almost arbitrarily. This choice has little impact on average saturation and pressure drop, however. They also assumed that for a defined end effect region, the average saturation was constant and equal to the slope in their saturation plot. It is shown that if the region is defined, the average saturation is indeed constant, but not given by the slope. The correct slope is predicted by the Andersen model. We also comment on theoretical misinterpretations of the Gupta and Maloney method. A few works have correctly calculated that the pressure drop over the end effect region is independent of rate, but not accounted for that its length is rate dependent. We show that the combined pressure drop is equal to a constant plus the Darcy pressure drop over the full core. Examples are presented to illustrate the model behaviors. Literature datasets are investigated showing that (a) apparently rate-dependent CO2-brine relative permeability endpoints can be explained by capillary end effects and (b) the intercept methods can be applied to correct shale relative permeabilities.acceptedVersio

Depositional trends of the Statfjord Group from the Stord Basin to the Utsira High

Seismic interpretation will establish a framework to understand the regional thickness distributions of the group, and seismic facies analysis will further enable our understanding of the Utsira High as a potential paleo-topographic high during Early Jurassic compared with the Stord Basin.This study aimed to understand the lateral distribution of the Early Jurassic Statfjord Group in the Stord Basin and upon the Utsira High. The Stord Basin in the northern North Sea is located approximately 50 km south of the Troll Field. The tectonostratigraphic framework of the Early Jurassic succession in the Stord Basin has been investigated to better understand the sub-regional distribution of depositional facies of the Statfjord Group.The Stord Basin was formed due to extension pre-Jurassic times, with a major phase in Permian-Triassic. Very few wells have been drilled in the Stord Basin, and the stratigraphic succession and depositional facies distribution across the basin is somewhat speculative and based on seismic mapping of the succession and conceptual depositional models based on earlier studies. Based on all public data, including 2D and 3D seismic, wells surrounding this area and core photos, an interpretation of the gross depositional environment in Early Jurassic was made.The study method includes seismic-well tie, seismic mapping, literature study, well correlation and interpretation of depositional facies from well logs and core photos.Seismic mapping indicate that the Utsira High likely represented a paleo-topographic high during deposition relative to the Stord Basin, reflected also in the depositional maps.The extensional breakup and forming of The Stord Basin was formed mainly due to extension in Permian - Triassic time, and continued into the Middle and Late Jurassic time. In this study two seismic horizons have been interpreted in the basin. Seismic interpretation has been carried out aiming to understand the distribution and thickness of the Early Jurassic succession in the Stord Basin and evaluate the seismic signature of this interval. Seismic mapping of the Top Hegre and Top Statfjord horizons give a framework of the Early Jurassic Statfjord Group. A literature study of previous work considering the Stord Basin has been done to gain knowledge of the structural and lithostratigraphic framework of the basin. Facies distribution within the Statfjord Group was predicted based on the results of seismic mapping and resulting isochron maps. No gross depositional facies maps are published in the area, whereas prevalent detailed core analysis and core descriptions of wells in the area are well documented. This study aims to test if seismic mapping of accommodation space can help predict gross sedimentary facies in this region

Early- and Late-Time Prediction of Counter-Current Spontaneous Imbibition, Scaling Analysis and Estimation of the Capillary Diffusion Coefficient

Solutions are investigated for 1D linear counter-current spontaneous imbibition (COUSI). It is shown theoretically that all COUSI scaled solutions depend only on a normalized coefficient Λn (Sn) with mean 1 and no other parameters (regardless of wettability, saturation functions, viscosities, etc.). 5500 realistic functions Λn were generated using (mixed-wet and strongly water-wet) relative permeabilities, capillary pressure and mobility ratios. The variation in Λn appears limited, and the generated functions span most/all relevant cases. The scaled diffusion equation was solved for each case, and recovery vs time RF was analyzed. RF could be characterized by two (case specific) parameters RFtr and lr (the correlation overlapped the 5500 curves with mean R2=0.9989): Recovery follows exactly RF=T0.5n before water meets the no-flow boundary (early time) but continues (late time) with marginal error until RFtr (highest recovery reached as T0.5n) in an extended early-time regime. Recovery then approaches 1, with lr quantifying the decline in imbibition rate. RFtr was 0.05 to 0.2 higher than recovery when water reached the no-flow boundary (critical time). A new scaled time formulation Tn=t/τTch accounts for system length L and magnitude D¯¯¯¯ of the unscaled diffusion coefficient via τ=L2/D¯¯¯¯ , and Tch separately accounts for shape via Λn. Parameters describing Λn and recovery were correlated which permitted (1) predicting recovery (without solving the diffusion equation); (2) predicting diffusion coefficients explaining experimental recovery data; (3) explaining the challenging interaction between inputs such as wettability, saturation functions and viscosities with time scales, early- and late-time recovery behavior.publishedVersio