Facies Analysis, Sequence Stratigraphy and Diagenetic Studies of the Jurassic Carbonates of the Kohat Basin, Northwest Pakistan: Reservoir Implications

The present study deals with the depositional facies, diagenetic processes and sequence stratigraphy of the shallow marine carbonates of the Samana Suk Formation, Kohat Basin, in order to elucidate its reservoir quality. The Samana Suk Formation consists of thin to thick-bedded, oolitic, bioclastic, dolomitic and fractured limestone. Based on the integration of outcrop, petrographic and biofacies analyses, the unit is thought to have been deposited on a gentle homoclinal ramp in peritidal, lagoonal and carbonate shoal settings. Frequent variations in microfacies based sea-level curve have revealed seven Transgressive Systems Tracts (TSTs) and six Regressive Systems Tracts (RSTs). The unit has undergone various stages of diagenetic processes, including mechanical and chemical compaction, cementation, micritization, dissolution and dolomitization. The petrographic analyses show the evolution of porosity in various depositional and diagenetic phases. The fenestral porosity was mainly developed in peritidal carbonates during deposition, while the burial dissolution and diagenetic dolomitization have greatly enhanced the reservoir potential of the rock unit, as is further confirmed by the plug porosity and permeability analyses. The porosities and permeabilities were higher in shoal facies deposited in TSTs, as compared to lagoonal and peritidal facies, except for the dolomite in mudstone, deposited during RSTs. Hence good, moderate and poor reservoir potential is suggested for shoal, lagoonal and peritidal facies, respectively.     

Rock Physics Modeling and Reservoir Characterization to Estimate Hydrocarbon Zone of Cretaceous and Paleocene Strata and Subsurface Stratigraphic Correlation of Sulaiman Fold Belt to Sulaiman Depression

Doklady Earth Sciences - The research work involves rock physics modeling and reservoir characterization of Suliman fold belt to sulamain fold depression. This area is a brighter zone for...     

Effects of land use and climate variability on the main stream of the Songhua River Basin,Northeast China

ABSTRACT

In this study, three representative concentration pathways (RCPs) and 15 general circulation models of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 were used to assess the behaviour of precipitation (P) and surface air temperature (SAT) over part of the Songhua River Basin. The Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model linked with SAT and P was used for monthly simulation of streamflow to assess the influence of land use/land cover and climate change on the streamflow. The results suggest that, under RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, the SAT over the study area may increase in the 21st century by 1.12, 2.44 and 5.82°C, respectively. Moreover, by the middle of the 21st century, streamflow in the basin may have decreased by 19%. The decrease in streamflow may be due to changed land use conditions and water withdrawal, having critical implications for management and future planning of water resources in the basin.     

Crustal reflection structure in the uplifting zone of Songliao Basin and disconnecting Moho interface

Songliao Basin is one of the most important bases for oil-gas resources of China. Therefore, the mecha-nism of petroleum occurrence and basin dynamics have been paid much attention to by geo-scientists all the time. With multi-phase tectonic movements en-dured by the basin, its tectonic pattern is very complex. Thereinto, three faults, that is, western Neijiang fault(NNE25), eastern Yilan-Yitong fault (NNE30) and Sunwu-Shuangliao fault, extend along south-north direction and cut Songliao…     

Effect of loading rate on the volume change behavior of unsaturated residual soil

Residual soils occur in most countries of the world but those that occur in greater area and depth are usually found in the tropical humid areas. This research examines the effects of loading rate of applied or net mean stress on the volume change behavior of an unsaturated granitic residual soil. Three loading rates were adopted: fast, slow and extra slow loading rate. It was observed that the loading rate of applied or net mean stress has a pronounced effect on the void ratio and degree of saturation but has an insignificant effect on the water content of residual soils subjected to constant matric suction.     

Water infiltration characteristics of unsaturated soil slope and its effect on suction and stability

Rainfall has been considered the cause of the majority of slope failures and landslides that happened in regions experiencing high seasonal rainfalls. The mechanism of the failures was mainly due to the lost of matric suction of soils by rainwater. This paper presents the results of a laboratory model study on the effect of slope angle and surface cover on water infiltration into soil and soil matric suction. A field infiltration test is carried out for comparison. A parametric study is also done to examine the effect of permeability ratio, development of perched water table and rainfall intensity on the factor of safety against instability of a soil slope. Results of the model study show that different surface covers on slopes have an effect on the water infiltration. Generally the covered surface (grass or geosynthetic net) has a lower infiltration rate compared with the bare (no cover) surface. On the effect of slope angle, it was observed that water infiltration decrease with increase in the slope steepness. With regards to the movement of the wetting front, it appears that water infiltration is more at the toe compared with the top of the model slope. Based on the parametric study, it is found factor of safety of the slope against instability drops for slope with higher ratio of permeability for the permeable and impermeable stratum. As the perched water table is formed, the factor of safety decreased. The rainfall intensity also has a marked effect on the slope factor of safety. The higher the intensity of the rainfall, the higher is the infiltration rate into the soil, hence the lower is the factor of safety against slope instability.     

Confirming Ground Geophysical Survey for Mineralization in Al Bayda Area,Yemen

1IntroductionThe study area lies in the northern part of Al Jarra village in Di Naim-Al Bayda District (Fig. 1). The area under investigation is characterized by rugged topography and generally covered by base-ment rocks. The northern part of the study ar…     

DNA adducts in hematopoietic tissues and blood of the mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) from a creosote-contaminated site in the Elizabeth River, Virginia.

Hydrophobic DNA adducts were examined in liver, anterior kidney, spleen, and blood of tumor-prone mummichog (Fundulus heterclitus) from the creosote-contaminated Atlantic Wood (AW) site (Elizabeth River, Virginia). DNA adducts eluted in a diagonal radioactive zone, characteristic of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure, in all examined tissues of AW fish. Mummichog demonstrated significantly higher levels of DNA adducts in spleen (394 +/- 109 nmol adducts/mol nucleotides) than in liver (201 +/- 77 nmol adducts/mol nucleotides) or anterior kidney (211 +/- 68 nmol adducts/mol nucleotides; P = 0.036). The levels of DNA adducts in the pooled blood (pool of four) were 142 nmol adducts/mol nucleotides. DNA adducts were not detected in the liver, anterior kidney, spleen and blood of fish collected from the reference site (< 2 nmol adducts/mol nucleotides). The high levels of DNA adducts detected in tissues of AW mummichog may be linked to the increased cancer incidence and immunosuppression in this population.     

Validation of a TRMM-based global Flood Detection System in Bangladesh

Although the TRMM-based Flood Detection System (FDS) has been in operation in near real-time since 2006, the flood ‘detection’ capability has been validated mostly against qualitative reports in news papers and other types of media. In this study, a more quantitative validation of the FDS over Bangladesh against in situ measurements is presented. Using measured stream flow and rainfall data, the study analyzed the flood detection capability from space for three very distinct river systems in Bangladesh: (1) Ganges– a snowmelt-fed river regulated by upstream India, (2) Brahmaputra – a snow-fed river that is braided, and (3) Meghna – a rain-fed and relatively flashier river. The quantitative assessment showed that the effectiveness of the TRMM-based FDS can vary as a function of season and drainage basin characteristics. Overall, the study showed that the TRMM-based FDS has great potential for flood prone countries like Bangladesh that are faced with tremendous hurdles in transboundary flood management. The system had a high probability of detection overall, but produced increased false alarms during the monsoon period and in regulated basins (Ganges), undermining the credibility of the FDS flood warnings for these situations. For this reason, FDS users are cautioned to verify FDS estimates during the monsoon period and for regulated rivers before implementing flood management practices. Planned improvements by FDS developers involving physically-based hydrologic modeling should transform the system into a more accurate tool for near real-time decision making on flood management for ungauged river basins of the world.