Fracture detection by Gaussian beam imaging of seismic data and image spectrum analysis

Localization of fractured areas is of primary interest in the study of oil and gas geology in carbonate environments. Hydrocarbon reservoirs in these environments are embedded within an impenetrable rock matrix but possess a rich system of various microheterogeneities, i.e., cavities, cracks, and fractures. Cavities accumulate oil, but its flow is governed by a system of fractures. A distinctive feature of wave propagation in such media is the excitation of the scattered/diffracted waves by the microheterogeneities. This scattering could be a reliable attribute for characterization of the fine structure of reservoirs, but it has extremely low energy and any standard data processing renders them practically invisible in comparison with images produced by specular reflections. Therefore, any attempts to use these waves for image congestion of microheterogeneities should first have a preliminary separation of the scattering and specular reflections. In this paper, the approach to performing this separation is based on the asymmetric summation. It is implemented by double focusing of Gaussian beams. To do this, the special weights are computed by propagating Gaussian beams from the target area towards the acquisition system separately for sources and receivers. The different mutual positioning of beams in each pair introduces a variety of selective images that are destined to represent some selected singular primitives of the target objects such as fractures, cavities, and edges. In this way, one can construct various wave images of a target reservoir, particularly in scattered/diffracted waves. Additional removal of remnants of specular reflections is done by means of spectral analysis of the scattered/diffracted waves' images to recognize and cancel extended lineaments. Numerical experiments with Sigsbee 2A synthetic seismic data and some typical structures of the Yurubcheno‐Tokhomskoye oil field in East Siberia are presented and discussed.     

铁法矿区煤层冲刷带研究

论述了铁法矿区冲刷带发育的地质背景;指出比较常见和对煤层破坏程度较严重的冲刷带成因类型是同沉积河道冲刷带、沉积后河道冲刷带和继承性河道冲刷带,并阐明了它们的识别特征。在对铁法矿区煤系沉积相分析的基础上,利用煤层顶板砂体等厚图对大隆井田4#煤层中的冲刷带进行了预测;揭示了铁法矿区煤层冲刷带的总体分布规律。      

A set-up converter and energy transfer system of an “Energy-2” generator for electromagnetic sounding and monitoring of zones of earthquake sources

A boost converter and a system of energy transfer at a high voltage (up to 1100 V) developed for an “Energy-2” generator 200 kW in power are described. This generator is intended for solving the problems of precision monitoring of the electromagnetic depth of the Earth’s crust at seismoactive regions with an aim to search for earthquake forerunners. High voltage allows taking off the total generator’s power on transmitting antennas with high resistance (7 Ω and higher) within a wide frequency range (0.1–200 Hz) as well as on low-resistance antennas (lower than 0.7 Ω) at high frequencies (greater than 20 Hz). Modern Russian and foreign literature on the problem of developing transformers and rectifiers of the generator’s power circuit, responsible for generation of powerful low-frequency electromagnetic signals, is reviewed. Theoretical research and numerical simulation of the “Energy-2” generator’s power circuit are performed and the element base of the latter is optimized. Based on the developed documentation of all components, radiators and a system of forced ventilation have been made. The proposed generator-measuring complex has no analogs in world practice and can be used for solving a wide range of fundamental and applied problems. Original Russian Text ? E.D. Tereshchenko, V.F. Grigoryev, M.B. Barannik, A.N. Danilin, B.V. Efimov, V.V. Kolobov, P.I. Prokopchuk, V.N. Selivanov, Yu.A. Kopytenko, A.A. Zhamaletdinov, 2009, published in Seismicheskie Pribory, 2009, No. 4, pp. 43–65.     

Thermal structure and heat loss at the summit crater of an active lava dome

Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) nighttime thermal images were used to extract the thermal and morphological properties for the surface of a blocky-to-rubbley lava mass active within the summit crater of the Caliente vent at Santiaguito lava dome (Guatemala). Thermally the crater was characterized by three concentric regions: a hot outer annulus of loose fine material at 150–400°C, an inner cold annulus of blocky lava at 40–80°C, and a warm central core at 100–200°C comprising younger, hotter lava. Intermittent explosions resulted in thermal renewal of some surfaces, mostly across the outer annulus where loose, fine, fill material was ejected to expose hotter, underlying, material. Surface heat flux densities (radiative + free convection) were dominated by losses from the outer annulus (0.3–1.5 × 10⁴  s⁻¹m⁻²), followed by the hot central core (0.1–0.4 × 10⁴ J s⁻¹m⁻²) and cold annulus (0.04–0.1 × 10⁴ J s⁻¹m⁻²). Overall surface power output was also dominated by the outer annulus region (31–176 MJ s⁻¹), but the cold annulus contributed equal power (2.41–7.07 MJ s⁻¹) as the hot central core (2.68–6.92 MJ s⁻¹) due to its greater area. Cooled surfaces (i.e. the upper thermal boundary layer separating surface temperatures from underlying material at magmatic temperatures) across the central core and cold annulus had estimated thicknesses, based on simple conductive model, of 0.3–2.2 and 1.5–4.3 m. The stability of the thermal structure through time and between explosions indicates that it is linked to a deeper structural control likely comprising a central massive plug, feeding lava flow from the SW rim of the crater, surrounded by an arcuate, marginal fracture zone through which heat and mass can preferentially flow.     

Evaluation of factors controlling smectite transformation and fluid production in subduction zones: Application to the Nankai Trough

Abstract The transformation of smectite‐group clay minerals to illite has garnered considerable interest as a potentially important process affecting both the mechanical and hydrologic behavior of subduction zones. Illitization can generate fluid overpressure by release of bound water, and the mineralogical change and associated cementation may increase intrinsic frictional strength while decreasing the sliding stability of faults. Released bound water also contributes to pore water freshening observed in boreholes at numerous margins. Here the authors combine data from Ocean Drilling Program drill sites along two transects at the Nankai subduction zone with numerical models of smectite transformation, to (i) quantify the distribution of smectite transformation and fluid production downdip of the trench; and (ii) evaluate its hydrologic and mechanical implications. High heat flow (ca 180 mW/m²) along the axis of the Kinan Seamount Chain (Muroto transect) initiates clay mineral transformation outboard of the trench, whereas lower heat flow (70–120 mW/m²) 100 km to the SW (Ashizuri transect) results in negligible presubduction diagenesis. As a result, considerably more bound fluid is subducted along the Ashizuri transect; simulated peak fluid sources down‐dip of the trench are considerably higher than for the Muroto transect (ca 1.2–1.3 × 10^?14/s vs ca 6 × 10^?15/s), and are shifted ca 10 km further from the trench. More generally, sensitivity analysis illustrates that heat flow, taper angle, incoming sediment thickness, and plate convergence rate all systematically affect reaction progress and the distribution of bound water release down‐dip of the trench. These shifts in the loci and volume of fluid release are important for constraining fluid flow pathways, and provide insight into the links between clay transformation and fault mechanics.     

Multi-level decollement zones and detachment deformation of Longmenshan thrust belt,Sichuan Basin,southwest China

As is well known that many decollement layers were developed in the Longmenshan thrust belt,Si-chuan Basin,China. Through field investigation,explanation of seismic profiles and analysis of the balanced sections,we can divide the decollement zones into 3 categories: (1) the deep level decolle-ment zones,including the crust-mantle decollement layer,intracrustal decollement layer,and presinian basal decollement layer. The main structural styles of their deformation are the crust-mantle decoup-ling detachment deformation,the basal ductile shear deformation,etc.; (2) the middle level decollement zones,including the Cambrian-Ordovician decollement layer,the Silurian decollement layer,etc.,the main structural styles of their deformation are the isopachous fold,the angular fold,the saddle struc-ture,and the combination styles of them; and (3) the shallow level decollement zones,including the Xujiahe Formation decollement layer of Upper Triassic and the Jurassic decollement layers,the main structural styles of their deformation are the thrust-nappe tectonic,the pop-up,the triangle zone ,the duplex,etc. Multi-level decollement zones not only made the Longmenshan thrust belt develop many different deformation styles from deep place to shallow place,but also made some local areas have the superimposition of the tectonic deformation apparently. This study indicates that the multi-level de-collement zones have a very important effect on the shaping and evolution of the Longmenshan thrust belt.     

Dehydration of clastic sediments in subduction zones: Theoretical study using thermodynamic data of minerals

Pseudosections for two sediments and one basalt calculated in the system K₂O–Na₂O–CaO–MgO–FeO–Fe₂O₃–Al₂O₃–TiO₂–SiO₂–H₂O for the P–T range 10 to 35 kbar, 300 to 900°C give useful insights into the amount of H₂O released from oceanic crust in subduction zones. In cold subduction zones (20 kbar–300°C to 35 kbar–500°C) hydrous minerals storing 3 to 4 wt% H₂O are still present in metasediments at depths of 120 km. In the same environment, metabasite releases 1 wt% H₂O in the depth range 100 to 120 km, but 4.5 wt% H₂O is transported to greater depths. In hot subduction zones (300°C hotter than the cold subduction zone at 100 km depth), dehydration events of metasediments in the depth range 50 to 80 km correspond to the breakdown of chlorite and paragonite. In the calculations no further water is released at greater depths because the modal content of phengite, the only hydrous mineral phase at these depths, remains almost constant. For the same P–T path, metabasite shows continuous dehydration between 40 and 80 km releasing almost 3 wt% H₂O. At 120 km depth less than 0.4 wt% of H₂O remains. In an average modern subduction zone (～6°C/km) most dehydration of sediments occurs at depths of 70 to 100 km and that of basalts at depths of 80 to 120 km. Only 1.3 wt% H₂O in metasediments and 1.6 wt% H₂O in metabasalt has the potential to be subducted to depths greater than 120 km. The dehydration behavior of sediments concurs with the generally held idea that subduction zone fluids are most effectively transported to great depths by cold subduction. In hot subduction zones, such as those characteristic of early Earth, most H₂O carried by oceanic crust is liberated at depths less than 120 km and, thus, would not contribute to island‐arc magmatism.     

Point-to-point connectivity,an abstract concept or a key issue for risk assessment studies?

Connectivity of high/low-permeability areas has been recognized to significantly impact groundwater flow and solute transport. The task of defining a rigorous quantitative measure of connectivity for continuous variables has failed so far, and thus there exist a suite of connectivity indicators which are dependent on the specific hydrodynamic processes and the interpretation method. Amongst the many existing indicators, we concentrate on those characterizing connectivity between the points involved in a hydraulic or tracer test. The flow connectivity indicator used here is based on the time elapsed for hydraulic response in a pumping test (e.g., the storage coefficient estimated by the Cooper–Jacob method, S_est). Regarding transport, we select the estimated porosity from the breakthrough curve (_est). According to Knudby and Carrera [Knudby C, Carrera J. On the relationship between indicators of geostatistical, flow and transport connectivity. Adv Water Resour 2005;28(4):405–21] these two indicators measure connectivity differently, and are poorly correlated. Here, we use perturbation theory to analytically investigate the intrinsic relationship between S_est and _est. We find that _est can be expressed as a weighted line integral along the particle trajectory involving two parameters: the transmissivity point values, T, and the estimated values of S_est along the particle path. The weighting function is linear with the distance from the pumping well, thus the influence of the weighting function is maximum at the injection area, whereas the hydraulic information close to the pumping well becomes redundant (null weight). The relative importance of these two factors is explored using numerical simulations in a given synthetic aquifer and tested against intermediate-scale laboratory tracer experiments. We conclude that the degree of connectivity between two points of an aquifer (point-to-point connectivity) is a key issue for risk assessment studies aimed at predicting the travel time of a potential contaminant.     

试析西部地区社区参与旅游生态环境系统维护的实现途径

近年来西部地区旅游业取得了飞速发展,同时生态环境也受到了较大破坏,而社区居民参与维护旅游生态环境系统的积极性未被充分调动起来,不利于西部地区旅游业的可持续发展。应采取一些具体措施来激励社区居民以使其积极参与到旅游生态环境系统维护中,包括坚持社区居民受益原则,采用股份制完善利益分配方式;提高管理层的社区参与意识,拓展社区参与途径;采取措施实现社区“人的发展”及社区参与层次的提高等。     

Application of General Shear Theory to the Study of Formation Mechanism of the Metamorphic Core Complex:A Case Study of Xiaoqinling in Central China

The kinematic vorticity number and strain of the mylonitic zone related to the detachment fault increase from ESE to WNW along the moving direction of the upper plate of the Xiaoqinling metamorphic core complex (XMCC) and the geometry of quartz c-axis fabrics changes progressively from crossed girdles to single girdles in the same direction. Therefore, pure shear is dominant in the ESE part of the XMCC while simple shear becomes increasingly important towards WNW. However, the shear type does not change with the strain across the shear zone, thus the variation of shear type is of significance in indicating the formation mechanism. The granitic plutons within the XMCC came from the deep source and their emplacement was an active and forceful upwelling prior to the detachment faulting. The PTt path demonstrates that magmatism is an important cause for the formation of the XMCC. The formation mechanism of the XMCC is supposed to be active plutonism and passive detachment. Crustal thickening and magmatic do