Segregating gas from melt: an experimental study of the Ostwald ripening of vapor bubbles in magmas

Diffusive coarsening (Ostwald ripening) of H₂O and H₂O-CO₂ bubbles in rhyolite and basaltic andesite melts was studied with elevated temperature–pressure experiments to investigate the rates and time spans over which vapor bubbles may enlarge and attain sufficient buoyancy to segregate in magmatic systems. Bubble growth and segregation are also considered in terms of classical steady-state and transient (non-steady-state) ripening theory. Experimental results are consistent with diffusive coarsening as the dominant mechanism of bubble growth. Ripening is faster in experiments saturated with pure H₂O than in those with a CO₂-rich mixed vapor probably due to faster diffusion of H₂O than CO₂ through the melt. None of the experimental series followed the time^1/3 increase in mean bubble radius and time⁻¹ decrease in bubble number density predicted by classical steady-state ripening theory. Instead, products are interpreted as resulting from transient regime ripening. Application of transient regime theory suggests that bubbly magmas may require from days to 100 years to reach steady-state ripening conditions. Experimental results, as well as theory for steady-state ripening of bubbles that are immobile or undergoing buoyant ascent, indicate that diffusive coarsening efficiently eliminates micron-sized bubbles and would produce mm-sized bubbles in 10²–10⁴ years in crustal magma bodies. Once bubbles attain mm-sizes, their calculated ascent rates are sufficient that they could transit multiple kilometers over hundreds to thousands of years through mafic and silicic melt, respectively. These results show that diffusive coarsening can facilitate transfer of volatiles through, and from, magmatic systems by creating bubbles sufficiently large for rapid ascent.     

Flotation and dispersal of eelgrass seeds by gas bubbles

The formation of gas bubbles byZostera marina immediately prior to seed release is described together with evidence for its role as a seed dispersal mechanism. The gas bubbles, ranging in volume from 1.1 to 3.4 mm³, escape from the funiculus and adhere to the seed coat. As a bubble expands, the seed is pushed clear of the ovary and rises to the water surface with the bubble attached. Field data suggest that approximately 5–13% of the seeds produced are released with gas bubbles, and in some cases are transported more than 200 m (float time≥40 min).     

Constitutive modeling of cyclically loaded clays with entrapped gas bubbles under undrained and unexhausted conditions

Acta Geotechnica - Fine-grained gassy marine sediments are widely distributed around the world, and the cyclic behavior of this type of sediments has a great influence on the foundations of...     

The behavior of noble gases in silicate liquids: Solution,diffusion, bubbles and surface effects,with applications to natural samples

Solubilities of noble gases in five natural silicate liquids as a function of temperature and partial pressure at 1 atm total pressure were determined and diffusion coefficients of the noble gases were measured in a tholeiite basalt at 1350°C. Solubilities of noble gases in silicate liquids obey Henry's law and are a strong function of composition and/or physical properties of the liquids. Solubility is greatest in less dense, more silica-rich liquids. Solubility is highest for the light gases and is related to the radius of the gas atom according to K_i = aexp (−br²_i). Temperature dependence of solubility is weak, but in general solubility increases with increasing temperature yielding positive enthalpies of solution. Diffusion coefficients in a basalt liquid at 1350°C show more or less the same linear relationship with r² as solubility and are larger than what would be expected from extrapolation of values determined at lower temperatures. A large percentage of samples of andesite composition had bubbles that contained gas which was fractionated from the gas of the experiment. Concentrations of noble gases in samples equilibrated on Pt wire loops correlate with the surface/volume ratio, suggesting that surfaces of silicate liquids can accommodate more noble gases than the liquid proper. Solubility fractionation is a valid process to account for certain patterns in marine basalts. The density of silicate liquids appears to be a good predictor of noble gas solubility in these liquids.     

基于声波测井的冻土区孔隙型水合物储层水合物饱和度估算方法

水合物饱和度参数的准确计算对于水合物资源量的评价至关重要。本文提出利用超声波测井资料与等效介质模型相结合的方法,可有效评价祁连山冻土区孔隙型水合物储层水合物饱和度变化特征,并在典型孔隙型水合物钻孔DKXX-13进行了应用。基于等效介质理论的弹性波速度模型正演模拟的纵波速度相比基于双相介质理论的弹性波速度模型更加吻合实际测井纵波速度,可用于分析孔隙型水合物储层的纵波速度特征;通过正演模拟的纵波速度与实际测井纵波速度的对比,识别出X30.0～X30.2m、X30.3～X30.4m、X31.1～X31.6m、X31.7～X31.9m、X32.0～X32.2m井段存在水合物,水合物赋存井段地层的水合物饱和度变化范围为13.0%～85.0%,平均值为61.9%,与标准阿尔奇公式估算结果和现场岩芯测试结果基本一致。研究结果可为祁连山冻土区水合物地层测井评价与地震勘探提供理论依据和技术支撑。     

Application of dynamic parameters for recording during acoustic profiling

The possibilities for the application of dynamic parameters of acoustic records (amplitude, reflection polarity, and frequency composition) for identifying the lithology of deposits and their physical properties, as well as their gas saturation, are discussed. Using examples of different field measurements it is shown that application of the dynamic parameters of acoustic records during interpretation allowed us in some cases to understand in detail the physical nature of visually recognized acoustic anomalies, while in other cases it provided grounds for a different interpretation of the data, and in some cases even permitted correction of errors of visual interpretation of time sections.     

水汽补给下砂土冻胀量与微观结构参数关联研究

水汽补给可诱发砂土填料的冻胀。基于自主研发的水汽迁移和冻胀试验仪,研究了气态水补给下砂土含水率、温度和冻胀量变化规律;利用体视显微镜对冻结过程中砂土微观结构变化特征进行了研究,结合灰色关联理论分析了宏观指标冻胀量与微观参数之间的关联关系。结果表明：在水汽补给下砂土会发生明显冻胀,冻结 7 d 时冻胀量达到 3.45 mm。砂土经历冻胀后,大孔隙面积占比增加、中小微孔隙面积占比降低,孔隙数量占比变化趋势与面积占比相反,孔隙丰度值变化不大,孔隙定向角在各区间分布趋于更加均匀,孔隙定向概率熵整体呈震荡上升趋势,孔隙分形维数呈下降趋势。此外,利用灰色关联理论,建立了宏观参数冻胀量与平均孔径等微观参数之间的关联关系式,进一步揭示了水汽补给下砂土冻胀的微观机制。     

改性混凝土声学参数与应力相关性试验研究

对掺入不同聚合物乳液的7组21个混凝土试件进行不同荷载条件下的超声波测试,研究了聚合物乳液对混凝土声速和加权谱面积等声学参数与应力相关性的影响。研究表明：纯丙乳液和苯丙乳液能提高混凝土声-应力的敏感性,有机硅砂浆防水剂和聚醋酸乙烯乳液对混凝土声-应力敏感性有弱化作用,丙烯酸酯共聚物乳液对混凝土声-应力敏感性影响不大。     

含瓦斯煤声发射特性试验及损伤方程研究

以型煤试件为研究对象,对其在固定瓦斯压力和围压作用下的力学性质和声发射特性进行了试验研究。结果表明：含有瓦斯后煤样试件的力学性质的离散性降低;与不含瓦斯煤样比较,含瓦斯煤样的三轴强度减小而杨氏模量增大;含瓦斯煤样三轴压缩过程中的声发射事件计数分布较均匀,仅在煤样破坏前出现密度较大区;声发射事件振幅分布呈现“三峰”分布特性,而事件能量随变形增加而逐渐增大;声发射各事件参数与三轴压缩曲线呈滞后对应关系。     

Coal and gas outburst hazard in Zonguldak Coal Basin of Turkey,and association with geological parameters

Coal and gas outbursts have been a major geological hazard to underground coal mining for over 150 years and continue to cause serious problems in all over the world. In order to have a better understanding of the phenomenon, it is worthwhile making a historical review of the occurrences and a combat of the events. Many investigations and researches have been done to characterize and prevent the outburst occurrences in the worldwide, but there has been no detailed investigation about coal and gas outburst occurrences in Turkey. This paper presents the outburst data of coal mines in Turkey since 1969. Based on the observation of outburst occurrence in Turkey in the period from 1969 to 2012 as well as mining and geological conditions, detailed analysis of the possible causes of outburst accidents is conducted. The influences of some geological parameters such as the depth of occurrence, thickness and inclination of coal seams, the amount of ejected material (coal and gas), and tectonic disturbances on coal and gas outburst occurrences have been statistically investigated. The outburst occurrences throughout the world were reviewed and compared with the Turkish outburst experiences. Suggestions are put forward on future studies that could be of interest to government agencies regarding strategic policies, proper technical management practice, identification of outburst-prone coal seams, as well as prevention and control measures.     

Dependence of radon concentration in natural gas on the geological and physical parameters of the gas reservoir

Pressure of natural gas in its rock reservoir determines the final radon concentration in this gas after its decompression to normal conditions. In this investigation, radon contents of 62 natural gas samples were measured and a simple physical model of the gas reservoir was applied. The model takes into account an additional dependence of radon concentration on the natural gas pressure and on the porosity of the rock reservoir. The influence of the gas pressure on the value of the radon emanating power is discussed. The mean ²²⁶ Ra content in the source rock needed for generation of ²²² Rn concentrations observed in gas is also calculated. The calculations are made with the help of regression analysis.     

Dynamics of bubbles in supernovae and turbulent vortices

We consider the motion of a bubble in a central acceleration field created by gravity or a centrifugal force. In the former case, the bubble moves outwards from and, in the latter, towards the center. We have calculated the characteristic time needed for a bubble to leave or reach the center. The solution obtained provides insight into the processes of thermonuclear supernovae and combustion; in other words, into the interaction between a flame and a turbulent vortex. In the case of combustion, a light bubble of burnt material propagates towards the axis of a strong turbulent vortex faster than it drifts in the direction of rotation of the vortex. It is expected that the development of bubbles should prevent the formation of “pockets” at the flame front, similar to those predicted by a simplified model of turbulent combustion in a constant density flux. In the case of a thermonuclear supernova in a deflagration burning regime, it is shown that light products of burning rise from the center of the white dwarf substantially more rapidly than the thermonuclear flame front propagates. As a result, a flame cannot completely burn the central part of the star, and instead is pushed to the outer layers of the white dwarf. The effect of bubble motion (large-scale convection) makes spherically symmetric models for thermonuclear supernovae unrealistic, which is of prime importance for the supernova spectrum and energy. The motion of bubbles is even faster in the case of a rotating white dwarf; under certain conditions, the centrifugal force may dominate over the gravitational force. To test this theory, we have carried out numerical simulations of supernovae explosions for various sizes of the burned region in the core of the presupernova. We have derived a relation between the rate of large-scale convection and the size of the burned region, which is specified by the rate of the deflagration in the thermonuclear burning.     

Changes of acoustic emission and strain in hard coal during gas sorption–desorption cycles

The cylindrical coal samples were subjected to three successive cycles of sorption–desorption processes of a single gas (CO₂, CH₄). Acoustic emission (AE) and strains were simultaneously recorded during the sorption and desorption processes.Tests were conducted on medium-rank coal from the Upper Silesia Basin, Poland. Follow-up tests for gas sorption–desorption consistently showed significant changes of AE characteristics for re-runs on the same sample. The AE level decreased in each successive test. The most spectacular differences were observed between AE generated during the first cycle of gas sorption and the subsequent cycle. This phenomenon could be due to structural changes in the coal taking place substantially on its first exposure to the sorbate. The AE results indicate, that each cycle of gas sorption–desorption was run on the same coal though with a somewhat different structure.In those tests, the swelling of coal by CO₂ or/and CH₄ was anisotropic (greater in the direction perpendicular to the bedding plane than parallel) in each cycle of the gas sorption–desorption process.     

井间声波背景值识别煤层游离气应用效果分析

煤层游离气对于煤层气藏高产起着非常关键的作用,目前尚缺乏识别煤层游离气的有效手段,存在的困难和挑战主要表现在2个方面：如何鉴定煤层气井中存在游离气;一般常用的测井背景值和中子密度重叠法不能有效证明煤层游离气的存在。通过构建井间声波背景值,结合含气饱和度及排采数据对煤层游离气进行定性识别,进而对识别结果进行验证。实验表明,利用井间声波背景值法识别煤层游离气可以排除煤质和煤层含水性等因素影响,对于识别煤层游离气具有指导作用。通过该方法对Z区块3号煤层进行游离气识别,含游离气井占总分析井的50%,通过井间声波背景值、含气饱和度及排采数据分析相结合进行交互检验,吻合率在80%以上。     

Low solubility of He and Ar in carbonatitic liquids: Implications for decoupling noble gas and lithophile isotope systems

In order to asses the importance of carbonatitic liquids in transporting noble gases in the mantle, the solubilities of He and Ar in carbonatitic liquids were estimated from analyses of calcium-potassium carbonate glasses that had been synthesized at 1 bar and temperatures between 850 and 950 °C under He or Ar enriched atmospheres. Despite poor reproducibility related to difficulties synthesizing carbonatite glass, we have been able to estimate He and Ar solubilities in carbonatite liquids to be 1 × 10⁻⁸ and 2 × 10⁻⁹ mol g⁻¹ at 1 bar respectively (with ?50% uncertainty). Despite the significant uncertainties on these estimates, it is clear that the noble gases are not massively soluble in carbonatite liquids (within error, these solubilities are identical to their equivalent solubilities in tholeiitic melts). Assuming the results of these low pressure experiments can be applied to mantle conditions, it seems unlikely that carbonatite metasomatism per se transports noble gases within the mantle. It is nevertheless possible that partitioning of lithophile trace elements (including the important radioelements, U, K and Th) and noble gases between a carbonatitic melt and a silicate melt could effectively decouple lithophile and noble gas isotope systematics because the carbonatitic melt expressedly does not transport noble gases, yet is known to efficiently transport incompatible trace elements.     

煤层气储层参数多信息综合定量预测方法

提出了以地震属性和钻孔测井参数为基础, 以数学地质为桥梁, 实现煤层气储层参数定量预测的科学方法。薄煤层厚与反射波振幅之间为单调增减关系公式; 孔隙度与地震反射瞬时频率成正比关系, 可采含气量与地震反射瞬时振幅成反比关系, 且相关程度高。最后应用该成果对山西沁水煤层气地震勘探工程实际预测, 对储层厚度、孔隙度、含气量做出定量预测。该成果有利于提高煤矿采煤安全性和降低煤层气开采的风险性, 同时也将开拓地震勘探技术新的应用领域。     

Growth of disk-shaped bubbles in sediments

Disc-shaped methane bubbles, often observed in marine sediments, result from growth in a medium that elastically resists expansion of the bubbles and yields by fracture. We have modeled this process to obtain estimates of growth times by using a reaction-diffusion model coupled to a linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM). For comparison, we also modeled the growth of a constant eccentricity bubble in a nonresistant medium. Discoidal bubbles that grow in sediments that obey LEFM grow much faster than spherical bubbles (two- to fourfold faster for the times and conditions tested here) and become more eccentric with time (aspect ratios falling from 0.3 to 0.03 over 8 d of growth). In addition, their growth is not continuous but punctuated by fracture events. Furthermore, under some conditions, LEFM predicts that bubble growth can become arrested, which is not possible for a bubble in a nonresistant medium, even for nonspherical bubbles. Cessation of growth occurs when the dissolved gas concentration gradient near the bubble surface disappears as a result of the increase in bubble gas pressure needed to overcome sediment elasticity.