Experimental constraints on degassing and permeability in volcanic conduit flow

This study assesses the effect of decompression rate on two processes that directly influence the behavior of volcanic eruptions: degassing and permeability in magmas. We studied the degassing of magma with experiments on hydrated natural rhyolitic glass at high pressure and temperature. From the data collected, we defined and characterized one degassing regime in equilibrium and two regimes in disequilibrium. Equilibrium bubble growth occurs when the decompression rate is slower than 0.1 MPa s^–1, while higher rates cause porosity to deviate rapidly from equilibrium, defining the first disequilibrium regime of degassing. If the deviation is large enough, a critical threshold of super-saturation is reached and bubble growth accelerates, defining the second disequilibrium regime. We studied permeability and bubble coalescence in magma with experiments using the same rhyolitic melt in open degassing conditions. Under these open conditions, we observed that bubbles start to coalesce at ~43 vol% porosity, regardless of decompression rate. Coalescence profoundly affects bubble texture and size distributions, and induces the melt to become permeable. We determined coalescence to occur on a time scale (~180 s) independent of decompression rate. We parameterized and incorporated our experimental results into a 1D conduit flow model to explore the implications of our findings on eruptive behavior of rhyolitic melts with low crystal contents stored in the upper crust. Compared to previous models that assume equilibrium degassing of the melt during ascent, the introduction of disequilibrium degassing reduces the deviation from lithostatic pressure by ~25%, the acceleration at high porosities (>50 vol%) by a factor 5, and the associated decompression rate by an order of magnitude. The integration of the time scale of coalescence to the model shows that the transition between explosive and effusive eruptive regimes is sensitive to small variations of the initial magma ascent speed, and that flow conditions near fragmentation may significantly be affected by bubble coalescence and gas escape.Editorial responsibility: D. Dingwell     

Helium accumulation in groundwater, III. Limits on helium transfer across the mantle-crust boundary beneath Australia and the magnitude of mantle degassing

The groundwaters of the Great Artesian Basin (Australia) have been previously shown to be accumulating in-situ production helium for groundwaters ages < 50 kyr and an external helium flux equivalent to whole crustal production for groundwater ages > 100 kyr [1,2]. New helium isotope measurements show that the observed in-situ production helium (³He/⁴He 1.6 × 10⁻⁸) is isotopically distinct from the crustal degassing helium flux (³He/⁴He 6.6 × 10⁻⁸). Furthermore, the crustal degassing helium isotope ratio is marginally in excess of the whole crustal production ratio (³He/⁴He= 3.5 × 10⁻⁸) and the production ratio in a variety of continental rock types. This suggests that the upper limit on volatile transport across the mantle-crust boundary beneath the (relatively) stable and “complacent” Australian continent can be characterized by a “conductive-diffusive” helium/heat flux ratio of 2.6 × 10⁶⁴He atoms mW⁻¹ s⁻¹ which is two orders of magnitude less than the “intrusive-volcanic” ratio of 2.9 × 10⁸⁴He atoms mW⁻¹ s⁻¹ measured at the Galapagos [16]. These results constrain the transcrustal mantle degassing fluxes of⁴He and⁴⁰Ar to be much less than the mid-ocean ridge degassing fluxes; which are much less than the degassing of⁴He and⁴⁰Ar from continental crust. Thus, the degassing of the Earth's interior is dominated by magmatic processes but the dominant fluxes of⁴He and⁴⁰Ar to the atmosphere must come from the continental crust.     

Shear wave velocity and crustal thickness in the Pannonian Basin from receiver function inversions at four permanent stations in Hungary

Receiver functions of teleseismic waveforms recorded at four Hungarian permanent broadband stations have been analyzed using semilinearized and stochastic inversion methods to estimate the crustal thickness and S wave velocity structure in the Pannonian Basin. The results of both inversion methods agree well with the crustal thicknesses obtained by previous seismic refraction and reflection studies in the regions which are densely covered with seismic lines (28 and 27 km in westernmost and southern Hungary, respectively) and suggest a thicker crust compared to what was known before beneath the Transdanubian and Northern Ranges (34 and 33 km, respectively). The comparison of the one-dimensional shear wave velocity models derived by the different inversion methods shows that, in case of simple, smoothly varying structures, the results do not differ significantly and can be regarded as absolute velocities. Otherwise, the recovered velocity gradients agree, but there are differences in the absolute velocity values. The back-azimuthal variations of both radial and tangential receiver functions are interpreted as dipping structure and as waves sampling different geological areas. The signature of the deep structure on low-frequency receiver functions suggests a strong velocity contrast at the 670-km discontinuity. The vanishing 410-km boundary may be attributed to the remnant of a subducted oceanic slab with increased Poisson’s ratio in the transition zone.     

Depth of crustal conducting layer and asthenosphere in the Pannonian basin determined by magnetotellurics

On the basis of numerical modelling and statistical investigations of the horizontal electrical inhomogeneities (narrow fractures, change of conductance of the surface sediments) ρ_min magnetotelluric (MT)-sounding curves were found to be less distorted and, therefore, they can be used for the determination of deep conducting formations in the crust and upper mantle.Carefully selected MT curves indicate the crustal conductive layer at depths of 7–13 km and the conductive asthenosphere between 50 and 80 km.The relatively shallow position of the asthenosphere corresponds to the high heat flow (q > 80 mWm^?1) in the Pannonian basin according to the empirical relation derived by Ádám (1978).     

Characteristics,genesis and accumulation history of natural gas in Hetianhe gasfield,Tarim Basin,China

Hetianhe gasfield in Bachu region of the Tarim Basin is mainly composed of three reservoir-caprock assembly, namely regional caprock of upper mudstone, middle mudstone and lower mudstone of the Carboniferous and reservoir of Bachu bioclastic limestone, glutenite and the Ordovician carbonate buried hill. Natural gas in Hetianhe gasfield sourced from the Cambrian source rock. It is thought that gases in Ma4 well block in the east of Hetianhe gasfield are mainly crude-oil cracked gases, while those in Ma3 and Ma8 well blocks in the west are the mixture gases of kerogen cracked gases and crude-oil cracked gases. Natural gas is rich in H₂S and accumulated in multiply stages as the result of TSR. The accumulation history is divided into three stages, namely accumulation and breakage in the late Caledonian-early Hercynian, migration and dissipation in the late Hercynian and accumulation in Himalayan. The main accumulation of reformed gas reservoir is in Himalayan.

     

Characteristics,genesis and accumulation history of natural gas in Hetianhe gasfield,Tarim Basin,China

Hetianhe gasfield in Bachu region of the Tarim Basin is mainly composed of three reservoir-caprock assembly, namely regional caprock of upper mudstone, middle mudstone and lower mudstone of the Carboniferous and reservoir of Bachu bioclastic limestone, glutenite and the Ordovician carbonate buried hill. Natural gas in Hetianhe gasfield sourced from the Cambrian source rock. It is thought that gases in Ma4 well block in the east of Hetianhe gasfield are mainly crude-oil cracked gases, while those in Ma3 and Ma8 well blocks in the west are the mixture gases of kerogen cracked gases and crude-oil cracked gases. Natural gas is rich in H₂S and accumulated in multiply stages as the result of TSR. The accumulation history is divided into three stages, namely accumulation and breakage in the late Caledonian-early Hercynian, migration and dissipation in the late Hercynian and accumulation in Himalayan. The main accumulation of reformed gas reservoir is in Himalayan.     

Characteristics,genesis and accumulation history of natural gas in Hetianhe gasfield,Tarim Basin,China

Hetianhe gasfield in Bachu region of the Tarim Basin is mainly composed of three reservoir-caprock assembly,namely regional caprock of upper mudstone,middle mudstone and lower mudstone of the Carboniferous and reservoir of Bachu bioclastic limestone,glutenite and the Ordovician carbonate buried hill.Natural gas in Hetianhe gasfield sourced from the Cambrian source rock.It is thought that gases in Ma4 well block in the east of Hetianhe gasfield are mainly crude-oil cracked gases,while those in Ma3 and Ma8 well blocks in the west are the mixture gases of kerogen cracked gases and crude-oil cracked gases.Natural gas is rich in H2S and accumulated in multiply stages as the result of TSR.The accumulation history is divided into three stages,namely accumulation and breakage in the late Caledonian-early Hercynian,migration and dissipation in the late Hercynian and accumulation in Himalayan. The main accumulation of reformed gas reservoir is in Himalayan.     

Observation of recent tectonic movements by extensometers in the Pannonian Basin

In Hungary four extensometric observatories were established in the last two decades. The extensometers were installed primarily for observations of Earth tides. A 15-year continuous data series (1991–2005) was recorded at the Sopronbánfalva station and a 7-year record (1993–1999) was obtained at the Pécs station. The length of the measured continuous data series at the two other stations (Bakonya and Budapest) is only a few years. The long-term data records were also applied to the investigation of long-periodic deformations caused by recent tectonic movements. To get an insight into the present day tectonic processes on the margin of the Pannonian Basin, the measurement results of two additional stations (Vyhne in Slovakia and Beregovo in Ukraine) were also included into the investigations. The seasonal variations in the long data series due to temperature and air pressure effects were eliminated. The residual curve – after the correction of the seasonal effects and filtering the “high frequency” components (e.g. earthquakes, Earth tides, etc.) – contains the instrumental drift. It is impossible to determine this curve mathematically. It can be diminished by special instrumental solutions and by regular calibration of the instruments. This paper shows methods and possible solutions how the instrumental drift was investigated and eliminated in order to get the most reliable data for studying recent tectonic movements. The reliability of the extensometric measurements was tested by the tidal evaluation of the data series. The results of the observations show that the Pannonian Basin is under compressive stress. The strain rates measured by extensometers on the margin of the basin are about three orders of magnitude higher than the intra-plate strains obtained by GPS measurements. The reason for this large difference arises from the interaction between the plate boundary and intra-plate forces and from the different measurement techniques. Investigations showed that the rate of the tectonic movements varies, and depends on the local geographical and topographical conditions.     

Kinetics of hydrocarbon generation for Well Yingnan 2 gas reservoir,Tarim Basin,China

Well Yingnan 2, an important exploratory well in the east of Tarim Basin, yields high commercial oil and gas flow in Jurassic. Natural gas components and carbon isotopic composition indicate that it belongs to sapropel type gas. Because this region presents many suits of hydrocarbon source rocks, there are some controversies that natural gases were generated from kerogen gas or crude oil cracking gas at present. By using the kinetics of hydrocarbon generation and carbon isotope, natural gas of Well Yingnan 2 is composed mainly of crude oil cracking gas, about 72%, it is generated from secondary kerogen gas of Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rock and crude oil cracking gas of Mid-Upper Ordovician oil reservoir. The main oil and gas filling time is 65 Ma later in the Jurassic gas reservoir of Well Yingnan 2, so the gas reservoir belongs to late accumulation and continuous filling type.

     

Kinetics of hydrocarbon generation for Well Yingnan 2 gas reservoir,Tarim Basin,China

Well Yingnan 2, an important exploratory well in the east of Tarim Basin, yields high commercial oil and gas flow in Jurassic. Natural gas components and carbon isotopic composition indicate that it belongs to sapropel type gas. Because this region presents many suits of hydrocarbon source rocks, there are some controversies that natural gases were generated from kerogen gas or crude oil cracking gas at present. By using the kinetics of hydrocarbon generation and carbon isotope, natural gas of Well Yingnan 2 is composed mainly of crude oil cracking gas, about 72%, it is generated from secondary kerogen gas of Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rock and crude oil cracking gas of Mid-Upper Ordovician oil reservoir. The main oil and gas filling time is 65 Ma later in the Jurassic gas reservoir of Well Yingnan 2, so the gas reservoir belongs to late accumulation and continuous filling type.     

Kinetics of hydrocarbon generation for Well Yingnan 2 gas reservoir,Tarim Basin,CHina

Well Yingnan 2,an important exploratory well in the east of Tarim Basin,yields high commercial oil and gas flow in Jurassic.Natural gas components and carbon isotopic composition indicate that it belongs to sapropel type gas.Because this region presents many suits of hydrocarbon source rocks,there are some controversies that natural gases were generated from kerogen gas or crude oil cracking gas at present.By using the kinetics of hydrocarbon generation and carbon isotope,natural gas of Well Yingnan 2 is composed mainly of crude oil cracking gas,about 72%,it is generated from secondary kerogen gas of Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rock and crude oil cracking gas of Mid-Upper Ordovician oil reservoir.The main oil and gas filling time is 65 Ma later in the Jurassic gas reservoir of Well Yingnan 2,so the gas reservoir belongs to late accumulation and continuous filling type.     

Correlation and petrogenesis of silicic pyroclastic rocks in the Northern Pannonian Basin,Eastern-Central Europe: In situ trace element data of glass shards and mineral chemical constraints

The Neogene volcanism of the Carpathian–Pannonian Region, Eastern-Central Europe started with repeated explosive eruption of silicic magmas. Volcanic products consist mostly of non-welded and partially to densely welded ignimbrites, which cover large areas in the Pannonian Basin. Since this volcanism occurred during a long time interval, from 21 Ma to 13.5 Ma ago, these pyroclastic deposits have great stratigraphic importance, as well as providing valuable information about petrogenetic processes during the formation of the back-arc basin area. In this study, we used in situ trace element data of glasses (glass shards, pumice and fiamme glass) determined by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), combined with microprobe geochemical data of the main mineral phases (plagioclase, biotite), to correlate the scattered outcrops of the ignimbrite units. Based on these data, we distinguished four ignimbrite units in the Bükkalja Volcanic Field, Northern Pannonian Basin. Each of these units is characterized by specific geochemical fingerprints. Thorium, Nb, Y and the rare earth elements are the most effective discriminator elements in glasses. The modal composition of mineral phases (occurrence or lack of certain minerals) and chemistry of plagioclases and biotites are also good correlation tools, especially the Fe, Mg and Ti contents of biotites. We suggest that these correlation criteria, particularly the grain-specific LA-ICP-MS data, could be effectively used also in other ignimbrite fields and in wider tephrochronological studies. The in situ trace element composition of glasses, representing the liquid part of the erupted magma, can be also used to constrain the petrogenesis of the rhyolitic magmas. Trace element ratios such as La/Nb, La/Y and Th/Nb suggest the importance of minor (e.g., hornblende and ilmenite) and accessory (e.g., zircon, allanite) minerals controlling the composition of the erupted melt. Rhyolitic magmas probably evolved from metaluminous andesitic parental melts via fractional crystallization. Syn-eruptive magma mingling was detected in the genesis of the Middle Ignimbrite Unit, based on the strong intra-sample geochemical variation both in the glasses and in the phenocrysts.     

Numerical modeling of regional groundwater flow in the Heihe River Basin,China:Advances and new insights

Numerical groundwater modeling is an effective tool to guide water resources management and explore complex groundwater-dependent ecosystems in arid regions.In the Heihe River Basin(HRB),China’s second largest inland river basin located in arid northwest China,a series of groundwater flow models have been developed for those purposes over the past 20 years.These models have elucidated the characteristics of groundwater flow systems and provided the scientific basis for a more sustainable management of groundwater resources and ecosystem services.The first part of this paper presents an overview of previous groundwater modeling studies and key lessons learned based on seven different groundwater models in the middle and lower HRB at sub-basin scales.The second part reviews the rationale for development of a regional basin-scale groundwater flow model that unifies previous sub-basin models.In addition,this paper discusses the opportunities and challenges in developing a regional groundwater flow model in an arid river basin such as the HRB.     

Ar/Ar geochronology of Neogene phreatomagmatic volcanism in the western Pannonian Basin,Hungary

Neogene alkaline basaltic volcanic fields in the western Pannonian Basin, Hungary, including the Bakony–Balaton Highland and the Little Hungarian Plain volcanic fields are the erosional remnants of clusters of small-volume, possibly monogenetic volcanoes. Moderately to strongly eroded maars, tuff rings, scoria cones, and associated lava flows span an age range of ca. 6 Myr as previously determined by the K/Ar method. High resolution ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages on 18 samples have been obtained to determine the age range for the western Pannonian Basin Neogene intracontinental volcanic province. The new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations confirm the previously obtained K/Ar ages in the sense that no systematic biases were found between the two data sets. However, our study also serves to illustrate the inherent advantages of the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar technique: greater analytical precision, and internal tests for reliability of the obtained results provide more stringent constraints on reconstructions of the magmatic evolution of the volcanic field. Periods of increased activity with multiple eruptions occurred at ca. 7.95 Ma, 4.10 Ma, 3.80 Ma and 3.00 Ma.     

The effectiveness assessment of gas accumulation processes in Kuqa depression,Tarim Basin,Northwest China

The effectiveness of gas accumulation processes is controlled by several main geological factors in-cluding charging force,features of gas conduit,sealing properties of caprock,etc. Based on the analysis and statistics of the large-medium size gas accumulations in China,the main parameters,in-cluding the excess pressure difference between the source rock and reservoir bed,the area coefficient of the gas conduit,and the thickness or displacement pressure of caprock,and the criteria for the as-sessment of gas accumulation processes have been established. Using the parameters and the criteria above,the effectiveness of gas accumulation processes in the Kuqa depression was quantitatively evaluated. By integrating the parameters of the excess pressure difference between the source rock and reservoir bed,the area coefficient of fault conduit system,and the caprock thickness in gas charging period,a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of gas accumulation in the Kuqa depression has been made. The result reveals that the Tubei-Dawan area,the Central Kelasu area and the Dongqiu-Dina area are three highly-effective areas for gas accumulation in the Kuqa depression.     

Geochemical characteristics and accumulation of marine oil and gas around Halahatang depression,Tarim Basin,China

There exists a petroleum system rich of oil and gas around Halahatang depression, where the oil and gas possess obvious local distinctions of properties in different parts. The research proved that the discovered crude oil and natural gas in the region derived mainly from O₂₊₃ source rock, and the differences of its properties were controlled by the oil and gas filling intensity. The comprehensive study result shows the oil and gas reservoirs of the region mainly underwent three important accumulation phases: late Caledonian-Early Hercynian epoch, late Hercynian epoch, and Yanshan-Himalayan epoch. In the first phase, the oil and gas derived mostly from Cambrian source rock, which formed the primary ancient oil reservoirs, then suffered strong degradation and remained a great quantity of pyrobitumen in the high position of Tabei uplift in the present. In the second phase, the O₂₊₃ source rock of Manjia’er depression started its generation of hydrocarbon, which accumulated in the high position of Tabei up-lift afterwards, and then biodegradated to heavy oil in the late Hercynian epoch. In the last phase, the O₂₊₃ source rock of southern Halahatang depression and margin of Manjia’er depression started its peak of generating liquid hydrocarbon, which mostly accumulated in the trap formed before the Indo-China and Yanshan epoch, and in somewhere the heavy oil suffered dilutions in various degrees or serious gas invading, to lead to obvious crude oil divergence.

     

Geochemical characteristics and accumulation of marine oil and gas around Halahatang depression,Tarim Basin,China

There exists a petroleum system rich of oil and gas around Halahatang depression, where the oil and gas possess obvious local distinctions of properties in different parts. The research proved that the discovered crude oil and natural gas in the region derived mainly from O₂₊₃ source rock, and the differences of its properties were controlled by the oil and gas filling intensity. The comprehensive study result shows the oil and gas reservoirs of the region mainly underwent three important accumulation phases: late Caledonian-Early Hercynian epoch, late Hercynian epoch, and Yanshan-Himalayan epoch. In the first phase, the oil and gas derived mostly from Cambrian source rock, which formed the primary ancient oil reservoirs, then suffered strong degradation and remained a great quantity of pyrobitumen in the high position of Tabei uplift in the present. In the second phase, the O₂₊₃ source rock of Manjia’er depression started its generation of hydrocarbon, which accumulated in the high position of Tabei up-lift afterwards, and then biodegradated to heavy oil in the late Hercynian epoch. In the last phase, the O₂₊₃ source rock of southern Halahatang depression and margin of Manjia’er depression started its peak of generating liquid hydrocarbon, which mostly accumulated in the trap formed before the Indo-China and Yanshan epoch, and in somewhere the heavy oil suffered dilutions in various degrees or serious gas invading, to lead to obvious crude oil divergence.     

Geochemical characteristics and accumulation of marine oil and gas around Halahatang depression,Tarim Basin,China

There exists a petroleum system rich of oil and gas around Halahatang depression,where the oil and gas possess obvious local distinctions of properties in different parts.The research proved that the discovered crude oil and natural gas in the region derived mainly from O2 3 source rock,and the differences of its properties were controlled by the oil and gas filling intensity.The comprehensive study result shows the oil and gas reservoirs of the region mainly underwent three important accumulation phases:late Caledonian-Early Hercynian epoch,late Hercynian epoch,and Yanshan-Himalayan epoch. In the first phase,the oil and gas derived mostly from Cambrian source rock,which formed the primary ancient oil reservoirs,then suffered strong degradation and remained a great quantity of pyrobitumen in the high position of Tabei uplift in the present.In the second phase,the O2 3 source rock of Manjia'er depression started its generation of hydrocarbon,which accumulated in the high position of Tabei uplift afterwards,and then biodegradated to heavy oil in the late Hercynian epoch.In the last phase,the O2 3 source rock of southern Halahatang depression and margin of Manjia'er depression started its peak of generating liquid hydrocarbon,which mostly accumulated in the trap formed before the Indo-China and Yanshan epoch,and in somewhere the heavy oil suffered dilutions in various degrees or serious gas invading,to lead to obvious crude oil divergence.     

Shear wave constraints on crustal structure of the pole abyssal plain

A study of the crustal structure in the Pole Abyssal Plain of the Arctic Ocean was carried out using P-waves constrained with converted shear waves. The data, recorded with a single ocean bottom seismometer (O.B.S.) on three channels, were modelled for travel time and amplitude variations with WKBJ synthetic seismograms. The study confirms that converted shear waves can be usefully employed to place limits on P-wave data.Shear wave velocities of sediments ranging from 0.3 km/s on the sea bed to 0.9 km/s at the sediment-basement interface with corresponding P-wave velocities of 1.6 to 2.1 km/s were obtained. The resulting Poisson's ratios for the sediments varies between 0.48 and 0.39, and indicate a poorly consolidated sedimentary layer. Well determined P- and S-wave velocities from the PPP and PSP phases give a Poisson's ratio of 0.31 for the lower crust in agreement with results from other studies.The models developed lead to the conclusion that there is considerable lateral heterogeneity in structure, and that the thickness of the crust (layers 2 and 3) under the Pole Abyssal Plain varies between 3.2 km and 4.1 km. The crust here is therefore much thinner than average oceanic crust, a thinning which may be related to the slow spreading rate at the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge.     

地下水溶解气数字化观测程控定量自动脱气装置

介绍了一种适于与气体自动观测仪器配套、应用于地震地下水前兆数字化观测的定量自动脱气装置。该装置根据气体溶解平衡原理设计而成,采用了交联双循环技术,由单板机实现程序控制,可利用连续流经该装置的被测水样,周期性制备定量体积的与被测水样具有确定浓度关系的气态样品,供气体自动观测仪器进一步测量,并按照给定的理论公式,对被测水样中相关溶解气的真实浓度给出精确的定量表达。专门设置的“稳压功能”和“除水功能”使该装置具有较稳定的工作性能。