Hazards of mechanized tunnel excavation in H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S bearing ground in Aspar tunnel,Iran

Occurrence of hydrogen sulfide gas (H₂S) is one of the most important engineering geological hazards during tunneling. Its hazards and consequent challenges are very difficult and costly to solve. During site investigation, one of the tasks for engineering geologists is prediction and evaluation of the risk of H₂S gas in the underground spaces. In this study, water conveyance tunnel of Aspar, which was excavated in H₂S-bearing environments, is discussed. The tunnel is excavated in the hydrocarbon formations. Applied experiments suggest that geological formations pertaining to hydrocarbon resources are crucial in formation and reservation of H₂S gas. This paper briefly discusses hazards and geological sources of H₂S, as well as remedial measures for decreasing the risks and problems in excavation of the tunnel. To predict the risk of H₂S gas in the underground spaces, it is possible to use some precursors such as: sulfur springs, organic traces, organic argillaceous rocks, exposure of H₂S odor from fresh surface of rock and smell of H₂S during boreholes drilling. Controlling the inflow of groundwater into the excavation, diluting the concentration of H₂S, training the personnel and utilization of some proper safety equipment have been used to mitigate risks and problems in tunnel excavation.     

TBM Tunnelling in Hydrogen Sulfide Gas Bearing Ground and its Solutions

In the late December of 2006 while Zagros tunnel project in western Iran was advancing according to the schedule, a sudden rush of groundwater accompanied by a nauseating odor similar to that of rotten egg intruded the tunnel. Some workers complained from eye and respiratory tract irritation. The presence of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas as high as 200 ppm was soon tested positive by gas detectors and subsequently the ventilation fans (2*110 kW) speed were boosted to 1,450 rpm in order to dilute the gas concentration to safe levels (10 ppm). Nonetheless, the work continued at a rather moderate pace for another 11 days and 134 more meters excavated in the gas infested grounds before 4 men died during a damage assessment survey of the TBM after a power failure that had forced the tunnel ventilation system to temporarily shut down. This paper is to discuss hazards and geological sources of H₂S gas in of Zagros Water Conveyance Tunnel and to recommend practical solutions to prevent or mitigate the gas destructive effects on human and machinery, as well.     

Separation of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S from CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> by polymeric membranes at different H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S concentrations

In this work, permeation of mixed gases H₂S/CH₄ through commercial polyphenylene oxide (PPO) hollow fiber and poly (ester urethane) urea (PEUU) flat membranes was studied at pressures of 345–689 kPa, at ambient temperature and at 313.15 K. Various H₂S concentrations of about 100–5000 ppm in CH₄ binary synthetic gas mixtures as well as a real natural gas sample obtained from a gas refinery containing 0.3360 mol.% H₂S (equivalent to 3360 ppm) were tested. It was observed that the permeance of components was affected by the balance between competitive sorption and plasticization effects. Separation factors of H₂S/CH₄ were in the range of 1.3–2.9, 1.8–3.1 and 2.2–4.3 at pressures of 345, 517 and 689 kPa, respectively. In the range of 101–5008 ppm of H₂S in CH₄, the effect of temperature on the separation factor was nearly negligible; however, permeances of both components of the mixtures increased with temperature. Additionally, the results obtained by PEUU membrane indicated that it was a better choice for hydrogen sulfide separation from H₂S/CH₄ mixtures than PPO. For PPO membrane, removal of hydrogen sulfide from high-concentration (up to 5008 ppm) binary mixtures of H₂S/CH₄ was compared with that of low concentration (as low as 101 ppm) through PPO. At concentrations of 101–968 ppm, plasticization was dominant compared with the competitive sorption, while for the H₂S feed concentrations of 3048 ppm, the competitive sorption effect was dominant. For H₂S concentration of 5008 ppm, the balance between these two effects played an important role for explanation of its trend.     

The impact of tunneling construction on the hydrogeological environment of “Tseng-Wen Reservoir Transbasin Diversion Project” in Taiwan

Groundwater flow and the associated surface water flow are potential negative factors on underground tunnels. Early detection of environmental impacts on water resources is of significant importance to planning, design and construction of tunnel projects, as early detection can minimize accidents and project delays during construction. The groundwater modeling software package Groundwater Modeling System (GMS), which supports the groundwater numerical codes MODFLOW and FEMWATER, was utilized to determine the impact of tunneling excavation on the hydrogeological environment in a regional area around the tunnel and a local hot springs area, at the “Tseng-Wen Reservoir Transbasin Diversion Project”, in Taiwan. A hydrogeological conceptual model was first developed to simplify structures related to the site topography, geology and geological structure. The MODFLOW code was then applied to simulate groundwater flow pattern for the hydrogeological conceptual model in the tunnel area. The automated parameter estimation method was applied to calibrate groundwater level fluctuation and hydrogeological parameters in the region. Calibration of the model demonstrated that errors between simulated and monitored results are smaller than allowable errors. The study also observed that tunneling excavation caused groundwater to flow toward the tunnel. No obvious changes in the groundwater flow field due to tunnel construction were observed far away in the surrounding regions. Furthermore, the FEMWATER code for solving 3-D groundwater flow problems, in which hydrogeological characteristics are integrated into a geographic information system (GIS), is applied to evaluate the impact of tunnel construction on an adjacent hot spring. Simulation results indicated that the groundwater drawdown rate is less than the groundwater recharge rate, and the change to the groundwater table after tunnel construction was insignificant for the hot spring area. Finally, the groundwater flow obtained via the GMS indicated that the hydrogeological conceptual model can estimate the possible quantity of tunnel inflow and the impact of tunnel construction on the regional and local groundwater resources regime of the transbasin diversion project.     

Analytical approach for time‐dependent groundwater inflow into shield tunnel face in confined aquifer

Prediction of time‐dependent groundwater inflow into a shield tunnel is a significant task facing engineers. Published literature shows that there is no available method with which to predict time‐dependent groundwater inflow into a tunnel. This paper presents a prediction approach for time‐dependent groundwater inflow into a tunnel in both anisotropic and isotropic confined aquifers. The proposed solution can predict groundwater inrush from the tunnel cutting face. To obtain the time‐dependent groundwater flow quantity, the concept of a horizontal‐well pumping test based on the theory of a point source is adopted. Multiple factors, eg, drawdown, thickness of aquifer, conductivities, and specific storage, are taken into account. Both groundwater inflow to the cross section of a tunnel face in the y‐z plane and total tunnel inflow are obtained. Based on the proposed approach, the time‐dependent groundwater inflow to a tunnel can be classified as either a uniform or non‐uniform flow. The proposed approach is applied to analyse groundwater inflow of 2 field cases: (1) Metro line No. 7, Guangzhou City and (2) an underground tunnel in Huizhou, Guangdong Province. Results show that the proposed method can predict the measured values, and drawdown‐related curves are also derived. In addition, the calculated results also reveal that the effect of hydraulic conductivity k_z on the total groundwater inflow differs from that of hydraulic conductivities k_x and k_y and the thickness of the aquifer.     

Excavation of the Aica-Mules pilot tunnel for the Brenner base tunnel: information gained on water inflows in tunnels in granitic massifs

The construction of the Aica-Mules tunnel, completed in 2010, provides a relevant case history for improving the knowledge of hydrogeological issues related to the excavation of deep tunnels in granitic massifs. The Aica-Mules tunnel is a 10 km-long structure, forming part of the high-speed railway connection between Austria and Italy across the Alpine chain, located at an average depth of 500–1,000 m below the surface. Prior to and during the construction, intense hydrogeological monitoring was set up, allowing the collection of abundant data concerning: (1) the evolution of water inflows into the tunnel; (2) the chemistry and temperature of drained groundwater; and (3) the influence of tunnel drainage on springs. Based on detailed analysis of geological/hydrogeological data, this article provides an insight into the permeability distribution in granitic rocks affected by relevant brittle tectonic deformation, and the consequences of water inflow during excavation. The available time series from the principal water discharges in the tunnel have been used in order to test the reliability of some of the most commonly applied analytical methods for the forecast of water inflows into tunnels.     

Ammonia emission from CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> capture pilot plant using aminoethylethanolamine

Amine post-combustion carbon capture technology is based on washing the flue gas with a solvent that captures CO₂. Thus, a small fraction of this solvent can be released together with the cleaned flue gas. This release may cause environmental concerns, both directly and indirectly through subsequent solvent degradation into other substances in the atmosphere. The paper presents the ammonia emission from CO₂ capture pilot plant (1 tonne CO₂ per day) using 40 wt% aminoethylethanolamine solvent, along with the efficiency of the water wash unit. In addition, the temperature effect of lean amine entering the absorber on ammonia emission was studied. Furthermore, the concentrations of other compounds such as SO₂, SO₃, NO₂, CS₂ and formaldehyde were monitored. The literature review on the NH₃ emission from a pilot plant using aminoethylethanolamine solvent has not been published. The results show that the main source of ammonia emission is the absorber and that emission (in the range 27–50 ppm) corresponds to typical NH₃ release from CO₂ capture pilot plant using an amine solvent. The emission of amines and amine degradation products is a complex phenomenon which is difficult to predict in novel solvents, and for this reason the significance of new solvents testing in a pilot scale has been highlighted.     

隧洞涌水量预测计算方法研究进展

涌水灾害问题广泛存在于隧洞工程的建设之中,它直接关系到施工进度、洞室稳定性及人身安全。目前国内外学者研究出大量的隧洞涌水量预测计算方法,但不同计算方法具有不同的适用条件和优缺点,选取合理的计算方法对于计算结果的准确性至关重要。本文将当前广泛应用的隧洞涌水量预测计算方法分类总结为4种:经验公式法、解析公式法、数值计算法和物理模拟法。经验公式法多来源于大量工程案例的总结,着重于相似地质条件下隧洞涌水量计算;解析公式法则基于严密的理论推导过程,计算过程快速简洁;数值计算法适用于复杂水文地质条件下涌水问题的计算;物理模拟法借助于试验的手段,直观地显现出隧洞的涌水规律。本文对现有计算方法的理论原理、适用条件和优缺点进行了详细的总结,并展望了隧洞涌水问题的未来研究方向。     

CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> mineralization of natural wollastonite into porous silica and CaCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> powders promoted via membrane electrolysis

CO₂ is a greenhouse gas, whose emissions threaten the existence of human beings. Its inherently safe sequestration can be performed via CO₂ mineralization, which is relatively slow under natural conditions. In this work, an energy-saving membrane electrolysis technique was proposed for accelerating the CO₂ mineralization of wollastonite into SiO₂ and CaCO₃ products. The electrolysis process involved splitting NH₄Cl into HCl and NH₃·H₂O via hydrogen oxidation and water reduction at the anode and cathode of the electrolytic system, respectively. In contrast to the chlor-alkali electrolysis, this method did not involve Cl^? oxidation and the standard potential of the anode was reduced. Additionally, NH₄Cl was used as the electrolyte instead of NaCl; as a result, the generation of NH₃·H₂O instead of NaOH occurred in the catholyte and the cathodic pH dramatically decreased, thus reducing the cathodic potential for hydrogen evolution. The observed changes led to a 73.5% decrease in the energy consumption. Moreover, after the process of CO₂ mineralization was optimized, SiO₂ with a specific surface area of 221.8 m² g^?1 and CaCO₃ with a purity of 99.9% were obtained.     

The Starzach site in Southern Germany: a site with naturally occurring CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions recovering from century-long gas mining as a natural analog for a leaking CCS reservoir

In this paper, we present the Starzach site, a region featuring numerous natural CO₂ emission spots, such as mofettes, that reappeared after a longer period of extensive industrial CO₂ mining. We discuss the results of a detailed literature study on the geological setting and the activities related to the gas mining in combination with own measurements to introduce the site as an example on how gas leakage from an insecure CCS reservoir could manifest at the surface. The site is in particular interesting for such investigations as the CO₂ emissions started to replenish after the end of the CO₂ mining and offers the unique possibility to investigate an increase in degassing activity as it might be expected for an active CCS site where leakage is suspected. Based on the geological setting and soil, gas emission, and isotope investigations, we further discuss the source of the CO₂ emission and the gas ascent to the ground surface via deep-reaching faults, latter being so far excluded by previous work. The combination of our extensive literature review and recent field investigations allowed us to draw new geological conclusions for the site that were under discussion for a long time and to give insight into the site’s potential for CCS-related analog studies in the future.     

某铁路隧道隧址区水文地质条件分析与洞身涌水量预算

通过详细分析隧道址区水文地质资料,认为石炭系灰岩、三叠系中统河湾组白云质灰岩和上统大水塘组下段安山玄武岩为强含水层组,大量的岩溶发育于石炭系灰岩和三叠系中统河湾组白云质灰岩中。以井水断层及太元背斜为界,将研究区分为太元背斜和街子坡复式向斜2个水文地质单元,并对各单元中水量、水质与地下水的补给、径流及排泄条件等进行了说明。采取并测试了13组地下水同位素样品,结果发现,区内地下水均来源于大气降水。应用地下水动力学和降水系数法对隧道洞身的涌水量进行了预测,推断隧道的正常涌水量为56 880m3/d,最大涌水量为68 300m3/d。为防止隧道塌方,提出了"短进尺、快循环、弱爆破、少扰动、紧封闭、超前注浆"的施工方法,并要求在施工中做好超前地质预测工作。     

Variations in dust-related PM<Subscript>10</Subscript> emission from an arid land due to surface composition and topsoil disturbance

Aeolian (wind) erosion is most common in arid regions. The resulted emission of PM₁₀ (particulate matter that is smaller than 10 μm in diameter) from the soil has many environmental and socioeconomic consequences such as soil degradation and air pollution. Topsoil resistance to aeolian transport highly depends on the surface composition. The study aim was to examine variations in PM₁₀ fluxes in a desert-dust source due to surface composition and topsoil disturbance. Aeolian field experiments using a boundary layer wind tunnel alongside soil composition analysis were integrated in this study. The results show variations in PM₁₀ fluxes (ranging from 9.5 to 524.6 mg m^?2 min^?1) in the studied area. Higher wind velocity increased significantly the PM₁₀ fluxes in all surface compositions. A short-term natural disturbance caused changes in the aggregate soil distribution (ASD) and increased significantly PM₁₀ emissions. Considering that PM₁₀ contains clays, organic matter, and absorbed elements, the recorded PM₁₀ fluxes are indicative of the potential soil loss and degradation by wind erosion in such resource-limited ecosystems. The findings have implications in modeling dust emission from a source area with complex surfaces.     

陕西省镇安县东沟金矿生产坑道系统涌水量预测方法对比

根据矿区的水文地质条件和勘探坑道系统长期排水量动态观测资料和钻孔抽水试验资料,分别采用水文地质比拟预测法和Q-S曲线外推预测法,对矿区生产坑道系统涌水量进行预测对比.利用此方法预测的生产坑道系统涌水量,比较接近实际情况,预测的生产坑道系统最大涌水量可以作为生产坑道系统设计排水量的依据.对条件类似的矿山可采用水文地质比拟法预测坑道系统的涌水量.     

Hydrogeochemistry and groundwater origin of the Basses-Laurentides sedimentary rock aquifer system, St. Lawrence Lowlands, Québec, Canada

A comprehensive hydrogeochemical study was carried out in the Paleozoic Basses-Laurentides sedimentary rock aquifer system in Québec over a 1500 km² study area. Groundwater samples were collected at 153 sites, characterizing all geological and hydrogeological units to a maximum depth of 140 m. Groundwater was analyzed for major, minor and trace inorganic constituents, stable isotopes δ ²H, δ ¹⁸O, and δ ¹³C of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and some samples were analyzed for ³H, and ¹⁴C of DIC. The regional distribution of groundwater types shows that the hydrogeological conditions exert a dominant control on the major ions chemistry of groundwater. Preferential recharge areas are characterized by tritiated Ca-Mg-HCO₃ groundwater, and confined conditions by submodern Na-HCO₃ and Na-Cl groundwater types. Two groundwater end-members are identified in the aquifer system, modern meteoric water and Pleistocene Champlain Sea water. The region displays significant variations of groundwater geochemistry and quality controlled by glaciation, Champlain Sea invasion, lithological rock diversity, and flow system scales. This situation leads to varied groundwater types and origins within a restricted area.     

H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O solubility in basalt at upper mantle conditions

This study presents a new experimental approach for determining H₂O solubility in basaltic melt at upper mantle conditions. Traditional solubility experiments are limited to pressures of ~600 MPa or less because it is difficult to reliably quench silicate melts containing greater than ~10 wt% dissolved H₂O. To overcome this limitation, our approach relies on the use of secondary ion mass spectrometry to measure the concentration of H dissolved in olivine and on using the measured H in olivine as a proxy for the concentration of H₂O in the co-existing basaltic melt. The solubility of H₂O in the melt is determined by performing a series of experiments at a single pressure and temperature with increasing amounts of liquid H₂O added to each charge. The point at which the concentration of H in the olivine first becomes independent of the amount of initial H₂O content of the charge (added + adsorbed H₂O) indicates its solubility in the melt. Experiments were conducted by packing basalt powder into a capsule fabricated from San Carlos olivine, which was then pressure-sealed inside a Ni outer capsule. Our experimental results indicate that at 1000 MPa and 1200 °C, the solubility of H₂O in basaltic melt is 20.6 ± 0.9 wt% (2 × standard deviation). This concentration is considerably higher than predicted by most solubility models but defines a linear relationship between H₂O fugacity and the square of molar H₂O solubility when combined with solubility data from lower pressure experiments. Further, our solubility determination agrees with melting point depression determined experimentally by Grove et al. (2006) for the H₂O-saturated peridotite solidus at 1000 MPa. Melting point depression calculations were used to estimate H₂O solubility in basalt along the experimentally determined H₂O-saturated peridotite solidus. The results suggest that a linear relationship between H₂O fugacity and the square of molar solubility exists up to ~1300 MPa, where there is an inflection point and solubility begins to increase less strongly with increasing H₂O fugacity.     

雁门关铁路隧道涌水量预测与防护措施研究

雁门关铁路隧道施工范围内地表水及地下水发育,为保证施工安全,应对施工范围内地表水及地下水进行评价,并对施工期的涌水量进行预测。根据水文地质和工程地质调查,结合物探及钻探资料综合分析表明：隧道区域构造发育,断层破碎带导水性好;地下水分布以断层带水和基岩裂隙水为主,一般断层带强富水,而基岩裂隙带为弱富水～中等富水。隧道集中涌水段主要发生在断裂构造发育地带。     

Predicting ambient concentrations of NO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in a gas refinery located in South Pars Gas Complex

In this study, AERMOD dispersion model has been applied for predicting the values of ambient concentrations of NO₂ emissions due to the stacks of fourth gas refinery located in South Pars Gas Complex in Asaluyeh, Iran. First, the values of NO₂ emissions from the stacks and the amounts of ambient concentrations of NO₂ in nine monitoring stations have been measured in four seasons in 2013. Then, dispersion of NO₂ emissions has been predicted by using AERMOD model in the region with the domain area of 10 × 10 km², in average times of 1 h. Finally, the simulated and observed values of ambient NO₂ concentrations in the nine receptors have been compared. Comparison of 1-h concentrations of the observed and predicted results with the international ambient standard levels shows that NO₂ concentrations are higher than the standard value. The results show that AERMOD model can be used effectively for predicting the amounts of pollutants’ concentrations in the study area.     

Application of fuzzy Delphi AHP method for the estimation and classification of Ghomrud tunnel from groundwater flow hazard

Water inflow and water pressure controls are needed in the design, construction, and exploitation of tunnels. The objective of this paper is to present a new system which can be appropriate for rating tunnel sites to evaluate the potential of groundwater inflow according to the preliminary site investigation data. In this paper, an evaluation model based on combining the analytic hierarchy process and the fuzzy Delphi method has been presented for assessing tunnel site rating from the groundwater hazard point of view. This research treats the tunnel site classification as a group decision problem and applies the fuzzy logic theory as the criterion to calculate the weighting factors. Afterward, the proposed method was successfully applied to determine the amount of groundwater inflow into tunnels. Results of several case studies in various geological conditions roughly show that it can be used to determine the groundwater inflow into tunnels. The introduced method has been examined successfully in Ghomroud tunnel. Results from the proposed method, analytical equations, and observed groundwater inflow into Ghomrud tunnel have been compared. Results show that, because most of parameters regulating groundwater inflow into tunnels have been considered in the method, results from the method are very close to the observed groundwater inflow. Applying this method, according to preliminary investigations conducted by the designers, provides a more suitable design of the drainage system, drilling method, and tunnel support.     

福建永春煤矿瓦斯涌出特征及防治

福建省永春煤矿属极低瓦斯矿井,根据煤矿矿井地质特征以及生产过程中大量实测的煤层瓦斯涌出数据,认为导致本矿区瓦斯含量小的主要原因为:暴露式煤田有利于瓦斯沿煤层露头逸出,围岩的透气性好有利于瓦斯的运移和排放,地下水的频繁活动不利于瓦斯的积聚,以及成煤作用后期的地质构造运动等。研究表明随着开采深度的增加,在局部地段仍可能出现高瓦斯区。为有效防范和遏制小煤矿瓦斯事故的发生,提出了健全瓦斯治理机构、改进装备、完善各项规章制度、加强现场与技术管理、改善安全生产条件、提高从业人员素质等措施,全面提升瓦斯治理水平。     

山岭隧道工程综合地质勘察方法探讨

山岭隧道工程具有隐蔽性、施工复杂性、地层条件和周围环境不确定性等特点,采用科学的勘察方法,是查明隧道岩土体工程地质条件的有效手段。本文以海淀区西山隧道为依托,针对隧道工程勘察中的关键地质问题,运用工程地质测绘、钻探、工程物探、水文地质勘查等综合勘察方法,有效地查明隧址区的地质构造、岩土体结构和地下水分布特征,全面、客观地评价隧道进出口段边坡及仰坡稳定性、隧道围岩质量与稳定性、隧道涌水量、地应力及有害气体等工程地质问题,并针对不良地质现象提出防治对策,以期为工期紧张、地形困难且日趋增多的山岭隧道工程地质勘察,提供可以借鉴的模式和方法。