Exploration of polymetallic nodules in the Area: Reporting practices,data management and transparency

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) regulates the activities related with the exploration and exploitation of seabed mineral resources in the Area, which are considered as the "common heritage of mankind" under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The ISA has also the mandate to ensure the protection of the marine environment. The development of good practices for the annual reporting and data submission by Contractors is crucial for the ISA to comply with the sustainable development of the mineral marine resources. In 2015, the ISA issued a new template for reporting on exploration activities, which includes the definition of the format for all geophysical, geological and environmental data to be collected and analysed during exploration. The availability of reliable data contributes to improve the assessment of the ISA on the activities in the Area while promoting transparency, which is considered as a major principle of industry best practices.     

南海北部海域油气勘探保障建设选址适宜性研究

为分析南海北部海域油气勘探保障建设选址的适宜性,在广泛研究备选区特征资料的基础上,基于层次分析法(Analytic Hierarchy Process, AHP)原理,以自然环境因素、开发环境因素、基础设施与投资情况以及其他因素作为一级评判准则,建立了包括12项二级评判准则的递进层次结构模型,并以永兴岛、赵述岛和晋卿岛作为3个假定备选区,来验证分析评价模型的有效性和可靠性。AHP评判结果显示,3个备选区的整体优劣指数依次为0.587 1, 0.212 1, 0.200 8;AHP模型的一致性比例CR值为0.020 3。通过分析和筛选影响远海油气勘探保障建设的选址因子,构建基于AHP原理的选址评价模型,可用于分析评价南海北部岛礁油气勘探保障建设选址的适宜性。     

南海北部海域油气资源调查技术及其应用研究——拖缆及海底地震仪联合勘探观测系统研究

拖缆与海底地震仪联合勘探技术在野外地震调查中起着举足轻重的作用,特别是对油气资源的地震调查方法的研究。其中对海底地震仪(OBS)的研究能够给深水油气调查提供有力的保障,OBS在海底的布设是联合采集的关键,对OBS观测系统的研究显得尤为重要,关系到OBS采集的野外资料的总体质量和后期解释。因此,通过研究,可以选择设计最佳的观测系统,为联合勘探技术提供基础数据,降低采集费用、提高作业效率。     

海上地震勘探主要采集参数的选取与验证——以南海北部某调查区为例

采集参数选取的优劣直接关系到野外地震资料质量的高低。作者经过多年海上地震调查实践,总结了一套实用的采集参数选取原则与验证流程。首先结合南海北部某调查区以往的地震和地质资料分析,建立了典型的地震地质结构模型;根据现有调查设备的性能,利用专业软件Nucleus6.2模拟对采集参数选取的理论计算,比较不同采集参数组合的模拟结果,选择有利于调查任务的参数组合。对海上生产前模拟选用的采集参数组合做试验和验证,确定了最适合的参数作业。运用该套原则和流程精心设计,实验获得了高质量野外资料。     

长江口理化因子影响初级生产力的探索Ⅰ.营养盐限制的判断方法和法则在长江口水域应用

营养盐限制浮游植物的生长是近年来国际研究的热点。探讨了目前营养盐限制的判断方法，认为仅靠氮和磷比值来得到磷限制或氮限制的结论是不完善的。根据营养盐限制的判断方法和法则，对长江口水域进行综合分析，认为在长江口及其附近海域，磷不是浮游植物生长的限制因子，而且氮、磷的浓度值都高于限制浮游植物生长的阈值，满足浮游植物的生长。通过1985年8月至1986年8月的长江口调查数据分析，发现从长江河口到远海水域的有些断面上，磷酸盐浓度并不一定离岸越远越低，且也没有周期性的季节变化。因此，尚须对河口区磷酸盐来源作进一步研究。     

Denitrification-nitrification process in permeable coastal sediments: An investigation on the effect of salinity and nitrate availability using flow-through reactors

Permeable coastal sediments act as a reactive node in the littoral zone,transforming nutrients via a wide range of biogeochemical reactions.Reaction rates are controlled by abiotic factors,e.g.,salinity,temperature or solute concentration.Here,a series of incubation experiments,using flow-through reactors,were conducted to simulate the biogeochemical cycling of nitrate (NO_3~?) and phosphorus (P) in permeable sediments under differentNO_3~?availability conditions (factor I) along a salinity gradient (admixture of river and seawater,factor II).In an oligotrophic scenario,i.e.,unamendedNO_3~?concentrations in both river and seawater,sediments acted as a permanent net source ofNO_3~?to the water column.The peak production rate occurred at an intermediate salinity(20).IncreasingNO_3~?availability in river water significantly enhanced netNO_3~?removal rates within the salinity range of 0 to 30,likely via the denitrification pathway based on the sediment microbiota composition.In this scenario,the most active removal was obtained at salinity of 10.When both river and seawater were spiked with NO_3~?,the highest removal rate switched to the highest salinity (36).It suggests the salinity preference of theNO_3~?removal pathway by local denitrifiers (e.g.,Bacillus and Paracoccus) and thatNO_3~?removal in coastal sediments can be significantly constrained by the dilution relatedNO_3~?availability.Compared with the obtained variation forNO_3~?reactions,permeable sediments acted as a sink of soluble reactive P in all treatments,regardless of salinity andNO_3~?input concentrations,indicating a possibility of P-deficiency for coastal water from the intensive cycling in permeable sediments.Furthermore,the net production of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in all treatments was positively correlated with the measuredNO_3~?reaction rates,indicating that the DOC supply may not be the key factor forNO_3~?removal rates due to the consumption by intensive aerobic respiration.Considering the intensive production of recalcitrant carbon solutes,the active denitrification was assumed to be supported by sedimentary organic matter.     

Structural regime and its impact on the mechanism and migration pathways of hydrocarbon seepage in the southern Gulf of Suez rift: An approach for finding new unexplored fault blocks

A Natural active oil seepage occurs at the intersection of the NW-oriented rift coastal fault and a NE-oriented cross fault which bound the southwest dipping Little Zeit tilted fault block at the southwestern side of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Detailed surface geological mapping followed by subsurface mapping using aeromagnetic, seismic and borehole data of Ras El Ush oilfield (the nearest oil field to the seepage) provide a reliable hydrocarbon migration pathway model of the area.The proposed model suggests that hydrocarbons migrated upward at the intersection of a NE-oriented and the NW-oriented rift coastal faults where they found their way to the surface. The Nubia Sandstone occurs south of Ras El Ush oilfield in a trap door structure and probably entrapped some of the migrating hydrocarbons while a probable oil-water-contact at −1000 m which resulted into the migration of hydrocarbon through the damage zone of the northeast fault.The original oil in place of the predicted reservoir is estimated to be more than 47.5 MMBO which encourages the design makers for more investigation of this reservoir to increase its certainty and putting it in the plan of the future investments.